Obama says rivals trying to rewrite history
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama tried Tuesday to distinguish his views on Iraq from other Democratic candidates, especially front-runner Hillary Clinton but, in doing so, dusted off a page from her husband's political playbook.
Obama's foreign policy talk at DePaul University marked the five-year anniversary of the first time he formally spoke out against an Iraq invasion during an anti-war rally at the Loop's Federal Plaza in 2002.
Nine days later, the U.S. Senate voted to give Bush the authority to send American troops to Baghdad, making Obama an early critic of the war. Without naming them, Obama noted his opponents -- Sens. Clinton, John Edwards, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden -- voted in favor.
Since then, the rivals have become critics of the war, but Obama used Tuesday's anniversary to distinguish their position from his early opposition.
"Some seek to rewrite history," he said in a 30-minute speech unveiled for a DePaul crowd of about 500. "They argue that they weren't voting for war. They were voting for inspectors, or diplomacy.
"But the Congress, the administration, the media and the American people all understood what we were debating in the fall of 2002. This was a vote about whether or not to go to war.
"And we need to ask those who voted for the war: How can you give the president a blank check and then act surprised when he cashes it?"
Meanwhile, Sen. Clinton's campaign reported Tuesday raising $27 million, topping Obama's $20 million, in the third quarter, which ended Sunday. Both campaigns raised about $80 million overall.
The first-term Illinois senator's ability to raise money solidified his role as a leading contender. In trying to expand beyond celebrity appeal, Obama is tackling weightier issues than his Oprah Winfrey friendship.
His DePaul speech marked his fourth on foreign policy. Obama said his opposition before combat began shows his experience, despite the fact he arrived in Washington less than three years ago.
But, as much as Obama tries to stand apart, his campaign's oft-used mantra of being a Washington outsider carries a familiar message. His call for change is one voters may compare to Bill Clinton's 2002 campaign.
And, like his opponent's husband, Obama often quotes late President John F. Kennedy while trying to invoke a similar yearning for new energy, idealism.
Ted Sorensen, a top Kennedy adviser, introduced Obama at DePaul, as well as joined him for two stops later in the day in Iowa.
Sorensen, whose hometown senator in New York is Hillary Clinton, said the Obama and Kennedy campaigns share similar perceived obstacles of youth, inexperience and heritage.
"John F. Kennedy's single most important quality was good judgment," Sorensen told reporters. "And Obama showed superior judgment in opposing this travesty of a war and recognizing it made no sense at all. He didn't buy the spin that was put out."
If elected, Obama pledged to begin removing troops, likely one or two brigades a month, with all combat soldiers out within 16 months. He called for ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
He promised an open approach to international affairs. As president, Obama said he would personally negotiate with other nations, including hostile countries.
Republicans criticized the foreign policies as dangerous.
"In a world with terrorists trying to acquire nuclear technology and with Iran and Syria threatening their neighbors, it is difficult to comprehend that a major presidential candidate wants to eliminate our nuclear arsenal," said Republican National Committee spokesman Danny Diaz. "This is yet another example of Senator Obama playing to the fringe elements of his party and failing to understand the threat America faces."
Obama promised an annual "state of the world" speech to assess the country's foreign policy concerns. He also proposed giving the director of national intelligence a fixed term of office, so that he could not be replaced by the president for political reasons.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.