First Read got an advance copy of Obama's remarks tonight in Montana. In it, he continues to slam McCain on Iraq. Some pundits worry he's playing on McCain's field, but Obama knows what he's doing. By fighting back, he's proving his strength and getting the legitimacy of his policies out - and it's working. As for his remarks tonight in Montana, Obama is going to take McCain to town. He starts off chill:
"There are honest differences about how to move forward in Iraq, just like there were honest differences about whether or not we should go to war," Obama is supposed to say. "John McCain was for the invasion of Iraq; I opposed it. John McCain wants to continue George Bush’s war in Iraq indefinitely; I want to end it. So there’s going to be a clear choice for the American people this November."
Then he kicks it up a notch:
"But that’s not what John McCain’s been talking about the last few days. He’s been proposing a joint trip to Iraq that’s nothing more than a political stunt. He’s even been using it to raise a few dollars for his campaign. But it seems like Sen. McCain’s a lot more interested in my travel plans than the facts, because yesterday – in his continued effort to put the best light on a failed policy – he stood up in Wisconsin and said, 'We have drawn down to pre-surge levels' in Iraq."
"That’s not true, and anyone running for commander-in-chief should know better. As the saying goes, you’re entitled to your own view, but not your own facts. We’ve got around 150,000 troops in Iraq -- 20,000 more than we had before the surge. We have plans to get down to around 140,000 later this summer -- that’s still more troops than we had in Iraq before the surge. And today, Sen. McCain refused to correct his mistake. Just like George Bush, when he was presented with the truth, he just dug in and refused to admit his mistake. His campaign said it amounts to 'nitpicking.'"
Go after his "strength," his supposed knowledge of national security. Take it home, Barack:
"Well, I don’t think tens of thousands of American troops amounts to nitpicking. Tell that to the young men and women who are serving bravely and brilliantly under our flag. Tell that to the families who have seen their loved ones fight tour after tour after tour of duty in a war that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged."
Wow. Just wow.
Here's what we're seeing:
- A candidate who isn't tied into knots because he voted for the war, and opposed it. He has the moral authority to take McSame down.
- A candidate with a war room that is now engaged in monitoring every word McCain is saying, and will no longer let him get away with gaffes as he has been doing for months now.
- A candidate who will, yes, I'll say it - engages in Bush/Cheney tactics (on our side) in the sense that he will jump on a gaffe and use it to smash his opponent's strength, and question his support of the troops (of course the difference is, our guy tells the truth). Wow.
It may be rough, but does anyone think Obama isn't tough anymore? He knows he's pummeling away at McCain's "strength." He also knows McCain gets VERY testy every time he's challenged on Iraq, especially by Obama (who McCain clearly has little respect for).
We nominated the right guy.
UPDATE:
Actual speech is 7:45 tonight at a Great Falls, MT rally.
Here is a longer text of the excerpts.