RNC:TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT

IRAQ Today, Obama Said That He Would "Spare No Expense" To Ensure That Our Troops Have The Equipment And Support They Need: Obama: "Now, let me be clear: when I am President, I will spare no expense to ensure that our troops have the equipment and support they need. There is no higher obligation for a Commander-in-Chief." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks On Iraq And The Economy, Charleston, WV, 3/20/08) But Obama Has Previously Voted Against Providing Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan And Promised To Continue Doing So:  Obama Voted Against Providing $94.4 Billion In Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama Voted Nay) Obama Voted Against $70 Billion In Emergency Iraq And Afghanistan Funding. (S. 2340, CQ Vote #410: Rejected 45-53: R 44-3; D 0-49; I 1-1, 11/16/07, Obama Voted Nay) Obama: "If there is a funding bill that does not have a timetable for when we begin withdrawal, and the completion -- a plan for how that withdrawal will proceed -- I will not support it." (Teddy Davis, Jonathan Greenberger, and Donna Hunter, "Clinton, Obama Take No Funding Pledge," ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, www.abcnews.com, 9/17/07) Obama Said That Instead Of Fighting In Iraq, We Could Be Fighting The Terrorists That Attacked The U.S. On September 11th:  Obama: "Instead of fighting this war, we could be fighting the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and who are plotting against us in Afghanistan and Pakistan." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks On Iraq And The Economy, Charleston, WV, 3/20/08) 

• FLASHBACK: Obama Previously Said He Would Reserve The Right To Go Back Into Iraq To Fight Al-Qaeda. Obama: "Now, I always reserve the right for the president -- as commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad. So that is true, I think, not just in Iraq, but that's true in other places. That's part of my argument with respect to Pakistan." (Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Cleveland, OH, 2/26/08)

 But Obama Fails To Recognize The Threat Of Al-Qaeda In Iraq And Its Ties To The International Al-Qaeda Network:  Gen. David Petraeus, The Top Military Commander In Iraq, Said Al-Qaeda Was "The Enemy Closest To The Sled" In That Country. Sky News' Adam Boulton: "I mean who is the enemy now as far as you are concerned?" Gen. Petraeus: "Well, the enemy closest to the sled, if you will, for us is still al-Qaeda - Iraq. Now that does include other Sunni insurgent groups such as Ansar al-Sunna. Certainly a lot of what used to be referred to as the Sunni resistance in many cases has actually turned against al-Qaeda because of the indiscriminate violence and because of an extremist ideology that Sunni Arabs in Iraq really can't embrace." (Gen. David Petraeus, Interview With Sky News, Baghdad, Iraq, 3/5/08) 

• Gen. Petraeus: "And again, the upper echelon, the top few percent of al-Qaeda - Iraq is, indeed, foreign and has links...direct links with al-Qaeda's senior leadership in the Afghan-Pakistan area. They indeed have sway, if you will, beyond just the borders of Iraq. [They] do talk to facilitators in Syria and in other countries in the Levant and source countries in North Africa and the Gulf states." (Gen. David Petraeus, Interview With Sky News, Baghdad, Iraq, 3/5/08)  Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, Multi-National Force - Iraq Spokesman: "There has been significant progress against al-Qaeda over the last several years. And most recently, in the past year, we have made a significant effort to disrupt and put more pressure, not only on their networks, but geographically on places where they have sought to operate from: their safe havens and operating bases. And we continue to keep that pressure up because, as you heard from Ayman al-Zawahiri's statement this past weekend, this is an organization that is perpetuating and dependent upon a continued focus on violence." (Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Bergner, Press Conference, 3/5/08) Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, Commanding General Multinational Division, Baghdad And 1st Cavalry Division: "Now, I want to be absolutely clear that while we have seen significant progress during our tour here, we are very mindful that it is fragile and that there is very tough work ahead. Al Qaeda is down, but it is by no means out. It remains a very dangerous enemy that maintains the ability to conduct attacks against the innocent, and we must continue to pursue them, to attack their networks even as they're trying to regenerate." (Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, Press Conference, 12/17/07)

 ECONOMY Today, Obama Claimed He Would "Put The American Dream Within Reach For Every American" And Provide Tax Relief For Working Families, All Within A "Disciplined Budget":  Obama: "Instead of fighting this war, we could be fighting for the people of West Virginia. ... We could be fighting to put the American dream within reach for every American - by giving tax breaks to working families, offering relief to struggling homeowners ... and protecting Social Security today, tomorrow, and forever. That's what we could be doing instead of fighting this war. ... These are the investments we could be making, all within the parameters of a more responsible and disciplined budget." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks On Iraq And The Economy, Charleston, WV, 3/20/08) But Obama Voted For A Budget That Raises Taxes On Americans Earning As Little As $31,850: Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats' FY 2009 Budget. "Adoption of the concurrent resolution that would set broad spending and revenue targets over the next five years. The resolution would allow up to $1 trillion in discretionary spending for 2009." (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea) 

• The Democrats' Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning As Little As $31,850. "Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent." (Andrew Taylor, "Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget," The Associated Press, 3/13/08)

• The Club For Growth's Andrew Roth Notes The Budget Would Result In "The Largest Tax Hike In U.S. History." "The Democrats' FY09 budget does not extend the Bush tax cuts. As a result, Americans are set to be hammered with the largest tax hike in U.S. history." (Andrew Roth, "Tax Hike Impact By Congressional District," The Club For Growth's "Club For Growth" Blog, www.clubforgrowth.org, 3/12/08)

 And Obama's Liberal Spending Agenda "Suggests A Lack Of Seriousness In Confronting The Nation's Fiscal Condition":  USA Today: "[C]linton and Obama both offer a long list of new spending proposals that suggests a lack of seriousness in confronting the nation's fiscal condition. Obama has received more criticism, perhaps deservedly so, because his list is somewhat longer."  (Editorial, "Democrats Promise A Lot, But Who Will Pay The Bill?" USA Today, 2/25/08) Obama Listed Numerous Proposals, But Offered "No Discussion Of How He Would Pay For All This." "[T]he address [at Furman University] was saturated with proposals. Obama called for tax rebates; a one-time boost in Social Security checks; extending unemployment insurance; mortgage aid for those facing foreclosure; raising the minimum wage; protecting pensions; and college tuition credits. And that was before he got to his support for solar and wind power and biodiesel fuel. (There was no discussion of how he would pay for all this, other than to say his health-care plan would be partly financed by ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans.)" (Howard Kurtz, "Team Obama Is Courting Everybody But The Press," The Washington Post, 1/28/08) Obama's Liberal Record On Economic Issues Is Wrong For America: "In 2006, [Obama] Was One Of 13 Senate Democrats With A Perfect Liberal Score On Economic Issues." (Richard E. Cohen, "Left To Right," National Journal, 3/3/07)