McCain apologizes for saying troops’ lives were “wasted”
posted at 2:50 pm on March 1, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Here’s what he said last night on Letterman:
And here’s what he said today after the Democrats — Barack Obama notably (and predictably) excepted — pitched a fit over it:
Last evening, I referred to American casualties in Iraq as wasted. I should have used the word, sacrificed, as I have in the past. No one appreciates and honors more than I do the selfless patriotism of American servicemen and women in the Iraq War. We owe them a debt we can never fully repay. And America’s leaders owe them, as well as the American people, our best judgment and honest appraisal of the progress of the war, in which they continue to sacrifice.
What’s the left’s complaint here? That the Senate’s most notorious war booster somehow doesn’t sufficiently appreciate the stakes or the sacrifice? I thought their big knock on Maverick, especially vis-a-vis the surge, is that he foolishly believes victory is still possible, i.e., that he doesn’t think the troops’ lives were wasted. If he did, he wouldn’t be so hot to commit more of them to the mission.
The only parties who could conceivably use this as evidence of closet liberalism are Giuliani and Romney, but Rudy’s in no position to point fingers about secret bluish tendencies and Romney’s not about to challenge a guy who spent six years in a VC prison about the value of dying in action.
If you’re looking for something to complain about re: McCain, complain about this.
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I think this can be used against him… whether he really meant it or not, they could conceivably say that he doesn’t truly support the mission which would hurt him in GOP primaries, where he’s already screwed to the point he’s lucky to even be considered for VP.
But as you said, there’s plenty more to work with when it comes to McCain. For me it’s the global warming crap.
RightWinged on March 1, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Why doesn’t McCain just say that it was a botched joke? Free pass!
dalewalt on March 1, 2007 at 3:02 PM
John McCain is a RINO! He has been for a long time.
Actions speak louder than words. He can blow smoke up our a**es till the cows come home. Nothing he says before, during, or after his campaign can change that. Not even his weak little apology for his faux paux.
SilverStar830 on March 1, 2007 at 3:06 PM
This is the Senate’s most notorious war booster? “We screwed the pooch and probably shouldn’t have gone in, but here we are now so what the hell”?
RW’s right, there is plenty worse to criticize. Just another example of how much smarter he is than everyone else in the room. In his opinion.
daveintexas on March 1, 2007 at 3:07 PM
At this point, yeah, because he’s the most gung ho for the surge. They’re going to bludgeon him with it if it doesn’t work.
Allahpundit on March 1, 2007 at 3:11 PM
He’s a legend in his own mind.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on March 1, 2007 at 3:11 PM
Well he is a legend for what he went through in his earlier life… but certainly not for his politics.
RightWinged on March 1, 2007 at 3:13 PM
One more thing, in my humble opinion, John McCain has been riding the POW wagon for too long. I deeply respect his sacrifice, I truly do, but when it pertains to matters of potentially holding the most powerful position on Earth, he needs to quit using it as a crutch for his assinine actions and behavior… and so should everyone else.
I’ve been to war, howeverI have not spent years in a POW camp, so it’s easier for me to say that. But I think I can safely say that while war and military action sucks beyond description, even as a last resort, he’s time and again shown that his psyche, the way he thinks and his lack of foresight, overrides his ability to see the big picture. I honestly don’t believe he could make the necessary decisions a POTUS would need to make lest we hesitate a moment too long… not that we need a war monger either.
SilverStar830 on March 1, 2007 at 3:22 PM
It’s over, Johnny.
JammieWearingFool on March 1, 2007 at 3:24 PM
When you sleep with dogs you get fleas.
When he “the RINO” as said above, gets with his own. His true colors come out!
abinitioadinfinitum on March 1, 2007 at 3:34 PM
Two lefts don’t make a right.
I’m wondering, just how does one “accidentally” substitute the word waste for the word sacrifice? It’s not like they have a similar meaning. Who’s BSing who? Sometimes the subconscious makes an unexpected quest appearance into the physical world.
fogw on March 1, 2007 at 3:52 PM
This reminds me of Biden ruining his chances at the very moment he announced also.
Obama can get away with a statement like this, McCain can not.
jp on March 1, 2007 at 4:02 PM
But three lefts do…
bspoogeferd on March 1, 2007 at 4:09 PM
I disagree. People will give McCain the benefit of the doubt while they’ll assume Obama meant it. Gaffs like this only stick when they reinforce what people already believe about a candidate/politician. He’ll survive nicely so long as he stops digging.
TheBigOldDog on March 1, 2007 at 4:25 PM
Of course he doesn’t think their lives are “wasted”. But there is the underlining meaning of what he is saying.
He thinks going into Iraq was a mistake…which is total bullshit. Iraq is an ally. Saddam is gone. And a budding democracy exists in the Middle East.
Has the after math of major combat not gone well? Yes. However, we should be focusing on winning the stabilization of the region… not focusing on “what ifs”.
McCain is wasting other people’s money. He will never take the Republican nod.
msipes on March 1, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Were this the worst thing he owes an apology for it would be bad enough but it’s not.
He’s been caught early playing to the crowd.
McCain could waffle with the best of them.
Speakup on March 1, 2007 at 4:54 PM
No, but three do.
Esthier on March 1, 2007 at 4:57 PM
In typical McCain fashion, he was saying what Letterman’s crowd wanted to hear. If he had been at a conservative function, I’m sure he would have worded it differently.
He’s just the Hillary of the political right.
Benaiah on March 1, 2007 at 5:21 PM
For Obama this was manna from heaven. How ‘grand’ of him to equate himself to McCain.
Now all we need for McCain to say “…I appreciate my friend Osama”…
Entelechy on March 1, 2007 at 6:27 PM
I haven’t looked closely at what Senator McCain said or at the responses. Whatever the particulars, it seems obvious that wartime losses are wasted unless in the end they contribute to a victory. The Americans’ softness toward common muslims risks wasting their soldiers lives, because such softness jeopardizes their victory over radical muslims. My little regard for the welfare of common muslims may merit the simple excuse that I want the Americans to win and not waste each other.
Kralizec on March 1, 2007 at 7:18 PM
Sen. McCain, why are our borders not yet secured? (and no, I will never stop asking the question until they are….)
PinkyBigglesworth on March 1, 2007 at 11:23 PM
I disagree with some of you. I’m afraid that his “mistake” has seriously damaged him and his chances for the nomination.
Assuming that it was a “mis-speak” and not a heartfelt comment, that is.
I have no doubt that his opponents in the primaries will uses the clip, as will whomever his Democratic opponent turns out to be.
georgej on March 2, 2007 at 5:30 AM
Well this is a tempest in a teapot, but very illuminating in one sense: it’s not what is said, it’s who says it. If I like you, it’s an accident and not worth looking at; if I don’t like you, it reinforces the fact that you’re an asshole.
I am beginning to suffer from EOE (early onset ennui) re this election.
honora on March 2, 2007 at 9:43 AM
What he meant was on Friday nights a lot of the troops get wasted, it’s a military tradition.
right2bright on March 2, 2007 at 10:02 AM
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