McCain Campaign Hits Back Over "Not Too Important" Quote
The McCain campaign has sent me a statement on the quote we posted on below, in which McCain appeared to say that the timing of when the troops in Iraq come home is "not too important."
The story is snowballing rapidly. Dem leader Harry Reid has already hit McCain over the remarks today, and more Dems will be piling on shortly. Indeed, the Obama campaign is holding a conference call on this later this morning.
Here's what McCain's online guru, Patrick Hynes, sent over...
Sen. McCain has consistently opposed a timeline for withdrawing our troops from Iraq. And our friends on the opposite side of the aisle have a long history of attempting to twist Sen. McCain's words on Iraq. The fact that Sen. McCain opposes a timeline for withdrawal and is principally concerned about the safety of American troops and the security of Iraq is pretty much "dog bites man."
Of course, McCain did actually say the timing of when the troops come hope is "not too important." But in fairness to the McCain camp, they are arguing that he didn't say that the act of bringing the troops home is not too important.
Rather, they say, McCain merely meant that the timing of when they come home is not too important.
This strikes me as a not terribly meaningful distinction, and it isn't a great way to characterize the timing issue, given that it's obviously extremely important to many people. But it is a distinction worth noting nonetheless, because it's true that the question McCain answered was about the timing.
Greg: Thanks for the post. Okay, for me reading that, it had absolutely no impact. If that is their best reply, they are toast over this comment. I don't see any distinction and all anyone will hear is that he said it isn't important when they come home.
June 11, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
But let's take him at his word, and concede that he meant what he now says he meant. This just further demonstrates how intellectually bankrupt the arguments for continuing our presence in Iraq are (if one can claim bankruptcy, intellectual or otherwise, if one never had any assets to speak of in the first place).
Nevermind what Senator McSame deems to be "important"... he argues that our troops should maintain a presence in Iraq, but that those troops should be garrisoned up in some bunker somewhere "out of harms way," as if the American people are supposed to be bamboozled into equating an active war zone with the Kabuki theater that was the Brandenburg Gate, circa 1984... or, for that matter, Camp Nimble in South Korea, today.
He argues that those of us who have never supported the war in Iraq, who always understood the reasons for going to war as propagandistic drivel, who continue to wonder why it is that--nearly 7 years later--we have yet to kill or capture Osama bin Laden, who can't understand why the Iraqis can't pull enough oil out of the ground to mitigate against our $4.00-plus/gallon gas (who new that the slogan "No Blood for Oil" was predictive?)... he argues that we seek "surrender," while simultaneously arguing that our troops not be exposed to any actual "trooping" because
So, so-called "surrender" isn't okay, but a pussified stalemate is? While bin Laden continues to drop mix tapes with a greater frequency than Tupac Shakur?
A stubborn refusal to face facts (like, we fucked up), and to fist the fuck up and admit as much isn't a sign of leadership. Change We Can Cower Behind--apparently, indefinitely.
And, more pointedly, McSame seems to believe Americans' problem with our unending and one-sided 100-year commitment to Iraq isn't a our inability to cogently map said commitment to our national strategic interests, but the emotional pull of too many military funerals, and that if Washington can just fix the P.R. problem, then everything will be right in the world and no one will care if we're in Iraq or not. And, frankly, maybe he's correct. But, and especially since a (sadly effective) P.R. campaign is what got us in Iraq in the first place--Now, with Shock & Awe(TM)--I'm flummoxed to understand why McSame believes that we need more of the same P.R. strategizing to correct the imbroglio we presently find ourselves in.
Straight Talk Express, indeed.
June 11, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
As always, McCain's position is that we can't leave Iraq until it's peaceful, at which it'll be okay to stay indefinitely. Um, but that doesn't mean we're staying forever!
June 11, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain speaks from a military pov and as such avoids the pitt of freedom and democracy. To the public he would be an understandable and direct leader compared to Bush. But their intentions are the same, the Bush Doctrine is a mainstay of US foreign policy. It will remain past an Obama administration, as will our presence in Iraq. 10,000s of neocon bureaucrats fill the Pentagon and State Dept.
McCain speaks to a larger geopolitical contest for which the American viewer has not the attention nor excitement. Interestingly, this is not the case in Russia or Iran, whose populations are privvy and nationalistic.
Why do liberals accuse deception at Iraq but not Afghanistan? Why is there no talk of withdrawal from Afghanistan? Both operations are drawn from the same playbook, both were sold in the post 9/11 climate.
Both are strategic footholds, powerful ones. Here is what they achieve geopolitically: mideast energy regime is held in balance. Russia and China are cornered into their respective spheres. The Pakistanis are pressured into fighting the terrorists they themselves created in their madrassas (this is already the case). India may be easily weaned from Russian influence, she has quickly allied herself with US plans (this too is happening).
American deaths in Iraq will fluctuate as tactics succeed and fail. McCain speaks to tactics when he says "casualties," but with "100 years" it is all strategy. He opposed Rumsfeld on tactical grounds, and so was delighted at the surge, and moreso when casualties reduced subsequently.
Foreign policy-wise, the choice between McCain and Obama is thus one between a soldier who will lobby the American public to preemptively confront geopolitical threats per the Bush Doctrine, and a civilian who will be overwhelmed by embedded neocon interests, compelled to sell the US's foreign policy moves as something other than what they are (a la Bush) for political survival.
June 11, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dig thy hole deeper and deeper McFoolish...
Amazing that this guy is so completely out of touch and what he is really saying here is that he is supports permanent troop deployment in Iraq..That is what he should drawn into saying..
June 11, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg - do you have evidence that more Dems will be piling on soon? I'm dying for the type of coordinated attack the GOP used to be good at.
June 11, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huff Post hit it, Kos is hitting it, I would be amazed if KO does not hit it, so I believe Kerry will be on it soon. Also, Wes Clark said McCain is in no way vetted on Commander in Chief because he flew on an aircraft carrier. Good line.
June 11, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I think that for those already ready to vote and believe McCain, this response will be good enough.
Not so for those not totally convinced, though; and that is nice!
June 11, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess the conference call Obama called will include Kerry.
June 11, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, I give you a lot of shit, but you're on fire today brother!
June 11, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can't wait till Deanie Mills gets on this one! She's going to write such a blog!
This is honestly getting funny. And very sad.
When this blows up, McShame will also blow up! Thus making for more viral videos!
McShame. The gift that keeps on giving!
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June 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
and if this is a hit back as suggested by Greg's headline...wow..what a smack down! LOL
June 11, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
So true!! What were they thinking, or not?
June 11, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://thepage.time.com/2008/06/11/obama-puts-iraq-front-and-center/
June 11, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, that is GREAT!!
June 11, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
The distinction is demonstrably meaningless when he compares the Iraq situation to Korea, Japan or Germany. Unless we are on a hundred year timeline, analogous to Hong Kong, that no one has ever mentioned.
June 11, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
What kind of response was that? That didnt clear up anything
June 11, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is as weak as his "verb tense" defence. If his principal concerns are accurate according to this statement I think he is wrong and will lose this debate.
We should be caring about the bigger picture of global security against terrorists, America's standing in the world, including the view of America by the Muslim world, as well as the troops and security of Iraq.
Wearing blinders and rose colored glasses about becoming welcomed occupants of Iraq is stupidity and a sure loser. I hope he keeps hammering this line of thinking.
June 11, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Huff Post now has HUGE headlines on top of home page.
June 11, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
But of course the timing *is* important. People want their family members home sooner rather than later, and the issue is not only casualties, but also the multiple tours, the terrible conditions, and the stressful nature of the deployment.
And in terms of national security it's important for all the reasons Harry Reid listed. As long as we have the bulk of our troops doing multiple tours of duty in Iraq, even if they're not getting killed at quite the rate they were 8 months ago, we are not ready to handle other situations that might come up and we aren't doing anything about the real Al Qaeda threat.
June 11, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
McShame's mantra: "it doesn't matter"
Doesn't matter when troops leave. And doesn't matter if he said that and was heard to say it and if it gets around.
Doesn't matter if it comes around. Temper doesn't matter if he gets mad.
McShame: the candidate that "doesn't matter."
♪♪♪
June 11, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
In other words "So?"
June 11, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point!
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June 11, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Murray for VEEP:
"Even if we play so far above our heads that our noses bleed for a week to 10 days; even if God in Heaven above points his hand at our side of the field; even if every man, woman and child joined hands together and prayed for us to win, it just wouldn't MATTER because all the really good-looking girls would still go out with the guys from Mohawk because they've got all the money! It just doesn't MATTER if we win or if we lose. It just doesn't MATTER."
"IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER, IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER..."
June 11, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg
McCain Campaign Hits Back
You call that a hit ? And your last paragraph of parsing as meaningless as the "hit".
June 11, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is advocating permanent occupation of Iraq with his statement comparing this to S. Korea, Germany and Japan. I cannot imagine other countries in the Middle East welcome this news. We all know some troops will stay, but all??? Where is the distinction? That was a huge gaffe in the content as well.
June 11, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well of course if the only good Americans are the ones who've joined the military, we'll have lots of people to send abroad - when all listen to McShame. Why not occupy every country and empty our own land? Think how safe the US will be if all citizens go elsewhere!
June 11, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Explosive atricle on Mccain by first wife scorned
please forwaed to any christian and women sites.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/the-wife-john-mccain-callously-left-behind.htm
IF ANYONE KNOWS CHRIS MATTHEWS OR KEITH
OLBERMAN'S EMAIL PLEASE FORWARD
I know this is off thread but for the femails that want to reward him in Nov with their vote,this should open their eyes.
This is the same guy that when Cindy Mccain noticed he was thinning in the hair,responded with,"You c****,and commented about all the makeup she has to wear.
June 11, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
link doesn't work
June 11, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Try:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html
June 11, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, so McShame abandoned someone who'd been through trauma! He touts himself as this hero for being a prisoner. And he abandons someone who's been trumatized and disfigured!
What a guy! McShame. But... "it doesn't matter"
No big deal!
June 11, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
TheraP: Tangent question -- What is this syndrome vis a vis McCain and his first wife? Abused becomes the abuser?
June 11, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone should check out how Mike Allen wrote about this at The Politico. Unbelievable. Read all about it at http://thinmansblog.blogspot.com/
June 11, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Say what?
Who's in charge over there?
June 11, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently the McCain campaign has developed a principled position from which all their talking points eminate: We can mount a campaign in Iraq (or anywhere for that matter) as long as we like, as long as no one is injured or killed.
This makes perfect sense coming from a military man, as long as you realize he graduated at the bottom of his class at the academy.
The McCain principle (for lack of a better name) gets the purpose and point of warfare completely backwards, and then paints its defendant into a corner, asking its apologists, McCain particularly,to defend the impossible.
The point about the U.S. keeping troops in Iraq with no casualties, however preposterous, is still a distraction. Iraq is not yet a demilitarized theater where a peacekeeping force can be guaranteed relative safety. Can Iraq be compared to the 38th parallel or the Berlin Wall, places where we can be stationed peacefully, and where the "occupied" country is glad to have us? No. Iraq is a war zone, and a war is being fought there.
Let's then turn to the real point: Will you let me keep troops in a war zone for as long as necessary, if I can guarantee that no soldier will die? That is, will you let me bamboozle you about the reality of war? Good soldiers die, civilians die, people are wounded, materiel is spent.
So don't let me bamboozle you. The only question concerning any war is... should it be fought? Let freethinking adults bear the costs and aftermath of war as a good nation must. Let's drop the charade of the "good war" that can be fought casualty- and cost-free. And let's tell politicians who want to fight a cost-free war that we don't want to be bamboozled.
June 11, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
As long as no "Americans" are injured or killed. Let's not forget that half of the equation. The Pakistanis, this morning, are annoyed at the US for an air strike that killed 11 Pakistanis. (We're using air strikes to make sure our guys don't get killed... meanwhile killing the populations of several countries!)
June 11, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the Dems respond appropriately. McCain had a slight slip of the tongue. He isn't really saying that bringing the current troops home isn't important. He wants soldiers home for Christmas as much as any other politician. I don't think he's as insensitive as the gaffe, when taken out of context, sounds
The real problem is that McCain wants a permanent military base in Iraq. He wants us to get something out of this war and that something is a "strategic presence" in the region. That is why he compared Iraq to Korea and Germany. He's got no problems with our being there for 100 years if we can establish well-protected military bases that allow us to police the region.
The Dems are going to play this as a question of McCain's being callous and delusional. But I think the bigger problem is that he's bought into the stupid neo-con desire to extend an American empire.
June 11, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you. That is the issue!
June 11, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the other problem is that his position on troops in Iraq always begins with "assume that we're not taking any casualties..."
June 11, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry guys Mccain got to them all,of a sudden it's removed from the paper.If you ,want to read it I was able a few day ago to forward it to huffffingpost. Pleas read and link to any femail site,I also gave it to americablog a couple of days ago. This is delicious!1
June 11, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have read so many things about his behavior. He admits to it too. (Except the c word) Unfortunately, press just ignores this. What really grossed me out last night, I realized Cindy McCain is my age and she is sleeping with this guy?? EWWWW.
June 11, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Must be even harder being "awake" with him!
June 11, 2008 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nope, it's still there:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html
June 11, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is what decades in the senate gets you, the inability to talk precisely and like a normal human being. McCain bears a striking resemblance to John Kerry, in that neither can speak artfully. It's partly why so few senators make it to the White House. And it's only going to get worse for McCain; he's just not ready for primetime.
June 11, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Danny, I agree, but if you compare 2000 race to now, his mental agility has slipped quite a bit, in my opinion.
June 11, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mercer and Nina-
Spot on!
June 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the clarification of the GOP's clarification on McCain stance of troops coming home:
Thanks for the clarification!
June 11, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Does Not Matter" - McDoesNotMatter!
June 11, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
My friends. Mcbush has foot in mouth disease. Bring on the town hall debates. Mcbush will get slaughtered. The sound bite gaffes will flood the airwaves. He has been flying under the radar for 3 months now. Now that he is starting to get a modicum of scrutinty, he is imploding. Thank you.
June 11, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I assume that most voters -- including many Republicans -- would think that any policy decision that involves federal spending of hundreds of billions of dollars "matters."
June 11, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
An absolutely meaningless distinction. This is essentially like saying that there is a huge difference between being sentenced to life in prison, as opposed to 100 years in prison. "Sure it is important that the troops come home! I just don't care if they aren't home for a couple more generations, just like Germany, Japan and South Korea!" Nice McCain, nice distinction. And you are accusing the Democrats of twisting your words? Oh no my friend, I think YOU are twisting your own words, like taffy.
http://www.thepersonalispolitical.com/2008/06/mccain-says-bringing-troops-home-not.html
June 11, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh yeah, and I also don't want to hear whining from the same asshole who tried to distort Obama's "bitter" comments and accuse Obama of being elitist and out of touch for recognizing that people are struggling and fed up with being screwed over from Washington.
The GOP is the reigning king of distortions, so they have absolutely no standing to complain.
And like I said above, this wasn't a distortion, he said what he said.
June 11, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
wait a minute - McCain has enlisted the services of an Online Guru ? where did he find him, at the end of a solo techno-trek thru Silicon Valley ?
and of much greater concern, when will the Obama campaign get with it and find a Guru of their own ??
forget the campaign schedule, ya better start packin that mule, barry !!
June 11, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dog bites man, man shoots self in foot. What's the difference? Next year we'll talking about staying the course in Iran.
June 11, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me say again, in the interest of understanding one's opponent: McCain truly believes we are involved in a war for the hearts and minds of the free world! If you keep 'em safe, warm and dry with a fresh can of Spam in their flak jackets, they can bivouac indefinitely! This is McCain's brain!
His thoughts are those of the unflappable soldier, not of a commander-in-chief. There are no careful considerations of our geopolitical stature, our long term military readiness, our diving headfirst into an unwinnable war. No musings about relations with the Mideast, NATO. No talk of economic or human impact. His is just the soldier's creed to carry on when told to march. I pity him; his narrow-mindedness is overarching.
June 11, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
McWorse has no idea what he is doing or he does not want to be elected, don't people of his camp know how unpopular "100 years" remark is? too good to be true, keep on giving guys!
June 11, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glad to see that with Obama as the candidate that the days of "gotcha" politics over. For example on Huff post the headline is
McCain: Bringing Troops Home From Iraq "Not Too Important"
And this is in line with what McCain has been saying about Iraq, basically he wants the soldiers to stay there until they are no longer being killed, and then to stay there for 100 years+ after that. He'll have plenty of time to sink himself with his own talking points, I think you're just playing into his hands by taking portions of his quotes and hyping them up. In addition, I think the media has shown that they are going to cover for McCain over stuff like this.
June 11, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Senator McCain declares mission accomplished. Says there is no reason to set deadlines for withdrawal. We should get our Troops out now. He says that we should not engage in nation building or staying until law and order is established. We should not stay because it would put our Troops in danger of being killed or captured, and would only help the terrorists. He said that he does not believe that it would harm our global prestige if we withdrew all our Troops now. He strongly urges that we do so.
This is not a joke folks: Senator McCain said all that.
Watch him say it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8TFKXHiefs
June 11, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remarkable video. Obama's fast response ad creators should get right on this and juxtapose the 1993 Somalia tape with McCain's "doesn't matter" tape today.
June 11, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink