John McCain's new ad accusing Obama of "shooting hoops instead of visiting the wounded troops" is a load of you know what. It good to see Republicans like Chuck Hagel come out and call a spade a spade. Lies are lies anyway you slice it. The consensus on David Gregory's show tonight was that this ad was not meant for people of intellect.
A veterans organization had this to say today:
Former Chief of Medical Operations for HQ USAFE at Ramstein Air Force Base Responds to Latest McCain Ad
By VoteVets.org Press Release
PUBLISHED: July 28, 2008
WASHINGTON - The former Chief of Medical Operations for United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) Headquarters at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany today ripped into Senator John McCain's latest ad, which attacks Senator Barack Obama for not making a campaign event of a visit to wounded troops.
Dr. Katherine Scheirman, who was Chief of Medical Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom, said in a statement:
"John McCain's new ad is dishonest and shameful, and I say that as the former Chief of Medical Operations. Senators Hagel and Reed confirmed to Bob Schieffer yesterday that Senator Obama visited the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad as a part of their CODEL, with no media present.
"In Germany, Senator Obama made the right decision to respect wounded troops, and the doctors and nurses doing crucial and time-sensitive work, by not making a visit that was characterized as a campaign event by the Pentagon. Senator Obama should be thanked for putting our military above politics. And, I would hope that John McCain would think in those same terms, the next time he is put in a similar situation.
"Senator Obama has voted for the troops when John McCain has not, most recently on the new GI Bill. I am happy that Senator Obama puts the welfare of our troops above politics."
Dr. Katherine Scheirman, MD, MHA, CPE, FACPE, is a Senior Advisor to VoteVets.org, and has twenty years experience in the Department of Defense medical system. She retired from the Air Force in 2006 with the rank of Colonel. During her time in the military, she was assigned to a number of duties where she saw 'first hand' the shortcomings of the DOD medical system and its effect on troops. Most recently, she was at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, which saw the majority of those injured during the war in Iraq.
During that assignment as Chief of Medical Operations, she directed four branches responsible for medical operational and legal policy guidance for 10 USAFE medical facilities and an Air Force squadron at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and provided oversight and mentoring for 11 Chiefs of Medical Staff and over 700 medical personnel throughout Europe. She was responsible for all quality of care, patient safety, behavioral health, JCAHO compliance, community health programs and business plan execution there, among her decades of other assignments at home and abroad.
It's a sign of desperation. Team McCain feels the need to stab at Obama's favorable ratings following his trip to the Middle East & Europe. Mainly this about deflecting attention from Obama's speech to 220,000 in Berlin.
ReplyDeleteIt's desperation and I sure hope it doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to think it more incompetence than desperation. His campaign has been like watching a train wreck thus far.
ReplyDeleteJeff,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I agree with your assessment. Whether you agree with JM's politics or not (whatever they are today :( ), I hate to see someone who has served this country for so many years struggle with what should be his strong suit. A message forged over 50 years of service. Maybe he will solidify his message before it's too late so the people of this country can have a clear choice. I want each candidate to show the decisiveness and moral fiber to lead this nation through this tumultuous time. I am beginning to believe these same political missteps is what has kept him from rising out of the republican primary prior to this election. I hope he finds his voice soon, for his sake.