McCain's Brother Says McCain Would Chase Bin Laden Across Borders -- Echoing Obama's Position
At a campaign event in Virginia over the weekend, John McCain's brother, acting as a McCain surrogate, told a crowd that McCain would pursue Osama Bin Laden across the border into a country that hadn't granted us permission to do so, according to a tape made by a Democratic tracker that we've obtained.
McCain, of course, has ridiculed Obama for taking just that position with regard to Pakistan. And McCain recently had to disown comments by Sarah Palin, in which she expressed the same sentiment (albeit about Pakistan specifically) as the brother, Joe McCain, now has.
Joe made his gaffe at an event on Saturday in Loudoun County -- an event that's already drawn attention because Joe referred to northern Virginia Dem strongholds as "Communist country."
But the Bin Laden gaffe has gone unnoticed. Here's what Joe said, speaking of his brother and drawing applause:
"I do know that if he finds out where Osama is and I think we probably know, although I don't know personally -- he's just gonna go up to that country and say, `you have a murderer of thousands of Americans. I hope you help us get him. If not, just stand back, because we're coming in after him.' And that man will be brought to justice."
Here's audio:
The rub here is that McCain has repeatedly ridiculed Obama for declaring out loud what he'd do in such a situation, and has equated Obama's assertion that he'd pursue terrorists into Pakistan with a threat to invade and bomb that whole country. Now a prominent McCain surrogate has stated out loud that McCain would basically do the same thing to any country, ally or not.
No word yet from the McCain campaign on this.
Please, Senator mcCain, go there yourself. Chase these guys across borders right now. Do it today. And never come back.
You have so disgraced yourself, your campaign, your party, and your nation, that We The People should nearly chase you across borders!
October 6, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would personally buy McCains plane ticket.
October 6, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think so many would like to know they'd paid for a piece of that ticket, it would cost just pennies per person.
However, at the cost of nothing but a vote, we can give this man a ticket to oblivion. Though even then, he may want to be kicked around, just to get attention.
October 6, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's nothing.
McCain has sworn to chase bin Laden to the Gates of Hell, and I have it on good authority that if Satan said "I'm not going to help you get him", McCain would go directly to Hell to get him. Screw Satan.
October 6, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
i've always taken mccain's position to mean that he believes we wouldn't have to cross any borders to get to the gates of hell. very curious. is john mccain privy to the precise location of the gates of hell? does he visit often?
October 6, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does he call his wife a cunt in public also?
October 6, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
What it is about brothers of candidates? Is having a retarded/corrupt one a pre-requisite?
Billy Carter, Roger Clinton, Hugh Rodham, Neil Bush and now Joe McShame.
October 6, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the case of the Bush brothers, I'd say the tables are reversed. Dubya is the stain on all of his sibs...
October 6, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it illustrates just how weak their stable of surrogates is. Those other brothers were embarrassing, but they weren't sent out as official campaign reps, and Joe McCain says something embarrassing every time they send him out. McCain can't do big events separately from Palin, because it would be obvious that he can't draw the crowds, Cindy isn't a draw like Michelle, they'd like Bush to disappear as much as possible while we've got both Clintons on the trail, and even more so with Cheney and Gore.
October 6, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Surrogates have no idea what they were surrogated for...
Campaign in disarray.
October 6, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
Don't you kinda get the feeling that the Republicans have left McCain to fend for himself?
October 6, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
O, haven't you seen those legions of Repug women like Fluffy Hutchison, out campaigning for the Mclame-Painful ticket?
ROFLMAO!!!!!!
October 6, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
the problem isn't the surrogates so much as it is the absurd position that mccain has twisted himself into.
when he decided out of petty opportunism to attack obama on his statement/position he forced himself into adopting an absurd position that nobody can seriously believe mccain actually supports.
but i guess if you are a degenerate gambler like mccain, you double down when you make a mistake. better to risk losing the whole game than take a hit on a single hand.
October 6, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, BroJoe sez McSame will follow bin Laden to the gates of hell... even if it does mean trekking through the dangerous communist stronghold of Northern Virginia.
In fact, when bin Laden does come knocking on those gates, brothers Joe and John will come to the gates to let him in!
October 6, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kinda looks like McLame is scraping the bottom of the surrogate barrel.
;)
October 6, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Likely he "pays" for his lawyer's services. It's just disgusting!
October 6, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/10/obama-camps-kea.html
It seems people are hitting Google for info about keating five.
October 6, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice link. If I may excerpt:
October 6, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
O {{{{{{SWOON!}}}}}}}
October 6, 2008 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the current top-eight list from http://www.google.com/trends?hl=en
1. lakisha jones
2. dndn
3. keating economics
4. neel kashkari
5. texas voter registration
6. keatingeconomics.com
7. keating five
8. register to vote online
October 6, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's interesting - number 5 hit. I hope that doesn't mean everyone has waited til the last minute. The last day for Texas is the 8th. Tomorrow is the last day for New Mexico - and yet, Texas is no. 5 on google for voter registration.
If I set my imagination loose, that's potentially extremely good news. There must be one hell of a Democratic voter drive going on there right now.
October 6, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I saw two voter registration tables up outside at the local WalMart over the weekend...
October 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome.
You mind saying what part of the state you're in? You don't have to get too specific...
See, I think where the Repugs have us by the balls is regional - it's Deep East Texas and the Panhandle.
October 6, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Denton, which I'm sure you've heard of, Tena.
North of Dallas/Ft. Worth and has close to 100K (!)now in the area. I believe Denton County went for Obama over Hillary in the primary because of two large colleges and Denton is like a mini-Austin.
October 6, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know where Denton is - I spent a year at what is now U of North Texas.
;)
You know you guys got fucked over - a major anti-abortion crusader moved into Denton. He's a major Repug operative. Can't remember his name...
October 6, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm, yeah I'm sure you have some stories about Denton back in the day... ;) Went to NTSU/UNT myself.
I'd like to know who that person is, too. Bet I know which church is his. But I digress...
October 6, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll find out - I haven't heard anything out of him since ;04, but I haven't been paying much attention.
October 6, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey...I went to NTSU/UNT, too! Is Fry Street still hopping? Way too many late nights...that's pretty much why I completed my studies elsewhere.
:)
October 6, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
You don't want to know how long ago I was there.
I finished at TCU - never thought I'd pay those loans off - but back then there were state grants freely available, too.
October 6, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sad story about Fry Street: a developer from Houston bought about half the property and all of the oldest buildings and tore them down-all for a CVS. BUT, they didn't get their zoning request and now the lot sits empty. We tried to save it, formed a non-profit, got a 10K petition (not legally binding), tons of press but they tore them down anyway. Bastids. Now the lot sits empty b/c of the economic downturn.
Eventually it will come back but they were too pigheaded to listen to the community.
Actually, all the action has moved down to the Square area: about two dozen clubs, tons of bands, art galleries, house concerts, etc. The joint is jumpin' here in "Little D"
October 6, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm devastated about Fry Street.
Ahhh....the 80s...good times, good times.
October 6, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Everyone who's ever seen Rocky Horror has heard of Denton! ;-)
October 6, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. Today (11/6)is the last day to register to vote in Texas.
October 6, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
CORRECTION: Today, October 6, is the last day to register to vote in Texas (voter registrations cards must be postmarked no later than Oct. 6). I'm a Texan. The info is on the Texas Secretary of State website.
October 6, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
And that illustrates an important point about how incompetent the McCain campaign is -- I'm pretty sure in all of Palin's attacks, she hasn't actually said "Ayers." Now that may be because they don't want people to actually learn the real story (another contrast to the Keating situation), but the fact remains that with vague smears about "terrorists," any searches will only lead back to Palin's speeches.
October 6, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy Carter, your agent is calling.
October 6, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign is in meltdown before our very eyes.
October 6, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The fuckhead asks who is Obama?
http://thepage.time.com/mccains-monday-remarks-in-albuquerque/
And we have the answer.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4955VB20081006?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews
October 6, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another one.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_el_pr/obama
October 6, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank god one candidate is an adult.
October 6, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
These people are morons. Why is he even talking? Phil Gramm, this idiot, Carly Fiorina, all would hide in a bunker, if this campaign made any sense.
I'm sure Obama camp is saying right now- as long as we stay focused, stay disciplined, do what needs to be done we're home.
Only message for all of us- Stay calm, work hard.
October 6, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DOW is down 700 at this moment. If McCain goes into that debate tomorrow night and just goes on the attack, and not talk economics, I will take that as him raising the white flag.
October 6, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
He will probably go off on high taxes and big gubmint.
October 6, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what he doesn't get - just saying "boy, get a load of that guy's preacher!" isn't reassuring anyone while the Dow plunges.
October 6, 2008 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
O Brother.
October 6, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Josh & Co - if Andrea actually was smacking around Tuck, can you post the video from this:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/222237.php
I can't imagine Andrea doing as tough of a job on him as Schuster did last week on the McCain Talking Head, or that Campbell Brown did a while back. But still... Andrea is one of the top Tire Swingers at NBC/MSNBC News. If she's framing the Narrative as McCain Sleaze 24/7, then that *is* the Narrative.
BTW - McCain picked the *wrong day* to try to get the attention away from the Economy. We're down 700+ in the Dow.
What was the Dow when W took office?
John
John
October 6, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somewhere around 10,000. So higher than today.
Lowest it's been under bush is 7592. (in 2003, I believe)
October 6, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Umm, do I read that wrong, or does Joe also imply that "we know" where Bin Laden is?
October 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like how the article ends thus:
Because, you know, Palin can hardly be considered a "prominent surrogate."
October 6, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 6, 2008 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this the same McCain brother who, just a couple of days ago, called Northern Virginia, "communist territory"?
October 6, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rules for Understanding McCain's Stand on Issues:
1) McCain is always right;
2) You are entitled to your position even though it's wrong;
3) If you still think you're right , see Rule 1.
October 6, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
My new campaign slogan for old POW POW.
John McCain:
The Original Mav-Erratic.
October 6, 2008 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to disagree with the consensus here.. McCain never said that he would not order missions inside an unco-operative sovreign nation.
He only said, perfectly in line with his Straight Talk Express image, that he would not tell them about it.
Besides, you think that Satan is just going to let some John "Drambo" McCain-lead Delta Force team march to his door? No way, sir! Satan would do anything he can to embarrass John McCain to help his Democratic allies.
October 6, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought the distinction was that he wouldn't tell "the public" about it. He might tell the sovereign govt, but just not their people. In other words, he doesn't disagree with Obama's position, just that he's not lying about it.
October 6, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
but he'd let his brother tell everyone about it??
October 6, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
U owe me $5 ...hehehe
October 6, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I already gave you $5 imaginary a couple threads ago!
October 6, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stay the course. McCain and surrogates are looking absolutely batshit panicked. Eyes on the prize, eyes on the prize.
I miss Ron Paul: http://tinyurl.com/66o79q
October 6, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 6, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frelling tags.
[bring back Farscape!]
October 6, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just had a lady that works for me tell me she's lost over 100k in her 401k in recent weeks. :(
October 6, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
No kidding -- my retirement is many years away so I'm just trying to be patient, but what it would be like for people that are near retirement or the elderly... I'm just scared to think about that.
October 6, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I'm in the same boat but my husband keeps telling me not to worry - it will regain value.
Just hope you don't need the money right now.
I know of a couple of people in Dallas who were working for very small businesses whose bosses just closed the doors because they invested the profits and lost them.
October 6, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some talking head on tv brought up the point that 401k statements will be landing in people's mailboxes in the next couple of weeks. I daresay it will put a lot of people in a very foul mood.
October 6, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotta nitpick: wasn't McCain's position - at least as he articulated it during the debate - that it's ok to have the policy of pursuing Bin Laden across the border into Pakistan, it's just not ok to say you have that policy. Kinda like the current administration's stance on torture.
So it may not be as much as a gaffe as an intentional attempt to defang the "McCain won't commit to do what it takes" line of attack on the issue.
On the other hand, with the communist remarks, and with Palin herself get all mavericky on the subject, I doubt that that campaign is really that much in control of the message here.
October 6, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
i agree that it isn't a gaffe so much as it is a deliberate attempt to have it both ways.
October 6, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain can spend the rest of his miserable, pitiful existence on the face of the planet wearing a tin-foil hat and carrying a bow and arrows hunting the rascally rabid son of Laden any and everywhere as long as he has no ability to send troops into harm's way.
October 6, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
God, I hope Obama doesn't have a stupid brother somewhere that we don't know about. His sister is a smart talker and cool lady. McCain's brother is reminding me of Hugh Rodham and Billy Carter, always creating some kind of mess at the worst possible time.
October 6, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has a half-brother.
He lives in Kenya. There were some smear ads about that - he lives in poverty, apparently = so who doesn't in Africa, besides the very corrupt and the very white?
I don't think we need to worry about him.
October 6, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oo, did I just get a glimpse of a possible silver lining in the financial news out of Europe? Will the Euro possibly fall a bit?
If the Euro would just get in line with our dollar, my future wouldn't look so bleak - we saved a lot of that to travel and we have put off two trips now because it just is so fucking expensive in Europe to do anything at all.
October 6, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
HTX to Europe? You incorrigible liberal...
October 6, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope. At least not besides minor fluctuations.
One reason the dollar is so weak is that it's been (ahem) mortgaged. All that debt to China and elsewhere reduces the "equity" behind the dollar.
Also, markets move investments between currencies according to interest rates. A high rate for the euro will attract investors and push up its value. The Fed can't raise dollar interest rates without risking calamity.
October 6, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just FYI: I teach in northeast Texas, and I keep needing more voter registration cards for my classroom. This isn't my first rodeo, so I know better than to hope for a miracle. But it is heartening to see kids so fired up...maybe Texas won't be a complete blowout this time around...?
October 6, 2008 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
reminds me of a song
will the real john mcCain please stand please stand up
October 6, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
CORRECTION: Today, October 6, was the last day to register to vote in Texas. I'm a Texan. The info is on the Texas Secretary of State website.
October 6, 2008 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink