Re: "The U.S. Military Must Remain Non-Poltical -- But McCain Uses Petraeus in Ad

Rita wrote:
On Sat, 31 May 2008 00:20:37 -0700, El Castor <No_One@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Fri, 30 May 2008 11:07:08 -0700, Rita <Rita@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Fri, 30 May 2008 10:37:22 -0700, El Castor <No_One@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Fri, 30 May 2008 09:01:11 -0700, Rita <Rita@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


« McCain Uses Image Of Petraeus In Uniform To Raise Money And Attack
Obamma

Obama Camp: Joint Chiefs Wouldn't Approve Of McCain's Petraeus Attack
On Obama
By Greg Sargent - May 30, 2008, 11:43AM

As noted below, the McCain campaign is already using a member of the
military -- General Petraeus, to be precise -- as a prop in an attack
on Obama, sending out a campaign email bearing Petraeus' image to
raise money and slam Obama on Iraq.

The Obama camp's response? On a conference call with reporters
moments, ago, Obama advisers pointed to a rather relevant letter sent
out just a few days ago by the Joint Chiefs urging that members of the
military stay out of the presidential race.

"The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times and in all
ways," wrote the Joint Chiefs chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen. "It is
and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which
party holds sway."

On the call, Obama spokesperson Josh Earnest argued that McCain had
used Petraeus' image politically even though the ink was barely dry on
the Joint Chiefs' directive. "It's interesting that just days later,
the McCain campaign jumped in with both feet," Earnest pointed out,
adding that the McCain camp had both politicized Iraq and used
Petraeus to raise money.

Petraeus himself, presumably, wouldn't want his image used in such a
context, given the Joint Chiefs' preference. Indeed, as it happens,
Petraeus' own spokesperson has already weighed in on this topic. Last
September, when Rudy Giuliani used Petraeus' image in a political ad,
Petraeus spokesperson distanced the General from it, saying he had
"not condoned the use of his photo" in the spot.

http://tinyurl.com/48osdn

Nothing inappropriate. McCain can do what he wants. If Petraeus starts
running his own ads, or campaigns for McCain, then the line will have
been crossed. Lets face facts. The Left is anti-military. That's why
you people tried to prevent military ballots from being counted in
Florida in 2000. The military will always vote for men like McCain and
not for men like Obama, but that's their privilege. They still get to
vote.

We will see how Petraeus likes his photo used in McCain's ad.
He didn't like it when Rudy Guiliani did it.

He's free not to like it -- his choice.

After being criticized by everyone from the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff to the governor of Wisconsin, John McCain admitted
today that it was wrong to use an image of Gen. David Petraeus in
uniform for a fundraising letter.

Asked if it was appropriate to use the picture in a fund raising ad
McCain said: "No. It won't happen again," McCain said today at a press
conference in Milwaukee.

His campaign had argued previously that using the picture was
appropriate, and that showing Petraeus shaking hands with McCain did
not imply he was supportive of McCain's candidacy. Petraeus has not
endorsed any candidate for president.

He may not have endorsed any candidate for president, but where's the
picture of him shaking hands with Clinton or Obama? I think he endorsed his
candidate and, if they weren't engaged in the old "wink, wink" game, the
Joint Chiefs ought to be taking him out to the woodshed and accepting his
retirement papers while they're out there. They, of course, won't (national
security needs and all that stuff, as if there are no other competent
generals on the active rolls) but they should if they're looking for
credibility.

George Z.


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