In his speech Tuesday night in Iowa, Barack Obama took the fight to John McCain hard, tying him directly to President Bush’s failed policies and slamming him on everything from lobbyists and Iraq to health care and tax cuts.
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“This year’s Republican primary was a contest to see which candidate could out-Bush the other, and that’s a contest that John McCain won.
“Now, I will leave it up to Senator McCain to explain to the American people whether his policies and positions represent long-held convictions or Washington calculations, but the one thing they don’t represent is change.”
You can watch the entire thing here, which includes this line, by far my favorite of the speech:
“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age, and for that we are grateful to her.”
Full transcript below the fold:
More than anything, we need this unity and this energy in the months to come, because, while our primary has been long and hard- fought, the hardest and most important part of our journey still lies ahead.
We face an opponent, John McCain, who arrived in Washington nearly three decades ago as a Vietnam War hero and earned an admirable reputation for straight talk and occasional independence from his party.
But this year’s Republican primary was a contest to see which candidate could out-Bush the other, and that’s a contest that John McCain won.
The Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans that once bothered John McCain’s conscience are now his only economic policy.
The Bush health care plan that only helps those who are already healthy and wealthy is now John McCain’s answer to the 47 million Americans without insurance and the millions more who can’t pay their medical bills.
The Bush Iraq policy that asks everything from our troops and nothing of Iraqi politicians is John McCain’s policy, too. And so is the fear of tough and aggressive diplomacy that has left this country more isolated and less secure than at any time in recent history.
The lobbyists who ruled George Bush’s Washington are now running John McCain’s campaign. And they actually had the nerve the other day to say that the American people won’t care about this.
Talk about out of touch. I think the American people care plenty about that.
Now, I will leave it up to Senator McCain to explain to the American people whether his policies and positions represent long-held convictions or Washington calculations, but the one thing they don’t represent is change.
Filed Under: Barack Obama, Campaigns/Elections, John McCain
Tags: Kentucky, Oregon, Primary
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Obama’s a class act.
I like him.
Elect him.
Nice to see he is shedding the fight with Clinton and concentrating on the fight with McCain. Sorry Clinton people, but Barack is ahead in every metric, and though he “won’t cross the finish line” he will still be closer than Hillary.
Time to fall in line and push our horse to the White House.
It’s nice to see Obama get out his rose-colored speeches, and get down to some FDR-style fighting words. It’s a shame his policy positions aren’t as progressive as Clinton or Edwards, but he’s a hell of a lot better than McCain.
There is a long, tough road ahead. It is time for EVERY Democrat to get on board. Hillary needs to back the party, not her ego.
It’s going to get ugly, folks. Keep the faith.
Go, Obama! Go!
Senator McCain better break out the oxygen bottle, the deep heat, and the rocking chair with a foot rest, cause it’s going to be a long, long fall election season!
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“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age, and for that we are grateful to her.”
Too little, too late. Unless Mr. Obama outright and unequivocally condemns the misogyny that he has benefited from, I will not vote for him. I can withhold that vote with a clear conscience because he will never win my red state.
I guess we now know why McInsane doesn’t have to “talk” to foreign governments.
The more things “Change” in the GOP, the more they remain McSame.
Thinking Person @ 8:
Your timing is impeccable!
Quite possibly the only thing standing between this country and the toilet may be Obama but you still would not vote for him because he has not condemned a societal problem quite to your satisfaction? Your conscience is easily cleared.
Thinking Person @ 8:
Would you do us all a favor and annotate it so we know what you are talking about? I have never seen a candidate for public office defend an opponent in my life. Have you?
i was extremely bothered when obama told blitzer he would not be changing us policy regarding cuba
its truly idiocy
how can we continue to have trade relations with china, but not cuba?
this election cycle has totally effed with obama’s principles
uncle joe,
Isn’t this pretty much the standard line for all politicians? They all want that Florida vote in the general election.
Which President has normalized relations with Cuba? Clinton? Carter?
Nope.
We have a lot of other battles to fight yet.
I want Habeas Corpus back! I want the torture to END!
“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age, and for that we are grateful to her.”
Whatever makes your conscience feel better Obama.
I know what will make my conscience feel better, and that is to not vote for you, not now, not ever.
Aaron @ 4:
While I agree with your perspective on the Senator neither of our opinions really matter much.
You see, against McSame Senator Barky is a freakin’ loser.
And the EC maps you see on the linked sites are NOT polling averages. They are Monte Carlo simulations and if you don’t know what that is why…use TEH GOOGLE!
SM @ 16:
Follow your concience. I know i will follow mine.
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Who left the troll door open??
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Woohoo! I’ve been waiting for this. Right on, Mr. Obama!! I wish I could’ve kicked McSame’s nuts like this…
Blue Lensman @ 22:
It’s open wide. It’s a free society, let them bay at the moon. After all, it’s about all they got left.
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A.Citizen @ 17:
The maps on the page you link to show Obama with a 58.1% probability of winning vs. McCain.
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Rusty Shackleford @ 28:
That’s terrible!
He doesn’t stand a chance!
LOL! :)
Did I miss the convention? Sen Obama already making acceptance speeches?
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Thinking Person @ 8:
and when did Clinton unequivocally condemn the racism that she has benefited from in this campaign? oh that’s right, she didn’t.
this kind of thinking is downright ignorant. you would rather see McCain swing the Supreme Court to a ultra-conservative majority for the next three decades than vote for Obama?
it’s always a choice between two less than ideal candidates. Obama is obviously far better for the country than McCain would be. but go ahead, feel smug in your ‘tribe over country’ attitude.
Stella @ 20:
Hamas? They’re the ones that can’t even control the fucking Gaza Strip, right? How are they magically able to benefit from an Obama victory that would ease American divisions so the
Legion of Doom-I mean terrorists can’t beat us. Come on, at least use a credible terror threat!#8
“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age, and for that we are grateful to her.”
Too little, too late. Unless Mr. Obama outright and unequivocally condemns the misogyny that he has benefited from, I will not vote for him. I can withhold that vote with a clear conscience because he will never win my red state.
you expect Obama to condemn misogyny while Hillary talks about how “hard working WHITE Americans won’t vote for him”. How racially motivated is that? Is running for office while a woman or a black man more difficult? I would say both are extremely difficult. Hillary is amazing-she HAS broken barriers and changed America for the better.
If you vote for McCain instead of Obama then clearly this campaign was all about the candidate and not your party. The differences could not be clearer between both parties.
And @ 3:
This is what bugs me most about arrogant Obama supporters. Don’t just assume we will vote for him because we are democrats. Hillary has explained the specifics of what she will do for this country. Obama talks pretty, but that’s all he does. I don’t know what his plan for America is and until I do then my vote will be in limbo. Won’t vote for McCain but I’m not going to vote for Obama either until I know his plan. I will not ” fall in line with OUR horse”. He’s your horse not mine.
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mr. kranky @ 36:
She didn’t condemn it she encourages it.
By the way, I am a 51 year old white, hard working American man,
voting for Obama, for change and hope.
With hat tip to bestauntintheworld. :)
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Awesome!
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Bud @ 39:
Nice stereotyping there. How is this for a stereotype?- How is that FUX News working out for you?
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Bud @ 39: