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He's all talk - At Iraq hearing, long-winded Obama barely manages to ask a question (OBAMANIA)
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | September 12, 2007 | LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Columnist

Posted on 09/12/2007 10:15:45 AM PDT by Chi-townChief

There have been enough Democratic presidential debates to conclude that White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has not mastered the short answer format. Obama demonstrated at Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations hearing with Gen. David Petraeus and Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker he also has trouble with questions. The long-winded Obama, who bills himself as a consensus builder, wasted an opportunity to show how it could work. Each member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had seven minutes to question Petraeus and Crocker about the Iraq War. Obama used about six minutes of his time to lecture Petraeus and Crocker that the surge is of modest success given the cost and the Iraq central government is ineffectual -- points he has been making in speeches and debates. As Obama was wrapping up, he said, "That, of course, now leaves me very little time to ask questions, and that's unfortunate."

"That's true, Senator," piped up Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, the committee chairman and a rival for the Democratic nomination.

Petraeus never got to answer Obama's 266-word question. Rushed at the end, Obama asked about benchmarks not met. Crocker said, "Senator, I described for Senator Sununu a little bit ago some of the things that I think are going to be very important as we move ahead."

» Click to enlarge image Democratic Presidential hopeful, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee member, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., during the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill. (AP)

RELATED STORIES• General, has Iraq war made us safer? Obama tossed a softball: "Can you repeat those? Biden asked Crocker to summarize and racing the clock, Crocker got in 215 words before Obama's time was up.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) followed Obama. He told Petraeus and Crocker, "As you have found, our hearings are more about listening to ourselves than listening to our witnesses."

Today Obama will deliver a new Iraq policy speech at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. He will offer, I was told by the campaign, new proposals on troop withdrawal, how to conduct diplomacy in the region, the cost of the war and solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

Obama was not going to waste new insights on Iraq with Petraeus and Crocker.

There is a major discussion going on in the Democratic primary race over the importance of experience -- Obama has the shortest track record -- and if judgment trumps experience -- Obama's position.

Writing in the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs, Obama says in this tense era, "it is time for a president who can build consensus here at home" in order to chart an ambitious foreign policy course.

At the hearing, Obama complained about the time constraint. But it was his choice not to figure out how to ask even one thoughtful question and leave time for an answer. He chose not to show that he is interested in finding a way to engage with one of the nation's top generals. He chose not to grill Crocker about the millions of dollars of humanitarian assistance the U.S. is giving to Iraq. When Obama had a chance he did not use it to show, not tell.

mailto:lsweet3022@aol.com


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; 911; democrats; husseinobama; iraq; lendmeyourears; obama; obamagaffe; obambi; petraeus; rats; sixthanniversary; waronterror
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Sometimes it almost sounds like Lynn Sweet is catching on to Barack Hussein's act but, most of the time, she's just overwhelmed by his "articulateness."
1 posted on 09/12/2007 10:15:53 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: Chi-townChief
"Senator, I described for Senator Sununu a little bit ago some of the things that I think are going to be very important as we move ahead."

Oh, snap.
2 posted on 09/12/2007 10:18:00 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Ron Paul put the cuckoo in my Cocoa Puffs)
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To: Chi-townChief

Insert any politicians name into this article.
Anymore, anything they call a ‘hearing’ is nothing but a lecture series for the politicians.


3 posted on 09/12/2007 10:19:19 AM PDT by sheana
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To: Chi-townChief
Click to enlarge image Democratic Presidential hopeful, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee member, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., during the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill.

No thanks, his ego is big enough.

4 posted on 09/12/2007 10:20:58 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: Chi-townChief

Put a fork in Obama, he’s done. I think yesterday’s hearings were his “Jump the Shark” moment.


5 posted on 09/12/2007 10:21:06 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (The Democrat Party: radical Islam's last hope)
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To: Chi-townChief

“Barak Obama has the mind of a child.” - Johnny Rotten on FOX News Red Eye


6 posted on 09/12/2007 10:21:12 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Chi-townChief

Gasser Biden is being out-gassed by Obama and they’re on the same committee. lol


7 posted on 09/12/2007 10:24:38 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Chi-townChief
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) followed Obama. He told Petraeus and Crocker, "As you have found, our hearings are more about listening to ourselves than listening to our witnesses."

That's quite a zinger. I doubt whether Sweet would have reported it like that if she didn't want it to hit home.

8 posted on 09/12/2007 10:25:19 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Chi-townChief

I’d like to have seen the general pull out a paper and start reading it. When the predictable hissy fit came, he could just innocently say, “Senator, I was asked here to answer questions. I haven’t heard one yet, but when I do, I’ll answer it fully.”


9 posted on 09/12/2007 10:29:01 AM PDT by SampleMan (Islamic tolerance is practiced by killing you last.)
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To: Cicero
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) followed Obama. He told Petraeus and Crocker, "As you have found, our hearings are more about listening to ourselves than listening to our witnesses."

Sweet! I'm glad to hear a Senator state that fact.

10 posted on 09/12/2007 10:29:27 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: Chi-townChief
Obama used about six minutes of his time to lecture Petraeus and Crocker that the surge is of modest success given the cost and the Iraq central government is ineffectual

I'm amazed by the stoicism of Petraeus and Crocker while listening to these idiots.
11 posted on 09/12/2007 10:29:31 AM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....when the sidewalks are safe for the little guy.)
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To: Chi-townChief

My wife thinks Obama has a real chance, because Oprah has such a loyal following. I reminded her that even though it’s hard to imagine, quite a few people haven’t watched a single Oprah show.

Oprah has decided Obama is her man. She can have him.


12 posted on 09/12/2007 10:31:46 AM PDT by DoughtyOne ((Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking its heritage.))
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To: Chi-townChief
Deeds, not words.

What has the man done?

-Joan

13 posted on 09/12/2007 10:32:06 AM PDT by JoanVarga
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To: Chi-townChief

That’s the reason it’s called a “hearing”. The witness gets to hear what the supposed questioners want to say.


14 posted on 09/12/2007 10:32:22 AM PDT by VRWCmember (Fred Thompson 2008! Taking America Back for Conservatives!)
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To: DoughtyOne

I’ll take Obamama over Hillary a 1000 times outta a 1000 times...............


15 posted on 09/12/2007 10:34:08 AM PDT by advertising guy (If computer skills named us, I'd be back-space delete.)
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To: Chi-townChief
Obama says in this tense era, "it is time for a president who can build consensus here at home" in order to chart an ambitious foreign policy course.

And someone who is so partisan and so arrogant that he uses six and one-half minutes of his seven-minute allotment to grandstand rather than actually asking a question is clearly not someone who can build consensus here at home or in foreign policy.

16 posted on 09/12/2007 10:34:31 AM PDT by VRWCmember (Fred Thompson 2008! Taking America Back for Conservatives!)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Chi-townChief

“Consensus” is the DNC’s Word of the Year winner!


18 posted on 09/12/2007 10:36:07 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The DemocRATS own failure and defeat. Success and victory really depresses them.)
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To: advertising guy

Well sure, I’d probably select John Kerry over Charles Manson too. LOL


19 posted on 09/12/2007 10:37:27 AM PDT by DoughtyOne ((Victory will never be achieved while defining Conservatism downward, and forsaking its heritage.))
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To: Chi-townChief

Obama is all posturing and platitudes. At least he’s consistent.


20 posted on 09/12/2007 10:41:31 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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