Obama's Berlin Speech July 24

Update: Transcript and reaction. Video coming!

Update: it's expected to start 1 pm eastern time live streaming at cnn.com

Obama's world tour map

The gates open at 4 pm Germany time (check out my Obama time clock in the sidebar. They are 9 hours ahead) More details
German chancellor Angela Merkel says she will tell Obama that Germany will have limited involvement in Afghanistan. There are big hopes for Obama to win the election. It seems that the whole world felt oppressed by the Bush administration. 
The expected fanfare: Time

Spiegel: More than 13,000 US citizens are officially registered as residents of Berlin, and Steltzer is convinced that Americans living in nearby countries will make a pilgrimage to Germany to get a glimpse of their idol. Steltzer learned from some fellow Democrats in Paris that some of them were hoping to make the trip to Berlin. Democrats Abroad in neighboring Denmark and the Netherlands have announced similar plans. And Christine Marques, who heads Democrats Abroad, will be coming to Germany's capital on Thursday from Switzerland.
Whether it turns out to be a couple thousand or a million, no one knows for sure how many people will ultimately converge near the Grosse Stern traffic circle in the middle of Berlin's Tiergarten park, the geographical heart of the city. And there is very little time left for dealing with the organization and logistics of the event. Nonetheless, city officials seem to be taking a laid back approach to Obama's planned speech. "There's nothing left that can shock us," an official at the municipal office in charge of the event says. After the Love Parade (more...) and the so-called "fan miles" held for soccer fans in the Tiergarten for the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Championship that persistently drew crowds of over 1 million beer-swilling soccer enthusiasts, Obama's appearance should be a piece of cake.

Der Spiegel's interview with Obama's foreign policy adviser, Susan Rice:

SPIEGEL: It is unusual for a US presidential candidate to travel to Europe in the middle of the campaign. Why is Barack Obama coming?
Susan Rice: Senator Obama believes it is critically important for the United States and Europe to cooperate far more effectively than we have in recent years. None of us can tackle the critical global challenges we face in isolation -- be it terrorism, proliferation, climate change, disease, poverty or energy security. Obama will want to discuss in Europe and Germany how we each view these challenges and how we can best address them together.

SPIEGEL: Critics say the trip is nothing but a PR stunt to strengthen his foreign-policy credentials and that he has only rarely been to Europe before.

Rice: Senator Obama has travelled to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia many times before. He lived in Asia. He bows to nobody in his understanding of this world. This trip will be yet another opportunity for Senator Obama to exchange views with the leaders of countries whose partnership is critically important to US national security.

High hopes for Obama:

Obama is the hope of a Western world filled with concerns. A recession looms as does high inflation sparked by exploding demand for commodities and natural resources. Furthermore, no one has yet come up with a convincing response to global warming. No one knows how to bring peace to the Middle East, Afghanistan or Iraq. And no one has a promising strategy for dealing with Islamist terrorism.
At the same time, the West is searching for its place in an "incomplete world order," as journalist Peter Bender describes the current state of affairs. How strong will China, Russia and India become? How should the West interact with these countries? And is there even such a thing as the "West" anymore?

It is time for leadership. And only one man inspires the kind of confidence that would enable him to assume this leadership: Barack Obama. Germans, in particular, are pinning their hopes on this man. Whereas just 10 percent favor the Republican candidate John McCain, fully 76 percent consider Barack Obama the better candidate.

Michelle Obama Dines With Germany's First Man

Michelle Obama dines with the reclusive first man of Germany, Joachim Sauer, Chancellor Angela Merkel's husband.

Check out more photos at Spiegel. 
The Obamas and Sarkozys


Prepping for what I have no idea

Awaiting Obama in Germany

In France and Germany on Friday, US President Barack Obama said he wanted to renew the trans-Atlantic partnership. Part of that alliance, though, involves more European troops for Afghanistan, he said. Unexpectedly, Obama called for a world without nuclear weapons.

The reception for Barack Obama was just what most had been expecting. Hundreds of American flag-waving Baden-Baden residents turned out for the arrival of the US president, many of them chanting "Obama, Obama." German Chancellor Angela Merkel received Obama with full military honors. She was joined by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung and a handful of other political luminaries. Read the rest at Spiegel

Obamas Host State Dinner for Germany June 7

From the White House:
President Obama and the First Lady will welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband, Dr. Joachim Sauer, to the White House for an Official Visit and State Dinner on June 7, 2011. This will be the first Official Visit by a German chancellor since Helmut Kohl was hosted at the White House in 1995. Chancellor Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany and who became Germany’s first woman chancellor in 2005, received the 2010 Medal of Freedom, which the President will present to her during this visit.

The Chancellor’s visit underscores the fundamental importance of the U.S.-German alliance, the depth of the friendship between our people, and our commitment to move forward together on behalf of our shared interests and values. The President and the Chancellor will discuss the broad array of issues on which the United States and Germany cooperate closely, including in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iran, and on promoting human rights and global economic stability and growth.

Biden Speaks on US Policy on Iran in Munich Feb. 3

Read White House background on what Biden is doing in Germany, France and the UK.


Biden's agenda in Munich:



Biden's schedule today per the WH:

In the morning, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. This visit will be closed press.

Later, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Landstuhl, Germany, en route Paris, France.

In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will arrive in Paris. The arrival at Paris Orly Airport is open press.

Biden's meeting with world leaders:

Vice President Joe Biden met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Munich today, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President emphasized the importance of the two countries working together in the interest of international peace and security, including in Syria. The Vice President noted that while the United States and Russia will continue to have serious differences - including, among other things, on human rights and Russia's recent ban on U.S. adoptions - U.S. and Russian leadership is necessary to achieve practical solutions to the challenges facing the world today.

Vice President Biden met with United Nations and Arab League Joint Special Representative (JSR) Lakhdar Brahimi today in Munich, Germany, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President thanked Brahimi for his steadfast work to bring resolution to the ongoing crisis in Syria and pledged that the United States would continue to support his efforts. The Vice President and JSR Brahimi discussed the dire humanitarian situation inside Syria and the regional implications of the Syria crisis. Vice President Biden also met separately with Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) President Moaz al-Khatib on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. The Vice President praised al-Khatib’s personal courage and leadership of the SOC, the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The Vice President urged al-Khatib to continue his efforts to maintain unity among the SOC leadership, to isolate extremist elements within the broader opposition, and to reach out to, and be inclusive of, a broad range of communities inside Syria, including Alawites, Christians and Kurds. The Vice President reaffirmed the U.S. call for an end to the Assad regime and a transition that leads to a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Syria, where the rights of all Syrians are protected. The Vice President commended al-Khatib’s recent statements, including in Munich, expressing openness, under certain circumstances, to the possibility of negotiations to bring the Syrian people the leadership they deserve.

Obama and Merkel News Conference June 26

Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel met this morning in the Oval office ahead of the G8 summit next week.
Ahead of the video, which I'll post later if it comes available, is some of what he and Merkel said--PARAPHRASED:
Discussed the tragic situation in Iran. They talked about the peoples' bravery. He said we see the violence and we condemn it. They discussed Iran's nuclear program.
They discussed the Middle East.
We agreed on confronting extremism in Aghanistan and Pakistan
They talked about working with the Russian government to advance common interests such as reducing nuclear arsenals.
Merkel:
Today, challenges can't be met by one nation going it alone.
Iranian people need to be given the rights to peaceful demonstrations and votes recounted. The Iranian nuclear program needs to stop.
They talked about climate and the economy. The bill in the House means the U.S. is serious about climate, she said. It's an enormous success that I wouldn't have thought possible a year ago.
They take questions:
NYT: Have you changed your view on Mousavi and Ahmandinejad and will you apologize to Ahmadinejad for meddling (what?)
Obama said given the structure of the power of the government and the power residing with Khamenei, we could not automatically assume there could be a huge shift on those security issues. What's clear over the course of days, Mousavi has shown to capture the imagination and the spirit of forces within Iran who want to open up. He represents people on the streets. I continue to believe Iranians need to decide who their leaders are going to be. A govt. that treats their citizens with such violence and can't deal with peaceful protestors has moved outside of universal norms. Merkel and I share the believe the violence is unacceptable.
On the apology: I don't take Ahmadinejad's statements seriously about apologies given the fact that the U.S. has gone out of its way to not meddle. Ahmadinejad needs to think about the obligations he owes to his own people.
On Gitmo: We are going to be looking for the help of our friends and allies as we close Guantanamo that is going to be difficult politically. The EU gave a legal framework of how to evaluate Gitmo detainees. The specifics are still preliminary. Merkel has an obligation to make sure Germany's interests come first. We will continue to have constructive discussions.
Merkel has not made commitments of that sort. Conversation has been general.

Merkel: We aren't going to shirk our responsibility.

Q on dialogue with Iran and what about Iraq deadline:
We are still waiting to see how the situation in Iran plays out. I continue to call on the Iranian govt. to deal with people peacefully. There is no doubt that direct dialogue or diplomacy will be effected by the events of the last several weeks. We don't know how any potential dialogue will be affected. The clock is ticking. Iran's nuke program is moving along. We have to be steady in recognizing that Iran with a nuke is a big problem. We have to work with international community to prevent that from happening. We will see multilateral discussions with Iran. The direct dialogue between the U.S. and Iran we'll have to see how that plays out in days and weeks ahead.
On Iraq, we are concerned about the bombing in Iraq. If you look at the overall trend, despite the high profile bombings, security continues to approve. Still some work to do with Maliki govt. I haven't seen as much political progress as I would've like to seen. There continues to be violence in Iraq but the bigger challenge is can the Shia, Sunni and the Kurds work together.
Merkel:
On Iran, we've seen horrifying scenes. We will do everything to identify the victims. Iran can't count on the world community turning a blind eye. Iran can't gain nukes. I completely agree with the president--we need to bring Russia and China in on this.

Merkel shakes her head as a German reporter asks why Obama hasn't give an interview to German media. He asks something else but the mic is off.

Obama says the times I've visited Germany have been wonderful. I will always have a warm spot in my heart for Germany. We had a rally in Germany. It was pretty good. I like Chancellor Merkel a lot, he said. She's smart, practical and I trust her when she says something. That's what you want from an international partner.
On climate change, Obama boasts the energy bill about to be voted on in the House.

Merkel: I'm gratified Obama is interested in the climate issue. We're both convinced climate change means more than numbers.
Partial video:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Obama Meets With Germany's Merkel

Obama's scheduled to speak in Berlin at 1 pm eastern time.

Who do Germans want for America's president? 

Spiegel: Would he drive to the Chancellery in a motorcade or would he take a helicopter for his visit to Chancellor Angela Merkel? Obama's charter jet had barely touched down at Berlin's Tegel Airport, and reporters were already asking the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate how he planned to get around the city.

Then he stepped into a sedan -- part of a long motorcade, accompanied by US security vehicles and German police -- and began the journey to downtown Berlin, with hundreds of fans standing by as he made his way. Obama briefly greeted a crowd assembled on the street before disappearing into the Chancellery. As she greeted the presidential candidate, Merkel said she was hoping to have a good conversation with Obama.

The talks between the German leader and Obama lasted for about an hour, and the pair reportedly discussed climate protection, global trade and German-American relations. Just after 12 p.m., the Illinois senator and his entourage traveled about a half a mile further to the Adlon Hotel near the Brandenburg Gate before a afternoon meeting planned with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of the Social Democrats. He also has plans to meet with Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit.

Obama finally arrived at the Foreign Ministry a little after 2 p.m. and emerged almost an hour later. Immediately following the meeting, Steinmeier announced: "The atmosphere was open and trusting. We built on our telephone conversation from mid-April." Steinmeier said he detected parallels in their philosophy of foreign policy. "Cooperation instead of confrontation -- that is also his foreign policy aim," adding that it had been a good conversation. read more

What Obama might say:

According to Obama's advisors, the candidate is expected to call on Europeans to increase their role in the war on terror. Obama is expected to ratchet up its efforts in that campaign, an advisor told Reuters. Obama has already announced that he plans to send more US troops to Afghanistan. He is also expecting greater contributions from America's NATO allies in Europe.
In an interview published earlier this week in SPIEGEL, Obama foreign policy advisor Susan Rice called on NATO to increase its troops and "to the greatest extent possible" to "lift operational restrictions." Though Rice did not mention Germany specifically, Berlin has drawn criticism in the US and Canada for refusing to send troops into the hotly contested southern part of the country where the Taliban insurgency has grown in strength. Instead Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are restricted to peacekeeping and rebuilding in the relatively safe northern part of the country.

Bidens Head to France Feb. 3

The Bidens leave Germany and are off to France. From the White House:

In the morning, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. This visit will be closed press.

Later, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Landstuhl, Germany, en route Paris, France.

In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will arrive in Paris. The arrival at Paris Orly Airport is open press.

The Long History of Healthcare and Questions Answered

Marketplace's Tess Vigeland talked to a healthcare historian. Does this sound familiar?

Opponents of the reform effort came up with a strategy. This was in the years leading up to World War 1. America was about to go battle with Germany. And Germany had been the first country to pass universal health care.

DUBIN: And they used this anti-German feeling as a way to attack compulsory health care as some insidious plot to undermine the American government and the American people.

WARNER: So they called them the dirtiest word you can call an American, which is a European.

DUBIN: Right, and only in this time, there were various, "Germans," and "Prussians" and "doing the Emperor of Germany's work."

This became the pattern. When reformers tried to restart the debate in the 20s, they were called socialists.

DUBIN: Right and in Harry Truman's era they called them Bolsheviks and communists. And that's the whole history of health care reform is, champions, they lose, someone picks it up again, champions it, they lose.

Until the day comes when they win. Read more at Marketplace

Healthcare has a long and tangled history of reformers trying to get it done, and alas, it is done. Well, first steps anyway. It's interesting that those who have tried to reform healthcare have been called names throughout history. Some people will always stand in the way of change because change is scary.
In addition to the history of healthcare, this episode of Marketplace also had some more details on the new healthcare law and how it affects you, including information on the exchanges that we've heard so much about. It's becoming more apparent to me that this really is a big deal, even beyond its historical relevance. Listen to the whole program:

Obama's 5 Nation Tour that USA Today Dampens

USA Today tries to dampen Obama at every turn. Sometimes a writer's agenda is too obvious. Italics mine.

USA Today: In contrast to the low-key coverage of Republican John McCain's European and Middle East trip in March, Obama will be accompanied by a campaign plane of reporters and trailed by three network broadcast anchors. McCain got some headlines, but did not have a traveling press corps.
Hmmm.... I wonder why no one cared to follow McCain. Could it be that he's an uninspiring leader? Once again, the power of leadership is discounted. Only a leader can truly accomplish big goals.
Obama is "going to be a rock star," said James Thurber, an American University political scientist who recently taught a course in Brussels. "Expectations are high," agreed Christian Hacke, a retired professor of foreign policy at the University of Bonn. "I think too high."
The insinuation that we shouldn't expect too much from Obama.
Obama lived in Indonesia as a child but lacks the foreign policy experience of McCain, a Navy veteran and the top-ranking GOP member of the Senate's Armed Services Committee.
Here is the assumption that experience over brilliance, wisdom and judgement is most important. Might I add, McCain had a certain kind of military "experience."
Obama leads McCain in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. But when asked whether each candidate can handle the responsibilities of being commander in chief, eight in 10 said McCain could, compared with 55% for Obama.

Once again, USA Today points to Obama's perceived weakness.
This week, Obama delivered two foreign policy speeches and began airing a TV ad touting foreign policy plans. On Wednesday, he told an Indiana audience he would try to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
This sounds so bland, no context, no details. Obama just wants to rid the the world of nukes. How lofty of him.
Obama is discovering that travel abroad can be both a broadening experience and potentially hazardous. He has ruffled feathers in Jerusalem by telling U.S. Jewish leaders last month that he regards the ancient city as Israel's undivided capital — and then amending his statement after Palestinian protests.

Pointing again to the negatives. 
In Germany, an Obama plan to speak before the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of German reunification, "went over like a lead balloon," said Janet Day-Strehlow, an American voter who lives in Munich and supports the Democrat. Still, Day-Strehlow added, "I think there will be a good bit of forgiveness because he's new on the world scene."
Pointing out the negative and highlighting it with a condescending statement. Obama doesn't need forgiveness. 
Overseas interest in Obama's visit is high. "Germany is Obama-land," Karsten Voight, a German official in charge of relations with the U.S., told a German newspaper earlier this year. A May poll of more than 6,000 Europeans for London's Daily Telegraph showed Obama favored over McCain by wide margins in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.
Can we have some context? Why do Europeans like Obama. Could it be that they're hopeful that America will become America again? 
In the Arab world, Obama's candidacy has left many "pleasantly surprised with him and the United States," said Hussein Ibish, senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine. Ibish cited Obama's Arabic middle name, Hussein.
Now, understand USA Today is the people's paper because it's full of photos and not a whole lot of analysis so to mention that Ibish cited Obama's middle name without adding context incites all the hate mongers.

While foreign experience can enhance a candidate's stature, history shows it can also backfire.

Planting the seeds of doubt. I have no doubt that Obama will be quite comfortable overseas because he's culturally aware and respectful.
In 2004, stories about Democratic nominee John Kerry's family ties to France hurt him. In 1999, a hug between then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Suha Arafat, wife of then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, nearly derailed Clinton's fledgling Senate campaign in New York.
Pointing to two "mistakes" by democrats. Where are the republican examples.
For Obama, a rapturous overseas reception may be exhilarating, but "whether blue-collar workers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan think it's great is questionable," says American University's Thurber.
Note the use of the word "rapturous." And again, as if the election hinged on the racist vote. Blue collar voters support Obama too. Plenty of them. It's just the racists of the Appalachian region who have a problem and they will be drowned out this election.

Overall, a highly negative story about a promising trip.

Germany Urges Iran to Step Up

Obama put the word out -- the U.S. has a new approach to foreign policy and that already has brought change. The European Union has stepped up to help Obama close Guantanamo and now Germany is urging Iran to behave.

Xinhua: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged on Friday Iran not to reject new U.S. President Barack Obama's offer to open direct talks on the country's nuclear program, saying diplomacy was the way to solve the dispute.

Obama has shifted U.S. policy on Iran since he took office on Jan. 20 and wanted to engage in "direct diplomacy" with Iran, according to the report of AP. "I think it is time for us to urge Iran and the Iranian leadership not to reject this hand," Steinmeier said in a speech to lawmakers on Friday and stressed the importance of "diplomatic solution" to settle Iran's nuclear issue.

The diplomats from the UN Security Council's permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany will meet "in the Frankfurt area" on Feb. 4, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said Friday.

Direct Talks With Iran

The U.S. is now set to join Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia in talks with Iran about its suspect nuclear program-- if Iran signs on.

WAPO: WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration said Wednesday it will participate directly in group talks with Iran over its suspect nuclear program, another significant shift from President George W. Bush's policy toward a nation he labeled part of an axis of evil.

The State Department said the United States would be at the table "from now on" when senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany meet with Iranian officials to discuss the nuclear issue. The Bush administration had generally shunned such meetings, although it attended one last year.

"We believe that pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters. "There is nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon."

In other Iranian news, Hillary Clinton is working to free a journalist accused of spying:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed the Obama administration's concern over reports that U.S. journalist Roxana Saberi, an NPR freelancer, has been charged with espionage, reiterating her call for the reporter's speedy release.

"We are deeply concerned by the news that we're hearing," Clinton said at the State Department. She said the White House was working through Swiss diplomats in Iran for the "most accurate, up-to-date information."

"I will, as will the rest of the department, continue to follow this closely and we wish for her speedy release and return to her family," Clinton said. NPR

Prepping for NATO Summit

See the NATO site here.
Raw footage of the Peace Camp prepping for the 60th anniversary of the NATO Summit in Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany.
NATO member countries.

Allied leaders of 28 nations have arrived at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden. They were welcomed by the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Chancellor of Germany, Mrs. Angela Merkel and the President of France, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy and their spouses.
The two-day event began with the working dinner of the Heads of State and Government (HOSG) in the famous premises of the Baden-Baden Kurhaus. Following an official welcome by the leaders of the host nations and the Secretary General of NATO, the participants had an exchange of views on NATO’s future roles and missions. During the evening session, Allies are also expected to discuss long-term relations with Russia.
The second day of the Summit, on the morning of 4th April, will begin with a solemn ceremony at the Rhine River, honouring the men and women in uniform who have, and continue to, put their lives at risk in NATO-led missions and operations for the security of the Euro-Atlantic community.
Following this event, Alliance leaders will convene for a working session of the North Atlantic Council in Strasbourg. It will be devoted primarily to a discussion of the ongoing operational commitments of NATO, in particular its engagement in Afghanistan.
The NATO leaders will adopt a number of key documents, including a final communiqué, a Declaration on Allied Security and a statement on the Alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.
Prior to the start of the Summit itself, the Secretary General will give the keynote speech at a Youth Summit in Strasbourg. NATO

Obama's Schedule Nov. 5

More details on Obama's India trip here.

9:25 AM	The President delivers a statement to the press on the monthly jobs numbers Roosevelt Room Pooled Press
9:45 AM	The President and the First Lady depart the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base South Lawn Open Press
10:00 AM	The President and the First Lady depart Andrews Air Force Base en route Ramstein, Germany Travel Pool Coverage
5:10 PM	The President and the First Lady arrive in Ramstein, Germany and Air Force One refuels Local Event Time: 10:10 PM CET Open Press

Show Detailed Press Information

Maliki Backs Obama's Plan for Iraq Exit

The more I think about it, we've been so had by the Bush administration. What is Bush McCain going to say now? That they don't know what's good for them, only the U.S. does. What a mess.

'AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'
Iraq Leader Maliki Supports Obama's Withdrawal Plans

In an interview with SPIEGEL, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Barack Obama's 16 timeframe for a withdrawal from Iraq is the right one.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months. When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned." He then continued: "US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.

Maliki was careful to back away from outright support for Obama. "Of course, this is by no means an election endorsement. Who they choose as their president is the Americans' business," he said. But then, apparently referring to Republican candidate John McCain's more open-ended Iraq policy, Maliki said: "Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of US troops in Iraq would cause problems."

More by way of the Swamp, in the German newspaper Spiegel:

The situation in Iraq seems to be improving. SPIEGEL spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki about his approval of Barack Obama's withdrawal plans and what he hopes from US President Bush in his last months in office.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Prime Minister, the war and its consequences have cost more than 100,000 lives and caused great suffering in your country. Saddam Hussein and his regime are now part of the past. Was all of this worth the price?

Maliki: The casualties have been and continue to be enormous. But anyone who was familiar with the dictator's nature and his intentions knows what could have been in store for us instead of this war. Saddam waged wars against Iran and Kuwait, and against Iraqis in the north and south of his own country, wars in which hundreds of thousands died. And he was capable of instigating even more wars. Yes, the casualties are great, but I see our struggle as an enormous effort to avoid other such wars in the future.
SPIEGEL: Germany was opposed to the war. German Economics Minister Michael Glos was in Baghdad the week before last, Daimler AG plans to build trucks in Iraq, and you will travel to Berlin this week. Has everything been smoothed out between Germany and Iraq?
Maliki: We want closer relations, and it is my impression that the Germans -- the government, the people and German companies -- want the same thing. Our task is to rebuild a country, and the Germans are famous for effective and efficient work. We have great confidence in them and want to involve them in the development of our country.

SPIEGEL: And there is truly no resentment against a country that opposed the war in 2003?

Maliki: We do not judge our partners on the basis of whether or not they were militarily involved in toppling Saddam. The decisions back then corresponded to the national will of the countries, and we respect that.

SPIEGEL: What exactly do you expect from the Germans and from German companies?

Maliki: We want to get to know them, and we want to know what they want -- and the things they fear when thinking about Iraq. We have to start over again in many areas, including oil production, the development of the power grid and all industries. There is much to be done.

SPIEGEL: What do you expect from the Germans, politically and militarily? The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) occasionally trains Iraqi security forces -- but only in neighboring countries.
Read the rest

Update: Obama's response

Obama Campaign Senior National Security Advisor, Dr. Susan Rice, in response to Prime Minister Maliki's support for Senator Obama's Iraq plan...

Senator Obama welcomes Prime Minister Maliki's support for a 16 month timeline for the redeployment of U.S combat brigades. This presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility, while restoring our military and increasing our commitment to finish the fight in Afghanistan.

Obama's foreign policy advisers.

Sarkozy Praises Brown Throws a Bone to Obama

The Obamas are off to France, where Obama will meet with Sarkozy and hold a town hall meeting. Sarkozy's a funny guy:

Guardian: Nicolas Sarkozy tonight lavished praise on Gordon Brown and Barack Obama for their role in the G20 summit but insisted the "historic" outcome would not have been achieved without pressure from France and Germany.

Hailing the greatest financial reform since the Bretton Woods agreement, and ending "the madness of this time of total deregulation", the French president revealed there had been "tensions in the room" until shortly before the conference ended.

"We would never have hoped to get so much," he said at his final press conference. "This is not the victory of one camp against the other, but shows the growing awareness that the world needs to change."

Sarkozy, backed by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had several times threatened to walk out if their joint "red lines" on regulation were not preserved – even though this was widely dismissed as tactical posturing.

"Of course, there are tensions, wrestling matches and vested interests, but even our Anglo-Saxon friends are convinced we need reasonable rules," he said.

Sarkozy emphasized his own role in persuading the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, to accept publication of a list of tax havens by the OECD, despite China not being a member of the body.

"If France and Germany had not demanded results would we have achieved them? What do you think? But Gordon Brown played a very, very excellent role, and President Obama helped me enormously on this issue of tax havens.

"President Obama really found the way to consensus. He didn't focus exclusively on stimulus. He was determined to enhance and step up regulation."

Obama Nixed Soldier Visit Under Pentagon Advice

I see rumors are rampant today and McCain is scolding Obama for not visiting wounded soldiers in Germany, but Andrea Mitchell mentioned on the evening news last night (and in the video below) that the Pentagon advised against it and this WaPo story says the same thing. Naysayers are scrambling to get a piece of Obama, doing whatever it takes. 

It's the same old thing, the old guys trying to pin Obama as not one of us -- visiting all those Europeans but not the soldiers. Just like an elitist! That criticism is getting old. McCain is getting old. As if Obama didn't want to visit the soldiers. 

Notice the Obama camp grace in not blaming the Pentagon. 

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama scrubbed a planned visit to see wounded American servicemen and women in Germany because of concerns raised by the Pentagon that the stop at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center could be seen as a political event, according to Obama's campaign.

Although the Illinois senator visited troops in Afghanistan and Iraq on the first part of his overseas trip, those stops were part of an official Congressional delegation, and therefore deemed apolitical. The European tour, which included a speech in Berlin last night before an enthusiastic crowd of 200,000, is funded by the campaign and as such is not official government business.

"Senator Obama had hoped to and had every intention of visiting our troops to express his appreciation and gratitude for their service to our country," retired Air Force Major General Scott Gration, an Obama adviser, said in a statement.

CNN, late to the game, decided to throw in its two cents. The media loves who? This is non story created by the extremists on the right, who are angry that their candidate is getting upstaged by cashier announcements in supermarkets.

George H. W. Bush Says Obama Can Give Him a Holler

On Fox News Sunday, a humble George H. W. Bush says he'll be there if Obama needs advice.

WALLACE: You're also this week having lunch at the White House with your son, President Bush, President-elect Obama, and all the other former presidents.

If you have the opportunity to take Mr. Obama aside and talk to him from the heart, what is the key piece of advice you want to give him?

G.H.W. BUSH: Oh, I — at this juncture, it really would be gratuitous for me to be giving advice to Barack Obama. It would be more to wish him well. I talked to him right after the election and did that then, assured him that he was my president.

And I think it's more that than trying to figure out one thing or another. He'll be getting a lot of free advice, and some of it good, some of it not, but I get the feeling he can sort through that.

So I don't really think at this age in my life I can contribute much to his well-being in terms of governing. But if I saw something I thought was wrong, I'd like to have the feeling I could bring it up with him just based on some experience in the past, war and peace, Middle East, Europe, Germany.

I think one of the best things we participated in doing or facilitating was the unification of Germany. And that's — looks like it's very pacified now and they're here to keep.

But if there's some — some problem came up of that nature and it's — needed some advice of an old guy, hell, pick up the phone, give me — give me a holler. Read the transcript of the whole interview

Bush on Bush

Aaaackckk another Bush for president:

Chili Peppers No. 1

stadium arcadium at the top for the week ended sunday, selling more than 442,000 CDs

billboard
1. Stadium Arcadium, Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. What's Left of Me, Nick Lachey
3. 10,000 Days, Tool
4. Jagged Edge, Jagged Edge
5. Baby Makin' Music, Isley Brothers
6. Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts
7. High School Musical soundtrack, various
8. Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam
9. Now That's What I Call Music! 21, various
10. Back to Bedlam, James Blunt

warner bros. press release:
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/17/2006 -- Red Hot Chili Peppers' new album, "Stadium Arcadium," debuted at the top of the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart this week. This gives the band not only their first #1 album debut on their home turf, but also, incredibly, their first #1 album in the United States, period. Soundscan reported first week sales of 442,489.

"Stadium Arcadium" also debuted at #1 in 16 other countries around the globe: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' ninth studio album, "Stadium Arcadium," is a generous two-CD set with 28 songs. Produced by longtime collaborator Rick Rubin, it released last Tuesday (May 9) on Warner Bros. Records.

The Chili Peppers' last album "By the Way," (2002) scored the #2 spot on the Billboard chart. "Californication" (1999) and "BloodSugarSexMagik" (1991) both reached #3.

The band has also racked up a notable collection of #1 modern rock and rock tracks, including the current single "Dani California." The video supporting the hit single, directed by Tony Kaye ("American History X") portrays an entire history of rock 'n' roll in 4:46 min.

"Stadium Arcadium" has already been certified Platinum in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK, as well as gold in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

The new album has also met with critical praise. For instance, Rolling Stone magazine critiqued: a "triumph that could pass for another, lesser group's great hits collection." Q magazine in the UK touted: "a band at the top of their game effortlessly raising the bar even further." People magazine opined: "an ambitious, inspired double disc... 'Stadium Arcadium' hits it out of the park." The New York Times stated: "the Peppers' best work since the 1991 'BloodSugarSexMagik.'" The Los Angeles Times essayed: "...by far their most accomplished." And the Independent in the U.K. reviewed: "One of the definitive American rock albums of the past three decades."

Next up, on Saturday, May 20, Red Hot Chili Peppers will don custom-designed Simpson race suits when they perform at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series All Star Challenge in Charlotte, NC (7 pm ET on FX). It will mark the first time the heavily-touring band has performed at a sporting event and the first time NASCAR has scheduled a performance during a race. The Chili Peppers will take center stage between the first and second race segments.

Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch their Stadium Arcadium World Tour in Barcelona, Spain on May 30. They will return to the United States to headline the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago August 4-6, and then kick off the North American leg of their World Tour on August 11 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR, continuing through November 5 at Excel Arena in Minneapolis.

live dani california video

Red Hot Chili Peppers Germany

Germany show photos.
here the chilis Stadium Arcadium on VH1 monday
Peppers at New Orleans Voodoo Music Fest in October

The Case Against Jerome Corsi

There will be no swiftboating. 

This time democrats are striking back at anti-Obama book author Jerome Corsi, who's book is a hit with the Obama haters out there looking for something to love. 

Corsi, a bitter, hateful old man, is scheduled to appear on a "pro-white" radio program, Political Cesspool Aug. 17 promoting his book. That says it all. 

In other words, this guy is a nitwit, a loony tune. He's also a reporter for Worldnetdaily, an Obama hate site and says he's on a mission to take Obama down.

Here's Political Cesspool's mission on its site:

The Political Cesspool Radio Program stands for the The Dispossessed Majority. We represent a philosophy that is pro-White and are against political centralization.

Here's the counter to Corsi's smears.

Friend --

One of the most vile smear peddlers of the 2004 election has found a new target.

Jerome Corsi just published a new book full of rehashed distortions and the same old lies about Barack Obama, and the right-wing noise machine is in full gear promoting it.

In 2004, Corsi helped launch the Swift Boat smear campaign with a book of distortions and lies he wrote about John Kerry. We cannot afford to let Corsi get away with the same dirty tricks that fooled so many people then.

The media have shown that they aren't going to stop him. It's up to you to spread the truth.

Sign up to get involved and join the Rapid Response Team:

http://www.democrats.org/rapidresponse

Together we'll show Corsi, the Republicans, and John McCain that Barack Obama and the Democrats don't back down from a fight.

Thanks.

----

The latest research on Jerome Corsi:

TOO CRAZY EVEN FOR SWIFTBOAT LIARS

Corsi Was Dropped From Unfit for Command Promotions Because of His Anti-Muslim, Anti-Catholic Comments. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote in an editorial, "Consider the book "Unfit for Command," put out by a collection of partisans who have now made it acceptable for veterans to attack each other's war records. The current National Review carries a piece decrying the bookstores that fail to carry "John O'Neill's book." This is curious in that the volume has a second author, but Jerome Corsi has dropped from the marketing because he has been revealed as the author of religiously bigoted remarks published on a Web site. Corsi not only considers Muslims to be pederasts, but he took the trouble to slam Catholic priests and refers to the pope as senile. Rather than wonder whether a book written by such a man can be trusted, the marketing tactic has shifted to pretend Corsi doesn't exist." [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), 9/19/04]

O'Neill Tried to Minimize Corsi's Role in Unfit for Command After Bigoted Comments Came to Light. "In a bit of historical revisionism, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth founder and Unfit for Command co-author John O'Neill distorted Jerome Corsi's role in co-authoring the book. O'Neill's backtracking comes on the heels of Media Matters for America's documentation of Corsi's history of posting bigoted comments. During appearances on MSNBC's Scarborough Country on August 10 and CNN's Wolf Blitzer Reports on August 11, O'Neill downplayed Corsi's role in writing the book. When asked about Corsi's involvement, O'Neill asserted, Corsi was "simply an editor and not really any sort of co-author." But an MMFA item entitled "Unfit book materials show Corsi more than just an 'editor,'" revealed Corsi to be much more than simply an editor of the anti- Kerry book. [Media Matters Press Release, 8/13/04]

"Anti-Kerry Book Author Apologizes for Slurs." "One of the authors of a new anti-John Kerry book frequently posted comments on a conservative Web site describing Muslims and Catholics as pedophiles and Pope John Paul II as senile. In chat room entry last year on freerepublic.com, Corsi writes: 'Islam is a peaceful religion - just as long as the women are beaten, the boys buggered and the infidels are killed.' In another entry, he says: 'So this is what the last days of the Catholic Church are going to look like. Buggering boys undermines the moral base and the lawyers rip the gold off the Vatican altars. We may get one more Pope, when this senile one dies, but that's probably about it'." [AP, 8/10/04]

ONE PARANOID BOOK OF LIES AFTER ANOTHER

Corsi Wrote a Book Saying Bush's "Globalist Agenda" Is Leading to a North American Union. "The real reason behind President Bush's push for immigration reform, says author Jerome R. Corsi, is to unite the United States, Mexico and Canada by erasing borders and creating a "North American Union." That is the theme of Mr. Corsi's new book, "The Late Great USA: The Coming Merger with Mexico and Canada," which says the Bush administration's 'globalist agenda' is leading to a merger of the countries through the implementation of policies and laws to open trade barriers and renovate the highway systems in anticipation of increased travel within the new megastate. Mr. Corsi said a growing number of Americans think the North American Union is being forced onto Americans. Government officials say the idea is no more than an unjustified conspiracy theory spread through the Internet. Mr. Corsi said the impetus of the plan was the creation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, announced by leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada at Waco, Texas, in 2005." [Washington Times, 7/18/07]

Conservative Human Events Writer: Corsi Isn't "Any More Worthy Of Being Taken Seriously Than Those Who Think Jews Rule The World Or The 'Truthers' Who Think President Bush Is Responsible For 9/11." Under the headline "There Isn't Going to Be a North American Union," John Hawkins wrote, "Yesterday, Jerome Corsi was prattling on about the North American Union again after Michael Medved deservedly spanked him for spreading conspiracy theories. While I don't think Corsi is any more worthy of being taken seriously than those who think Jews rule the world or the 'Truthers' who think President Bush is responsible for 9/11, I thought I would respond to him one last time. (I think that's about the fourth time I've said that.) Now, why respond again? What's the point? Well unfortunately, a lot of conservatives consider this conspiracy theory to be so preposterous that they believe it's beneath them to even bother discussing it, and that leaves Corsi and his ilk to dominate the debate. And since there are a lot of conservatives being taken in by this North American Union nonsense, somebody has got to step up to the plate." [Human Events Online, 1/10/07]

Editor of Human Events: "I Guess There Are People Who Believe In" Corsi's North American Union Conspiracy, "But There Are People Who Believe In Bigfoot." "Corsi plays on growing nationalist fears. He sees a scenario in which a North American Union is born and shares a currency, the "amero." Even some right-wing standard-bearers regard the fears as over-blown. Jed Babbin, editor of the conservative newspaper Human Events, says: "I guess there are people who believe in [the plan for a North American Union]. But there are people who believe in Bigfoot." [Newsweek, 12/10/07]

Corsi Wrote a Book Disagreeing With Most Scientists That There is a Limit to Oil. "All his life, Jerome Corsi's been told that we're running out of oil. "I remember driving with my dad in a 1952 Plymouth and listening to him talk about the end of oil," says the 59-year-old New Jersey author. "Hasn't happened yet, and it's not going to happen." What makes him so sure? He doesn't buy the fossil fuel theory--that oil comes from dead plants and dinosaurs. He believes it comes out of the ground naturally, and that there's more coming up all the time...Eighteenth century Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov found biological debris in oil and concluded that it must have biological origin. "I'm at the point where the dinosaur theory seems silly," says Corsi. "You take a pile of cats and you bury them, dig them up 10 years later and you don't get oil." "The truth is that there is so much oil around the world that it's been easy to find," Corsi says. "We're awash in oil. There's more oil today in proven reserves than ever before in human history." [Western Standard (Alberta), 2/13/06]

Corsi Wrote a Book Claiming Democrats Were Being Corrupted by Iranian Funding and Helping Iranians Get Nukes. "After their bitter campaign 2004 experience with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, John Kerry and his fellow Dems aren't waiting to be shot at again. Yesterday, aides to Sens. Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy jumped all over literary mugger Jerome Corsi, co-author of the Kerry-bashing best seller 'Unfit for Command.' They knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the face (metaphorically, anyway) over his next Democrattrashing tome, 'Atomic Iran: How the Terrorist Regime Bought the Bomb and American Politicians.' The book - which Nashville's Cumberland House Publishing won't release till next month - claims Democratic pols are being corrupted by Iranian money and helping the nuke-seeking mullahs in Tehran." [Daily News (New York), 2/24/05]

Corsi Wrote Unfit For Command Although He Was Not a Veteran. "Though not a veteran himself, Corsi co-authored ``Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry." [Boston Herald, 1/25/05]

THE WRITINGS OF A PARANOID AND HATEFUL MAN

To read more of his posts, follow this link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?name=jrlc

HATRED AND INTOLERANCE TOWARD ISLAM

* "Let's see exactly why it isn't the case that Islam is a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion? Where's the proof to the contrary?"
* "Islam is like a virus -- it affects the mind -- maybe even better as an analogy -- it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects."


DESPICABLE WRITINGS ON ISLAM SHOW BLIND HATRED

* "The only good Mullah is a dead Mullah." [12/21/01]
* "Forget about democracy. Just get out the checkbook and put everybody in Iraq on the payroll. That's all they want. Pay them first, democracy (or some b.s. Islamic version of it) will follow." [6/18/03]
* "Mohammed-al-Mohammed proclaiming guidance from his hate-god allah-i'll-be-da*ned-allah kills another dozen women and children by convincing a teenager to blow him/her/self up for victory in another world. Haven't we all had enough of this stupid "religion"?" [5/17/03]
* "Another Mohammed-al-Mohammed Islam religion of hate maniac bites the dust. (Top Iraqi army official surrenders") [5/17/03]
* "Certainly can't be one of the Islam is a Religion of Peace hijackers?" [Bus Hijacking Near Bremen, Germany] [4/25/03]
* "One more Mohammed al-Mohammed el-Mohammed Mohammed iced -- great. " [Car Bomb Kills Egyptian Islamist in Lebanon Camp] [3/1/03]
* "Let them build mosques -- seems about all the Germans are worth these days."( Germany's Economic Woes) [2/6/03]
* "Islam - the Legacy of Clinton." (AFP: Two Chechens with belts of explosives stopped in Moscow) [12/24/02]
* "Islam is like a virus -- it affects the mind -- maybe even better as an analogy -- it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects. A throwback, Medieval, anti-modern, anti-science, anti-knowledge doctrine." [11/26/02]

CORSI HAS LOST TOUCH WITH EVEN THE FALSE REALITY HE LIVES IN

FALSE: "We find there is even uncertainty whether Stanley Ann and Obama Senior were ever married in a church." [p. 44] REALITY:CORSI ADMITS ON THE SAME PAGE THAT OBAMA'S PARENTS HAD A LEGAL AMERICAN MARRIAGE

TIME Reported On Obama's Parents' Divorce Records. TIME reported, "On Feb. 2, 1961, several months after they met, Obama's parents got married in Maui, according to divorce records." [TIME, 4/9/08]

Corsi Cites Time Story To Say "Divorce Papers Confirm..." Corsi wrote, "Other sources say divorce papers confirm that a civil ceremony was held on Maui, on February 2, 1961, when Ann was three months pregnant with Obama." Corsi cites the April 9th, 2008 Time story for his reference to Obama's parents' wedding. [p. 44]

EVEN A LITTLE BASIC RESEARCH DISPROVES CORSI'S FABRICATIONS

FALSE: "Senator Obama could claim to be a citizen of Kenya, as well as of the United States. Obama can trace his heritage back to his mother, who was born in the United States and was an American citizen when he was born, and to his father, who was born in Kenya and was a Kenyan citizen when Obama was born." [p 103]
REALITY: OBAMA CANNOT CLAIM KENYAN CITIZENSHIP

Kenya Does Not Allow Dual Citizenship Applications for People Over 21 Years of Age. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management writes of Kenya, "DUAL CITIZENSHIP: Not recognized except for persons under 21 years old." The Kenyan Constitution writes, "A person who, but for the proviso to section 87 (1), would be a citizen of Kenya by virtue of that subsection shall be entitled, upon making application before the specified date in such manner as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament, to be registered as a citizen of Kenya: Provided that a person who has not attained the age of twenty-one years (other than a woman who is or has been married) may not himself make an application under this subsection, but an application may be made on his behalf by his parent or guardian." [U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Kenyan Constitution]

Even if Obama Had Applied for Dual Citizenship Before He Was 21--Which He Did Not--It Would Have Expired. "A person who, upon the attainment of the age of twenty-one years, is a citizen of Kenya and also a citizen of some other country other than Kenya shall, subject to subsection (7), cease to be a citizen of Kenya upon the specified date unless he has renounced his citizenship of that other country, taken the oath of allegiance and, in the case of a person who was born outside Kenya, made and registered such declaration of his intentions concerning residence as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament." [Kenyan Constitution]

INVENTING WILD CONSPIRACIES ABOUT ANYTHING HE CAN

Corsi Wrote a Book Claiming Democrats Were Being Corrupted by Iranian Funding and Helping Iranians Get Nukes. "After their bitter campaign 2004 experience with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, John Kerry and his fellow Dems aren't waiting to be shot at again. Yesterday, aides to Sens. Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy jumped all over literary mugger Jerome Corsi, co-author of the Kerry-bashing best seller 'Unfit for Command.' They knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the face (metaphorically, anyway) over his next Democrattrashing tome, 'Atomic Iran: How the Terrorist Regime Bought the Bomb and American Politicians.' The book - which Nashville's Cumberland House Publishing won't release till next month - claims Democratic pols are being corrupted by Iranian money and helping the nuke-seeking mullahs in Tehran." [Daily News (New York), 2/24/05]

---

The DNC Rapid Response Team is a grassroots rapid response group for Democrats to push back on misleading media, spread the truth, and take positive action.

Sign up for the DNC Rapid Response Team now

http://www.democrats.org/rapidresponse

What John O'Neill has to say in an email today about another book:

Over the past couple of weeks, you may have received my letters, urging you to read The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media's Favorite Candidate by National Review Online political reporter David Freddoso. I am happy to say this book is now #5 on the New York Times bestseller list. But we cannot relax for a moment: Obama still leads in the polls, and this is the book every voter needs to read to learn the truth about his record.

As you may recall, I was privileged to play a role in helping prevent John Kerry from being elected president when my fellow Swift Boat Veterans and I released the book Unfit for Command. As liberal as Kerry was, America faces an even more liberal threat today: Barack Obama. And I fully believe The Case Against Barack Obama is the 2008 version of Unfit for Command and could keep Obama out of the White House.

Time magazine on Corsi and McCain:

Back in the day, John McCain was the sort of politician who would stand first in line to call out this sort of swill. (As, I'm sure Barack Obama or John Kerry would do, if some hate-crazed, money-grubbing left-winger published a book claiming that McCain had been successfully brainwashed in Vietnam--as Kerry did indeed do when a group of spurious Bush-backing Vietnam vets tried to claim exactly that about McCain during the 2000 Republican primary in South Carolina.)
But we're not seeing those sorts of claims being made about McCain this year...because Democrats tend not to do that sort of thing. They are the sorts of claims that Republicans--Bush Republicans--make. They range from the blatantly extra-curricular, like Corsi's book, to the official McCain-sanctioned introduction made by Joe Lieberman--of all people--yesterday: that Obama doesn't "put America first."

WaPo says: An expert on misrepresentation takes on Obama

NYT refutes Corsi's bogus claims