Michelle Obama Avoids Veterans Hit On McCain

[Hope And Change]

M. OBAMA AVOIDS VETERANS HIT ON MCCAIN

Posted: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 4:11 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, McCain, Obama

From NBC/NJ’s Carrie Dann
NORFOLK, Va. -- In the midst of a blistering exchange of ads between the two presidential candidates, Michelle Obama chose not to mention her husband's opponent today, even during discussion of a major policy difference with vivid resonance in the military community.

Continuing a series of roundtable discussions with military spouses, Michelle Obama called for a brighter spotlight on the needs of veterans, including post-deployment health care and education services for service members. Appearing in battleground state Virginia, Obama listened to a panel of women who lamented the unique challenges that face the husbands and wives of soldiers.

One of the event's biggest applause lines came as she touted her husband's support of a G.I. education bill, sponsored by Virginia Democrat Jim Webb. The bill, which passed the Senate in May and was signed into law in June, will give more than $50 billion in college aid to returning service members over the next 10 years.

What Michelle Obama did not mention was a key part of the discussion among veterans watching the presidential race -- namely, that GOP presumptive nominee and Navy veteran McCain opposed Webb's bill. The aspiring First Lady steered clear of alluding to her husband's bitter counterpunches with his rival after McCain faced a battery of criticism for his resistance to the measure, which is particularly popular with veterans.

A campaign surrogate who shared the stage with her did not let the issue go unmentioned.

"Michelle's too polite. I can say it," said Paul Bucha, a decorated Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor winner, who has joined Obama at each roundtable in the series. "We're moving forward on the plan that Barack supported and John McCain opposed."


more...

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/06/1250915.aspx

[gateley]

1. Good for Michelle, and good for Paul Bucha! nt

[NatBurner]

2. i watched the whole thing

and i noticed that-

i was really impressed with paul bucha too

i can only speculate, but i'd bet cindy would've pounced on something like that...

anyway, michelle will be our first lady soon enough

[TheDebbieDee]

3. This being overly-classy act could keep this election

close enough for the repukes to steal in November.

I say, let no opportunity to wound the McCain campaign go un-used! We have to play to WIN this election.

[Lucky 13]

4. Yes, but that isn't the role of the soon-to-be-first lady.

If there's one thing she must do, it's keep her air of dignity and class. Let the campaign do the fighting... let her take the high-road... and let the American people get to know her as a woman, wife, mother, and fantastic human being. Otherwise people will start calling her bitter, bitchy, overly opinionated... you know... all the things us girls aren't supposed to be.