It is SAD that the Mccain camp new that the pentagon asked him not to go and they still took a jab. Mccain is running scared and we need to fix our nation and all of the hoopla is not getting us any where. We are tired of the games.

And if McCain would have visited there?

Hasn't every other presidential candidate visited the troops? Why is it inappropriate for a black candidate? Oh yeah, because he isn't part of the Military-Industrial Complex.

Good for him. I like a president that listens to others. He will be great!

America will be isolated as much as North Korea if we pick McSame for president. The world will see how stupid and ignorant we are if we do and the whole world wants a change and Obama is the one that can bring the world together to put that into effect. Many white Americans don't like the fact that a blackman has that much power or should I say is that likable by so many. White America just have a problem with that but the rest of the world is moving on people and they want the best person for the job even if he is green. The world is speaking America and we better learn how to listen.
McSame is old and as they say "sold in his ways" and the days of the "good ole boys" are done. Rush is wrong and he lies to you every day pushing his DOPEie thoughts into your heads and blinding you with his hate speach. Its time to move on past that crap.
Obama08

Why did Obama give a speech in Berlin anyway? Politics at it's best!

Way to support the troops, Pentagon! Just like sending them out to battle with inadequate body armor…

It may not have been appropriate maybe because GWB will not allow newspapers to show caskets coming home from Iraq. It may have lessened the 20+ percent that GWB has now.

Most Obama supporters absolutely understand this. The GOP is trying to poke holes into a fabulous trip abroad. Who can blame them, the trip was a success.

Obama 08

I believe they were concerned with the OVERWHELMING support Obama has among the troops. They wouldn't want that plastered all over the tube now would they. McCain is already losing big time.

OBama is Shameless and his trip was laughable.

Let's see, in the United States we have: A housing slump, rising unemployment, rising gas prices, rising food costs, a slump in retail sales, a broken infrastructure nationwide, a healthcare crisis, homeless veterans, homeless children, an unstable stock market, failed banks, a mortgage crisis and so much more. While Obama is enjoying photo ops in the Middle East, who is addressing the problems back home? The Obama trip was supposed to be a fact finding mission. Instead, he upstaged our president and showed a level of arrogance that was incomprehensible. He can stand on the other end of a teleprompter, but he can't hold press conferences where he is asked more than one question at a time. Change has to come gradually with intelligence and humility. The spotlight needs to shine on the challenges of the American people not on Barack Obama.

pretty sad that a us senator cannot visit wounded troops,abroad.sounds more like a government that wants to control and manipulate the election ,using wounded soldiers who may have liked the 'moral' boost, while they are healing.this government needs to stop the fascist tactics of 'controlling'everything we do ,while they get rich.

I bet if cry-baby McCain had planned like that there would have been no problem. There seems to be a double standard

Obama is not gonna visit our wounded soldiers, he's too busy playin 'rock-star'. For his lack of love for America (he loves Africa) he shouldn't even be allowed in the same room as our hero's!

Andrea Mitchell pretty much said that McCain was behind this. Private citizens do not normally meet with mayors and world leaders. Why should Obama? Unless of course it is because he is a sitting Senator. Well then he should have visited the troops. He cannot have it both ways.

Obama is already acting like president of the whole world — a little scary in my opinion. If he's not the anti-Christ, he sure acts like it. The guy is an egomaniac and cannot be trusted as he will say/do anything to get elected. Then what?

"TRUTH" is not a four letter word.

THIS IS JUST WHAT I FIGURED. OBAMA TRYING TO CLAIM IT WAS HIS IDEA TO NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO VISIT THE WOUNDED GIS WHEN ALL ALONG THE PENTAGON HAD CANCELED THE VISIT FOR HIM. OBAMA, IS NOTHING BUT AN EMPTY SUIT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT HE THINKS THEY WANT TO HEAR JUST TO GET ELECTED. THIS IS A SHAME AND A DISGRACE THAT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS CHOSE TO RUN FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. THANKS DEAN, KENNEDY, KERRY, PELOSI(NO BRAINS), BYRD, RICHARDSON(LATINOS PAY ATTENTION HERE OBAMA MEANS YOU NO GOOD WILL.) WHAT IS AMERICA FALLING INTO??????

OBAMA IS NOTHING BUT A LIE.

It's really infortunate that every move Barack Obama makes is being scrutinzed. I commend him for not giving in to all the negative comments he's had to endure. John McCain complained that Barack Obama hadn't visited Iraq in years but he had no idea that Barack would do it so big. McCain still doesn't know the magnitude of the man who has center stage. Barack Obama continues to show this country and the world that we are ready for him to be the next President of the United States. For the media to make light of this trip in case you're wondering what the voters in this country think about his world trip…. my hat is off to Barack for being so eloquent, stylish, knowledgable, intelligent and having the Judgement to lead this country the way it should be led.

Given the opportunity to visit American soldiers, I'm sure the Senator would have gone to visit them. If he had decided to ignore the Pentagon, that would have been news too.

This is sour grapes on the part of a candidate who got stuck in the cheese section of a grocery store. McCain is trying to capture the wave of a country that is excited about a new Obama Administration. It won't work, the trip was a success.

Per the Weekly Standard, Obama was told he could not visit and bring along his campaign staff and media, which would be inappropriate. It would not be inappropriate for him to visit and avoid the photo ops.

I guess we know where his priorities are.

Obama is a Smart man and we would truly regret not voting for Him Obama 08

THIS WHOLE THING IS A CAMPAIGN TRIP… Now stupid are you all, he would never have gone over on a trip unless it was for a gain.

"We do have certain policy guidelines for political campaigns and elections. And what is appropriate and what is not appropriate" - Obama's Berlin speech was not appropriate, he is not the president, he should not be meeting with leaders when he is not the president, what is he promising them, like he promises Americans…

Obama is a Jerk!

WHO COULD IMAGINE ' A KING'

Oh…I get it now. Obama thought it was appropriate up and until the Pentagon expressed concern. THEN, he didn't think it was appropriate. He is so transparent! Everything for him is a photo-op.

Reporter: Senator, what do you think about so and so?

Obama: I haven't been outside yet, let me check which way the wind is blowing.

This phony guy will say whatever people want to hear! As a Hillary supporter, I received an envelope from Obama campaign last week asking for donation. All I did was send it back with a zero amount check. Obama, you can win the hearts of foreign people but will never win millions of Hillary fans' heart and mind!

After reading this garbage, someone please tell me again how the media is in the bag for Obama.

So.. the pentagon contacted him and expressed concern over his going to the troops. BUT DID NOT "EXPLICITLY" TELL HIM NOT TO GO?
(I call bulls#!t on this one)…

this is just like Bush telling Merkel he did not want Obama to speak where Kennedy and Reagan spoke, this is just like Condileeza Rice sending a memo to the country's leaders reminding them of protocol (the reason the one king actually gave obama a ride to the aiport himself), and this is like when the state department banned its employees from attending the speech.

anyone else see a pattern here?

It's actually funny that he's dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn't. MOST Americans will not feel disrespected by one of its most recognized citizens giving a mom and apple pie speech about cooperation and partnership.

John McCain spoke in Canada as a candidate and I could care less. The only problem is Barack is better at it, draws bigger crowds and makes a bigger impression than our existing president.

That is not his fault, but it does say something about the president.

This should shut up the whining McCrypt campaign that Obama did not visit the wounded in Germany, but no that would be factual, something McCrypt and crew seem determined to avoid.

Perhaps McCrypt should have a photo op in front of the Band-Aid section at the local CVS and reiterate, how Obama was WRONG for not visiting the troop hospital in Germany!

Rediculous. The Pentagon wouldn't have opposed McCain visiting. Talk about how rediculous Washington has become over the last 7 years. The list of corrupt practices is too long to list but nothing can get accomplished because of childish actions. Republicans blocked two bills today that would help lower gas prices immediately. One to regulator oil futures speculators who trade futures for the sole purpose of making money with no interest of buying oil and the other to release much needed oil supplies from the strategic oil reserve which has more supply than ever in history. Thank you so much for blocking these bills. We can now look forward to continue to pay outrageous prices at the pump because of your partisan child games.

So France have to, "Shake hands with the Devil", to shake hands with the USA????

Clearly Obama will be criticized no matter what he does. So many people have made up their minds against him that they will find an aspect to criticize, no matter how overall positive a story can be. I really cannot understand those who say that the media is pushing Obama on us - I see the opposite. I see the media magnifying and exaggerating any negative aspect. Yes, Obama gets more coverage. But so much of it has a needlessly negative tone to it that it's not doing him any favors.

All Campaign Emails have the Donate button. I'd imagine it's part of the template.

Non-Issue.

News flash: Obama takes bus across Europe because Candy Crowley eats the campaign airplane - mistakes it for a gigantic duck!

I'm glad they sent the email with the video of Senator Obama's speech, I want to hear it all. I didn't view it as a fundraising email at all. I appreciate his trying not to make things political, but most things are. I think Obama can speak where ever he wants, if they want him. The crowds in Germany proved that. I seriously don't believe Senator McCain would generate that type of crowd as a candidate, senator, president, or dressed as the easter bunny for that matter. He just doesn't generate that kind of response. Not his fault really, just the way it is.

It was a good call on Obama's part to just cancel the trip. It looks like there was an attempt towards the end of his gaffe free tour to cook up a scandal. McCain has used any and every avenue to raise money here and abroad, not to mention his speech on foreign soil in Canada. Go ahead Obama haters, let the spin begin…

The politicalization of the Military by the Bush Administration goes on

The entire trip was nothing but political campaigning. Obama needed to show he could spell foreign relations. The fact that tax dollars paid for part of it is a disgrace. If Obama had really cared about the wounded troops, he could have ditched his entourage and the press, and made a low key visit with no cameras. He only does things that are specticles though. Obama, image over substance 24/7.

CNN , I love the way you framed your headline on this article that pentagon had concerns with Obama's visit to see our wounded soldiers. The only concern that they posed was that he could not bring his staff and reporters in to make videos and to take their political snap shots. Like any other politician he could visit the wounded soldiers but his press corp could not attend and a army photographer would take still shots for him. So as usual the "OBAMA GOD" thought it was below him to meet the wounded soldiers if he could not make political hay out of it and make this self-centered appearance all about him "the great Black Messiah" this guy is a joke. What is 30 minutes of your time to give to wounded soldiers without the press kissing your backside. Tells you who this guys considers the most important and where the country will fit in with his priorities. Before you "OBAMA-NUTS" start trying to make excuses I am well aware of the policies of the army. I spent twenty years .

The McCain Campaign will somehow attack this as well.

We get it, there are a lot of people who did not want Barack to succeed on his first world tour. He did, get over it. Now they're trying to tarnish what everyone recognizes is the first step towards a new administration with a new President Obama.

McSame wishes he could get 200 people in a room, not to mention 200,000 and counting.

He does not have the world's attention and will never be an interesting person. Who wants to talk to someone who thinks the presidency is his right. No, never, not in America. He has to earn it. Arizonians may be duped, but we're not.

I also hate the way he smirks, looks at people with disdain, and laughs off important questions. He's a nobody with an interesting story in his past. Did I mention past, not present or future.

All of you REPUGS who commented yesterday your reasons why Obama did not visit our troops………Stock up on towels to wipe off the EGG off your faces…………

Bush had the Pentagon to stop Obama from visiting the troops in Germany. The World loves Obama and nothing the Republicans, Bush/McCain and the media can do to stop the real Revolution.

If Obama couldn't take his dog and pony show to the troops, he would not see the troops! It's all about votes and raising money. His e-mail had a contribute sign on it.

McCain:
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…..nobody listens to me. Stomp, stomp (raise fist in the air)…cry.

Tell me something new McSame.

Logan Act should be enacted NOW!!!

Yeah, because we know the Pentagon hasn't been filled with Bush lackies over the past 7 years. Please! Showing support for our troops with a visit isn't wrong! The Republicans will stoop lower and lower to win. Can we get to the election now so we can get these fools out of office and move on to finding solutions instead of spreading fear.

If and when Senator Obama uses troops in campaign literature, as John McCain did a few months ago when he used a picture of him shaking hands with General Petraus … IN ONE OF HIS FUNDRAISING efforts ….

THEN

the STONE CASTERS would be entitled to criticize Mr. Obama.

However, Mr. Obama will never repeat the error that Mr. McCain committed.

This report shows his team's sensitivity to these types of "GOTCHA" politics. They won't get it right 100% of the time but they sure are ahead of TEAM MCCAIN.

Senator Obama cares about all American people even you filthy, lying haters who love to put him down for anything, true or not. I accepted his reasons without judgment.

Why not try giving our next president Obama the benefit of the doubt?

I know because you are either too undereducated or just plain filled with hate to do it. Judge not or ye might be judged.

I did not know that non-American citizen's where allowed to vote in our elections.
This trip by Obama, not withstanding Obama's protest, was and is a political tour.

Obama demanded a photo op with the wounded and the military declined. Pure and simple. Obama is following the same track as Hitler. The putsch will fail thought.

Dear Griff,

I'm afraid France is too late to shake hands with the devil. He's in the White House now. They can shake hands with our next POTUS, he's in their country now.

Obama 08

CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc. if you are just going to complain about how much media coverage Obama has - STOP COVERING HIM.

Do not videotape, do not take photographs, do not interview him or ask him questions.

If you do any of those things, then stop saying he's getting too much coverage - BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES DOING IT!

What do you want him to do? Ban the press from having access? Would you like that instead? The media has become hypocritical in the extreme.

"The campaign insists it was not a fundraising e-mail." …please folks a blind person could see through that. Citizens of Berlin holding American flags, etc where given to by the Obama campaign camp to make Obama look presidential.

Still not voting for him why? Because I am tired of the media shoving Obama down my throat instead of speaking of world issues, national and local issues confronting us as Citizens of the US. I'm tired of just hearing about black/white issues as this nation is made up of various ethnic groups.

The Pentagon including Cheney Bush and McCain should be more concerned about the lives lost, trillions spent, and no bin Laden!

Gibbs said Obama is "comfortable with the decision" because he did not want to make the troops part of a campaign event.
______________________________________________________
a show of great respect and integrity from Obama….i doubt Mccain would have shown the same judgment, after his trip to the off shore oil site was canceled because of the hurricane AND THE OIL SPILL, he then opted to get a photo op in a local store…to view the eggs. please, that goes to show you that the economy and the price of milk are on;y an after thought to this man. if it weren't for the storm he would have been on that rig not in that store. Goes to show you America where is priorities are. i mean after all he does have all of those Lobbyist running his campaign

So far, everyone has missed the point. Obama couldn't score political points by visiting the troups and he decided his time would be better spent scoring political points in other ways. Obama didn't decide not to go because he was told not to go, he decided not to go because he couldn't bring his entourage, including the "in-the-bag" fawning media. It really is a shame that Obama and the democrats in general (there are many, many exceptions) do not appreciate or value the contributions of our troops. Their actions and their words over the past several years (if not decades) speak volumes about their utter lack of respect.

By the way, this is a huge, major gaffe on the part of Obama. Bigger than any gaffe that anyone was expecting. Who wants to take bets on whether or not the main stream media gives it any coverage. My only hope is that the Republicans make continuous hay out of it. You know, to score their political points to catch up to Obama's political points.

For me, the deciding factor is that the US taxpayers paid for his trip to the Middle East, as it was (at least ostensibly) related to his job as a Senator. Since there was no "job-related" purpose in his being in Germany, and his *campaign* paid for that portion of the trip, and it had a *political* purpose, it seems right and proper to me that he should not make a campaign stop on a US base. Plus, the new GI Bill he supported showed more support for the troops than any photo op could.

To me he never going to be PRESIDENT. I and my family don't trust Obama. WE don't trust his judgment at all. When McCain flew mission,Obama was sitting around smoking pat and crack.

This guy will politicize anything for self-gain!

Obama is brilliant!!! Our standing in the world has gone up 100%. Thank you Barack Obama. This trip was more than any of your supporters could have hoped for!!! You keep amazing me! We know it was the Bush crew that stopped you from seeing the troops. You'll get a chance when your President!!! Peace is Patriotic!

It is apparent you liberal people who are making these stupid comments have no idea what you are talking about. During these visits nobody is allowed any different protocol. If you are in the military or a civil service worker you can't even display a poster in your office for either canidate in a goverment facility during an election.

Obama is definitely presidential material. He needs to stop power grabbing other leaders with that hand on their elbow or shoulder. Not necessary.

He's got my vote, though.

The pentagon had said that no media could be brought to the hospital and that this wasnt to be used as a campaign stunt, so Obama pulled out.

This man cant go anywhere without his enterage, its absolutely disgusting, he's not in touch with reality anymore.

the republicans think the U.S military is their personal property and they attacked Obama because he choose not to visit the troops there in Germany, yet they played a political game by asking him not to…

it's the same as McSenile asking Obama to visit Iraq and then attacking him for going….and "whining" that Obama is getting too much press coverage because McSame got none while he was spouting gibberish on his trip to Canada.

it's sad that the John McBush & it's republican attack dogs do not have any ideas left to move america forward other than attack the next president of the United States - Barack Obama - THE VISIONARY LEADER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, this guy is such a phony! Any person with half a brain sees right through his lies. A visit to an army base would not do anything to bolster his campaign. That's why he chose not to go there. He does not care about the troops of our nation. He is a pandering, shameless man who will do anything to win the presidency. If anyone believes he went to Europe as a senator they are grossly mistaken. He flew there on his CAMPAIGN JET. Picture (shutters) this man as President, pandering to other countries while we struggle to maintain our unipolar position as the single world power. Yeah, we need Europeans giving us advice. God knows how successful they've been in governing their own people.

The campaign cancelled the trip when he found out that the media was not allowed to go with, so no photo ops to use as a campaign backdrop.

What did Barrack do after that, he went shopping.

You left out a few important tidbits to this story to protect him.

Finally someone representing our country starts the process of reconciliation with the rest of the world after the damage done by Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" and the focus of this article is on The Pentagon's concern about Obama visiting with our wounded soldiers. How can you even go there after Bush's "Mission Accomplished" charade with it's pure political motivation.
For all you haters who support McCain, I hope the rest of us will not have to live through the outcome if you get your way. I cannot even imagine what this country will look like after McCain and his corporate cronie's, as well as the likes of Phil Gramm (his economic advisor) keep a strangle hold on power. But seriously…

At what point in the 1950s did the Pentagon, CIA, etc become seats of power independent of the president and congress? It's bad enough that "elected" officials like Bush have secret agendas and secret governments, but just why do we tolerate the secret maneuverings (all political) of the Pentagon and the CIA?

I listened to the Obama speech and I have to say…..the novelty has worn off. Again, much overinflated repeatition of generalizations that gives little substance to what the real call is. Its like a play in a theater more so then a call to action via motivation and real inspiration. Its one thing to be inspired by tones of voice and skills of speech delivery…its another thing to inspired people with an idea and mission that will initiate action once they go home.

The best sermons are those that live in actions and not only in words.

What is so wrong with someone campaigning overseas? Especially in Obama's case, where his opponents question his ability to conduct foreign policy. I think this trip was an effective way to show how he would be received abroad. Obama hasn't had the advantage of 25 years in congress to build up foreign policy credibility, as John McCain has had. Senator McCain is coming off as a blow hard. If he wants to attract the same sort of media attention that Obama has had, maybe he should get tens or hundreds of thousands of people to come out and see him speak!

Obama made phone calls to wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Germany this morning, in lieu of a personal visit to the forces that was canceled by the Obama campaign.

Obama was expected to speak to a number of soldiers individually.

Very said that Bush blocked this event. Sour grapes because the troops would much rather see Obama than Bush.

You mean that email I got with a photo and video of Obama in Germany with

VOTE FOR OBAMA and DONATE NOW

with links to pages about his trip overseas was not a campaign email?

Read what the German press said about Obama…
"The paper noted too that the speech had been intended less for the crowds gathered in Berlin's Tiergarten park than for "hesitant white voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Colorado and Virginia" and said that Obama had proved himself to be a clever tactician, capable of shifting positions to suit his audience.

"He wants to convince (voters) that the world will also listen to a black president… And there's one other thing one shouldn't forget when talking about Obama: He easily reworks even positions that have been written in stone and adjusts to new requirements."

He's a second "Slick Willy"! A chicken, or turkey, or whatever you want in your pot, or not.

Will Obama pay back the American people for his campaign trip?

His trip must have been a success then.

Lisa,

Apparently you do not comprehend what you read. Or, you see and hear what you want to. They did not advise him not to speak, only not to visit the wounded troops (for what ever sense that makes)!! You are determined to be negative when it comes to Senator Obama. Your negativaty will not prevail. He will be our (and yours like it or not) next PRESIDENT!!!

OBAMA '08 and '12

texas trail dog -

the pentagon did not cancel obama's trip for him. they advised him to cancel his trip. it's in the article above.

there shouldn't be anything wrong with obama stating the fact that he willed this non-visit

I don't believe him. Obama lies - it is a campaign trip and everyone knows it. Just like when he was campaigning in federal buildings in DC. Both McCain and the Clintons were denied similar expose on federal property. Perhaps Saint Obama feels he is above the law.

Richard Nixon didn't think the rules applied to him either. Dick Cheney doesn't either. Nice moral company.

Ambitious empty suits make me nervous.

A clear patter is emerging in America, driven by the conservatives, and bought into by the media. This guy is so impressive, and apears to be just what America needs to turn our country arpund. But ironically, the better he looks because of his mild temperament, his eloquence, his love of country, his wise take on america's problems..the better he looks, the more people seemed to be wondering….if he's too good to be true. No one wondered about such things when our great nation was blessed with similar figures such as JFK or Reagan.

Real simple there Biff. If you look at the media ABC, CBS, and NBC all tagging alone that would answer your question as to why WE think he has them in the bag. I mean, the media is as liberal as the Democratic Party or have you decided to over look that also?

Obama talks down the U.S.A to all the European American Haters and then did not have the decency to pay respects to our American troops who provided him the freedom in the first place.

First Read reports:

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama’s representatives were told, "he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers." In addition, "Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama’s visit."

The official said "We didn’t know why" the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. "He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him."

Ed Morrissey writes that "those same rules applied for the CODEL trip to Iraq and Afghanistan."

The Obama campaign’s line that he couldn’t visit troops on a leg of the trip "funded by the campaign" is crazy

No matter what Obama does, he will be dissected and criticized.

America is a free country where one can express freely. However, when it comes to Presidential elections, America is used to traversing known lines of position on various issues. Anyone who is fresh and thinking different on the approaches on where we head is charged with heresy. It is indeed strange that a country proclaiming to be the incubator in democracy can not tolerate divergent views.

Obama will be trashed all the way to the end and who knows perhaps America will elect McCain in the "name of" experience, honesty, integrity and national pride!

Give me a break. The McCain camp is really pathetic now.

If Barack had visited the troops, McCain would have asked why he didn't visit an orphanage.

When you think about it, you can't blame McCain for not commending Obama on a successful trip overseas. This is an election. What is McCain supposed to say? "Barack is obviously loved all over the world and I'm proud to call him my friend?

Texas Trail Dog is a no good dirty liar. Texas is going to elect Obama, pal. Texas Trail Dog needs to get ready to eat some trail dust.

The new analysis of the tax and health care plans for American families and businesses including income tax and capital gains taxes has been completed.

If you earn less than $200,000 a year, Obama's plan provides a higher income gain for you than McCain's plan. If you make between $200,000 and $600,000, both plans tax you about the same. If you make more than $600,000 you'll be paying about 8-9% higher taxes under the Obama plan.

So for all you making over $600,000 a year who think that the poor who can't afford bread should just eat cake - McCain's your man.

This whole trip is nothing but a campaign trip and is not appropriate. I believe it will backfire. I don't think most voters care how popular a candidate is in Europe or the middle east, Unless of course he can talk OPEC into pumping more oil. Oh thats right pumping more oil won't help cut the price. This man is a moron and don't call me a racist, Pellsoi and Reid are even bigger morons.

I think Obama campaign doesn’t know what they are doing
Hillary please come back
Hillary 08 / Mc Cain 08

It's so funny how CNN closes the comments to an article quickly when all the comments are negative towards McCain. They keep testing the waters to see if they can get a story that people will like about McCain. Good try CNN but it's not going to work - Not This Time!!!

Bush and McCain would have made an issue of Obama's visit, such is the smallness of the republican party.

McCain is nasty, and he's shown it in his despicable attacks.

By the way, the 200,000 who saw Obama in Germany were there because there were two free concerts. He's using the same gimmick in Germany that he uses here. Offer free stuff to people, show up and give a speech, and then say everyone came to here him talk.

Obama and his ways are what is wrong with the country. Beware of what you ask for.

It's so funny how CNN closes the comments to an article quickly when all the comments are negative towards McCain. They keep testing the waters to see if they can get a story that people will like about McCain. Good try CNN but it's not going to work - Not This Time!!!

On Morning Joe today… Andrea Mitchell said something about John McCain having some influence over the Pentagon's decision if this is true it needs to come out.John McCain is starting to to run a very nasty campaign after saying he was going to run a clean campaign.You would think after the way he was treated by the Bush campaing during the 2000 election that he would act better than this,but I guess not.

A fundraising link, but not for making "donations" to the campaign??? Obama couldn't wait to start USING THIS PHONY PHOTO-OP BS to help his campaign, so when he made it political he knew he couldn't do it, his call, not the Pentagons.

HE DECIDED to not go because he was already making ads using the trip and he knew there would be a conflict noted. His CALL, NOT BUSH, NOT THE PENTAGON. He made the speech like he was just "regular folks", but the reality is that he is nothing but a "typical politician".

Really? Because I have heard the Oentagon has denied they ever said that. It sounds like the media is trying to cover for Obama with this story.

…but, but McCAIN told me it was because Obama hates the troops!

Poor McSame…he's trying so hard to find a gaffe in Obama's brilliantly successful overseas trip (which he teased Obama for not taking, then whined when he took it). McCain's campaign has absolutely no message, no direction and no clue. It just whines about Obama all day.

America Isoloted?

Lets get real, the world needs us, for that matter who cares what the French or Europe think of us? Where are they whenever catastrophe hits?

This is more of a Democratic ploy to be "liked".

Bush will be a prophet in given time, as he has stood up and took action against a dicatator who was snubbing his nose at us right after 9/11 and he took him out. Not saying the planning was perfect, but war never is. I somehow recall the US letting Japan take over island after island until we got our act together

I can only laugh when people say how presidential Obama is, as he is scripted like some pastor at a Baptist church, but if you say anything bad about him your a racist

Bet the Pentagon would have no problem with McCain going.

The Pentagon, McCain and Bush is up in Armys. McCain has visisted so many bases and wanted to do a joint Town Hall meeting with OBAMA at Fort Hood, now all of a sudden the Pentagon is worried. Give me a break, as an Army Officer on Active Duty, OBAMA has the overwhelming support of the ARMY, the AIR FORCE, vast Majority of the NAVY to include the Marines. It is time for CHANGE and only OBAMA will provide that CHANGE! The Pentagon need to relax a bit, because something might be perceived as campaigning don't mean it is. OBAMA should come back here and return in late OCTOBER on a Senatorial visit to those places, the Pentagon was scared that there would be so much Military Personnels showing up to see OBAMA.
GEORGE BUSH use the Military as his staple to the election in 2000 and again in 2004, McCain did it two months ago when he visited Marine bases all over, now the military has shown its choice for President and the WAR mongers in the Pentagon are running scared. YES, WE CAN AND WE WILL, I can't ait to see, HAGEL- POWELL and SINSEKI in an OBAMA administration running the PENTAGON.

OBAMA 2008/2012 OBAMA-KENNEDY!

So, does this kill the whole argument that Sean Hannity was trying to make last night on H&C? I tell you, the basis behind that guy's arguments are so simple….Let's see what he has to say tonight.

Obama 08

"200,000 and counting."

Looks like it was more around 140,000 people who showed up for the speech 60 - 80,000 people got counted because they where in the city that day and they counted people who left public buildings.

When you get the photo of when Obama was talking people say you can count around 90,000 people listening to him… when the music was playing a few more people around 120k where around the area..

I hope they are still counting because it sounds to me like a media lie like the one in Oregon which I was at because of the music and was counted as watching Obama even though I did not want to listen to him, but was there for the music.

I guess the Idiot Bush standing on the Aircraft carrier telling us that " Mission accomplished BS story, didn't have anything to do with politics……. Cough , Gag,

Lucy..we have people all over the world burning the American flag and the best you can do is call Obama the Anti-Christ. It's more like Bush is the anti-christ.

The world needs to start healing and we finally have a man "man enough" to take us in that direction. What's the problem?

Obama would never put Petraeus in an ad because 1. Petraeus probably wouldn't let him. 2. Obama basically said Petraeus would fail. and 3. Obama no more supports the troops than Michael Moore does.

Obama is inappropriate and an obamination to boot!

Thank goodness that only Americans can vote for the President of the US. Do we really want Europeans telling us what they want as President? It's not their choice. No Obama isn't having his picture taken at every stop and having the news anchors follow him around like lovesick pre-teens… This is his first 'world' tour. Translated: Obama's first campaign photo op not on US soil. Mc Same and Osoma (oops, I meant Obama) are the same old politics. Vote for what we know works, write in Reagan/Nixon for 2008!

I think Senator Barack Obama did the right thing not going to the military base. Al though he will be criticised for not going by some. It appears that what ever Obama does he is dam if he do and dam if he don't. There is to much disinguenous,sour grapes jealously thrown unfairly at the Presidentia Candidate Barack Obama he is being ripped apart for no good reason . This is wrong , this is unamerican Anericans do not nit pick at each other. I am really disappointed at Presidential Candidate John McCain on the negative campaign he is running against Senator Obama. McCain well said he would not run a negative campaign he did, he lied. to us.

@Casey
Instead, he upstaged our president and showed a level of arrogance that was incomprehensible.
______________________________________________________
sweetie…i hate to break it to you but chewed gum stuck under a table in a smoky lounge in an abandon building in a slum in Brazil (i have nothing against Brazil, love it there) can upstage YOUR President…it is so funny how one person can see arrogance where sane people see confidence. Obama showed that he can bridge the gap between us that your Bush has made. remember dear it was Mccain who went to Canada, Mexico and Columbia to auction our jobs…Obama went to the Middle East, Israel and Europe to mend the peace. just goes to show Obama does it Bigger and Better than McCain.

This still makes absolutely no sense. Senator Obama travels to military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan for what we all know are political reasons. Yet, the Obama campaign claims the Pentagon didn't want Obama to visit sick and injured service members in Landstuhl because it would be looked upon as a political move? Something just doesn't jive. I think the bigger concern is they were concerned the Obama camp would make a circus out of it with an entourage of 3 network anchors, hundreds of media, and hundreds of volunteers trying to push all those that were there registered to vote.

Obama and the other 2 Senators could have always gone there by themselves, without the hundreds of cameras tagging behind. But, then there wouldn't have been a photo-op and that really negates the purpose of visiting injured service members.

I just noticed that CNN has an Obama ad for his campaign website. Don't you think this is being biased? I am not seeing an ad for McCain's campaign website. I would like to know if Obama owns shares in CNN why we have so much coverage on him. He or some of his campaign advisors must own shares in CNN because of the excessive coverage we get on him. I am not a McCain supporter but I know when the primaries were on, Obama received excessive coverage over my candidate Hillary Clinton. I feel if a network offers one thing to a candidate they should also do the same for the other candidates.

Everyday, also I am hearing and seeing reports on blacks in America. Are there no other race in this country who are having a hard time? What about the native Indians? We don't hear them complaining about their plight like how the black people are doing. What about a docmentary on "Whites in America? I am sure if that was done, we will hear the racist card being thrown out. We have to stop these kinds of programs which seem to increase the divide in the races. CNN is not helping by putting such programs on air.

Anyway, Clinton for president and I hope she gets what is rightfully hers ………the democratic nomination from Obama who was selected by the DNC and not elected by the voters.

Lisa.
"politics at it's best". So what? if Maccain had the chance he'll do the same. You people should stop being jealous. MacCain came to Euope, nobody even new. By the way, anytime Bush came to Europe he had to took cover from protesters's throwing tomatoes at him

Where is John McSame? He was the one who criticized Sen. Obama for not going there. We want an explanation for this McShame

Texas Trail Dog!

You my friend, are an idoit!

All he had to do was leave his press behind, they didnt tell him couldnt go he made that decision.

Of course Fox Noise chose to report that Obama chose to snub the wounded vets.

We have to understand that the world does not like America the way that they used to. If Obama will resurrect that love again why not. The president has elienated us from the rest of the world. It is time to take the lead again.

If any one thinks that Senator Obama is an ordinary American citizen or politician, I will say please look up the word ordinary in your dictionary and stop trying to be naive. Lets look at the facts. (1)
Senator Obama is the Demotractic Party presidential nominee vying for the highest office in the United States. (2) No ordianry citizen of the United States would have Heads of States and the citizens of those respective States gushing in awe of them as it is toward the Senator. (3) Why were these trips not done before he received the party's nomination bid or even before he had stated his plan to contest in the party's presidential candidate nomination process.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against the Senator's world wind thros. I am against anything that may be an opportunity to capitalize on the military institutional appeal to the ordinary citizen for personal benefit as a politician.

I am therefore in agreement that Senator Obama nor his counterpart Senator John McCain should not visit any such institution while they are in the political campaign process. Neither at this time are ordinary citizen. Only one of the two will certainly become president of the United States of America should the good Lord God spare their lives till the inaugurartion day in January 2009. They can visit after this day and before they again announce their intention to contest in any subsequent electoral process for elected office. God bless America.

Perhaps if he would have said he was going to sing bomb, Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran, they would have welcomed his visit.

One other thing: READ THE ARTICLE. The Pentagon told him they were concerned with him bringing his campaign to a military base. THEY NEVER SAID HE, HIMSELF, COULD NOT VISIT THE TROOPS. Faced with the decision to visit the troops without campaign staffers, which any true patriotic American would have certainly opted for, he chose to ignore the sacrifices of our soldiers for some final campaign photo-ops before his trip to France. What an utterly shameful man. He cares more about HIS campaing than the sacrifices of our troops.

CNN get it right….He could have gone he just wouldnt be able to bring the press and the campain staff. DoD states people running for President cant use the millitary for political show. However as a SENATOR ( I use the term loosely) he would be able to go just as any other CODEL.

Fact is when he found out pictures could only be taken by the millitary he dropped it…..If it does not benfit him and his run to rule the world he wants no part of it

Don't you moderate on a first in first out basis?

Can't you bloggers READ???? Go back to the article. The Obama camp stated that the pentagon advised against the hospital visit, but Pentagon spokesperson in writing stated they did not they merely gave the Obama camp guidelines for the vist and given the press corp wasn't allowed to accompany if Obama visited, I would imagine is why Obama declined. Do the math people. You can call McSame, McShame all you want but if you do a spell check after typing Obama's name it comes up to change it to Osama. Hmmm, conincidence, HE DOESN'T SUPPORT THE TROOPS PERIOD!!!

Listen up people, I am an Obama supporter and would like nothing more than for him to be the next President. That being said, and you can quote me, OBAMA WILL NEVER BE PRESIDENT! The powers that be will not allow that to happen, either through election rigging or (god forbid) ‘taking him out’.
The question is, when this happens, what will you people do? Will you be good little sheep or will you make a stand?

We will vote for Obama.And LUCY,he knows where you live.

As quoted by CNN

Obama's arrival in Europe follows earlier stopovers in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He says he is making the trip as a U.S. senator rather than a presidential contender.

What ? Are you kidding me ???

My God! After reading some of these comments, I am convinced we are a country filled to the brim with idiots! No wonder the world have no respect for us. SHAME ON US!

Tom
You Rep. asked him to go so shut up and have a little salt with that helping of humility

FUNDRAISING OR NOT… YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW .. THE MOMENT YOU BEGIN TO GANG UP ON BARACK… THE TALLER WE STAND BEHIND HIM…. THE MORE MONEY HE RAISES… KEEP COMPLAINING BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE'S DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

McCain and Bush-in-company are nothing but haters. The Neo-cons time is limited, because the whole world is yearning for change. And that is what Obama reperesents.

It would be great if CNN could refrain from the rapidly spreading misuse of the word "political" to refer to "partisan" or "in the service of elections" — the political is that which concerns the polis qua polis, i.e. the community, city, country. In other words, I very much hope Obama's visits are political.

If McCain had decided to go the Pentagon spokesman would be silent…except for the crikets.

Texas Trail Dog! can't even read and comprehend the story.

Look. McCain campaign is getting knocked around. Volunteers complaining that they do more than paid staffers. Young republican voters on campus are mad because they say McCain doesn't speak to them like Obama speaks to young Democrats. McCain critizing Obama about foreign policy, yet he names countries that doen't even exist anymore. Small potatoes yes, but part of this process is to determine who would be better suited as President. For all the experience McCain supposedly has, it is not helping him at all. Also what is not helping Mccain is the sight of Obama speaking to 200,000 people at a rally in Germany, and all of them, are cheering. Mc Cain goes to a german resturant instead to talk about something he clearly knows nothing about, the economy. I don't think a hollywood writer could write a better script.

I'm surprised at the negativity toward Obama from most of you… I guess what I dislike about all of this banter is that most of it comes off as ignorant. I would say that over 50 percent of the US voters are. We could have the perfect man stand before us as president and people would still find a way to stone him. I'm holding out hope… and that speech was fantastic btw… political or not it needed to be addressed.

So many comments here are off the mark - Obama was not allowed to visit the troops with press but could have went to the hospital if he only agreed not to make it a photo opp. Obama didn't want to waste his time unless he could get the publicity.

FOX NEWS think that the american people are stupid. I love how hannity always call karl rove the architec….Bush's administration is the worst ever and foxnews is still trying to give karl rove credit for creating this mess. Hannity is racist, i don't care what no one says. he keeps saying Obama is a community organizer would have done nothing, i wonder if he thinks that one of those wall street greedy bastard [enron CEO or tyco CEO) ARE better suited for the job than obama.

Obama can't visit, but McCain acn, doble standar.

leave McCain in the dust with his binky and his disgusted looks, its already as bad as lower case bush and his smerks.

Obama: "America is for sale"

What would have stopped him from visiting the troops WITHOUT any camera crews or his entourage of staffers? If he sincerely wished to honor the troops, he could have very easily done that without it appearing political.

Nothing like having a liberal that things you"ve wasted your livilhood in Iraq visit you in the hosptial while you recover from war wounds..

I guess you Obama fans love the fact that your 60.00 donation you took out of your grocery money helped pay for a free concert, speech, free beer and bratwurst for BM's German fans..it would have been nice if it was for American soldiers! Oh, well-send him another 10.00.

UNBE-BLEEPING-LEAVABLE.

Why am I surprised that the media has found a way to not bash Obama for making the most un-American, un-patriotic trip imaginable?

This is disgusting.

Please, stop falling for the trap. Obama is bad for the world, bad for America.

McCain/Romney 08.

The Pentagon should have stayed out of it. I'm sure the troops would have loved a visit from Obama!

Has McCain visited there? Can he go there now?

So now the truth comes out. Pentagon probably was just playing politics, like State when it refused to allow rep's in Germany from attending Obama's speech.

Obama ended up speaking with wounded vets by phone, with no media in sight.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Lies, lies and more lies. The "trip is not a political one", yea right. The Obama plane has his campgaign and website painted on the side.

Anyone who still believes in Obama is just plain uneducated.

To proud army and navy mom

Do you actually work, or are the "Typical Liberal" who sits at home all day with out a job blogging about how broke you are. We need to find you a job so you dont get as many free hand outs if hussein gets elected

I am glad this was revealed because there are some that were seriously attacking Obama for not visiting……

What are their response to this?

I'm telling you… Obama could cure Cancer and Aids on the same day and find a solution to hunger, homelessness and global warming the next day,

and the corporate media would take the line of the republicans and state negatively;

WHY DID HE WAIT SO LONG TO DO THESE THINGS???

The trip was supposed to be a "fact finding" mission wasn't it? We've been able to listen to a lot of hot air from Mr. Obama (still devoid of substance) but I've yet to see or hear of one "fact" that his trip was to produce.

For the Obamaniacs: BHO couldn't visit the troops because he had to have his campaign staff (and journalists) in tow. IE, no photo op, no visit.

If anyone was trying to use the troops to their own advantage it was BHO! He could have visitedthe troops as a senator with a couple of senate aids, to raise morale for the troops. Instead BHO cancelled after the pentagon expressed concern over the appearance of it being a campaign event with campaign staffers and media in tow.

Yep, this is change/judgement we can believe in! BHO should be selling used cars.

Obama did a lot to repair America's image abroad with this trip. As Americans we should be grateful that someone has come along that has the political and oratorical skills to do this. The "cowboy" approach from the Bush administration has done much harm and there is much repair work still to be done. I'm afraid that a McCain presidency would only make things worse, if that's even possible. To attack Obama for this trip is extremely short sighted and politically motivated.

gastoys, obama did not "talk down the usa." obama implied in his speech that the usa would need help fixing the situation in afghanistan and would need europe to lend its hands. it was a sure sign that obama was only interested in making sure that the american government will have funds freed up to take care of domestic issues. that doesn't sound anti-american at all.

Correction OBAMA/ BIDEN 08
yes i know his name i went for the wrong letter…

WAKE UP!

"On Morning Joe today… Andrea Mitchell said something about John McCain having some influence over the Pentagon's decision if this is true it needs to come out."

She also laughed at the footage of a US tanker sinking after a misfired missle. Joe called her on it, asking her why she would laugh at such a thing. It was quite funny.

MORNING JOE AND ALL HIS NEOCON THUGGS ARE DISGUISTING.

The RIGHT thing to do would have been to visit the hospital without the reporters and without cameras.

Would that have been so hard? Would it have been impossible to tell the press to wait outside for an hour? For even a 1/2 hour?

Why won't anyone comment on this?

This is America, Capitalism works! We do not need a socialist movement in this country!

Did the news media forget to mention that there were two live bands that are very popular in Germany, that Obama paid to proform before his speech. That way it makes it look like they all flocked there to see him… he did the same thing here in the US…paid bands to give free concerts so he would look good because of the large crowds.

That is crap, Obama is making it a political trip and he is making it a mockery of the process. He has NO foreign policy experience and he doesnt know anything of the military life. He is a high priced politician and lawyer who should be in the USA working for the American people instead of overseas making promises that he can never keep, Come on Obama, we see the smoke screen…….

I am appalled by all of the media coverage of Barack Obama. It seems to me that the media already had the coronation of this Junior Senator as the President.

Mike, Syracuse, NY

Ya mike so you could say he must be hiding something because he didn't bring press or they hate him so he left the press behind so no one would see.
SHUT UP ALREADY

it does not matter what Obama does…

it does not matter what Obama says…

he will be criticized for it, LOUDLY….

RIGHT OR WRONG…TRUTH OR A LIE….. HE WILL BE CRITICIZED.

it is ALL they have……

I wonder why he couldnt visit the wounded soldiers as a US sentaor with his official team. Will he go to places only when there are cameras and swooning media? and he says he loves america so much..pukes

Wake up america and think before you vote!

All of the McCain supporters are upset that President/Senator Obama is getting so much press. Jealous is all it is. McCain supporter stop winning. Accept the fact that Obama is going to be the next President.

Obama has the experience!

McShame and McBush are truly comical…You can clearly see how afraid the republicans are. Way to go Obama, checkmate…

CNN WHERE IS MY POST ?
BARACK THE VOTE !!!

I keep hearing about McCain's influence over the Pentagon decision.

Has anybody asked the question about McCain's influence over the IOC's ban of Iraqi athletes from Beijing? After all, you have Mitt Romney, former IOC head himself, openly campaigning for McCain's VP slot, then the IOC decision "miraculously" comes out just after Maliki embraced Obama's timeline for withdrawal……

No evidence, but highly suspect.

somethings never change. whatever Obama will do there are some who are only there to criticize. bush senior put it simple jealous thats all it is.

The Bush administration and Mccain are so childish. It's time for an adult in charge; the Obama Era can't come soon enough.

To Dan TX. I am a Texan and will not vote for Hussein Obama even if he was the only one running. Our soldiers will not vote for him because he wants to cut the military and do away with our nuclear weapons……who is going to protect you when the Terrorist arrive in the USA and put their flag on the Capitol. You have 8 years with no events in the USA, but if Obama makes it to President….then heaven help you.

As a college student who has been following the election since way too long ago…(last summmer!) I personally feel that this trip was not the best option for Obama.
First, he's a US senator. (I'm a college student in CA, but from Springfield IL)
Secondly, he is not the president yet. Why is he making promises to foreign leaders when he is not even the president yet.
Thirdly, we have so many issues here in the US, why parade in a foreign land to prove that you can handle foreign relation issues. Worry about the homeland first, the major fallacy of the current administration. Anyway, how can a whirlwind tour of the world really teach a person about foreign problems and US involvement in the first place. The only way to truly know a foreign environment is to bleed and sweat among their people for a really long time.
Fourth, you need to focus on the US, German citizens cannot vote in November, and none of the promises can be fulfilled if McCain wins.
The latest CNN poll shows Obama barely over McCain….think about it

I am just concerned that if America picks Obama, we will fall into a trap of empty promises…so sad that Edwards was booted out. For a person who would rather argue about Rezko and Walmart and Reagan than the plight of the people…sad…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Haedh8BaMY4

Please Obama focus on AMERICA

If we could send a message to Barack Obama and his campaign gurus, it would be "Hey, we're not stupid!" Those of us who've had numerous presidential campaigns under our belt, certainly know the difference between what is politics as usual, and what is not. One question we would have would be what does Obama and Mr. Gibbs, et al hope to achieve by campaigning in Germany, France, etc. We need to have this clarified. Did he get donations from them? If so, what will they get in return? Finally, John McCain is asking the same questions the American public is asking. When Obama goes to Germany and talks about America's short-comings and failures, somehow that seems to warrant asking questions.

Thanks as usual for allowing this venue to have our questions aired.

I guess for his trip to seem successful Barack needed to hangout in a cheese isle.

Obama is out shinning Bush and that's the problem.

Way to go President Obama

I think it is interesting that the Pentagon gives a crap where and in what capacity Obama sees our military troops. I respect Obama for making the best decision he could given the circumstances.

McCain just makes me want to vomit. I have absolutely no respect for him at this point.