Obama is smooth when dealing with the failing Clinton tactics within his own party, but during the first major exchange with the leading Republican candidate over Iraq, McCain pulled-off a checkmate.

Obama presents himself as a change agent distancing himself from the past, even to the point that his lack of experience appears to be an advantage to his supporters.  Because he perceives that the public today want a fresh, new likeable character that is unflappable during the Democratic debates, he works his behavior, manner and coolness over substance.  He can do this with Clinton, because she can’t go where the Republicans can take the discussion because there is very little difference between each of them.

However, last night during the Clinton Obama debate Obama was asked if he were President if he would go back into Iraq in order to suppress an insurrection after downsizing the US troop presence.

Obama said, “I always reserve the right for the president . . . to make sure that we are looking out for American interests,” Obma said.  “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.”

McCain quickly responded with a statement, “Is Sen. Obama unaware that al Qaeda is still present in Iraq, that our forces are successfully fighting them every day, and that his Iraq policy of withdrawal would embolden al Qaeda and weaken our security?”

McCain went on to say that, “the Democratic presidential contenders deny progress and see only gloom and doom.  Where is the audacity of hope when it comes to backing the success of our troops all the way to victory in Iraq?  What we heard last night was the timidity of despair.”

Obama’s response: “I said, Well first of all, I do know that al Qaeda is in Iraq.  That’s why I’ve said we should continue to strike al Qaeda targets.  But I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq.”

Because this is not the kind of debate that Clinton feels she can get into within her party, but perhaps should have, Obama is now being forced to get into the substance of difference.  You see Sen. Obama, Iraq is a fact and it is not important anymore why we are there — now that we are there what would you do to address the situation as it now exists?

It sounds as you would get out of Iraq, only to go back if al Qaeda is there.  Oh, but that’s right you said you knew they were there when you made the statement last night.

You see it’s going to be difficult to talk about change with out experience, the lack of which you demonstrated during last night’s debate.

Tough to remain above it all as a likeable, cool, futuristic change agent while blaming the past on others while having to deal with the past, present and the future that you would have to deal with if you became the president.  You see this is substance, something you have failed to address with Clinton.  While you are part of a ground swell, a focus group last night of some 25 people couldn’t answer the question of what you have accomplished and what makes you qualified to be president.

Furthermore the same blank stares and lack of comment are forthcoming when asked what you are talking about when using the word ‘change.’

McCain’s attack on your Iraq comments were not only warranted, but you can expect more of the same — because it involves substance, and you have a tendency to sidestep substance. 

The true debate last night was between you and McCain, not you and Clinton, and McCain pulled off a checkmate.  More to come!