Obama Hits McCain Over Flooding Opening New Debate in Campaign Associated Press June 22, 2008 2:27 a.m. MIAMI -- With communities in the Midwest still under water, Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday criticized Republican John McCain for opposing federal spending on flood prevention programs and opened a new debate in the White House race. Mr. McCain's campaign said Mr. Obama was engaging in typical political attacks that the Democrat rejects in his speeches and confusing the facts. Both candidates have visited the flood zones in the past two weeks, since tornadoes hit and heavy rains sent rivers surging over their banks, forcing thousands of people from their homes and inundating towns and cities along rivers in six U.S. states; at least 24 people have been killed and 148 injured since June 6. Mr. Obama, an Illinois senator, canceled a visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials and instead went to fill sandbags in Quincy, Ill. Mr. McCain, an Arizona senator, toured flood damage in Iowa Thursday. "I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did," Mr. Obama said, "feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork." The bill that Mr. McCain opposed spent $23 billion on water projects. It passed Congress overwhelmingly and was vetoed by President Bush because he said it spent too much on lawmaker's pet projects. Congress voted to override the veto, the first time of Mr. Bush's presidency. The bill funded hundreds of projects -- such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration -- that are important to local communities and their representatives. It also included money for the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast and for Florida Everglades restoration efforts. Mr. McCain's campaign said Mr. Obama opposed an amendment that Mr. McCain co-sponsored to prioritize flood control spending. The bipartisan amendment, which failed overwhelmingly on a 69-22 vote, would have made sure "lifesaving levees like those that so tragically failed in Iowa and Missouri are given the highest priority and fixed first," said Mr. McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "It is beyond the pale that Barack Obama would attack John McCain for actually trying to fix the problem and change the way Washington works," Mr. Bounds said. "Barack Obama's willingness to continue the status quo pork-barrel politics in Washington, and then engage in political attacks that entirely disregard the facts, once again fundamentally shows that he's nothing more than a typical politician." Mr. Obama's criticism of Mr. McCain came in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He told the city leaders that he would be their partner and appoint the first White House Director of Urban Policy to help them cut through federal bureaucracies. The promise sparked a standing ovation. He promised money for police, higher-paid teachers, transit, housing and broadband Internet. He said he would create jobs by rebuilding roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects. "That will be the cause of my presidency," he said. And he announced a new program to offer matching grants that encourage businesses, government and university leaders to collaborate on regional economic clusters, such as the North Carolina Research Triangle Park and Nashville's entertainment cluster. The campaign said the proposal would cost $200 million a year and would be funded by improving government efficiency. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121407257933894511.html ------ Go Barack Obama! The Democrats really have them a fighter here. Can't wait until November when I know he will wrap up this election. I also can't wait for debates between him and McCain.
Would this be politicizing a disaster? I agree with Obama that our infrastructure needs vast improvements but I'm not sure how much McCain is to blame.
Well, McCain kind of did vote against something that would have helped our infrastructure, especially flooding. Luckily more voted for it, than against it, and Congress vetoed GWB's ridiculous veto.
Hey what Obama said was accurate...and tells those people that if you want someone that supports you ...then vote for me... Good for him. DD
you have to highlight the differences between you and your opponent, regardless of what you promised as a politician.
He never said he was going to run a front porch campaign and never say anything about McCain. He promised to try and limit third party attacks and that he would condone personal attacks on things like family and love of country. This is totally legit and yet another signal that Obama is going after that block of Midwest states that would guarantee him victory. If he pull in MO, IA, MN, WI, MI, and IL as a group, he has a very good path to the Presidency without winning FL, OH or even PA. All he'd have to do is win CO and one of NV, NM, or WV.
