Analysis: Obama achieves defining TV shot in Iraq

AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/7/09 | Steven R. Hurst - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama went for the defining television shot in Iraq and got it — pictures of hundreds of U.S. troops cheering wildly as he told them it was time for the Iraqis to take charge of their own future.

The war zone photo opportunity produced a stunning show of appreciation for Obama from military men and women who have made great sacrifices, many serving repeated tours in a highly unpopular war.

And the televised outpouring of affection likely will prove critical to the credibility of a new and liberal commander in chief as he tries to sell U.S. warriors and the American public on the grim prospects now facing them in Afghanistan.

[pissant]

Screw the AP pukes.

[Winstons Julia]

Uh oh. The AP. Quick delete the information, they don’t want you to see it.

[wolf24]

Did AP really refer to Obama as a "liberal"? I think we're making progress!

[Canedawg]

His entire term is just one big ‘wag the dog’.

[manic4organic]

President Bush went to Iraq to see the troops. Obammy went there for the troops (and the media) to see him.

[dirtboy]

Another MSM type with leg twinges.

[NormsRevenge]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2224037/posts?page=81#81

[SteamShovel]

President Bush went to Iraq to see the troops. Obammy went there for the troops (and the media) to see him.

And if my memory serves me correct, they said Bush was pulling a stunt with his unannounced Thanksgiving vist.....

.....Obama will be hailed as a hero.

[Jeff Gordon]

the televised outpouring of affection likely will prove critical to the credibility of a new and liberal commander in chief..

I just threw up in mouth. What utter nonsense.

[silverleaf]

Did the bozo land at George Bush International Airport when he claimed victory?

he spends all week in Europe apologizing for the US going into Iraq and hanging a genocidal dictator, goes to Turkey and promises that only now will US finally respect muslims, then flies into Iraq and tells the GI’s they accomplished a historic achievement by establishing an arab democracy

what an azzhat

[jveritas]

So the liberal media admits that what Obama did is a PR stunt but that this the only thing he has been doing since he ran for President and it is the only thing he can do and will be doing.

[Las Vegas Ron]

My money says troops were invited to participate and only those who wanted to attend, did.

How many declined?

[NormsRevenge]

maybe they are reluctantly acknowledging the bloom is off the rose... all we have left is the thorns.

[Jeff Gordon]

Notice who is clapping and who is not clapping...

[Skywarner]

Zero has no credibility. Doing something that President Bush did - and many members of his administration did - on numerous occasions and without any media circus tagging behind - does not translate to instant “street cred” amongst most in the military.

[Las Vegas Ron]

He looks like he just did the Saudi King again in that pic

[jveritas]

When the going gets tough this defeatist will fold like he did before and betray our troops and our nation as he did all the time, as he did when he voted against every bill to fund the troops, as he did when he voted against the surge that brought us victory in Iraq, as he did when he accused our troops of attacking innocent civilians.

[liege]

I work with a woman who used to recently be in the Army. She gushes all over Obama and literally hates W’s guts. There are those types out there.

[Tublecane]

So the entire point of this article is that Obama achieved his PR goals. Way to report on what’s important, AP.

[jveritas]

25% of the troops voted for Obama and 70% against him. If you have one thousand troops then you can find 250 of them to cheer for him.

[Verginius Rufus]

I’m surprised he didn’t stop in Armenia on the way to Iraq and tell them to get over that whole issue of accusing the Turks of genocide.

[Lysandru]

These AP jerks need to stop drinking Chris Matthews' bong water.

For my money, the troops were cheering the promise to turn over Iraq to the Iraqis so that they can go home. And why not cheer at that idea?

But such a simple explanation doesn't occur to the Obama-zombies at the AP.

If retention figures drop dramatically in the next few months, will the AP report that?

[colorado tanker]

It looks like this took place in a hall in a former Saddam palace, not the big hangers Bush used. It looks like the room was full, but it's really hard to gauge the crowd size.

Obviously, getting to see a President, regardless of who, is a big deal to may troops.

[dandiegirl]

I saw them on TV-kinda made me sick as they were cheering and clapping. I would love to know how many chose not to attend. You really couldn’t tell how many he was speaking to.

[ToKillaMockingbird]

Yes, it made me sick too. I hope someone from the military will post and tell us that a lot of people didn’t attend.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I saw the photo. My first impression POSED! Pure unadulterated propaganda.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It was a hand picked crowd. I wonder how many hundreds opted out or were forced to be there and stood in the back.

[happygrl]

President Bush went to Iraq to see the troops. Obammy went there for the troops (and the media) to see him.

NAILED IT!!!!

[TNCMAXQ]

As Rush said today, 0bama made his ridiculous speech talking about how we must build bridges to the muslim world. He would not dare thank President Bush though for freeing millions of Iraqis from vile, murderous dictatorship.

[Chode]

from a HAND PICKED audience no doubt...

[jersey117]

Hand picked, no doubt.

[jersey117]

LOL

[Pearls Before Swine]

“Defining TV shot”. Oh, that changes my mind about him — not!

[Chode]

something about great minds...

[Billthedrill]

"Obama Achieves Defining TV Shot"? What the hell is this? "Obama Takes A Great Pic"?

I don't know whether I'm angrier at Obama for this or at AP for trumpeting the heroism of a photo opportunity. They're apparently serious. Disgusting.

[BerryDingle]

a highly unpopular war.

Just trying to think of a "popular" one.

[DrewsMum]

bkmrk

[SuperLuminal]

Where was the “Barf” alert?