Obama says he will listen to generals about the war
Trying to help Barack Obama appear ready to be commander-in-chief, nine former generals stood at attention today as the Democratic White House hopeful walked in to a news conference against a backdrop of flags at the Chicago History Museum.
The generals said they think Obama has the judgment and temperament to be commander-in-chief.
Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, who served as Air Force Chief of Staff during Operation Desert Storm and who introduced Obama to audiences during the Iowa Caucuses, said Obama was so steady he should be called "No Shock Barack" or "No Drama Obama."
Sen. Hillary Clinton's rival campaign hastily threw together its own conference call to start 25 minutes after Obama's news conference. In Clinton's event, generals supporting her explained why they think she would be the better commander-in-chief.
Obama lamented the early retirement of Admiral William Fallon, who has clashed with the Bush administration over its policies toward Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I think it's a loss," Obama said. "I think he provided a balanced view of the region. I'm sorry to see him go, but I guess I'm not surprised."
Obama said that while President Bush has said that he follows the advice of his generals regarding Iraq, when they give the president advice he doesn't like -- cautioning against the War in Iraq, for example -- Bush doesn't listen to them.
"There were generals at the beginning of the conflict that said this is going to require many more troops, will cost us much more ... those generals were pushed aside," Obama said.
Responding to comments made by a former advisor who said Obama might shelve withdrawal plans after getting elected, Obama said he would listen to his generals but, "I will not equivocate in my strategic belief that we need to withdraw ... one to two brigades per month -- that will be the operating pace that I come into those conversations with."
Obama tried to deflect the importance of race in the campaign, the day after he won 90 percent of the African-American vote and a quarter of the white vote in Mississippi, according to exit polls.
"There will be some voters for whom the fact I am African-American means I've got to work a little harder to make the case," he said. "In fairness to Sen. Clinton, there may be some voters who require her to work a little harder to make the case because she's a woman. But there are probably some who give me the benefit of the doubt because I'm black and there are probably some who give Sen. Clinton the benefit of the doubt because she's a woman."
Obama called former U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro's comments that Obama's race is helping him in this campaign "ridiculous."
And Obama mocked the notion that his high level of support among African-American voters might turn off white voters.
What percentage of the African-American vote would pundits like him to get that won't bring criticism for having too much or too little support in the African-American community, he asked.
Four generals in the Clinton conference call praised her help for veterans, work on Arlington Cemetery and other issues, calling her "steady in the saddle."