Thu, Aug 28, 2008 5:31pm ET

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ABC reports that Republicans are mocking Democrats' columned stage, not that 2004 GOP convention stage also had columns

Summary: Good Morning America's Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer echoed Republican talking points mocking the stage at Invesco Field in Denver, where Sen. Barack Obama plans to give his acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for president, for including a structure with columns. But Roberts and Sawyer failed to mention that the stage at the Republican National Convention in 2004 also included columns.
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Posted by DAWUSS

Party hacks have Selective Alzheimers, also known as Convenient Alzheimers.

 

That's all I can say right now.

Posted by RABBITLUVR in reply to DAWUSS

I figured that would be the best you could come up with. Wow, you Repubs really are... wow, ridiculous.

Posted by carlileb5935 in reply to RABBITLUVR

Has anyone pointed out that "togas" are Roman, not Greek?

Morons. Uneducated idiots, who should be called out on absolutely everything. 

Posted by nerzog

Holy crap! Greek Columns! EEEEEEK! It's only the most common architectural style in every friggin' government building in the country!

GMAFB

Posted by DAWUSS in reply to nerzog

Not to mention rich people's houses tend to have Greek columns as well.

Posted by magnolialover in reply to DAWUSS

Ah, I've seen a lot more homes that just rich people's houses that have had Greek columns in them.

What a stupid republican talking point. Columns! OBAMA MUST BE STOPPED!!!

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to magnolialover

I don't think I've ever ripped of Emo Phillips before, but; Isn't it Ionic?

Posted by skatscan5624 in reply to DAWUSS

I wonder how many of John McCain's houses have Greek columns or is it Roman columns?

Posted by snoopy in reply to skatscan5624

How about photos? (supersized per the Col.'s request!)

mccain_official_portrait.jpg

mccain_columns2.jpg

mccain_columns3.jpg

mccain_columns4.jpg

And let's not forget a little reich-wing pandering, shall we?

mccain_pulpit.jpg

Posted by carlileb5935 in reply to snoopy

I think it's awful that you would attempt to criticize a war hero.

John McCain wishes he had columns in that 3 by 4 foot hut he called home for 15 years.

Posted by snoopy in reply to carlileb5935

15 years? Well, why not? He plagerized the cross in the sand story to make his experience look better than it really was, why not embellish the number of years he spent there too? ;)

Musta been one of them poor souls Braddock saved...

Missing in Action

 

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to carlileb5935

Carlile, you're a little rusty on your history of the POW.He actually had a column in his 3' x 4' cell. It was a 2' x 2' column, right in the middle, leaving only eight square feet of living space.It was a load-bearing column, and the VC refused to retrofit a reinforced ceiling in order to eliminate the column.

John McCain had to sleep wrapped around that column, in the exact shape of the letter "O" in "POW".The sightlines and flow of the cell, destroyed by that column, are another story entirely, but John McCain doesn't like to talk about it..

Posted by philib in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

"but John McCain doesn't like to talk about it.."

   Maybe he doesn't like to talk about it, but needs to - to remind you liberals that someone fought in that war for you...to remind you that someone paid the price you wouldn't pay for your freedoms to denigrate him as much as you do.

   But, you don't care about the price he paid for your freedoms. That was a war you people called unjust and illegal and your favorite president went AWOL during it in order to avoid serving, yet you complain that Bush had an easy assignment. At least he stayed IN the service. Clinton bailed the first and every chance he got. You love the coward (Clinton), but hate the hero (McCain). That's liberalism for you.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Nobody's denigrating McCain's service, it's just not the ultimate qualification for President, and it's not a defense for every criticism that's made against him.

Why is it cowardly to refuse to serve in a war that you don't agree with?  That makes no sense at all.

Posted by philib in reply to Brabantio

"Why is it cowardly to refuse to serve in a war that you don't agree with? "

   Because he was drafted and he ran with his tail between his legs. That makes him a coward.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Even if you object to the war itself?  Why should anyone's bravery be judged because they didn't fight in a war they felt was unjust?   I'd fight in a war that was morally justified, but if they tried to draft me for Iraq they'd be out of luck.

Posted by worrierking in reply to philib

No one is denigrating McCain's service, just his political positions and his trading on his ex-POW status.

I don't want to get into a pising match with someone who hasn't a clue about Vietnam, but Clinton did not profess support for a war in which he refused to serve.

GW Bush professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Dick Cheney professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Karl Rove professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Rush Limbaugh professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Bill O'Reilly professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Newt Gingrich professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Paul Wolfowitz professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

"Scooter" Libby professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Ted Nugent professed support for a war in which he refused to serve.

Posted by worrierking in reply to worrierking

AND PHILIB PROFESSED SUPPORT FOR A WAR IN WHICH HE DID NOT SERVE.

Posted by philib in reply to worrierking

"HE DID NOT SERVE."

I did serve. No war while I served.



Nice list, kingofworriers, but Clinton ran-not just 'did not serve'. That makes him a coward. And, McCain knows more about that war than you do, so I hardly think your opinion over-rides his.

Posted by friedbergboy1422 in reply to philib

You love the coward (Bush/Cheney), but hate the vets (Gore, Kerry). That's conservatism for you.

Posted by RABBITLUVR in reply to philib

Good morning, good morning, good morning! My GOD, what a glorious day! :)

So what do we have on the table today - ah, Philib... nice. Talking about those who ran from the war with their tails between their legs... sweet.

Tell us about Dick Cheney, Jeff Christie, and Sean Insanity. You know... some of your 'heroes'. Tell us how high up in the ranks they made it in the service. Oh, wait, no too high, huh? Thought so. Sitting on your fat ass watching 'Hogan's Heroes' and sucking up cases of beer and waving Old Glory furiously doesn't seem to cut it now, doesn't it?

Thought so. 

 

 

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to philib

The North VietNamense were trying to take away our freedom to denigrate John McCain? Bastards!

BTW, Philib, I hope you stick around and post today. It's friday before a 3 dayer, I'm in a good mood, and I'd really appreciate a f***ing idiot providing some clown-style laughs. Go!

Posted by snoopy in reply to philib

Ah, but I did serve, and much more honorably than the draft dodger who also went AWOL during his national guard service did. Which is why I expect you'll be calling me a phony soldier because I disagree with what the republicans (who don't fund VA, don't support the GI bill, consistantly fight against veterans benefits, etc. etc. etc.) who claim they support the soldiers.

Attack in 3... 2... 1...

Posted by historygeek001 in reply to philib

Phil:

Name one way that being POW has any relevance to being POTUS.  There have been many POWs--are they all qualified? 

Posted by philib in reply to historygeek001

"Name one way that being POW has any relevance to being POTUS."

   One way is that it demonstrates you have the guts to face the enemy. Does O'bama have that? What enemy has he ever faced?

  Name one way that being a POW is a disqualifier for being POTUS. Are you saying that all former POW's aren't qualified to be POTUS?

  That's ok, geek, I don't expect you to answer those questions. That would make you look like a fool to your cohortial minion.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Nobody said or even implied that being a POW was a disqualifier.  Are you such a slave to binary thinking that if something is not exceptionally beneficial, it must be a clear negative?  There might be some middle ground there, you know.

Posted by philib in reply to Brabantio

brab, what part of the military did YOU serve in?

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Relevance?  Address the point.

Posted by philib in reply to Brabantio

"Are you such a slave to binary thinking that if something is not exceptionally beneficial, it must be a clear negative?"

   It's relevent because you can't determin whether I'm a "slave to binary thinking" if you don't have military experience in order to relinquish your own "binary thinking" in this line of arguement. In other words; how can you argue whether being a POW is worthy if you've never served in the military.

   However, since you didn't answer right away, I take it you have NOT served in the military in any capacity. Who's the slave to binary thinking, now?

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

"It's relevent because you can't determin whether I'm a "slave to binary thinking" if you don't have military experience in order to relinquish your own "binary thinking" in this line of arguement. In other words; how can you argue whether being a POW is worthy if you've never served in the military.  However, since you didn't answer right away, I take it you have NOT served in the military in any capacity. Who's the slave to binary thinking, now?"

What are you smoking?  Military experience has nothing to do with pointing out your logical error.  I didn't make any declaration that a POW was "worthy"  or not, I just pointed out your false construct.

It might help you out just a little if you actually understood the term "binary thinking" before trying to use it.  Look it up.

Posted by pointofview in reply to philib

Phil

I could not agree more.  You said what needs to be said, and you did it well.  Just dont think any lefties here will care or stop slamming those who gave up their freedom for them. 

 

Posted by mary59 in reply to pointofview

Do you ever read anything with comprehension.  The "liberals" on here responding to Philip SERVED IN THE MILITARY!!!  They are pointing out those who supported the fight but refused to go themselves.  Geez, get a clue.

Posted by pointofview in reply to mary59

Mary

And how many of them were POWs?  How many of them were tortured like McCain was?  Attack the mans ideas and or policies.....sure.  Attack his party..feel free.  But attacks on his service, when BC gave nothing, to attack the real torture he sufferd, and to makes jokes about how a POW slept chained in a cell shows a total lack of class.  It is you who needs a clue, as well as a shred of decency and respect. 

Posted by snoopy in reply to pointofview

Yeah, considering YOU were one of the ones attacking Kerry's SERVICE really makes your point ring hollow, mr. hippocrite.

Posted by philib in reply to snoopy

   So, YOU were not a POW either? Hmmm, neither was kingofworriers. OK, which of you brave liberals, who fought in that war, were POW's?? Colonel? Snoopy? Worrierking? Which of you know more about the Viet Nam war than McCain? So, your experience stops at being in the country. Maybe even, some of you weren't even 'in country'. Lot's of claims, no proof from any of you. Post your dd214, let's see how many of you actually did serve, or are you all just internet babblers? I suspect the latter. Liberals are known to make things up just to 'fit in'.

   How bout you, Mary? Did you serve in the military? During Viet Nam? If not, then you're just as bad as those on worrierking's list for not serving.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Keep pretending that one's views on the war don't make any difference as to whether one fought in the war or not.  It doesn't make you look very bright.

Posted by philib in reply to Brabantio

"Keep pretending that one's views on the war don't make any difference as to whether one fought in the war or not."

   I'm not pretending. If you want to claim the Viet Nam war was wrong, you have a right to. If others are going to make claims on POW status they better have experience at it.

   However, your views on military in general are biased because you have never been in the military. When you join, let us know how your experience went. Until then, your opinion on war and military service is merely opinion with no factual knowledge of the subject.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

Phil, if you oppose a war, it doesn't say anything about your character if you don't serve in it.  If Obama launched a war against Canada for no reason at all, would one of your family members be a coward for dodging a draft?  Or would you say they did the right thing?

Your government is supposed to represent what your country stands for.  If you think what the government does is a fair representation of your country's values, then you should serve their purpose because you would be serving your country as well.  But if you don't think your government is representing your country's values, then you're not serving your country by doing what your government wants you to do.

Posted by historygeek001 in reply to pointofview

POV:

First, and just out of curiosity, has the US ever engaged in any sort of military action that you disapprove of, or do you believe that they have all been just and necessary?

Second, nobody is denigrating McCain's service, but the fact is that being a POW has nothing to do with being POTUS.  Not a thing. 

Third, your indignation with the treatment of McCain as a veteran is hypocritical.  You didn't object when Kerry was smeared by the right. 

I could go on, but I don't think you're going to accept anything you don't want to, regardless of whether it is true.

 

Posted by pointofview in reply to historygeek001

1.  Of course there has been military action I have not agreed with.  Each individual citixen while free to object however, still must do what they can to support their country.  Has the US made mistakes, sure.  Name a country that has not.

2.  I never said, nor implied, that being a POW would make him a better President.  Still, jokes about his time as a POW are in my view unacceptable and a sign of low class.  Again, attack his ideas if you like, but attacking what he went through as a POW is appaling.

3.  As for Kerry, I do respect his service.  He could have avoided it due to his social position, but he did not.  I do not approve of many of things he did when he left the service, but I have never attacked or mocked his actual service.   

 

Posted by historygeek001 in reply to pointofview

What do you think of the way McCain is using his status as a POW to distract from questioning him? 

Posted by pointofview in reply to historygeek001

It is a part of his life...a big part.  I know of no presidential candidate who does not try to portray themselves in the best way possible.  It does not offend me, but I can see how it can offend others.  Even if it offends somone...the jokes, pure hate, and contempt some show here for his time as a POW crosses the line. 

Posted by historygeek001 in reply to pointofview

I have no problem with McCain MENTIONING his experience, but he uses it as a shield.  THAT is offensive to me.  I respect his service, but I have no respect for his flip-flops, pandering, and hypocrisy.  He is not the man he used to be.

Posted by pointofview in reply to historygeek001

"He is not the man he used to be."

History:

There is some truth to that,  I fear they all do and say what they think they have to to get into to office. 

 

Posted by snoopy in reply to pointofview

And what's your position on his plagerizing Solzenitzyn's cross in the sand story to lie about his own POW status? He's a serial lier, plain and simple. Someone who would lie about his service clearly isn't fit to lead.

Posted by pointofview in reply to snoopy

Snoopy said....."And what's your position on his plagerizing Solzenitzyn's cross in the sand story to lie about his own POW status?

Do you have a link where I can read about that?  I dont know anything about it. 

 

Posted by albertsenj in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

The poor guy - imagine what that did to the feng shui of his pad!

Posted by snoopy

Hmmm, with the exception of that dingbat Pawlenty there really wasn't much here. It was correctly stated that the republicans were acting like little frat boys making fun of it, and in the other segment they showed bush's columns, which I would think meant they were belittling the republican's position on this whole non-issue.

Posted by nerzog

Wow, they're even using that same Devo Hat altar President Numbnuts used.

Posted by MoonbatYouBet in reply to nerzog

Do not diss the Devo!!!!

I think that election results and the top rated TV programs over the past 10 years or so prove that de-evolution is a very real threat!  :)

Posted by onionhead

All that is missing from that picture is a throne and a lifesize "Buddy Jesus".

Posted by YMMOT

Maybe the Dems should change their setup because it might appear that they were trying something too 'Hollywood'. A different approach is called for here and possibly one with a more patriotic theme.

How about if they have him arriving in the co-pilot's seat of a Navy S-3B Viking after making two fly-bys of an aircraft carrier. Then he could the alight, wearing a green flight suit and holding a white helmet and salute those on the flight deck. Nothing showy about that, right ?

But he needs a sign too. I can't seem to think of what it should say. Maybe something like "Mission ............

Posted by RABBITLUVR

Well, the Repubs can take their mockery and shove it. Once again, they are as juvenile as they can get.

That includes YOU too, ABC. Asshole Broadcasting company.

Posted by carlileb5935 in reply to RABBITLUVR

The word, actually, is puerile.

Posted by shaggles

But Dubya was the Prez at the time.  That's sooooo differant.  And it proves that Obama is being presumptuous again. You can only use the columns if you're the imcumbent. ;)

Posted by nerzog in reply to shaggles

Well, I have it from an anonymous source that President Numbnuts had a REAL greek temple on his stage, not just a facade like Obama's.

Posted by johnse632553

The republicans seem to be acting like little kids.  They have no substance to anything they say or do, no originality, only stuff like this.  I can hardly remember when they had anything postive to say or do for this country.  They have caused the deaths of many with their unnecessary war, totally devistated the economy, lost all respectability for our country in the world and now they expect anyone to listen to them now.

Posted by jeter2

Political Cartoons by Eric Allie Today's Political Cartoon

Posted by snoopy

So, should we take it to mean that anyone who politicizes columns is just a stuffed shirt? Is that what this is supposed to mean?

Posted by mefirst

a certain amount of people will buy this crap, of course.  just like a certain number will listen to a guy like rush, with a 30 million dollar "compound" in palm beach, criticize obama for staying at a private home in hawaii for a couple days.

Posted by mary59

Well the Republicans should use grecian urns to put the ashes of their failed policies in...so there.

Posted by pithaughn in reply to mary59

ziinnnnnnnngggggggggg! You get a star for today!!

Posted by snoopy in reply to mary59

But Mary, I thought grecian urns are where republicans keep their grecian formula?

Posted by mary59 in reply to snoopy

And spare combs for their comb-overs.

Posted by larsontv1671

My hope, however misplaced, is that journalists would start doing their jobs and asking appropriate follow-up questions so that people like Pawlenty (talk about spotty credentials) could not get on TV to trash ANYONE without the facts and the correct historical context.  Our press--as precious a right as it is to have a free one--is failing us abyssmally.

Posted by LarryE

Let's be clear what the purpose of the mockery is: It's not so much to damage Obama or his image directly, it's rather to try to keep the Dems off-balance, to make them second-guess everything they say and do, to ultimately make them so cautious that they don't really say or do anything at all.

The tactic was successful in 2004. More recently, it was effective against attempts to stop the Iraq war, as Dems got scared of the very idea of maybe possibly being called "against the troops." The best way to deal with it is to just plow ahead with whatever you think is most effective and screw worrying that someone somewhere might say something mean about you.

Posted by nerzog in reply to LarryE

Excellent point. The Regurgicons are masters at redefining the debate. Notice that they have successfully distilled the Iraq war discussion down to whether or not the surge worked. Never mind that they lied through their teeth to get us into an optional, unnecessary war. Never mind that we've wasted thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. Never mind that it has strained our military to the breaking point.

I'm reading Scott McClellan's book, and I see now why they attacked him so viciously. One of the little nuggets that I found there, not explicitly stated but obvious nonetheless: this whole notion that Iraq could be turned into some kind of roach motel for terrorists is a talking point they latched onto after it became apparent that no WMD would be found, and to distract the ball chasing puppies in the press from the Valerie Plame problem.

Posted by historygeek001 in reply to nerzog

Nerzog:

What worries me more than anything else is how successful they were at distracting us.  What damage did they do that we don't know about yet?

Posted by RABBITLUVR in reply to LarryE

Obama isn't Kerry. This campaign will be different. After all, Biden's on board.

We've got plenty of ammo. It's just getting started.

Posted by right-winger

MY GOD I HAVEN'T SEEN SO MUCH HATE FOR A PERSON BEFORE IN MY LIFE. WATCHING ABC IS LIKE WATCING FOX NEWS NOW. NOW THEY HAVE A STORY AT ABC ABOUT HOW THE BIDEN BILL HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE LOSEING THERE HOUSES. THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THIS MAN OBAMA DON'T WIN THIS ELECTION AND AFTER THAT SPEECH LAST LOOK OUT OBAMA. YOU SAW THOSE MAD FACES AT MSNB, CNN, FOX NEWS, NBC, AND CBS.

Posted by magnolialover

In addition to mocking Obama for the columns bit, they also picked up on the fact that the person who designed the Obama set also did set design for Britney Spears' last tour. Apparently, that means something to republicans. I'm not sure what their unnatural obsession is with Spears.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to magnolialover

That's especially odd, considering that Spears supports Bush.  Are they mocking one of their own?

Posted by Lorelei in reply to Brabantio

Naw, she just outlived her usefulness for that campaign, now they are throwing HER under the bus, lol.

Posted by philib

  Perhaps the column theme would have worked better if O'bama wasn't running on the campaign of "change". He promises to change everything and leave you with pocket change. But, he didn't change the column theme. I guess all rich people think alike. So much for change in the White House, it will be another 4 years of Bush/co, only this time it will be called O'bama/co  or  McCain/co ... either way there won't be any difference from what we have right now.

Posted by nerzog in reply to philib

PHLIBBER, I'm trying real hard to follow your logic. What the hell do styrofoam stage decorations have to do with ANYTHING?

Posted by Brabantio in reply to nerzog

All rich people think alike.  Which is why Warren Buffett thinks he should pay more taxes, but Donald Trump doesn't.

Posted by RABBITLUVR in reply to philib

Philib, you might as well just hang it up. Gramps picked Palin as his veep. Worst choice for him... best choice for us.

Looks like Gramps wants this thing to be over. All that matters now is how badly damaged he will be after the dust settles.

Posted by philib in reply to RABBITLUVR

"Philib, you might as well just hang it up. Gramps picked Palin as his veep. Worst choice for him... best choice for us."

   Actually, she is a very good choice. Name one thing that will be a drawback for this election. She's everything a conservative, like me, would want...anti-abortion, favors conservative judges, hockey mom, willing to fight the good fight.

   She'll bring a lot of conservatives to the voting booth in Nov. She'll attract more women, even some that would have voted for Clinton (or O'bama). I think the liberals got trumped this time.

   She is certainly better than picking some old white guy. Which would have been the worst decision for a presidential candidate to do. What's a matter, aren't there any qualified women on the liberal side of things? You had to pick an old white guy?

Posted by Brabantio in reply to philib

So what conservatives like you want is most important to getting elected?  Why didn't you guys go with a Cheney/Feith ticket then, since that would appeal to conservatives as well?  Limbaugh/Coulter 08!  Can't wait to see Michael Savage as Secretary of State.

The Biden pick made sense because it provided balance.  If Obama had picked Hillary, it would have been labeled a huge mistake because she didn't have any experience before getting to the Senate.

Palin practically admitted that this was about playing to Hillary voters, and it's going to come off as cynical.  Are women really supposed to vote for a woman just because she's a woman?  If they're really that shallow, what makes McCain think that they're going to abandon their crush on Obama?

The real problem is that this is a 72 year-old man saying that a new Governor of a sparsely-populated state is the best choice to replace him if he dies.  It destroys his ability to criticize Obama for being "inexperienced", since he's setting up a situation where someone "inexperienced" could be President.  And if he thinks that's a problem, then he's doing what he thinks is best for him instead of what's best for the country. 

Posted by MoonbatYouBet

I heard the favorite new talking point on the stage and columns in the run up to Obama's speech last night.  Apparently the design caused controversy within the ranks of the Democrats according to the talking heads.  Really?  I could have sworn it was a completely artifical source of conflict and consternation generated by right wing pundits and amplified by a complicit media.

Is it my imagination or are we now witnessing the rewriting of history within 24 hour news cycles?

Posted by Lorelei

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Whitehouse_north.jpg

 

Isn't the columns theme appropriate, since these people are running for pres.  and the whitehouse its' self has columns? 

Posted by Lorelei in reply to Lorelei

Upon closer inspection....

 

Posted by Lorelei

and, I thought this was interesting too...lol

This painting shows what the White House looked like in 1814 as the flames were burning from the British attack. You can see that it is not surrounded by lots of buildings and memorials as it is now! It also had not had any additions yet. Today's White House looks very different from its original design. Painting courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Posted by Lorelei

However, this toga thing might backfire on them with the christians in the dem party too. 

Revived Roman Empire.....you know.   Armageddon and all. Fits right in to the Left Behind, arrival of the anti-christ thingy.

Whatcha want to be we see some more of this on the telly.   I am waiting for the Revived Roman Empire to be mentioned (with serious faces, not joking ones.)  It's right up the repubs ally. 

Posted by Lorelei in reply to Lorelei

oop, be = bet   last para.