BERLIN - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama dropped a plan to visit wounded U.S. troops in Germany to avoid perceptions that the stop was political.
“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,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, an adviser to Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Gration said the Pentagon had informed Obama’s staff that a visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center would be viewed as a a campaign event and Obama opted against going forward with it.
“Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event,” Gration said.
The visit to Landstuhl had not been officially announced but Obama’s campaign acknowledged it had been planned after Republicans criticized Obama for canceling the visit.
Senior Obama aide Robert Gibbs noted that the Illinois senator had visited troops during the earlier part of his foreign tour in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a stop at a combat support hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad.
“The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign,” Gibbs said.
The campaign of Republican John McCain, Obama’s rival in the November election, criticized the statement from Gibbs.
“It is never inappropriate to visit and comfort our brave men and women who have served in combat,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Tobias Schwarz (Barack Obama waves to crowd as he leaves hotel in Berlin)
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If you’re not a liberal by age 21 you have no heart, and if you’re not conservative by age 40, you have no brain.
Vote for McCain.
- Posted by Judy BassMcCain’s camp recently took the teleprompters away from him.
Didn’t hear you complaining or even mention the fact that McCain used teleprompters.
But if Obama uses a teleprompter it becomes a monument issue.
Troll!
- Posted by HenryJust a quick note to let the former “Real Captain” know that he is incorrect. Battle Captain(a duty title, not an actual rank, and can be held by Officers or Senior NCOs) is the title given to the individual who oversees the Base Defense Operations Center(USAF)or Tactical Operations Center(USA). They house all Sector RTOs and Up/Down-channel all info/intel/to the respective Sector Leadership. At least that’s what this “Real MSgt” (USAF Security Forces)knows about Air Base Defense…Which was developed by the US Army…Please don’t pass yourself off as an expert, if you are not one. Some civilians may actually repeat your misinformation…P.S. Have a little respect for the rank you held by CAPITALIZING It! Two Tours in the AO and glad to go again if needed.
- Posted by Nigel Johns[...] The words coming from him struck a raw nerve for many Americans, especially following his cancellation of a visit with our military [...]
- Posted by Obama the Indonesian: ‘Citizen of the World’? « TexasDarlin