It Simply Wasn't Worth Obama's Time

From Talking Points Memo:

A Pentagon spokesperson confirms to me that because of longstanding Department of Defense regulations, Pentagon officials told Obama aides that he couldn't visit the base [the wounded US soldiers in Germany] with campaign staff [but he was permitted to visit them by himself] This left Obama with little choice but to cancel the trip, since the plan to visit with campaign aides had been in the works for weeks.

Yep, that's pretty much what I thought. Without the campaign staff, journalists and film crew it simply wasn't worth his time.

Yesterday, I pointed out that the Obama campaign had justified Obama's decision to speak in Berlin - in front of two hundred thousand spectators and an assembled film crew - saying “He is going to talk about the issues as an individual … not as a candidate, but as an individual, as a senator."

However, when it came time to rationalize Obama's decision not to visit wounded US soldiers in Germany, the Obama campaign said, "Senator Obama did not want to have a trip to see our wounded warriors perceived as a campaign event... it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign."

And I pointed out: "So essentially it was okay for Obama to speak in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators in Berlin because he was speaking "not as a candidate, but as an individual, as a senator". However, he couldn't possibly visit wounded US soldiers in Germany because he was touring the country as a candidate, not as an individual or a US senator, thus visiting US soldiers would be perceived as a campaign gimmick."

The hypocrisy is clear cut. No ifs or buts.

I also pointed out: "In truth, Obama has complete control over the media, and he manages to keep the press pool out of his proximity whenever he so desires. [Just ask Andrea Mitchell.] He could have easily visited the troops without all the media fanfare."

But it simply wasn't worth his time.

Yes, I know, I already posted most of this yesterday, but it doesn't hurt to mention it again!