Hypocrite!…McCain Says that if Benchmarks Not Reached in Iraq then can’t “Complete the Mission”
After blatantly dishonest remarks about the war are hurled by McCain at Romney, the following comes out. How ironic. An Arizona paper reported the following at the first of the year.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the most stalwart supporters of the war in Iraq, said Thursday that he might propose that the Iraqi government meet certain benchmarks for the United States to continue its engagement.
Fellow senators and independent political scientists said McCain’s thinking reflected growing concerns within the Republican Party about the course of the war, and also might mark a turning point for the likely 2008 presidential contender, whose previous unconditional backing of the war may have hurt his prospects.
McCain said Thursday that he hadn’t yet decided on precise benchmarks. “They’d have to be specific, and they (Iraqi government officials) would have to meet them,” he said.
Asked what penalty would be imposed if Iraq failed to meet his benchmarks, he said: “I think everybody knows the consequences. Haven’t met the benchmarks? Obviously, then, we’re not able to complete the mission. Then you have to examine your options.”
Andrew E. Smith, a political science professor and the director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said: “I think it certainly could be politically significant.” New Hampshire will hold the first presidential primary of 2008.
“This seems to me like he’s trimming his sails a little on the issue,” Smith said…It was unclear what consequences or timetables McCain would spell out, or whether he believes that Congress has the authority to enforce them.
Still, several Senate Demo-crats who oppose the troop buildup and also may seek the presidency said they were struck by McCain’s comments.
“We Catholics call that an epiphany,” said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph Biden, D-Del., who is sponsoring the main Democratic resolution opposing the troop buildup.Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said: “I called for that . . . several weeks ago. I’m glad that John McCain agrees with me.
All this points to…McCain is weak on the economy and he knows it! Anything to try and weasel his way out of not having to address the economy! Hypocritical and dishonest attacks, and using war as a political tool are not beneath him.
~Ryan Jesperson
January 27th, 2008 at 1:47 am
What if the McCain’s gaffs and inconsistencies are a mix of age, desperation, and reaching for power that is always just out of his grasp because he just isn’t up to it.
He looks for topics that can get him noticed but makes bad choices and they are viewed with disdain by those he says he represents but he keeps trying and making more bad choices.
He may not even realize when he is lying. He may just be over his head and desperately trying to cover it up while still not giving up.
Without the media propping him up McCain would be an embarrassing older man. As it is, he may be a danger to our country. So sad.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Put this in an ad or at least do a press release!
January 27th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I agree with Rich. This is really a nice find. We need to find a way to get this out to more media. True flip-flopping at its best!
January 27th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Okay. This tears it for me. McCain is a loose cannon. It says something when even the MSM (AP in this case) points out that contrary to what McCain claims, Romney has NEVER advocated a timetable for troop withdrawal. But what does Mr. McCain do when confronted about his twisting of the truth? HE SAYS THAT ROMNEY SHOULD APPOLOGIZE TO THE TROOPS! I personally think that McCain has crossed the line from showing genuine concern for the troops (a good thing) to USING them as a political crutch to take the heat off of himself when he paints himself into a corner or when he is asked a question he doesn’t know the answer to. As a former military man myself (Viet Nam era), I am sickened by his behavior.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Carl Cameron is not calling what McCain said a lie. He is playing it down. There they go again supporting McCain. I am really worried about Florida.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:02 am
The McCain - Huckabee love fest continues. Huckabee is now defending McCain in his attacks on Romney today while Huckabee is campaigning in Alabama.
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/01/26/in-alabama-huckabee-defends-mccain-from-romney-dishonest-charge/
January 27th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Hopefully, talk radio will come through with the truth. Go Rush!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I just went on a binge, e-mailing the link to this story to Fox news, CBS News, pasting it into newspaper comments in Orlando-Tampa-& Miami, NRO, Race4 2008, Marc Ambinder, Halperin, MSNBC, Townhall, etc.
Stuff like this pisses me off and someone is going to call him on it…and I suggest all of us continue to hammer this point home. I will start by writing an op-ed piece to submit to newspapers here in SoCal and will site this article then as well.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am
McCain will be on Meet the Press on Sunday morning. We’ll see if Russert calls him on the hypocrisy. But I am losing faith in all of the elite media. Mitt is a class act. He’ll handle it appropriately today and hopefully move on to the big FL win! Mitt can work circles around McCain and that is obvious. What was funny on the debate the other night was there was this body language thing going on - I felt that McCain and Guiliani were deferring to Mitt- almost as if they sensed the President elect on the stage with them. McCain is nowhere near a match to Romney and it is so obvious that even McCain can’t hide the feeling that he is going down.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Hopefully someone sent this to Russert
January 27th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Help! I just tried to email Russert and can’t find an email address or any way even to read the blogs sent to CBS concerning their coronation of McCain. Russert must have this info before Sunday Morning comes on. Has it been sent by anyone? Can anyone tell me how to email MSM?