by Christi Parsons and Frank James
RICHMOND, VA -- At his press conference in Richmond today, Sen. Barack Obama hit two interesting points: he answered the Joe Biden question about whether the world would test him if he were president, and he spoke to the economic points Sen. John McCain is raising in New Hampshire today.
"Sometimes Joe engages in rhetorical flourishes," Obama said of his vice presidential running mate. "But his core point was that the next administration is going to be tested, regardless of who it is. The next administration is going to inherit a whole host of really big problems... The president is going to be tested... the question is whether the next president will meet that test."
The second was an answer to McCain, and fits in the context of Obama's meeting with senior foreign policy advisors this morning. His message emerging from that meeting is that the economy is interlocked with national security, and that the first thing the next president should do to impove security is stop spending money in Iraq.
As has been widely reported, Biden on Sunday said to donors in Seattle:
"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America.
"Remember I said it standing here, if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.
"I promise you it will occur. As a student of history and having served with seven presidents, I guarantee you it's going happen. I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate."
Some saw this as a mistake by the gaffe-prone Biden that played into the hands of McCain's argument that Obama's inexperience would prove too risky for the nation to take a chance on him.
Obama's message today was an attempt to remove any sting from Biden's comment.
Comments
I see you all have not lost your fight :
GOOD! Because we have a lot to do. You! (the American people) are going to have to take back control of your elected government at every level, and set your government back on the right path of service to you, and the greater good of the World.
Barack Obama and the democrats are your best hope of doing that now. Tell your family, friends, and everyone you know to support them as best they can. Because the Bush McCain vote fraud, vote cheating, vote buying, vote manipulation machine is already hard at work to cheat you again. And we all know what a disaster that has been the past 8 years of Bush McCain.
Barack Obama and the democrats will need all the power you can give them at every level of government (Federal, State, County, and local City elected governments). Obama and the democrats will have an enormous mess to fix for the American people, and the rest of the World. A mess caused by the corrupt Bush McCain administration.
You see, starting back in 2000, and before 911, it was mostly the Republican governors, Republican legislatures, and county elected Republican officials that conspired with the corrupt Bush McCain administration to raise college, and university tuitions by the fastest, and highest rate increases in American history. Some state tuitions went up by as much as a WHOPPING! 30% in one year.
The reason the Bush McCain administration did this was to force struggling working class kids into the military to pay for the sudden jump in tuition. Which was forced on them by the corrupt Bush McCain administration, and their corrupt Republican Governors, and republican controlled state legislatures.
See, Bush McCain had plans to get us into all these immoral, foolish, criminal, and unnecessary wars from the start. So they could use these wars to seize power, and later to get reelected. But, for their evil plan to work they needed more volunteer soldiers struggling to pay for an education whose blood they could spill to help them seize more power. Remember Bush McCain's "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" theatrics.
The exploitation, and lost lives of these finest Americans is despicable, disgusting, immoral, corrupt and criminal. And it makes me SICK, and ANGRY!
You will have to vote for Obama, and the democrats in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush McCain vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help your fellow Americans cast their votes now, and on through election day. Vote for Obama, and the democrats like your life, and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. Because it does. You will not survive 4 more years of "Let Them Eat Cake" Bush McCain, and their republican allies.
Just look at the mess we have now.
You can fix this mess with your votes for Obama, and the democrats. And REMEMBER, no matter which of us may stumble or fall, the rest of you must continue to surge forward for Barack Obama, and the democrats, and for your-selves most of all. The children, and the World are counting on us.
It's in your hands now. And I know you will get it done.
God bless all of you.
JACK SMITH - WORKING CLASS... :-)
Posted by: jacksmith | October 22, 2008 1:47 PM
Who would you rather have face a difficult situation, McCain or Obama. Obama is cool, prepaired and listens to adivce. McCain shoots from the hip. I don't want someone who shoots from the hip.
Posted by: Saxxon Domela | October 22, 2008 1:55 PM
Biden's core point WAS Right...
Obama will be challenged by the terrorists, and he isn't ready for the challenge. Which only repeats what Biden said about Obama in the primaries.
Posted by: Disgusted | October 22, 2008 2:04 PM
Why would we have to be there to support him. Isn't that what we elect a president for, his ability to be ready for any crisis with his knowledge and experience telling him what to do and how to handle the situation. Oh that's right Obama has no knowledge or experience to handle an emergency. Hillary pointed that out in the primaries and Biden attested to that in the primaries also.
Posted by: Ruth | October 22, 2008 2:36 PM
President Bush was tested 8 months into his term on Sept 11, 2001. He has miseranly failed that test and everything else presented to him - even with Republicans majorities.
Posted by: MavenTom | October 22, 2008 2:51 PM
McCain's fits and starts in response to the Bailout bill and his tendency toward military response really scare the daylights out of me.
Plus if something were to happen to McCain we'd have Sarah Palin manning the 3AM phone and she is clearly unqualified to be President.
Posted by: Gary G | October 22, 2008 3:08 PM
Any country/terrorist group "testing" Obama will certainly be dealing with Colin Powell now that he's come out on Obama's side. Powell will either be a cabinet member or close international advisor. Powell is the best! Obama has shown he'll use highly intelligent, experienced, and capable advisors.
I guess McCain will get his advise from Palin since she can see other countries from her porch.
Posted by: Reality | October 22, 2008 4:30 PM
Yet the msm refuse to discuss;
1. Palin's association with separatists that want to destroy the US
2. Col. Duyet's endorsement of McJumpy
3. Al Qaeda's endorsement of McTriggerhappy/Palin
Nope, it's all ACORN and Ayers all the time, 24/7.
Posted by: C.Hussein.Morris | October 22, 2008 6:31 PM
I see how Obama has tried to spin (let's call what it is - a lie) Biden's stmt to say that was Biden was essentially correct that any new peresident will be tested. Not quite BO. Biden specifically said Obama would be tested, not any new president, but the guy who has attended about 150 Senate sessions.
The 2nd point, Biden makes this statement days after the Bush administration had breifed both the Obama and McCain campaign staffs about foriegn policy issues. Can this guy keep his mouth shut when he needs to?
Maven Tom,
President Bush's response to Sep 11 was better than Clinton's response to the first WTC bombing. If Clinton had responded correctly to the first WTC bombing and subsequent terrorist attacks on the United States, there probably wouldn't have been a Sep 11.
Reality,
Is Powell going to be sleeping in the next room when the 3:00 a.m. call comes in? I thought Biden was brought onto the ticket to give Boy Wonder some gravitas? Know Powell has been brought aboard to give Biden some adult leadership.
Posted by: Terry | October 22, 2008 7:46 PM
Watch this speech.
Obama is the most "Presidential" in this speech so far.
And that's saying something.
Those punk dictators might want to have a listen before they try to start anything.
And while they're at it, take a look at the posse standing behind Barack in this speech.
Posted by: ornery | October 22, 2008 9:05 PM
CM,
As far as Ayers just being " a guy in the neighborhood" - do random guys in the neighborhood ask you to write a short book review like Ayers asked Obama?
http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=64
The relationship might not be important, but as they say in politics - it's the cover-up that will get you and BO was not forthright about this realtionship when first asked about it.
Posted by: Terry | October 22, 2008 9:07 PM