CHICAGO - Is White House hopeful Barack Obama ready to be the U.S. commander in chief?
His rival, Hillary Clinton, insists he is not. But a key supporter says “No Drama Obama” has a steady demeanor that would equip him well in any foreign policy crisis.
“It’s this matter of temperament,” said Gen. Merrill “Tony” McPeak, who has been campaigning for the Illinois senator for months and labeled him “steady, reliable, ‘No Shock Barack,’ ‘No Drama Obama.’”
It was the latest in the back-and-forth between Obama and Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, who have been sparring over who is most qualified to take charge of U.S. foreign policy. The two are locked in a fight to become the Democratic nominee to vie in November against Republican John McCain.
McCain has joined Clinton in arguing that the first-term Illinois senator lacks enough seasoning in world affairs.
Clinton’s campaign has run a television commercial depicting sleeping children and a ringing telephone at the White House to raise doubts about Obama’s credentials to handle a “3 a.m.” crisis phone call.
McPeak, who was chief of the U.S. Air Force during the first Gulf War in 1991, touted Obama’s foreign policy abilities at a news conference in Chicago where the candidate was flanked by several generals and admirals who support him.
McPeak drew from the experiences of the campaign trail to make his point that Obama would be a steady hand in a crisis.
“We’ve seen this so often in this campaign — good news and bad — when Senator Obama was up Iowa but not so up in New Hampshire, he was the same Barack Obama on the one day as the other,” McPeak said. “Whenever that phone rings at 3 a.m. you want a guy with this kind of temperament to answer that.”
Clinton, who has also been holding events with top U.S. military officials to suggest she has gravitas on foreign policy, says her time in the White House as wife to former President Bill Clinton has given her understanding of diplomacy and what it takes to manage a crisis.
Asked if he thought Clinton was experienced enough to answer that 3 a.m. phone call, Obama replied: “Yes, as I believe Senator McCain is, and as I believe I am.”
Photo credit: Reuters/Frank Polich (Obama delivers a speech at the Chicago History Museum)
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Leaders are born. There are very few of them and Barack Obama is one of them. He is a born leader and has merely responded to the wishes of the American People. It’s all because he cares about America and whole world. The world cannot afford without the a born leader from America. At 46 (very young age) to be managing these complex issues, what more does the Americans and the world want. I am sure more Americans are going to state their case in Pennsylvania and let’s give them a chance to help declare the true leader. Good wishes to both Barack and Hillary. Noko
- Posted by Noko MasipaBill Clinton is now questioning Obama’s patriotism, but he should! Most Americans by now know about Obma’s 20 year courtship with his lunetic racist uncle Rev. Wright.
Of course, anything anyone says is questioned by the Obama people! Frankly, Obama is immune to questioning. Rather, he talks around issues>
For one, he did not answer any questions at his “empty speech” last week. Also, he did not repudiate the lunetic racist Rev. Wright’s disgusting and anti-American rhetorics!
Come on, American people are not stupid and can see right through Obama!
I’m in for Hillary and will fight till the last drop of blood. If he is selected to become the nominee, I will convert to a McCain supporter and will continue to expose Obama for what he is.
So, here is what I like most about Obama and his secrets. Read the ObamaUnveiled site to find out:
http://votersusa.blogspot.com/
Cap. George M.
- Posted by GeorgeCUSMC Ret. (Iraq Vet)
Senator Barack Obama is not ready to lead this country. He believes his own social construction.
- Posted by MariaClinton has experience as wife of a president, no more credentials than this. Are these strong credentials to challenge Obama as she does? No.
- Posted by DNThat was not a red telephone in the Clinton ad - it was this year’s reddest herring. It is a monument to business-as-usual politics to spin this issue out of all proportion. Why does Mrs. Clinton think she is better prepared to answer the 3 am call? Did Bill maker her get up and answer the red phone when he was president? Why does our culture, largerly relying on media hype, think that presidents are supermen/women? You would think that the last eight years would have certainly laid that notion to rest.
Presidents are CEOs. They do not have to have all the answers. They have to orchestrate a staff that has all the answers. I would hope that if the telephone rang in the middle of the night giving the president bad news that he or she would not start barking orders half awake and playing lone cowboy / cowgirl as Dick Cheney as for these past eight years.
If you have the moxy to launch a national campaign and go head to head in one of the tightest national primary battles in history, there are two things that are virtually certain about you: 1)you have the brains and the guts to handle the heat and 2)you have an army of staffers and strategists that are doing something right. Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have more than enough juice to handle the 3 am telephone call.
The problem for Hillary is that in all likelihood the call will come from her husband.
- Posted by DoidnessI don’t think so. I now believe there are serious trust issues with Mr. Obama and I also would not want a First Lady representing the United States that isn’t Proud of her Country! For all of you that are unaware there is a thing called reverse discrimination and it happens everyday!!! I’m white and I’m not rich……..I’ve never received a scholarship or have gone to Harvard or lived in a Mansion!!!
- Posted by kgI have zero confidence in Senator Obama during critical times. His pat answer always seems to be, in regard to Rezko, Reverend Wright, NAFTA-Canadians, “I didn’t know.”
I for one need someone who “knows” and can act on it.
Senator Obama would be a disaster for this country.
- Posted by AustinTXVoter