ROVEBOTS IN CONTROL:

Obama tells McCain to lay off character (AP, 8/19/08)

Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Obama reaffirmed his early opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and said the so-called "surge" strategy of sending 30,000 additional troops to Iraq last year had not produced the political reconciliation necessary to achieve lasting peace in the country. McCain supported the Iraq invasion and was an early champion of the surge.

"These are the judgments I've made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election," Obama said. "One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can't disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Sen. McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest. Now, it's time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.

Hot on the heels of wasting two news cycles accusing Maverick of cheating in the Rick Warren event, because he thrashed the Unicorn Rider so badly, and having plagiarizes POW experiences, which merely called attention to details of Mr. McCain's heroism that he tends not to talk about enough, Senator Obama now calls attention to the way his mistaken opposition to US policy seems like a lack of patriotism and gives his opponent an opportunity to mouth a few reassuring but back-handed platitudes. Whose idea was it for the Democrats to nominate such a neophyte?

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 19, 2008 12:10 PM