When John McCain answered a question about diplomacy with the Hamas government in the Palestinian territories by saying that sooner or later we'll have to "deal with" the group, what did McCain mean? Did that mean actually talking to them?

On MSNBC this afternoon, McCain foreign policy adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer explained that the phrase, "deal with," has meanings other than diplomatic negotiations:

"Dealing can be anything from bombing to a bed of roses," said Pfotenhauer.

For the record, the transcript of McCain's original exchange with Jamie Rubin in 2006 is available after the jump.

Rubin: Do you think American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past in working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?

McCain: They're the government, and sooner or later we're going to have to deal with them in one way or another and I understand why this administration and previous administrations has such antipathy towards Hamas is because of their dedication to violence and the things they not only espouse but practice. But it's a new reality in the Middle East. And I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life, and a decent future, then they want democracy. But Fatah is not giving them that.