by Christi Parsons
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COLUMBUS, Ohio–John McCain had a news flash for Barack Obama in Texas this morning.
In the Democratic debate the night before, he said, “Sen. Obama made the statement that if al-Qaeda came back to Iraq after he withdraws . . . then he would send military troops back.”
“I have some news,” McCain said, as reported by MSNBC. “Al-Qaeda is in Iraq.”
Well, Obama shot back with a news bulletin of his own in Ohio just now, telling McCain he doesn’t need to be schooled on the topic.
“I have some news for John McCain,” Obama said. “There was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush” took the country to war there.
Obama mocked McCain’s past pledges to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell, saying “so far all he’s done is follow George Bush.”
“I’ve been paying attention, John McCain,” Obama said, shaking his head and laughing in mock bewilderment during the riff.
For the record, in the debate Obama was asked by panelist Tim Russert, “Do you reserve a right as American president to go back into Iraq once you have withdrawn with sizable troops in order to quell any kind of insurrection or civil war?”
Obama answered by saying, “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.”
The actual back-and-forth was less substance than style, of course. Republican McCain wants to stick it out in Iraq while Democrat Obama thinks it’s time to head out.
But the two gave us a little taste of how they plan to deal with each other if they end up as their parties’ nominees. McCain will play the experienced veteran, hinting that Obama doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
And Obama will suggest that McCain isn’t on top of his game.
McCain admitted he hadn’t watched the debate, Obama told the crowd, but he said some staffers told him about it.
Well, it was kind of a late debate.