ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama told reporters he was "puzzled" by the press coverage he received on Thursday when he held two separate press conferences to explain his plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.
On Thursday in Fargo, N.D,, Obama told reporters in a morning press conference that he will "continue to refine" his plan to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 16 months.
Reporters immediately jumped on the comments that showed that Obama's expressed openness to adjust his long-held 16-month withdrawal plans was at odds with the stance that he took during the primary campaign.
At his second hastily called press availability Thursday, Sen. Obama insinuated that the McCain campaign had primed the press and were to blame for the interpretation of his position.
En route to a speech in St Louis today, the Senator told reporters on his plane that the news cycle his comments caused was perplexing.
"I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off by what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement, which is that I am absolutely committed to ending the war," he said.
Obama reiterated his commitment to his withdraw plan again. "I will call my joint chiefs of staff and give them an assignment and that is to end the war," he said. "I think what's important is to understand the difference between strategy and tactics. I have always believed that our invasion of Iraq was a strategic blunder."
Comments
What flip-flops? All I see is a young, handsome, black orataor that says things that make me feel really good.
Posted by: Tom Barnes | July 6, 2008 03:55 PM
But McCain isn't attacking, is he? I am beginning to wonder if Peggy Noonan is right; He only wanted the nomination, not the presidency. This man is letting opportunities slip away every day. Constant staff turn-overs, chairman quiting because they support BHO, etc. Could it be that McCain, is himself for Obama? You wonder.
Posted by: Barry Schumann | July 6, 2008 04:02 PM
"I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off by what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement, which is that I am absolutely committed to ending the war," he said.
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And this is from the same "guy without a clue" who also didn't think his church "was particularly controversial." What does this say about his judgment?
Posted by: Dark Skies | July 6, 2008 04:17 PM
Once again the character of the left shines through. Since liberals have no moral compass how can anything they say be held accountable? Is it a lie or just his perception? After all, who are we to judge his value system?
I wonder though, if Obama is so willing and eager to lie to us, the voter, how can a world leader take him seriously?
Does a man who lies so easily also fall victim to the lies of others? How can a man who is a lie tell if one is lying? I guess the Iranians will let us know.
Posted by: DaveT | July 6, 2008 04:30 PM
He also was puzzled by the scrutiny of his "fairly conventional Christian faith." Face it, the guy's easily puzzled.
Posted by: Kyda Sylvester | July 6, 2008 05:55 PM
Oh, so now we're on to Obama's cunning plan:
To wit, say something dangerous, outrageous, and/or stupid and then make a goofy face and act "puzzled" when someone actually confronts him about it.
I'll bet Obama got a lot of chicks at college frat parties using this tack, didn't he?
Posted by: MarkJ | July 6, 2008 07:21 PM
Weeeeeeeeeee. This is just so much darn fun. I guess Obamessiah hadn't heard the news about the WMD's or the fact that AQ-Iraq is basically broken. Can't wait to see how he, Frau Blucher, and Harry Reid try to spin their way out of this!
Posted by: Ed | July 6, 2008 07:59 PM
Methinks "His Obama-ness" needs to consider the weight of the office he is pursuing. If he does win the election, every word he utters as POTUS will be more harshly judged and compared than he can dream of now, by realists who will quickly tire of being invited to feel good because the words were uttered by the nation's first black president. Better get a grip, Barry, or else take that teleprompter with you all the time!
Posted by: Michael Moon | July 7, 2008 12:58 AM
I expect this was all about the press sending Obama a message that "we made you, we can destroy you" due to his attempt to move to the center. They don't want Obama to be a centrist (as if he ever truly could be). They want him to remain a flaming left-wing fascist in good standing who dutifully hates truth, justice and freedom like all good leftists.
Posted by: Mojo | July 7, 2008 08:25 AM
Lord have mercy on us.
Obama is a fraud and for Americans to elect a fraud to lead their country for the next four to eight years is really scary.
With a complete control of the liberal left on the Congress, Obama "the fraud" can implement any kind of policy he is envisioning.
Are Americans so stupid or what? If they are, then they will get the government they deserve.
By any normal thinking, Obama's association with his church for 20 years should be enough to disqualify him from presidency.
Once Bob Beckel asked, "So, any person sitting in the church (Obama's Trinity Church) will not be qualified to be president?" The answer is yes! If the person sitting there for years and years and believe in the crack pots preached in the church.
It seems to me Obama can get away with just anything he did by just giving speeches.
Where is the coordinated counter attack from the conservative republican?
Where is a very strong 527 to expose this guy to the public?
Posted by: petrovian | July 7, 2008 09:38 AM