Video: DNC hits McCain with 2003 “Mission Accomplished” comments
posted at 7:58 pm on May 1, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Ostensibly this is a gotcha aimed at showing that Maverick found the “Mission Accomplished” banner itself to be peachy keen, contrary to what he said on the stump today. In reality, it’s yet another attempt to prove that McCain thought the war would be a cakewalk through and through. Watch the clip, then read on.
Why the cut in the middle? I couldn’t find a transcript of that episode of Cavuto online, but I did find a transcript of this particular exchange at — wait for it — Media Matters. Here’s the reason for the edit:
NEIL CAVUTO (host): Senator — after a conflict means after the conflict, and many argue the conflict isn’t over.
McCAIN: Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?
Look, the –I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, but the conflict — the major conflict is over, the regime change has been accomplished, and it’s very appropriate. In two weeks, General Franks is going to come before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and we’re going to have his overall assessment of the conflict. I think that’s entirely appropriate because we’ll be — we’ll be taking up the needs of the Defense Department and the men and women in the military on the Armed Services Committee.
But I’m looking for an overall review of the conflict, what we did right, what we did wrong, and what the needs are, including the issue of weapons of mass destruction. I remain confident that we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
They excised the boldfaced part, for obvious reasons. Here’s another tidbit in the same vein from Wolf Blitzer’s show in January 2003, per the GOP’s fact sheet on this subject: “[W]e will instill a democracy in Iraq. It won’t be easy. It will be long. It will be difficult and it will be expensive but it will be an example to other nations in the region, including the Saudi Arabians.” The RNC’s not going to dig up the footage of that exchange and make a rebuttal ad out of it lest it remind people of just how long and difficult the war’s been, so it’s up to the media (and bloggers, natch) to call the Dems on this. They did a surprisingly good job with Obama’s distortion of his “100 years” comment. Let’s see how they do with this tomorrow.
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Like my old man use to say, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle ‘em with bullshit.”
I think the DNCs motto is something like that - “If all else fails, just lie.”
apollyonbob on May 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
why do Democrats play politics with war?
Chakra Hammer on May 1, 2008 at 8:05 PM
If the Republicans would have acted the way the Democrats are now during World War II we would have lost!
Operation Overlord!
OMG what a blunder!
WHAT A DUMB MOVE!
LOOK AT ALL OUR BABIES THAT THEY GOT KILLED!
Chakra Hammer on May 1, 2008 at 8:08 PM
This selective editing is quite ironic when you consider all the whining the Dims have done over the last few weeks about Jeremiah Wright’s words being “taken out of context.”
AZCoyote on May 1, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Hey! Play fair, democrats!
SouthernGent on May 1, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with is “Operation Overlord” who does he think he is God!!?
Playing God with our sons lives, these kids are drafted!
They didn’t volunteer! WAHHHH!
Chakra Hammer on May 1, 2008 at 8:12 PM
You know, if it was moveon.org or some of the 527’s this would be expected…But it is coming straight from the DNC…What a joke, I bet this will cause them to lose a ton of votes when everyone sees just how dishonest they are…What a bunch of tools
SoCalInfidel on May 1, 2008 at 8:14 PM
What he said was that we’re going to be in Iraq for a hundred years…but they’d be laid-back fun-loving years. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
exlibris on May 1, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Hey, we’re a soundbite culture so the ad should prove quite effective I’m sorry to say.
CliffHanger on May 1, 2008 at 8:17 PM
People need to watch Zell Miller’s RNC speech again about how Republicans and Democrats WORKED TOGETHER, to WIN WWII..
Chakra Hammer on May 1, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Zell Miller at the Republican Convention - Part 1 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_t_9d8L70U
Zell Miller at the Republican Convention - Part 2 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36HjSAZ3k_w
Zell Miller at the Republican Convention - Part 3 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYCKczyWjko
Chakra Hammer on May 1, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Please link to the clip where he said “laid-back fun-loving years”. Thanks.
JustTruth101 on May 1, 2008 at 8:28 PM
The DNC is being soft here, much of what they do is much worse. Remember, this is the DNC!!!!!!!! This is nothing new or surprising, this is soft routine for the DNC.
allrsn on May 1, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Just making a point, in a silly way, about the inconsistency of Dems saying on the one hand that McCain thinks we’ll be in Iraq for 100 years and roping him into “mission accomplished” on the other. Of course it’s not in the clip.
exlibris on May 1, 2008 at 8:34 PM
With the candidates the Democrats are fielding and issues they have, it looks like grasping at straws is all they have left. I believe it will be much easier and vastly more credible for McCain to explain the circumstance of his statements as opposed to why Obama was in the Wright church for 20 years, recently noting the theme and timbre of the sermons. Hillary just needs to explain what Bill will be up to while she is busy in the oval office.
Zelsdorf Ragshaft on May 1, 2008 at 8:43 PM
As pResident, certified Chickenhawk Billy Jeff Clintoon staged 4, count ‘em four, photo ops on aircraft carriers.
Of course, since he had a (D) after his name, he got a pass.
Mission accomplished, indeed.
Del Dolemonte on May 1, 2008 at 8:47 PM
The “Mission” (the overthrow of the Iraqi dictatorship and liberation of the people of that land) was “accomplished” at this point.
That the Iraqis wanted to wallow in years of fruitless (psychopathic internecine) bloodshed -instead of simply (and happily) enjoying (mooching off) America’s largesse, was something no rational planners thought of.
(But they forgot to include Islam’s core of ideological irrationality in their historically-shallow calculations.)
If McCain could just answer this trivial attack upon him and the war with something as clear as that (in bold), he could dispose of this entire angle of assault in one Gordian cut.
The Democratic knotheads want to entangle him.
Slice through their b.s. with strength and move on.
profitsbeard on May 1, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Lies and half truths? Sounds like a normal day at the DNC.
thekingtut on May 1, 2008 at 8:51 PM
If you all have thin skin over this then I suggest that you stock up with alcohol. Gonna be a long summer and fall.
Limerick on May 1, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Duh… I so tired I read the headline as “DC Madam Mission Accomplished”. Jeez.
BJ* on May 1, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Just yesterday wasn’t the DNC talking about “moving on” and not focusing on the past?
Hog Wild on May 1, 2008 at 9:13 PM
It’s 3 am and the phone is ringing—–Saddam Hussein has just gassed millions of his own in southern and northern Iraq and his centrifuges are in full production, and he will have nuclear capabilities in two months. Hussein has also allowed a sanctuary in the north for Osama bin Laden and thousands of al-Qaeda opratives with the sole purpose of raining down terrorism on the U.S. and the west.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Rovin on May 1, 2008 at 9:13 PM
I sometimes wonder if Democrats have any attention span. I can remember all the threats from Clinton for years and years against Saddam. And now to hear these clowns tell it they were buddies, pals, got along just fine.
Reality is relative.
Terrye on May 1, 2008 at 9:22 PM
I’ve never understood why the President allowed himself to be beat-up over this stupid banner. The first mission WAS accomplished which was to sweep major Iraqi forces aside and take the country.
Maxx on May 1, 2008 at 9:31 PM
If they’re anything like the years I spent occupying post-war Germany, then yeah. Though admittedly, the Iraqis are going to have to step up on the beerworks.
Pablo on May 1, 2008 at 9:36 PM
BINGO
I do not think they have any attention span, or intellect, or solid emotions. They have no morals, ethics or self-responsibility.
IE: I have little respect for any leftie, I do have respect for liberals!
allrsn on May 1, 2008 at 9:36 PM
I have not been able to understand why Bush or the Republican party has spent 8 years allowing themselve to be beat up. They do not protect or support each other on any socialist attack no matter how ridiculous, serious, or desperate the attack may be; ’scooter’ ring a bell?
allrsn on May 1, 2008 at 9:41 PM
The Liberation of Irag,the end of Combat Operation’s
and Bagdad was the objective!
If Saddam and his goons could’ve of been taken out
in one fell swoop that would have been a Utopian
dream,however for Democrats trying to do mental
gymnastic’s over it,it was “Mission Accomplished”!
canopfor on May 1, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Oh,I might add after 10-15 years of getting jerked
around by Saddam not honouring the UN Resolutions
the United States finally said,screw it!
And President Bush finally acted,if Liberals were
in power,Saddam,his sons,and goons would still
be executed innocent Iragi people,and Democrats
would be bragging how he’s contained!
canopfor on May 1, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Exactly, more proof the lefties do not give a damn about people except themselves of course. There are just too many examples of thier lack of concern of the lives of others, all claims otherwise are false.
Wright reminds me of how angry I am over how the left treats the African members of our culture of equality and freedom.
It is time for conservative republicans to stop the lefty stooge race-baiters and bring the black members of our society out of welfare, poverty, and oppression.
allrsn on May 1, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I must add that it will take a minimum of 3 generations to accomplish the above goal.
allrsn on May 1, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Exactly..
allrsn on May 1,2008 at 10:24PM
allrsn:I fully agree,look the Republican Party are in the
21st Century as race relations are concerned!
However it appears the Liberal Democrat Party are
stuck in the 1920 to 1950 still in race relations!
And however again,Rev.Wright,Al Sharpton,Jesse
Jackson are stuck in the slave days,1700 to 1800’s
that’s the reality of it,and yes Wrights attitude
is like the Middle East,accept for the killing
part and they are stuck forever in the 3rd.Century!
canopfor on May 1, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Any chance of linking to the full clip? I’d like to have a copy of McCain’s comments in context.
golfer1 on May 2, 2008 at 9:58 AM