The RNC Foreign Strategy Backfire
Does everyone remember the “Obama’s Last Visit to Iraq” counter launched by the RNC months ago? Part of the plan to embarrass Obama over foreign policy inexperience. It’s since been pulled from the main page of their website of course, with Obama’s recent visit to the country. Here’s a picture to refresh your memories.
Below this image the “days” were counted. The counter became a widget with which any person at home could easily keep track of the days since Obama had been on the ground in Iraq; After all, how can anyone assess a war strategy without being on the front lines? (This is excepting of course: Polk, Lincoln, McKinley, Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, George H.W. Bush and well his son for quite some period of time).
The pressure of course was meant to accomplish either one of two things, or both:
- Make Obama look cowardly and elitist for not going to where the troops are or,
- Let the junior senator make a mistake on a stressful and likely unpredictable visit abroad.
The Republican candidate McCain soon shot the RNC campaign against Obama in the foot by chatting up a surreal unprotected walk through a Baghdad marketplace, during which time McCain was actually accompanied by dozens of troops and several Blackhawk helicopters. If visits to Iraq lack for something in their education it’s apparently in ‘not exaggerating’. He also apparently didn’t pick up much about the local geography, and that Iraq and Pakistan do not, in fact, share a border.
Not that Obama’s trip was likely anything more educational. What did he do that was educational after all?
Met with General Petraeus – Could have been done in Washington and in fact has been before albeit without the cool ride in the whirlybird.
Met with Maliki and Talibani – Also could have been done during either’s periodic visits to the States or via a conference call. Biggest accomplishment here was Maliki’s as he was given leverage to push for a timetable in the occupation negotiations with the Bush administration (I’m sorry, time horizon. toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe).
Practice his 3-pointer?
So while lacking in its educational aspects Obama was able to score some key political points all at RNC expense. Two things the RNC didn’t count on? Obama’s picture perfect control of his message and image while abroad and their own candidate’s ability to repeatedly screw his credibility on what is supposedly his strongest subject; foreign policy.
Obama was able to turn his 9 day tour into more than just an Iraq visit.
He was able to highlight the need for more troops and support in Afghanistan at a time when violence there is worse than it has been in years.
Get a virtual policy endorsement for his Iraq timetable from the leader of Iraq, as aforementioned.
Followed on the heels of the Bush administration’s policy reversal on not negotiating with Iran; Contradicting McCain and falling in line with Obama’s policy.
Caught a ride to the airport in King Abdullah’s sweet Mercedes.
Made very symbolic statements of solidarity by appearing at Israel’s western wall and Vad Yashem. Oh yeah, there was one heckler; word on the street is that it was Joe Leiberman.
He also made a very politically safe yet hyped speech in a grand format with 200,000 excited German attendees. Not that big a deal as Obamamania goes; however it’s doubtful that it would be something McCain could repeat.
On top of all this McCain made two references to a country which no longer exists, referred to the Iraq/Pakistan border, the rather complicated Anbar/Surge gaffe, and just today that Iraq was the first post 9/11 conflict and in an interview about Obama’s trip abroad said:
I would rather speak at a rally or a political gathering any place outside of the country after I am president of the United States
McCain apparently forgot his recent foreign policy free trade trips to Canada, Mexico and Columbia.
The worst part is that McCain probably does know better but somewhere between the policy briefing and being in front of a camera a disconnect happens in the lines between his brain and his mouth.
All in all though, a poor weak for the RNC foreign policy bashing week. More damage control than oppositional attacks.
-Marc-
