LA Times reported Vets for Freedom ad attacking Obama over troop funding vote, but ignored Obama's response and McCain's own record

Summary: The Los Angeles Times quoted a new Vets for Freedom ad that claims, "Barack Obama skipped 45% of Senate votes but did manage to show up to vote against emergency funding for our troops," but the Times failed to note that Sen. John McCain has voted against legislation to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- a point Obama made during the first presidential debate when McCain accused him of voting against troop funding.

In an October 1 Los Angeles Times article, staff writer Dan Morain uncritically quoted a new Vets for Freedom ad that claims, "[Sen.] Barack Obama skipped 45% of Senate votes but did manage to show up to vote against emergency funding for our troops." But, while noting that in the September 26 debate with Sen. John McCain, "Obama said that on the issue of Afghanistan, he had deferred to the Foreign Relations Committee chaired by his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, to hold hearings," the Times did not point out that Obama also responded to McCain's accusation -- echoed in the Vets for Freedom ad -- that Obama had voted against troop funding. During the debate, Obama noted that McCain has voted against legislation to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Times noted neither that Obama responded nor that McCain himself voted against war funding legislation.

During the September 26 debate, after McCain accused Obama of "vot[ing] to cut off the funds for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," Obama stated: "John always brings this up. ... Senator McCain opposed funding for troops in legislation that had a timetable, because he didn't believe in a timetable. I opposed funding a mission that had no timetable, and was open-ended, giving a blank check to [President] George Bush. We had a difference on the timetable."

Media Matters for America documented that in a September 28 article, the Times similarly reported that "on Saturday, McCain launched a TV ad that accuses Obama of voting to 'cut off funding for our troops,' a charge that Obama vehemently denies," but did not note that Obama pointed out McCain's vote against the troop funding bill that included a timetable for withdrawal.

From Morain's October 1 Los Angeles Times article, headlined "PAC funds anti-Obama TV ad in California":

The ad opens with the image of a smiling Obama, leaning back in an office chair. A voice says: "Barack Obama skipped 45% of Senate votes but did manage to show up to vote against emergency funding for our troops. . . . Obama was chairman of the committee overseeing the fight against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan but never held a single hearing. . . . Obama found time to make 45 trips to Iowa but only two trips to Iraq."

McCain is never mentioned.

The ad concludes by suggesting that voters urge Obama to support a Senate resolution backed by two of McCain's closest allies, independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The resolution commends the United States for undertaking the troop buildup in Iraq and says the gains from the move have been significant. Lawmakers who favor a more rapid withdrawal from Iraq oppose the resolution.

"I can't think of anything that would be a worse defeat for the United States than to pull out before we have achieved our goals," Wilson said in explaining why he was promoting the Vets for Freedom effort.

Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt called the ad "a despicable distortion" of the candidate's record, adding that Obama "has been a forceful advocate for our service members, passing legislation that ensured our wounded warriors receive the care and treatment they deserve."

In last week's debate with McCain, Obama said that on the issue of Afghanistan, he had deferred to the Foreign Relations Committee chaired by his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, to hold hearings.

—M.W.