Obama: Visiting wounded troops? That would be wrong.

In a rare attack of conscious conscience *, Obama changed his plans and dropped a controversial visit to wounded troops at the Rammstein and Landstuhl U.S. military bases in Germany today. At the same time he confirmed growing suspicion that his so-called “Fact-Finding Trip” was little more than an extended campaign photo-op:

From Jake Tapper (covering Der Spiegel)

Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told ABC News in a statement, “During his trip as part of the CODEL to Afghanistan and Iraq, Sen. Obama visited the combat support hospital in the Green Zone in Baghdad and had a number of other visits with the troops. For the second part of his trip, the senator wanted to visit the men and women at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to express his gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The senator decided out of respect for these servicemen and women that it would be inappropriate to make a stop to visit troops at a U.S. military facility as part of a trip funded by the campaign.” (emphasis mine)

Thank heaven he came to his senses in time! Can you imagine what McCain would have said if Obama had so inappropriately made that visit? Thank heaven we don’t have to worry about that:

More from Tapper:

But the campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued the following comment on Obama’s decision.

“Barack Obama is wrong,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. “It is never ‘inappropriate’ to visit our men and women in the military.”

(WHAT did he say?)

Now I don’t know what Barack Obama is thinking. For weeks he and his campaign have been assuring us that this trip wasn’t a campaign event.:

From Politico:

“It is not going to be a political speech,” said a senior foreign policy adviser, who spoke to reporters on background. “When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally.

“But he is not president of the United States,” a reporter reminded the adviser.

But is this change in schedule really a long awaited sign of respect? Or did Obama change his mind because the restrictions placed on Obama’s visit? Grayslady provided a significant link:

One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama’s representatives were told, “he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers.” In addition, “Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama’s visit.”

The official said “We didn’t know why” the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. “He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him.”

So when Obama was speaking to the crowds that wasn’t a political event and was therefore totally appropriate. But, a private visit to wounded troops? Thank God our Presumed Nominee came to his senses. The whole world would have recoiled in horror if that event had been allowed to proceed.

(What? You don’t think so?)

[UPDATE] SusanUnPC had story on this yesterday

* Thanks, Joseph!  I’ll never forget now. 🙂