Russert: Obama 'On the Money' in Calling Iraq 'Dumb War'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Not that there was ever much doubt where Tim Russert aligns, but it was nice to get concrete confirmation on today's Meet the Press. Grilling John Edwards over his vote to authorize the war and his expression of support for it as late as 2004, Russert pointed out that Obama had staked out a firmly anti-Iraq war position before the conflict began.

Russert displayed a two-part graphic, which concluded with the words: "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."

Russert then shot at Edwards: "His judgment was on the money."

View video here.

Aside: on two occasions, Edwards, in explaining his vote to authorize the war, said that he relied not merely on the information supplied at the time by the Bush administration, but had also consulted with former Clinton administration officials. They apparently confirmed the views expressed by the Bush administration. Translation: Hillary's folks are partly to blame too.

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Anti-war-Russert ping to Today show list.

[Arpege92]

"I'm opposed to dumb wars"

And I opposed to dumb presidential candidates with no experience what-so-ever!

[mtbopfuyn]

Dumb? What a grasp this statesman has of the English language.

[Miss Didi]

"I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."

And we are opposed to dumb senators, with big ears. My gosh, his genius knows no bounds.

[Tarpon]

Air head never done nothing in his entire life Hussein Obama calls something dumb -- and we are supposed to listen? why?

[Felis_irritable]

I can't see how Osama, er, Obama, has enough experience and judgement to sort the "smart" wars from the "dumb" wars. And I can't see how, if he surrounds himself with the usual lib suspects to be his SECDEF etc., they will know either.

Libs always act so intellectual, but then they give us Ponzi schemes like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. What's intellectual about that?

[Bahbah]

Translation: Hillary's folks are partly to blame too.

"Edwards says he consulted former Clinton administration people and he got the same info from them on the threat from Iraq.

Taking a little poke at Hillary! there."

37 posted on 02/04/2007 8:06:26 AM CST by Bahbah

Pretty obvious, eh! Hillary! will not take kindly to that jab at her previous presidency.

[originalbuckeye]

Dumb?? DUMB?? Where, oh where, is the 'Mute Minority Group'??? They should be screaming to the heavens about his slight toward them! Oh, wait, sorry.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Mute? Mute?? We in the 'people living with speechlessness' community find that deeply offensive ;-)

[Logical me]

And what is his suggestion to stopping the aggression of the radical nuts of the Far East. Sit by and wait until they become so powerful that they cannot be stopped. Whoops, forgot, the UN will rescue the world from these "stone to death beliefs" and beheaders. How about cutting of hands or limbs....................................... FOOLS

[frankiep]

Obama can say just about anything that he wants and make himself look like an idiot everyday of the year. It won't matter though; there are legions of people who have already decided that he must be our next president, regardless of the fact that he is incredibly under qualified. I don't think I need to say why people will vote for him under any circumstances.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm finding it interesting that almost all the comments have focused on Obama's statement, rather than on Russert's endorsement of it. Not criticizing folks, but I found more newsworthy Russert's pretty adoption of an anti-war position. Obama has been on the record on this, after all, for five years.

[TomGuy]

On MTP, Edwards admitted that Congress DID get "detailed" intelligence reports.


[Recall all the cries before the 04 election that Congress did not get the same intel reports as the President?]

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Well, at least Obama dispensed with that 'articulate' label.

[sgtbono2002]

I am sure Hussein Obama opposed the war, All Muslims opposed it.

[neodad]

All wars are dumb. The difference is that some are necessary (Iraq, Vietnam, Cold War, WWII, etc.) and some are unnecessary (Kosovo comes to mind). It's Rush's old saying that Dems are for a war as long as there is no American interest at stake.

[mort56]

Russert displayed a two-part graphic, which concluded with the words: "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars." Russert then shot at Edwards: "His judgment was on the money."

I'm just glad that we have an unbiased press, committed to neither to the left nor right but dedicated to the ideals of truth, justice and the American way!

Now, would someone be so kind as to point me in the direction of the nearest powder room. I am feeling a bit queasy.

[philman_36]

"I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."
He's so articulate!

[advance_copy]

Very true. Russert is not an objective newsman. He is a biased liberal who worked for a DemocRAT. NBC News is liberal agitprop, and that's all it is. General Electric should be ashamed of itself for perpetrating this fraud on America.