Iraqi ethnic cleansing, a "positive thing"? That's what Barack Obama seemed to say on this morning's "Today." The Dem presidential contender spoke with substitute co-anchor David Gregory on the heels of Meredith Vieira's ill-tempered interview of Condoleezza Rice.
View video here.
DAVID GREGORY: You heard Secretary Rice say there is progress in Iraq that cannot be ignored. She spoke about when, not if, the United States prevails in Iraq. Do you see it that way?
BARACK OBAMA: I think it's important to understand that after two days of testimony [by Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker], here's the bottom line: that having put an additional 30,000 troops in, and continued the same course we were on, we are now back to the horrendous levels of violence that we were back in June of 2006.
So there's no doubt that we've seen some measured progress in Anbar province, primarily because the Sunni tribal leaders made a political decision there that they would work with the coalition forces. We've seen a very modest reduction of violence in Baghdad, partly because entire neighborhoods have essentially been ethnically cleansed. Those are all positive things, but we are now back at the levels of violence we were 18 months ago.
Do I think Obama believes that ethnic cleansing is a "positive thing"? No. But he said it, and made the "positive thing" comment immediately after speaking of the ethnic cleansing. This is yet another Obama gaffe, further proof he's a not-ready-for-prime-time player.
I expect the Hillary campaign to pick up on this. Will the MSM? Can you imagine the woe that would betide a Republican who came within a million miles of suggesting that ethnic cleansing is a "positive thing"?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Comments Policy
Oh, wow! Now that's a
September 12, 2007 - 14:38 ET by drillanwrOh, wow!
Now that's a FUBAR the MSM would NEVER let a Republican go back and correct/re-define, but would NEVER let a Republican EVER be forgotten for it.
Will MSM Notice?
September 12, 2007 - 14:39 ET by Michael M. BatesIn a word: No. They like Barry way too much.
They like Clinton more. But
September 12, 2007 - 15:19 ET by motherbeltThey like Clinton more. But they won't rough him up over it at this point because he isn't really a threat to her. They can afford to be generous; so why cause a problem for a Democrat if it can be avoided?
Mathews, on Obama?
September 12, 2007 - 14:45 ET by Gary HallMark. One can only imagine what Chris Mathews would have done with that ethnic comment this afternoon, had it instead been a Republican candidate that had slipped up.
Precisely, Gary. MSNBC and
September 12, 2007 - 14:47 ET by Mark FinkelsteinPrecisely, Gary. MSNBC and CNN might have broken into their regularly-scheduled programming for an Emergency Bulletin ;-)
Barack on Ethnic Cleansing,
September 12, 2007 - 14:50 ET by NBFWe all know the answer to this. Media bias is much worse than anybody realizes.
Obama's Other Gaffes:
September 12, 2007 - 14:51 ET by Daniel BakerPresident of Canada
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love your link
September 12, 2007 - 16:36 ET by TruthMongerlove your link
With every passing day
September 12, 2007 - 15:03 ET by Conservative_in_mass.With every passing day Obama demonstrates he is a "not a ready for prime time" player. As for how silent the MSM will be, I would say they are going to have to at least give the appearance of curiosity with this gaffe, as it is so obvious and damning.
Also, the media will soon have to take its collective place on Hillary's lap for good, as the alternative (Obama), is a candidate they cannot make excuses for forever.
In closing, this should dispell any doubt that Obama is indeed an IDIOT.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
What exactly are this
September 12, 2007 - 15:27 ET by Gat New YorkWhat exactly are this man’s qualifications to be President, or Vice President, (or Senator)? OMG.
gat... I know, I
September 12, 2007 - 15:44 ET by Clear thinkergat...
I know, I know......Ummmmm....Uhhhhhh.....Mmmmmmmm......Ohhhhhhhh......Eeeeeeeee.
Dang....your going to have to give me some time on this one!
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My list is: He's Black
September 12, 2007 - 16:20 ET by Gat New YorkMy list is:
You forgot to mention that
September 12, 2007 - 16:36 ET by motherbeltYou forgot to mention that he was just elected to the Senate. There is no glory in doing the job you've already got. As soon as you get it, you go for the next rung on the ladder.
Plus,once he realized how MANY people are "hungry for a new kind of politics" he knew he was "the one" (Just like Anakin Skywalker) and had no choice but to run.
A Black man saying that
September 12, 2007 - 16:22 ET by Gat New YorkA Black man saying that ethnic cleansing is a good thing. I'm sorry but he is plain ignorant.
Osama's Qualifications for Pres. are...
September 12, 2007 - 16:31 ET by JayTeeA long list of Accomplishments, similar to Hillary's........He's as accomplished as Hillary,
Like Hilliary, He's never been on his knees in front of Bill.....After 20 + years of marriage, this has been a very very difficult task of avoidance by Hillary.
What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ? David Foote GoE
"What exactly are this
September 12, 2007 - 16:32 ET by Conservative_in_mass."What exactly are this man’s qualifications to be President, or Vice President, (or Senator)? OMG."
...or town selectman, polling district officer, dog catcher...but he does qualify as the village idiot.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
MSM will cover Obamarama
September 12, 2007 - 15:18 ET by Mica the MagnificentWhy . . of course Obama didn't mean what he said . . . how could you think he meant that? What are you . . a racist??
Obviously a semantic error, However...
September 12, 2007 - 15:24 ET by mattm....that is a bit hard to figure coming from someone who is so clean and articulate...
. . . . and stupid. To
September 12, 2007 - 15:29 ET by Gat New York. . . . and stupid.
To review his qualifications to have the high poll numbers he does have: he is kind of Black, he is articulate, and he has a lot of "hope." He's going to need a lot of the latter to survive this race.
Stinky
September 12, 2007 - 15:41 ET by Mica the MagnificentDon't forget his wife said he was 'stinky.'
I guess we could dismiss the 'clean' and 'articulate' observations.
So I guess it is safe to
September 12, 2007 - 15:39 ET by bassndudeSo I guess it is safe to assume Obama is Shi'i?
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
No problem here?
September 12, 2007 - 16:08 ET by general companyIt's a kinda Dem type of Ethnic Cleansing, you know the clean articulate and humane kind of ethnic cleansing.
gaffe part II
September 12, 2007 - 15:42 ET by LionKing"We've seen a very modest reduction of violence in Baghdad,... Those are all positive things"
So, does he see the very modest reduction of violence as positive thing?...I guess if you are Dem Prez hopeful, the answer would be yes. The real question is does he want it to be successful.
Not yet
September 12, 2007 - 16:10 ET by general companyThe real question is does he want it to be successful.
Not yet, not untill the Dems figure out how to claim creadit
Gaffes that draw attention from the real cluelessness
September 12, 2007 - 15:47 ET by KC MulvilleLet's be careful. When Obama makes gaffes like this, we all pounce on the more obvious of his mistakes. But we then fail to challenge his other misconceptions.
If we measure progress in Iraq by numbers alone, we allow the terrorists to control the debate by inflating those numbers through violence. (Suppose you set the "benchmark" at 300 deaths in Baghdad for September -- all that does is give the terrorists a clear target, and condemns 300 people to death.) Second, the surge was a case where the military was on the offensive, and the casualties are likely to be higher ... but that doesn't mean the surge made no difference. You can't measure such a human situation by mere numbers. It's simpler, but it's wrong.
Excellent point,
September 12, 2007 - 16:16 ET by general companyExcellent point, The Iraqi people are my biggest measuring stick
Biraq Obomba
September 12, 2007 - 16:02 ET by Lame CherryI really am starting to like this guy Barak Obama, because his dunce act is apparently having a good rub off from Oprah's stupid to make this guy a real comedy routine.
How nice the mad invader of Pakistan with bombs all a blazing now considers ethnic cleansing a good thing. In dark of that wonderful revelation, I propose that the guy with three wandering names, BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA officially change his name or at least have bloggers refer to him in honor of genocide, genocide and more genocide:
Biraq Hitler Obomba, man what a deal democrats got in affirmative action with this joker.
(PS "in dark" is not a reference to his multi ethnic background so the witch hunters can forget that attack, but is in grammar, the opposite of "in light" which all intelligent people will understand as genocide is a dark force that is not good.)
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
It seems to me the
September 12, 2007 - 16:18 ET by SportPoliticsbigger problem is taking his comment at face value.
Since the Batthe sunni's led 20 years of Bagdad shia opression, one could expect retaliation for a number of years.
It seems to me Patreaus has a plan that is actually working and the troop embedding seems to be the key.
I quite understand the old idea was "don't show a presence" and you won't be "considered an occupier" - which of course allowed AQ to be the real occupier....
Im' SO SICK of lib psychobabble freudian mind control CRAP.
Mark - did Gregory have any
September 12, 2007 - 16:25 ET by Gat New YorkMark - did Gregory have any reaction to that remark at all?
Nope; Gregory let it slide.
September 12, 2007 - 16:27 ET by Mark FinkelsteinNope; Gregory let it slide.
"Nope; Gregory let it
September 12, 2007 - 16:45 ET by chessplayer"Nope; Gregory let it slide."
No surprise, there. I hope FoxNews pounds away on this, because the msm will give O-bomb-a a complete pass on it.
Listening to John Gibson on
September 12, 2007 - 17:18 ET by chessplayerListening to John Gibson on FoxNews. He`s busy talking about Rosie O`Donnells new book and Southwest airlines kicking a woman off the plane for dressing too provacatively. No mention of Obama.