Context of 'August 1, 2007: Candidate Obama Says US Should Send Troops into Pakistan to Hunt Terrorists Even without Pakistan’s Permission'

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he would send US troops into Pakistan to hunt down terrorists, even without permission from that country’s government. He says: “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again.… If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.” A spokeswoman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responds: “These are serious matters and should not be used for point-scoring. Political candidates and commentators should show responsibility.” [London Times, 8/2/2007]

Syndicated conservative radio host Michael Savage, asserting the oft-debunked claim that Democratic candidate Barack Obama is a Muslim (see January 22-24, 2008), gives Obama’s name as “Barack Madrassas Obama,” referring to schools that teach radical Islam. As reported by progressive media watchdog site Media Matters, Savage also repeats the falsehood that Obama was schooled in an Indonesian madrassah. [Media Matters, 1/11/2008]

US President Barack Obama attacks the payment of over $200 million in bonuses to top AIG employees (see March 15, 2009). As the company is being propped up by the government using public money (see September 16, 2008, October 8, 2008, and November 10, 2008), Obama calls the bonuses an “inappropriate use of taxpayer funds.” [Reuters, 4/17/2009]