TPM confirms that the Pentagon nixed the trip http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsm emo.com/2008/07/pentagon_confirms_that_i t_told.php
It turns out that the Pentagon did in fact tell Obama that in this case, it was not only "inappropriate," but against DOD rules, for him to conduct the visit with campaign staff.
"We have longstanding Department of Defense policy in regards to political campaigns and elections," Pentagon spokesperson Elizabeth Hibner told me. "We informed the Obama staff that he was more than welcome to visit as Senator Obama, with Senate staff. However, he could not conduct the visit with campaign staff."
It's unclear how Obama could have made the visit at all, given the Pentagon's directives. No Senate staff was on the trip, and the Obama camp says they received the Pentagon's directives on Wednesday, after they were already abroad.
exactly WHY does he need 'staff' with him to visit injured soldiers?? And why wasn't his staff knowledgeable about long-standing Pentagon regulations?
