From right-wing bloggers and email smears all the way up to John McCain, false claims and rumors have been spreading that Barack snubbed American soldiers on his foreign trip.
We expect these lazy, easily dismissed attacks from the shadowy nutcases who produce email smears, but John McCain should know better. These claims are particularly hypocritical coming from him.
John McCain and others have also launched deceitful, dishonorable attacks that smear Barack by distorting his record on supporting American troops. The non-partisan Factcheck.org labeled such smears “highly misleading,” and retired admiral John Natham has defended Barack:
“Senator Obama has consistently voted to fund our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and, just as importantly, a proven record of support when they return home…. Despite consistent distortions of his record, thousands of veterans like myself support Senator Obama because he has the judgment, character and integrity to be a great president. We will need a great president to lead us in these very challenging times.”
Barack Obama learned to love this country from his grandfather from Kansas, a World War II veteran who taught him the Pledge of Allegiance. He was proud to thank our troops for their service and dedication when he visited them in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and a combat support hospital in Iraq (without cameras or fanfare).
Calls these lies for what they are—false, hypocritical attacks on a man honoring his country and those who serve it.
Barack visits with troops and plays basketball in Kuwait
Barack visits with troops in Afghanistan
FactCheck.org Debunked McCain's False Ad:
Read this ArticleThis is another viral e-mail falsehood. The author now says it's not true; the Army says it's not true; and video and photos show Obama shaking hands with troops and eating breakfast with them as well.
The New York Daily News Also Found McCain's Attack To Be False:
Read this Article...Army brass debunked the Obama-bashing soldier's allegations, which went viral Thursday over the Web and on military blogs such as Blackfive.
Army Times Responds: Anti-Obama Email was Wrong
Read this ArticleAn Army officer’s negative e-mail account of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s visit with the troops in Afghanistan that set the blogosphere ablaze prompted Army officials to correct aspects of the e-mail and resulted in a statement from the message’s author that “some of the information that was put out in my e-mail was wrong.