On The Campaign Trail... What They Are Saying
 
Page << | >> July 29, 2008 “I do want to emphasize again my economic credentials including being chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Science and Transportation, every part of our nation's economy, which I have extensive experience in and I have five Nobel Prize winners and over 300 economists who think my economic plan is a good one.” Senator John McCain on Larry King Live, July 28, 2008. “I want somebody who I'm compatible with, who I can work with, who has a shared vision, who certainly complements me in the sense that they provide a knowledge base or an area of, of expertise that can be useful. Because we're going to have a lot of problems and a lot of work to do, and I'm not interested in a vice president who I just send off to go to funerals. I want somebody who's going to be able to roll up their sleeves and really do some work.” Senator Barack Obama speaking about the qualities needed for his vice presidential choice during an interview on Meet the Press, July 27, 2008.
July 28, 2008
“In Landstuhl, Germany, when I went through, I visited -- I visited the hospital. But the important thing is that, if I had been told by the Pentagon that I couldn't visit those troops, and I was there and wanted to be there, I guarantee you, there would have been a seismic event. “And so, I believe he had the opportunity to go without the media. And I'll let the facts speak for themselves.” Senator John McCain on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos," July 27, 2008. “The reason that I thought this trip was important is that I am convinced that many issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad.” Senator Barack Obama in London, England, July 26, 2008. “You are always more popular before you are actually in charge of things. And then, you know, once you are responsible then you are going to make some people unhappy, and that is just the nature of politics.” Senator Barack Obama in London, England, July 26, 2008. “His Holiness represents the profound desire of millions of Tibetans for basic dignity and human rights. His nonviolence approach and his lifelong work seeking common ground across cultural and religious divides are an inspiration to all of mankind and to millions of Americans.” Senator John McCain at his meeting with the Dalai Lama in Aspen, Colorado, July 25, 2008. July 25, 2008 “I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world.” Senator Barack Obama in his speech in Berlin, July 24, 2008. “My opponent, of course, is traveling in Europe, and tomorrow his tour takes him to France. In a scene Lance would recognize, a throng of adoring fans awaits Senator Obama in Paris — and that’s just the American press.”
Senator John McCain at a cancer prevention and treatment forum with Lance Armstrong at Ohio State University, July 24, 2008. July 24, 2008 "The state of Israel faces determined enemies who seek its destruction. But it also has a friend and ally in the United States that will always stand by the people of Israel." Senator Barack Obama speaking in Sderot, Israel, July 23, 2008. "A nuclear Iran would be a game-changing situation not just in the Middle East, but around the world. That could shred the nuclear proliferation framework and possibly allow terrorists to get their hands on such weapons." Senator Barack Obama speaking in Sderot, Israel, July 23, 2008. "I want to build 45 nuclear power plants by 2030 and that would create 700,000 jobs." Senator John McCain at a town hall meeting in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, addressing energy issues, July 23, 2008. "I had the courage and the judgment to say that I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to me that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." Senator John McCain at a town hall meeting in Rochester, New Hampshire, July 22, 2008. July 22, 2008 “The fact is, if we had done what Senator Obama wanted to do, we would have lost. And we would have faced a wider war. And we would have had greater problems in Afghanistan and the entire region. And Iran would have increased their influence.” Senator John McCain at a press event in Kennebunkport, Maine, July 21, 2008. "My goal is to no longer have U.S. troops engaged in combat operations in Iraq." Senator Barack Obama speaking from the Amman Citadel in Jordan at a joint press conference with Senators Chuck Hagel and Jack Reed, July 22, 2008. July 21, 2008 "We have to understand that the situation is precarious and urgent here in Afghanistan and I believe this has to be the central focus, the central front, in our battle against terrorism." Senator Barack Obama, speaking from Afghanistan on Face the Nation after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, July 20, 2008. "You can't choose to lose a war in Iraq in my view in order to win in Afghanistan. Of course we have problems in Afghanistan and as we succeed in Iraq there will be troops available to go to Afghanistan." Senator John McCain speaking on The Today Show, July 21, 2008. July 15, 2008 "It is unacceptable that almost seven years after nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on our soil, the terrorists who attached us on 9/11 are still at large...And that's why, as President, I will make the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win." Senator Barack Obama speaking from the Ronald Reagan Buiding and International Trade Center, July 15, 2008. "I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice." Senator John McCain at a town hall meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 15, 2008. "For weeks, now, Senator McCain has argued that the gains of the surge mean that I should change my commitment to end the war. But this argument misconstrues what is necessary to succeed in Iraq, and stubbornly ignores the facts of the broader strategic picture that we face. Iraq’s leaders have not made the political progress that was the purpose of the surge. They have not invested tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues to rebuild their country. They have not resolved their differences or shaped a new political compact." Senator Barack Obama giving an address on foreign policy at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, July 15, 2008. “But understand this: when I am commander-in-chief, there will be nowhere the terrorists can run, and nowhere they can hide. In wartime, judgment and experience matter. In a time of war, the commander-in-chief doesn't get a learning curve. If I have that privilege, I will bring to the job many years of military and political experience; experience that gave me the judgment necessary to make the right call in Iraq a year and half ago.” Senator John McCain in Albuquerque, New Mexico referring to his support of the surge in Iraq at the beginning of 2007, July 15, 2008. July 9, 2008 "Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran's continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran's dangerous ambitions. Iran's missile tests also demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland."
Senator John McCain, responding to the launching of missiles by Iran, July 9, 2008. “These missile tests demonstrate once again that we need to change our policy to deal aggressively with the threat posed by the Iranian regime. Through its nuclear program, missile capability, meddling in Iraq, support for terrorism, and threats against Israel, Iran now poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States in the region in a generation. Now is the time to work with our friends and allies, and to pursue direct and aggressive diplomacy with the Iranian regime backed by tougher unilateral and multilateral sanctions. It’s time to offer the Iranians a clear choice between increased costs for continuing their troubling behavior, and concrete incentives that would come if they change course.” Senator Barack Obama, responding to the launching of missiles by Iran, July 9, 2008. July 7, 2008 “If you are one of the 23 million small business owners in America who files as an individual rate payer, Sen. Obama is going to raise your tax rates. If you have an investment for your child's education or own a mutual fund or a stock in a retirement plan, he is going to raise your taxes. He will raise estate taxes to 45%. I propose to cut them to 15%. His plan will hurt the American worker and family. It will hurt the economy and cost us jobs. At a time of increasing gas and food prices, American families need tax relief and I, not my opponent, will deliver it.” Senator John McCain giving a speech on the economy in Denver, Colorado, July 7, 2008. “At the Democratic National Convention next month, we're going to kick off the general election with an event that opens up the political process the same way we've opened it up throughout this campaign. “Barack has made it clear that this is your convention, not his. “On Thursday, August 28th, he's scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech at the convention hall in front of the assembled delegates. Instead, Barack will leave the convention hall and join more than 75,000 people for a huge, free, open-air event where he will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people.” David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Senator Barack Obama, announcing the Senator will be speaking at the INVESCO Stadium at Mile High, July 7, 2008. July 5, 2008 "I wasn't saying anything that I hadn't said before. That I didn't say a year ago. Or when I was a U.S. senator. If you look at our position, it's been very consistent. The notion that we have to get out carefully has been a consistent position. "The belief that we have a national security interest in making sure Iraq is secure, I've been saying consistently," he added. Noting "the worst-case scenarios and the parade of horribles that has been trotted out by [Sen.] John McCain and others about genocide if we left," he said he has always reserved "the right to protect people from genocide." "So a lot of these statements that I've made have been entirely consistent.” Senator Barack Obama responding to claims that he has reversed his position on the war in Iraq, St. Louis, Missouri, July 5, 2008. July 2, 2008 "Today, I spoke by phone to President Uribe. He told me some of the details of the dramatic rescue of the people who were held hostage. Three Americans are now free and Ingrid Betancourt is now in good condition. I'm pleased with the success of this very high-risk operation. Sometimes in the past, the FARC has killed the hostages rather than let them be rescued. "So I congratulate President Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia. It is great news. Now we must renew our efforts to free all of the other innocent people held hostage. With regard to the three Americans and Ingrid Betancourt -- they had been held many years, as many as six years. "Last night, President Uribe and the defense minister did brief us that the operation was going to take place today." Senator John McCain, responding to the release of 15 hostages, including three Americans, from FARC in Colombia, July 2, 2008. "I join with the families and the American people in celebrating the wonderful news that these three American citizens - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell - have been released from the terrorist organization that held them hostage for so many years, along with former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and eleven other Colombian hostages. We look forward to their speedy reunion with their loved ones, who have suffered so much through this ordeal. "I strongly support Colombia's steady strategy of making no concessions to the FARC, and its targeted use of intelligence, military, law enforcement, diplomatic, and political power to achieve important victories against terrorism. I congratulate President Uribe and the Colombian government, express my gratitude for everyone who aided in this rescue, and will do everything that I can to assure the success of future efforts to free the FARC's hostages and to defeat this terrorist organization." Senator Barack Obama, responding to the release of 15 hostages, including three Americans, from FARC in Colombia, July 2, 2008. "I would like to see a hemispheric free trade agreement. I would like to see our continued assistance to countries like Columbia." Senator John McCain, speaking from Colombia, July 2, 2008. July 1, 2008 “That's the bet our Founding Fathers were making all of those years -- that our individual destinies could be tied together in the common destiny of democracy, that government depends not just on the consent of the governed but on the service of citizens. That's what history calls us to do, because loving your country shouldn't just mean watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Loving your country must mean accepting your responsibility to do your part to change it." Senator Barack Obama addressing national service in Colorado, July 1, 2008. Page << | >>
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