Obama rips foe on affirmative action, Iraq

In his first speech back on U.S. soil after his 10-day tour of the Middle East and Europe, Barack Obama said John McCain has flip-flopped on affirmative action and that while violence is down in Iraq, it’s up in Afghanistan. He also noted that Iraq’s prime minster agrees with him on a "timetable for withdrawal from Iraq."

Sporting a beige suit and a U.S. flag lapel pin, Obama found a receptive audience among the minority journalists and students at McCormick Place, who gave him standing ovations, 10 rounds of applause and a rush of cell phone picture-taking.

But they did not hold back on the tough questions: Does he support affirmative action? Reparations for descendants of slaves? An apology to Native Americans from the U.S. government? As he shoots down the rumor that he is Muslim, should Obama make it clearer that, even if he were, that would not be a bad thing?

"This is a classic example of a no-win situation," Obama said. "I try to correct something that is false, and I’m asked, ‘Why are you correcting this thing in a way that is not sufficiently’. . . ?" The candidate trailed off without finishing the question. Members of Obama’s father’s family were Muslim, as was a stepfather he lived with in Indonesia in childhood. But Obama never practiced Islam.

"My credentials on supporting Muslim Americans are very strong," Obama said. "I have visited mosques here in my community repeatedly. I have met with Islamic leaders."

Obama bristled at questions about whether meeting with foreign leaders before he’s elected president was presumptuous — and about whether he should admit that his opposition to the Iraq troop "surge" was a mistake.

"I basically met with these same folks John McCain met with after he won the nomination, and nobody suggested that was audacious," Obama said, evoking applause.

"Now, I admit we did it really well," he said to more applause. Obama said he had not heard journalists press McCain about whether it was a mistake to authorize the war — though they have. Obama said the surge helped bring down violence in Iraq, but the troops are more urgently needed in Afghanistan.

"Violence is down in Iraq, and the work of our troops has greatly contributed to consolidating some of those gains," Obama said. "In Afghanistan, though, things are worsening."

Obama did not rule out an apology from the U.S. government to Native Americans but said, "I’m more concerned about delivering a better life and developing a better relationship with Native Americans."

He gave a similar answer to the issue of reparations for descendants of slaves, saying the best reparations would be the chance of a decent job and a good education.

On affirmative action, Obama said, "I am a strong supporter of affirmative action when it is properly structured, so that it is not just a quota, but acknowledging or taking into account some of the hardships and difficulties communities of color have experienced and continue to experience."

Obama said he did not want to see wealthier African-American children getting more breaks than poor white children.

"I am disappointed that John McCain flipped and has changed his position" on an Arizona ballot initiative banning affirmative action, Obama said. "I think in the past he had been opposed to these . . . referenda and initiatives as divisive."

Just before Obama spoke, Newsday editor Les Payne had called "blood libel" the argument that African-American journalists could not objectively cover Obama’s candidacy. His panel was asked about the appropriateness of journalists applauding Obama, and Payne said he thought it was inappropriate. But he noted that McCain and President Bush have gotten applause when addressing media groups. McCain turned down an invitation to speak at the convention.