Obama ties economic woes to Iraq war

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Barack Obama blamed the Iraq war for higher oil prices and skyrocketing debt Thursday as he sought to tie the unpopular war to the slumping economy in working-class West Virginia.

The Democratic hopeful is trying to cut into Hillary Rodham Clinton's base in West Virginia. The state's demographics appear to favor Clinton, whose support is strongest among older white voters and blue-collar workers.

"When you're spending over $50 to fill up your car because the price of oil is four times what it was before Iraq, you're paying a price for this war," Obama said. "When Iraq is costing each household about $100 a month, you're paying a price for this war."

By linking the economy to the war, Obama is playing to his perceived strength as someone who spoke out against the war as a state lawmaker in Illinois. He has criticized Clinton for only recently opposing the war and said Thursday that her criticism of Republican John McCain's war policies lacks teeth.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080321/ap_on_el_pr/obama_iraq

[Bonobo]

1. Unbelievable only that it hasnt yet been driven home by others... or the media.

[Faux pas]

2. Good for him for pointing it out. wonder if anyone is listening?

PS-Anyone with a smidgen of a brain already knew that.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. smidgens seem to be pretty rare lately, especially in the brain department

.
.
.

But I'm listening

[Faux pas]

25. Yes, too true. Smidgens have become mini smidgens.....

;)

[Trajan]

3. What about WAGES ! ?

Goddamnit ..... If we cannot get support for working families from our TOP candidates, then WHO the fuck is going to represent working men and women ?

Wages ... Wages .... WAGES !

[magellan]

7. Not to mention the printing of too much currency & tax cuts for the wealthy. n/t

[Dreamer Tatum]

4. Soon to be reprinted in the April edition of No Shit magazine

[mac56]

5. a direct lift from John Edwards's recent efforts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/25/johnedwards.uselections2008

[Triana]

12. Always stealing from Edwards...

...part of me is miffed about it - the other part is just glad the messages are getting out there SOMEHOW. I just wish they wouldn't use Edwards as their unwitting ghostwriter.

[karynnj]

14. BS - This is not a new idea

It is extremely obvious and the same comments were made in 2004 - I think by everyone and I know Kerry spoke of it in every rally speech. It was spoken of often in the Vietnam war, often characterized as guns vs butter, and was blamed for the inflation in the 1970s - when mortgage rates by the end of the decade raached about 16%. This is Economics 101.

Edwards has signed on to help a group publicize the budgetary lost opportunities.

[mac56]

16. I didn't say it was an Edwards original.

I am saying that Obama didn't bring it up this trip till after Edwards did.

Clear?

[karynnj]

18. I'm saying you are wrong and that in fact, even on this war, Edwards was not first

I could go into the Senate record and find comments back in 2003, but it would be a waste of time. My point is that it is standard economics. You can't NOT talk about the war when you speak of economics or programs - they are interrelated. (I could point out that even in the very early pre-primaries (mid 2003) Kerry had a line about opening firehouses in Baghdad while we closed them here for lack of money. I seriously doubt he was the first - or that he "copied" the idea - it's the same thing you do when you budget.

It is mindboggling that you think the Edwards effort was original at all - it isn't, nor would they claim it is. The point is that they will lobby to get out of Iraq because we can't afford it - hoping to increase demand for leaving.

[mac56]

19. You did actually read the post you responded to, right?

I did NOT say it was an Edwards original. I denied saying such a thing.

Sheesh.

Ready, fire, aim.

[karynnj]

20. "a direct lift"

That's what I am going from.

[mac56]

21. You're reading an awful lot into three little words.

Much, much more than was ever intended.

You really got - all that - out of the phrase "a direct lift"?!

Amazing.

[karynnj]

22. A direct lift is essentially plagerism

Looking up lift - one definition is plagiarize: take without referencing from someone else's writing or speech; of intellectual property
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=8w8&q=define%3A+lift&btnG=Search

Care to tell me the definition you were using in saying that - there are many listed here. I'm using English.

[mac56]

23. Oh, good lord.

Okay. You're right, I'm wrong. I see now the error of my ways. Thank you for pointing it out to me.

(backs slowly and carefully out of the room, smiling all the time...)

[Peace Teacher]

8. He is smart to connect the economy at home with the cost of war. It keeps it real.

[goddess40]

9. Let's not forget NAFTA's role in this mess

and all the deregulation that has gone on over the last few decades.

[lonestarnot]

10. The two issues simply cannot be economically separated.

[Triana]

11. And Rightly So. It certainly has had a very detrimental effect on our economy...

...it's one of many factors - and it's a BIG one. Good for Obama.

[Doctor_J]

13. Anyone with half a brain could work this out

which excludes all Republicans, of course.

[Divine Discontent]

15. Right ON Barack!

All I have to say is he BETTER pick John Edwards for Veep if he wants to win. He is the one who drove the progressive agenda at stops, and quite noticeably in debates.

[maxsolomon]

17. keep hammering this, BHO

and don't let up once HRC is vanquished. this is the path to the White House.

[Demeter]

24. YES! Thank You Senator Obama!

At last somebody with a microphone stating the obvious for political gain. You'd think this would be common practice, but no! Truth tellers are pilloried.