"Obama: Bush should be pressured on Iraq"

Union Leader (NH):

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama says he has not softened his position on Iraq, despite suggestions to the contrary from other presidential camps and liberal blogs.

The Democratic presidential candidate took issue with a weekend report suggesting that he believes that if President George Bush vetoes a withdrawal bill, Congress should quickly provide full funding with no strings attached. Other campaigns privately pointed out the Associated Press report and questioned if Obama has changed his stance. The liberal blog Daily Kos carried a headline on Sunday stating, “Obama Caves to Bush.”

In a telephone interview this afternoon during the Illinois senator's latest New Hampshire campaign swing, Obama said he has not backed down. But he said that neither he nor “the vast majority of Democrats” are interested in cutting funding for troops in the field.

He said that after a veto, Congress should “keep on ratcheting up the pressure to try to make the President see we’re on the wrong course and have him respond to Congress and the American people.”

Obama said that since there are not enough in the House or Senate votes to override a veto, “My object at that point would be explore passing a new version that also has some sort of constraints on the President’s actions.”

He said it would be unacceptable for Congress “to fold up tent because the President vetoed the bill.”

But he also said troops should have “night vision goggles and armored Humvees and other equipment they need.”

He said that “because we’re in favor of a timetable doesn’t mean we aren’t committed to making sure the troops have the resources they need to complete their mission and come home safely.”

Obama was interviewed by UnionLeader.com prior to an appearance at a community meeting in Keene. He will continue campaigning in New Hampshire tomorrow.

For more on this interview with Obama, see the New Hampshire Union Leader and UnionLeader.com tomorrow.

Markos responds: "Obama has explained his weekend words to the AP, and sorry to say, you Obama fans, but it's no better than before."