Barack Obama's quick response to McCain's speech put a strong counter-storyline into the initial media stories...McCain's (and Bush's) "Ideological Fantasies". This is a handy quote that nicely balances the ideological crazy Republicans with the responsibly sober Democrats. Good grab of the news cycle...
Take a look at the major stories out today below the jump.
New York Times (paragraph 6):
"The idea that the situation in Iraq is improving because it takes a security detail of 100 soldiers, three Black Hawk helicopters and a couple of Apache gunships to walk through a market in the middle of Baghdad is simply not credible and reflective of the facts on the grounds," said Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrats and presidential candidate, at a virtual town meeting sponsored by MoveOn.org that was presented Tuesday night.
Mr. Obama, who opposed the war from the start, issued a statement assailing Mr. McCain even before the senator had finished his speech. "Progress in Iraq cannot be measured by the same ideological fantasies that got us into this war, it must be measured by the reality of the facts on the ground, and today those sobering facts tell us to change our strategy and bring a responsible end to this war," he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Associated Press (paragraph 5):
In a quick counter to McCain, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama challenged the Republican's assessment of improved security in Baghdad and argued that only a change in strategy will bring a responsible end to the conflict.
"What we need today is a surge in honesty," the Illinois senator said in a statement, contending that McCain was measuring progress in Iraq using "the same ideological fantasies" that led the U.S. into war.
http://www.chron.com/...
Washington Post (end paragraphs):
Even as the speech was delivered, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama released a statement excioriating McCain for his position on the war. "Progress in Iraq cannot be measured by the same ideological fantasies that got us into this war, it must be measured by the reality of the facts on the ground, and today those sobering facts tell us to change our strategy and bring a responsible end to this war," Obama said. "What we need today is a surge in honesty."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...