From the NewsMax.com Staff

For the story behind the story...

Sen. Barack Obama: Bush Slogans 'Can't Hide Coffins'

Reprint Information

Book on Katie Couric Makes Waves White House: We're Not Subject to FOIA FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday ridiculed the Bush administration's defense of the Iraq war, arguing that messages such as "Plan for Victory" can't hide the "2,400 flag-draped coffins that have arrived at the Dover Air Force Base."

In a speech to EMILY's List, the Illinois senator used biting criticism in assailing the president and his handling of the war. Obama spoke in support of former Army Maj. Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter co-pilot who lost both her legs in combat in Iraq and is trying to win an open House seat.

"This idea," Obama said, "that somehow if you say the words 'plan for victory' and 'stay the course' over and over and over and over again and you put these subliminal messages behind you that say 'victory' and 'victory' and 'victory,' that somehow people are not going to notice the 2,400 flag-draped coffins that have arrived at the Dover Air Force Base."

Story Continues Below

  The first-term lawmaker asked the audience: "People, have we flipped? It's time to say we notice it. It is time to say that we care, and we are not going to settle anymore."

The White House had no immediate comment about Obama's criticism.

Tracey Schmitt, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said Obama's remarks "are emblematic of a party that would rather promote pessimism and point fingers than weigh in substanitively on an issue as critical as the central front of the war on terror."

Obama, who first came to national attention when he delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2008 - or perhaps a running mate.

"I don't know about you," he told his audience, referring to Bush's 2000 campaign comments on possible U.S. military involvement overseas, "but when George Bush said he did not believe in nation building, I did not know he was talking about this nation."

EMILY's List is an organization that helps Democratic women who favor abortion rights.

© 2006 Associated Press.

Editor's note:
Become a member of NewsMax’s "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave" Club – get the T-shirt – Click Here Now
If you love George Bush – you’ll love NewsMax’s "Bush Collection" – Check it out – Click Here Now
Blacks, Hispanics are joining the GOP as never before! Meet the "New Republicans" – Click Here Now

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Iraq

Inside Cover Stories
FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry

Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals

Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

Bob Grant to Return to Radio

Carville Seeks Perfect '08 Bumper Sticker More Inside Cover Stories