Video: Throw MoveOn.org out of the country, says McCain
posted at 7:52 pm on September 16, 2007 by Allahpundit
The progression from righteous outrage on Petraeus’s behalf to demagoguery for political gain continues apace as J-Mac takes the baton from Rudy and offhandedly calls for the left’s flagship PAC to be purged. Time says his staff issued a clarification afterwards but I can’t find it on the campaign website. Ah well — free speech issues were never St. John’s strong suit anyway.
No need to watch this now if you’re busy. You’ll be seeing it tomorrow on all the cable news channels as the left mounts its outrage/demagoguery counteroffensive.
Blowback
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I believe that McCain-Feingold contributed to the emergence of these “wonderful” PACs. Hard to watch a father disown his offspring!
Bradky on September 16, 2007 at 7:55 PM
Go McCain. GREAT!
JiangxiDad on September 16, 2007 at 7:57 PM
I feel sorry for him.
kinda.
Tru2my2 on September 16, 2007 at 8:03 PM
Good for McCain!
I applaud him for saying what too many people are afraid to say.
bnelson44 on September 16, 2007 at 8:07 PM
It’s not a matter of “throwing them out.”
I mean, clearly they’re unhappy here, yet for some reason they can’t seem to get away, so the Christian thing to do would be to help finance/facilitate their relocation.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t just sit back and watch my fellow life forms suffer in deepest despair and misery like that.
Misha I on September 16, 2007 at 8:13 PM
for once, I actually agree with McCain
jediwebdude on September 16, 2007 at 8:19 PM
I think McCain’s time has passed. He’s an honorable man and I respect him, but he’d never have my vote. I do, however, totally agree with throwing moveon.org out of the country. They are anti-American and for the life of me, I don’t know why these people don’t move. Go with Cindy and live with their buddy Chavez.
katieanne on September 16, 2007 at 8:24 PM
It’s adorable that politicians are more offended and righteously indignant on Petraeus’ behalf than Petraeus was himself.
Now McCain has raised the bar… Mitt will have no choice but to challenge the president of MoveOn to a cage match.
e-pirate on September 16, 2007 at 8:25 PM
But it has to be on a moving car in a doggie cage….
ScottG on September 16, 2007 at 8:36 PM
This will go badly for him. As a Presidential Candidate the last thing he should have advocated was for the expulsion of a group for practicing free speech. No matter how offensive.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it the way it sounds but it won’t matter to the ears of the moonbats. I expect to hear a lot of whining about how “_______ wants to take away our rights”, “Police State” and other assorted lefty madness.
Guardian on September 16, 2007 at 8:39 PM
Free speech is one thing. Sedition is another. This is an organization, funded by a radical socialist, with ill intent for America as it has always existed. They should be outlawed just as al qaeda is outlawed. They have the same end game in sight.
jihadwatcher on September 16, 2007 at 8:42 PM
When McCain is ready to declare that criminal illegal aliens should be thrown out like the MoveOn.org folks . . .perhaps, then I’ll consider him serious.
heroyalwhyness on September 16, 2007 at 8:47 PM
No one but McCain, the ex-darling of the media, could have nailed MoveOn so forcefully.
Thank you, John McCain.
Now hopefully the other candidates will rally round McCain and Rudy to make MoveOn and its politics (style and substance) a campaign issue in 2008.
petefrt on September 16, 2007 at 8:50 PM
Nice catch Allah.
Zorro on September 16, 2007 at 8:52 PM
“….the left mounts its outrage/demagoguery counteroffensive.”
Well, of course. The left doesn’t spew hate, bigotry, or propaganda. It only speaks truth to power.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAK%#@HOCK PAHTEWWEEEEEE&^%@ Community based reality. I’m gonna hurl.
PS: Nice try John. Your a stand up guy & I thank you, but this malignancy runs a whole lot deeper than a tepid stump speech.
locomotivebreath1901 on September 16, 2007 at 8:55 PM
“Throw MoveOn.org out of the country”
I’d drink to that and Sen McCain if I drank.
Texyank on September 16, 2007 at 9:00 PM
It’s funny St.John would throw Americans out of their own country, and then not only vote for, but sponsor the shamnesty bill, that would have given illegal alien gang members amnesty just by writing a note saying that they now disavow their gang membership. I don’t see him saying anything about La Raza..I of course disagree with the moveon.org ad, yet that’s what makes this country great, is the fact we do have free speech, MY FRIEND.
Legions on September 16, 2007 at 9:01 PM
I wouldn’t count out McCain just yet. He’s a fighter, and while I disagree with a lot of what he says, I have a lot of respect for what he’s done in his life.
AND I AGREE WITH HIM 100% here. How DARE an organization question the General’s patriotism. He has given his entire life to upholding and serving the Constitution of the United States of America. His children are also in the military.
How on earth can this be anything short of libel? Unsubstantiated claim in public questioning the integrity of this honest man that liberals along with conservatives placed in the charge of our country’s finest men and women who risk their lives every day.
It is OK to question the policy, and even dissent about the policy. But to claim that Patraeus ‘betrayed’ his country for doing his duty – for having more patriotism in his pinky finger than the entire ‘move on.org’ will ever have – is absurd, false and they should be held accountable for libel at the least.
HOW CAN LIBERALS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT POSSIBLY EXPECT THE RESPECT OF THE ARMED FORCES IF THEY DON’T CONDEMN THIS AD? HOW CAN THEY EXPECT RESPECT AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF?
ThackerAgency on September 16, 2007 at 9:03 PM
While we are tossing constitutional rights let’s toss out that pesky second amendment… I mean if you ban guns then AQ is toothless, right? Oh you didn’t meant THAT right.. so sorry.
Crazy talk
Bradky on September 16, 2007 at 9:05 PM
Thompson/McCain ’08!!
kiakjones on September 16, 2007 at 9:09 PM
Two old men, one of whom has energy.
Christoph on September 16, 2007 at 9:12 PM
If Hil can’t stand up to MoveOn, then how can we expect her to stand up against international powers?
petefrt on September 16, 2007 at 9:15 PM
So McCain was perturbed by this ad but wanted to grant US citizenship to illegals who marched in our streets holding signs proclaiming, “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us”?
I appreciate McCain’s newfound desire for strict interior enforcement, but I’d rather hear him apply the same reasoning to the much larger problem of illegals.
McCain is still toast.
progressoverpeace on September 16, 2007 at 9:15 PM
Somehow I don’t think this controversy is going to hurt him in the Republican primary.
frankj on September 16, 2007 at 9:17 PM
You consider any political speech constitutional, I don’t. I consider this group seditious. A close examination of moveon will find a web of closet marxists and communists in the background that will take away all your constitutional rights if they had the opportunity. Learn to squash those that will squash you. The constitution is not a suicide pact.
But then again, my politics are too right wing for you anyway.
jihadwatcher on September 16, 2007 at 9:35 PM
The faux outrage (fautrage?) meter will be pegged at 11.
ReubenJCogburn on September 16, 2007 at 10:05 PM
He and Kerry were on Meet the Press this morning. I thought John was going to ***** slap him right on the spot.
Limerick on September 16, 2007 at 10:07 PM
McCain doing the *****slaping of course. :) ooops
Limerick on September 16, 2007 at 10:08 PM
When you seriously suggest it is okay to ignore the constitutional protections we have, your politics go beyond right wing and lean toward anarchy.
Bradky on September 16, 2007 at 10:15 PM
I know. McCain can use one of the Left’s favorite tricks when their darlings end up in this situation.
Simply say that McCain was joking. Works like a charm!
Seixon on September 16, 2007 at 10:15 PM
What is constitutional is open to interpretation. Sedition is treason and is not covered. And btw, my politics don’t go toward anarchy. Anarchy is the other direction. No laws at all. My politics go toward fascism if you wish to say that. But I think throwing those bastards in jail for their activities would do more to protect America than undermine it. What is derided as right wing today, or fascist, was simply normal in 1950 when we didn’t tolerate this nonsense. Freedom comes with responsibility. On its own it is useless at best, dangerous at worst.
jihadwatcher on September 16, 2007 at 10:41 PM
The problem is that we do not have an unbiased media that will denounce the tactics of groups like moveon.org. The delicate balance that our rights create has been thrown out of whack by a too liberal interpretation of the constitution, the general dishonesty and greed of our elected officials, the aforementioned failure of the media to do their job.
When the media doesn’t perform it’s function, other ideas are suggested in order to re-establish balance. Quashing this kind of Marxist talk is needed and no one should think that it will lead to a slippery slope of total suppression of free speech. Responsible people know where the line is. Traitors abuse the line to destroy us from within.
csdeven on September 16, 2007 at 10:46 PM
quick question Mr McCain can we throw the illegal aliens out with move on .
And I am still waiting to hear back from you about picking cabbage for 50$ an hour. Can I get work credit for my horticulture degree?
I don’t have classes in the summer so it would be perfect with my schedule.
If we lash all the moonbats into a giant human raft im pretty sure they can make it to Cuba. I mean the body oils alone will keep them from sinking and no shark wants to have aging hippy liberal douche bag after taste in its mouth. So they can make it safe and sound viva la communist Cuba.
Mojack420 on September 16, 2007 at 10:47 PM
As much as I dislike the ad itself, claims of marxists and traitors in the moveon organization to justify suspending first amendment rights is the wrong approach. The country has been through far worse and the constitution has stayed intact for the most part (some noteable exceptions for sure).
In addition to that if you are for “throwing them out” then you really should have no argument against the “fairness doctrine” since it is being done “to give equal voice to citizens”.
In short, you just can’t have it both ways to oppose one action while supporting the other.
Bradky on September 16, 2007 at 11:00 PM
Dare I say that you might think this is a bad thing? I dare, I dare. But it isn’t. The only way the lefties will cover this is if they can come at it from a “wingnuts are nuts” angle but if it gets the Moveon ad more play I don’t see how we can lose. Remember, no one is paying attention to politics except for about 20% of the populace which eats and drinks this horse-race you cover so well.
Bill C on September 16, 2007 at 11:20 PM
The fairness doctrine is about forcing corporations to air liberal political views on talk radio, so why would I be in favor of that? Why should any radio station pay to air leftist propaganda, that the listeners don’t want to hear anyway, and that same propaganda is available on NPR, a publicly-funded radio station, and all the MSM TV stations?
jihadwatcher on September 17, 2007 at 1:04 AM
The First Amendment goes both ways. Moveon exercised their 1st Amendment rights to run that ad. John McCain exercised his first Amendment rights in this video clip.
The difference is that moveon committed an act of defamation in their ad, which is NOT protected speech in most cases. Moveon is also trying to sabotage the war, an activity that is not protected speech, either.
I commend John McCain for saying what the Democrats (and the media) refuse to say. And I agree with him.
georgej on September 17, 2007 at 3:47 AM
When McCain is ready to declare that criminal illegal aliens should be thrown out like the MoveOn.org folks . . .perhaps, then I’ll consider him serious.
heroyalwhyness on September 16, 2007 at 8:47 PM
Could not have said it better myself. Probably not as well.
MB4 on September 17, 2007 at 5:03 AM
Because the right has an unfair advantage in putting its political message on talk radio. The left deserves equal time.
See it is about freedom of speech. You don’t like it because of the views it wants to promote. Before you go into a long diatribe about talk radio’s freedom of speech consider what you are suggesting about moveon.
Like I said you can’t have it both ways.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 5:32 AM
Hey,Mr.Soros:Is that the Democrat Party in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?…..
Regney on September 17, 2007 at 6:57 AM
When the media are willing participants in the propagation of the message of moveon.org, then a very valuable check on our rights is non-functioning. We have a right to hear the truth from the media and our government should protect us from the concerted efforts of those who have designs on over-throwing this country from the inside.
This event should have been given coverage from both viewpoints. Instead what we have is a media organization that got involved in politics and other media organizations are giving them cover. Those are the facts and it is one example (of the worst) in a long line of media bias.
My concerns are to prevent this country from back-sliding into a socialist nightmare, but in the end you may be right. It is the natural function of the nature of man to take for granted his freedoms until he no longer has them. The American public is more interested in OJ and American Idol than there are about the slow decent into socialism this country is headed for. Those people will deserve what they get, and then they will find out how their right to have an unbiased media is slowly being eroded and the effect it has on their lives.
csdeven on September 17, 2007 at 7:29 AM
For me it isn’t about left or right. It’s about fact and fiction. The NYT engaged in political activism when they should not be. The moveon.org ad was a spot ad to be run at anytime during the week. Yet in the body of the text it said this:
“Today, before Congress and before the American people, General Petraeus is likely to become General Betray Us.”
The ad is written like the ad space was reserved for that day. Now I don’t know anything about advertising, so maybe moveon.org was allowed to change the text to reflect the proper chronology. I guess it really don’t matter. It’s not like we really need any more proof that the NYT is a leftist propaganda rag.
csdeven on September 17, 2007 at 7:40 AM
I don’t like the ad either but what usually happens is that people who don’t like what a paper says or advertises they stop purchasing the paper.
Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter say things that are meant to inflame. I don’t care for that approach but I can choose not to listen to or read them.
In my opinion moveon made a huge mistake with the ad. I think some of the moderate democrats may see that the base has gone too far. Let them dictate the consequences through their votes. But I am convinced that if the right continues to talk about throwing people out for exercising their first amendment rights or throw the “traitor” label around as some are doing, they will cause those moderate democrats to say “ach it is just politics, they are all the same”.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 7:51 AM
I understand that. My point is that there are enough stupid and misguided people who do not know the difference between fact and fiction. They lap this stuff up with no concern for facts. Those people will not make the choice not to purchase the paper.
Like I said, in the end you’re probably right. The idiots who buy into this crap will get exactly what they deserve and the rest of us have to remain vigilant in our fight against the creeping claw of socialism.
csdeven on September 17, 2007 at 8:17 AM
You’ve got to be kidding me. McCain’s serial disregard for the First Amendment is really quite shocking.
It seems that because of his military background he is deluded into thinking that he can just give orders that will be followed. This intransigent mindset has characterized his Senate career.
I loathe MoveOn.org and would like to see them sued for libel and should be shunned and shamed, but you cannot just throw American citizens out of the Country because of a malicious ad in the Times.
As for the media covering this, Fox hasn’t said a word yet as it’s been 24/7 O.J.
By the way, McCain is also claiming he’s a Baptist now as he panders to the RR in South Carolina.
I really think McCain is off his rocker and not fit to govern.
Buy Danish on September 17, 2007 at 9:42 AM
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 5:32 AM
Please tell me that you don’t really believe this and are just trying to make a point about slippery slopes.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 7:51 AM
This is not an argument about “saying things that are meant to inflame”, it about the consequences of calling a General a traitor at a time of war. You just cannot compare Rush and Ann Coulter to Move.On – no way, no how.
Buy Danish on September 17, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Ah well…just add this utterance to the litany of imbecilic brainfarts that define his ‘political career’
Way to go AZ…thanks a-freakin’ bunch
Ochlan on September 17, 2007 at 11:09 AM
It is about the slippery slope argument.
As for Coulter and Rush I believe that the word traitor has crossed their lips at some time or another. Because they have inferred it applies to Democrats no one objected. I don’t like it because the word is overplayed and has no basis in anything except opinion but more importantly because they drive people away from the party. They are entertainers and need a gimmick to keep the profit line going. They preach to the choir so to speak.
If I suggest that the second amendment needs to be reined in because the founders didn’t envision assault weapons it is likely you would tell me that if I am that concerned I should start a movement that would make an attempt to amend the constitution to that effect.
I submit the same applies to the suggestions we start stifling free speech, no matter how distasteful.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 11:59 AM
When people talk about vigilance and defending our liberties they tend to forget that the hardest battle is the intellectual battle not the exercise of military force.
We must operate on the premise that 99.99% of our citizens are as patriotic as we are if we wish to persuade moderates that appeasement is not the answer.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Dude. It is very reasonable to conclude that the Left aid and abet the enemy, especially when they accuse a 5 star general who is running the War in Iraq of betraying our Country.
Kinda blows their “We support the troops but not the mission” meme, doesn’t it?
For you to say that “it has no basis in anything but opinion” is not true – it has a basis in fact and they are expressing their fact-based opinions about it.
However, there is not a single fact that you could present that could reasonably lead anyone to conclude that Rush and Coulter are traitors.
Moreover, Rush and Coulter are principled conservatives and they say what they say because they believe it to be true not because it is a gimmick to get attention. They use humor and satire to make their points, but they are far more than mere entertainers.
Sally Field is an entertainer.
Buy Danish on September 17, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Bradky,
UPDATE! Enemies of the State, but don’t you dare call them “traitors”!
Buy Danish on September 17, 2007 at 3:21 PM
I agree with McCain, throw them out!
… but I’m still not voting for him.
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on September 17, 2007 at 3:53 PM
Well McCain finally said something right. I’d like to add, throw “moveon.org” into GITMO, with ALL of the rotten traitorous war protestors.
byteshredder on September 17, 2007 at 5:39 PM
Not that it will do much good since you have your mind firmly made up…
First reread the post – I did’t say Ann or Rush are traitors, I said they have uttered the description about others just as moveon did.
In law, treason is the crime of disloyalty to one’s nation. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor. Oran’s Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: “…[a]…citizen’s actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation].”
Where does the ad make the moveon people who created fall into the above defintions?
Do you know for a fact that every person in the moveon organization approved of the ad?
The point is you are too quick to categorize and label entire groups of people and willing to suspend first amendment rights because you don’t agree with the message.
We stop being the country we are when you start doing that.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 6:32 PM
I believe they are also, but they don’t get involved until it’s their space that’s being threatened. They need to be brought to a patriotic attitude without having the threat of losing their country as the motivator.
csdeven on September 17, 2007 at 6:41 PM
eh, you’re losing me here. i mean, what practicly is the difference? what is the practical difference between democrat figures allowing themselves to be cast in the light of moveon’s ad by refusing to disagregate themselves from it and suggesting agreement with the moveon ad by refusing to disagregate themselves from it?
it’s all the same to me and i’m not at all interested in projectingself-interested motivs on people doing the right thing.
jummy on September 17, 2007 at 6:44 PM
No disagreement. As I’ve mentioned on a few occasions it is all about strategy and how to persuade. Since the 06 election the repub base has done everything it can to act like the dem base after the 2000 election. Now that is a failed strategy the repubs shouldn’t want to repeat.
Bradky on September 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM