Obama Campaign Opens Fire On McCain Over "Not Too Important" Comment
McCain's incendiary quote from this morning -- in which he said the timing of the return of troops from Iraq is "not too important" -- is now at the center of today's battle between the two campaigns.
On an Obama campaign conference call with reporters just now, prominent Obama supporter John Kerry unleashed blistering criticism of McCain over the comments.
Speaking of military families, Kerry said: "To them it's the most important thing in the world when they come home."
Kerry also cast the comments as proof that McCain is befuddled about the situation our military finds itself in. "Our generals have made it crystal clear that we cannot sustain our forces in Iraq at this level," he said.
"Senator McCain, it is important when they come home," Kerry concluded. "It is important when we can revitalize our military."
The key here is that the Obama camp is hitting McCain over the meaning of his comments as the McCain campaign itself defines them. The McCain camp points out -- rightly -- that McCain was asked specifically about the timing of the troops' return when he uttered the words "not too important."
To which Kerry and the Obama camp rejoins that the timing is extraordinarily important -- to the troops, their families, and to the military itself.
As we watch the coverage of this unfold today, it's worth keeping in mind how big a controversy this would be if a Dem had said this.
Late Update: Here's the audio from the call:
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