Video: McCain stands by accusation that Obama would rather win the election than the war
posted at 4:21 pm on July 25, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Something new for Joe Klein to wet himself over. HuffPo notes that Maverick tweaked this charge during his speech this morning to a group of veterans, stating that Obama would rather win in Afghanistan by losing in Iraq. Blitzer presses him here to see if the old formulation still applies. Answer: Yup, pretty clearly it does, although McCain is careful to emphasize that he’s not questioning Obama’s patriotism, just his judgment. Is it possible to accuse someone of subordinating the national interest to their own personal ambition without, in essence, questioning their patriotism? I don’t know. Is it possible to “support the troops” while believing they’re carrying out an aggressive criminal conspiracy in violation of international law to line the pockets of oil interests? If you think neoconservatism (or Republican foreign policy more generally) is a cancer on America that’ll bring about the apocalypse unless it’s stopped, then what could be more patriotic than seeing it humbled in Iraq — without any further loss of life, natch, hence the focus on withdrawal — and Barack Obama elected to undo the damage? Not sure if that’s the argument McCain’s making here, but he’s bound to be asked about it again so further nuance is doubtless forthcoming. Exit question: How come he didn’t use his new killer line? Click the image to watch.
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By stating the obvious, he solidifies his position in a way that cannot be twisted later. Nobody knows for sure what Obama stands for, even Obama. Obama’s arrogance and actual intimating that we cannot continue to live as we want, but how he thinks is best for us. The distribution of wealth on a global basis starts with the United States. If a democratic president and Congress are elected, the American way of life will cease to exist how we know it.
volsense on July 25, 2008 at 4:28 PM
McCain is being nice and polite and “political” by saying no.
ME, on the other hand, I DO question his Patriotism, his Judgement, his Americanism, etc.
I consider him, and most of the “Democratic” “leadership”, nothing but out, and outright Traitors for their disgraceful conduct during the past 7 years, against this President, the Troops, etc.
But Hey, what would I know, I just served in Iraq the first time around in the Marine Corps, lived over their, speak their language, and have analyzed them for the last 30 years…
Dale in Atlanta on July 25, 2008 at 4:28 PM
I wish McCain had not lifted the questioning of Hussein’s patriotism. That being said, he still played it nicely.
Of course, that’s not difficult to do: Truth makes it easy.
Tommygun on July 25, 2008 at 4:30 PM
The link behind “new killer line” is awesome.
jgapinoy on July 25, 2008 at 4:30 PM
When McCain has said “I’d rather win the war and lose the election” he’s been referring to Iraq, so when uses the reverse against Obama, why does Obama take it to mean protecting America? Because Obama thinks Iraq has to do with the national security of America?
Zaggs on July 25, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Since I’m a person who cannot separate patriotism and judgment I’d say , ” Darn right I question his patriotism and anyone who supports him.” But that’s just me.
MNDavenotPC on July 25, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Oh and Dale?
Semper Fi from a Nam Marine!
MNDavenotPC on July 25, 2008 at 4:32 PM
CNN puts McCain in a little box and has a slide show of Obambi in a larger box. I’m shocked.
Les in NC on July 25, 2008 at 4:35 PM
When Obama’s “citizenship of the world” conflicts with his patriotism to America, which way will he go?
Just askin’.
But if you ask Barack Justanotherlyingpolitician Obama, I bet he couldn’t give a straight ansewr.
NeighborhoodCatLady on July 25, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Obama more interested in himself than the interest of United States.
Chakra Hammer on July 25, 2008 at 4:37 PM
No, it’s not.
Barry has been corcerned about Barry’s ascent to power since he got into the slimy Chicago political machine. The charitable version of events is that Obama does not know enough about the world/history to see that an American defeat (percieved or real) in Iraq would be catastrophic. The uncharitable (and in my view correct) version of events is that Barry just doesn’t care as long as he can win the support of the grassroot anti-war Left, a very well oiled machine. Barry is putting his personal ambition before the good of the nation, and that is certainly not patriotism.
VolMagic on July 25, 2008 at 4:37 PM
I love this. McCain is turning the tables on Obama’s weak effort to goad him into a meltdown. He’s trying to goad Obama into answering this charge, and for Obama it is basically a “when did you stop beating your wife” question, with no good answer. But if he doesn’t answer it at all it is going to be repeated over and over and a lot of voters are going to believe it.
McCain thinks he has Obama by the short hairs on this one. We will see if Axelrod can figure out a way out of it.
rockmom on July 25, 2008 at 4:41 PM
The time for McCain to be careful has done and gone already left the station.
Questioning Obama’s patriotism is exactly what McCain did. Actually he went well beyond “just questioning” Obama’s patriotism.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Rogaine, maybe?
Limerick on July 25, 2008 at 4:45 PM
And Custer thought that he had the Sioux and Cheyenne by the “short hairs”.
How did that work out for him?
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 4:47 PM
If you could get McCain to say that Obama’s staff would have an orgasm. There might even be a cabinet position in it for you.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Heh, equating McCain with Custer.
Not even a ‘Universal Translator’ could define that one.
Bishop on July 25, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Obama is even slipping in safe New Mexico…
May +9
Jun +8
Jul +6
Thats Ras…LVs…not some west Albuquerque Kroger survey.
Limerick on July 25, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Glad to see you’re back to attacking your real enemy. I was worried that you were actually starting to see the dangers inherent in an Obama Presidency.
TheBigOldDog on July 25, 2008 at 4:55 PM
What’s the deal with cnn. They’ve got McCain filling one third of the screen and BHO filling 2/3rds of it. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over?
McCain is dead on. BHO is treating a war with American troops dying as if it’s just another part of a political equation. BTW, how dare BHO quote Reagan. He bad mouthed Reagan every year of his adult life and now he wants to get on the Berlin airlift. What a dolt.
Mojave Mark on July 25, 2008 at 4:56 PM
What does Ron Paul have to say about the Surge?
I REALLY want to know.
BigWyo on July 25, 2008 at 4:57 PM
McCain really needs to get past running his campaign as if it were a series of “Meet the Press” appearances.
And that patriotism versus judgment thing is a cc from Rush Limbaugh. Oo baby, McCain quites Rush. We’re getting somewhere.
BigD on July 25, 2008 at 4:58 PM
That would be “quotes” Rush.
BigD on July 25, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Yeah, the perseverance of the Berlin Airlift, letting our enemies know we will never stop until they give in.
Perhaps we should let Iran isolate Baghdad, then we could keep the city alive through a massive air-supply campaign and Baracky would fully support it.
Bishop on July 25, 2008 at 5:00 PM
That “killer line” is pretty good.
Spirit of 1776 on July 25, 2008 at 5:01 PM
LOL! I finally figured that out after I read it 3 times.
TheBigOldDog on July 25, 2008 at 5:03 PM
He’d probably say something along the lines that success or failure is irrelevant because we shouldn’t be over their nation-building in the first place. But he’d say it using the word ‘empire’ 3-4 times.
Spirit of 1776 on July 25, 2008 at 5:03 PM
For today’s WSJ:
Baghdad, Berlin, Barack
or our money, the best line in Barack Obama’s speech yesterday in Berlin came in the form of a quote from Ernst Reuter, the city’s mayor during the period of the Soviet blockade and the American airlift, in 1948:
“But in the darkest hour,” said Sen. Obama, “the people of Berlin kept the flame of hope burning. The people of Berlin refused to give up. And on one fall day, hundreds of thousands of Berliners came here, to the Tiergarten, and heard the city’s mayor implore the world not to give up on freedom. ‘There is only one possibility,’ he said. ‘For us to stand together united until this battle is won…. The people of Berlin have spoken. We have done our duty, and we will keep on doing our duty’.” This, from a U.S. Senator whose consistent message to the people of Baghdad, a similarly besieged city, also dependent on America’s protection, has been, in effect, to give up.
TheBigOldDog on July 25, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Hell hath no fury like a crackpot scorned.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:05 PM
My favorite:
Kafir on July 25, 2008 at 5:05 PM
BREAKING: Look at the Brit’s new name/logo for BHO
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/the_real_american_idol/article1472660.ece
Brat on July 25, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Hell hath no fury like a crackpot scorned.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Yeah whatever, Nebuchanezzar thought he had the Hittites by the short hairs but look how things turned out, know what I’m sayin’?
Bishop on July 25, 2008 at 5:11 PM
McCain is not George Custer. Obama is not Thomas Jefferson.
Obama is a punk assed Freshman Senator with a huge ego and an empty resume.
McCain has served his country. Obama is serving Himself!
If the difference is not recognized your future will be suffering from the difference between life as you know it and life as a citizen of a Third World nation.
Marxism has served no nation kindly. Obama is a Marxist/Racist prick.
MB4, have you ever been to a third world country?
Not Likely!
Take your Summer Holiday to Kosovo, Bosnia or if you like the beach Somalia has some nice ones!
Wise assed comments from pseudo intellectuals amuse me.
Stupid comparisons remain stupid.
Most Americans have led very snobbishly sheltered lives.
They vote stupid and make very poor comparisons as they have no first hand experiences.
School is out. This is very real here. I was a student of real world issues for the majority of my adult life in places that were too dangerous for most of you.
Obama offers Socialism and Taxes that will absolutely kill your retirement with any degree of dignity.
The neighborhoods that he “organized” in Chicago are more resemblant of Mogadishu that paradise. Do not go there and expect civility or safe passage.
Boots on the Ground know their way around. Others buy into Hope, Change and Dreams that lack substance.
You all need to watch less media and stop believing in fairy tales.
old trooper on July 25, 2008 at 5:14 PM
What is the difference between this and Obama’s cries that McCain would keep our tired, overworked soldiers in Iraq for 100 years just because?
Or Kerry’s attacks on Bush tearing the “heart out of the heartland” for letting jobs go overseas?
It’s all accusing someone of subordinating the national interest for their own, isn’t it?
MayBee on July 25, 2008 at 5:15 PM
LOL
Look at the Sun’s homepage for the Presidential election.
Who is Obama running against? Anyone got a clue?
lorien1973 on July 25, 2008 at 5:16 PM
Yes, he thinks his judgment is patriotic…just ask him, he truly believes his goals are patriotic goals.
There are posters on HA that feel the same.
MB4 thinks he is patriotic
J_Gotch…same
Dave Rywall…same
There are a couple of other nut cases that feel the same. Ask them, they will say they are patriotic.
right2bright on July 25, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Boy you really zinged him on that one John McCain! You keep up this strategy and Obama can keep up his world tour and let’s see how that works out for you in November. Who’s running this campaign anyway? Oh yea…the same dullards that lost congress during the Bush administration!
sabbott on July 25, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Wait and see.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Huh? I just saw Chris Matthews claim, while interviewing Scott McClellan on Hardball, that Obama showed that Petraeus agreed with him about Iraq, even though Petraeus actually disagreed with the 16 month timetable in an interview. Is this a slip-up, or a new talking point?
Big S on July 25, 2008 at 5:27 PM
I don’t see how, but I think a lot of people feel it’s possible for a politician to sell out the countries national security in favor of their own personal ambition without their patriotism being called into question as it pertains to open-borders, so why not with regard to Iraq?
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 5:28 PM
I (mostly) agree. They (the Paul supporter types) seem to have the “the worst the better” idea. That is, once everything goes to hell, only then will the Americans elect a true conservative who will do what they want.
I guess that’s some type of patriotism. An odd version, to be sure.
They particularly have this animus towards McCain. They’ll defend Obama and accuse critics of being unfair or reactionary towards him. And yet they’ll denounce McCain at a drop of the hat.
However, I don’t think asking them is the right approach.
If you know what I mean.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Deserves to be repeated! You made my day Old Trooper!
TheBigOldDog on July 25, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Ah, but there are
5649 other states.Friday, July 25, 2008
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows a bounce for Barack Obama. The presumptive Democratic nominee attracts 46% of the vote while John McCain earns 41%. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 49% and McCain 44%. Just three days ago, the candidates were tied at 46% (with leaners).
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 5:32 PM
RVN and I went to school on an Indian Reservation. I also have been to certain parts of New York City.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 5:35 PM
You see but you do not observe.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 5:37 PM
While the surge was in process, Senator Obama voted to cut off funding of those operations.
That would have been a disaster.
It may be unfair - and unwise - to question his patriotism but cutting off supplies to troops in a warzone is pretty questionable.
More than questionable.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:40 PM
That is stunning!
ordi on July 25, 2008 at 5:41 PM
No one cut off supplies to American troops in a war zone.
There are so many things to go after Obama on, choosing this kind of “tactic” is astounding.
MB4 on July 25, 2008 at 5:46 PM
IMO, there’s way more to the sinister side of FauxBama than showing. He scares me more than any person EVER running for president.
byteshredder on July 25, 2008 at 5:50 PM
Again, while the surge was being undertaken, there was a vote in the Senate to continue the funding of those (and other) operations.
Obama voted against that funding. That makes sense (for him) since, at the time, he said the surge was a disaster and would only cause more problems for us and Iraq. Why fund a plan you think is wrong?
AFAIK, he did not offer a substitute funding plan.
If he had offered an alternative funding plan, that would be defensible.
That was dumb - not malicious - on his part but at the time, he needed the support of the MoveOn crowd to get the nomination.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:51 PM
What a stupid thing to continue saying.
Dave Rywall on July 25, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Why did Obama oppose funding for the troops while the surge was in process? The funding needed to be replenished. Without the funding, the operations would have had to cease.
He was opposed to the surge - he stated at the time if was a failure and that it was causing more problems.
So, it made sense - from his point of view - to stop the funding for military operations that he thought were wrong.
At the time, the leftwing was calling for a cessation of operations and a removal of troops.
It was a smart move politically for Obama at the time.
But it was, as it turned out, a dumb move for the war in Iraq.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I actually liked McCain’s original line, but I don’t think it’s wise for him to directly question Obama’s patriotism by accusing him of selling out our national security to further his own personal political ambitions. Open-borders actually costs more American lives than the war in Iraq so on that score McCain is also guilty and would open himself up to similar accusations were it not for the fact that Obama also supports open-borders. In total, Obama is certainly worse than McCain.
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Why do you think the Paul supporters condemn McCain for the amnesty legislation but give Obama a pass?
It seems to me that with a McCain Administration we’ll have some influence in preventing him from doing really irresponsible stuff again like the McCain-Kennedy bill.
With an Obama Administration, we’ll have zero influence.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 6:02 PM
The JV team of Steinhauser and the hairdo were surprisingly juvenile. Steinhauser sounded like he was reading a campaign press release, and I suppose he was.
Jaibones on July 25, 2008 at 6:04 PM
I don’t know much about the Paul supporters so can’t comment about that, but I think that amnesty is a forgone conclusion at this point unless we can replace enough of the legislative branch that the next president becomes an irrelevant party to the issue.
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 6:07 PM
E.g., the ones who post here who call McCain “Juan McCain” and excoriate him on the issue.
Yet they’re silent about Obama’s views on amnesty and are often defending him here from the same type of charges that they throw at McCain.
Well, the key is preventing the Democrats from getting filibuster proof majority in the Senate. If they get 60+ seats, there’s not much we can do. If they don’t, we have a good chance of getting enough Republicans to stop any amnesty bill from reaching the President (McCain or Obama).
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Sounds good to me,just keeping using the truth!
Obama,being a Democratic,is as always going
to play fast and loose with the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan,as Barack always has!So ya,any Liberal,
Code Pinko’s for an example,would rather loose any
war,for an election win,thats the Liberal Democratic
platform way,always has been!!!!:)
canopfor on July 25, 2008 at 6:11 PM
old trooper on July 25, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Spot on brother! These effete leftist hand wringers have no clue what the real world is like. Only in the US and Europe could such sniveling, venal, and sanctimonious people get away with their crap. They are parasites on the backs of those of us who put it all on the line for the country. I’d love to see some of these supposed intellectuals come down to Colombia.
So far the only Obama supporters down there have been the typical snivelling anti American democrat supporters of the FARC like this piece of excrement.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2018101/posts
elduende on July 25, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Steve:
The Ron Paul people support Obama in spite of his very liberal attitudes on illegal immigration because they want to destroy the Republican party and recreate it in their {shudder} image.
I just do not see that happening.
Terrye on July 25, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Many of the Republicans currently in congress are part of the problem.
At any rate, I hope you’re right, but after McCain or Obama are elected with an open-borders mandate some fence sitters in congress will rightly get the message that supporting open-borders isn’t a sufficiently important issue to enough voters to damage their career in the long term. If McCain/Obama can become president with an open-borders mandate, why can’t they get reelected? The voters will have proven that they don’t care enough or have short memories.
Certainly there will be some exceptions in districts where illegal immigration is still a prominent issue but I predict it will be more difficult to stop amnesty from the bottom up next time around.
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 6:23 PM
As for the question of patriotism…can Obama be patriotic and still want us to lose? yes, he can if in his twisted little mind that loss serves a greater purpose.
Kind of like the Paulbots and their perverse desire to see McCain lose at all costs. No doubt they would be insulted if anyone questioned their patriotism.
Terrye on July 25, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Maybe, but I’ve had serious doubts that many of Ron Paul’s supporters were Republicans in the first place. I think he was primarily just a repository of kooky fringe groups.
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Terrye:
McCain simply should not go in this direction. He can talk about leadership, talk about judgment, talk about Obama’s unwillingness to admit error. That’s fine.
Those qualities or factors will be the ones (along with other issues) that American’s use to decide on the presidency.
As you noted, there are those who think a loss in Iraq would have been better for us. That we would “come home”, that the “neocons” would be defeated, that we would discover that “we can’t trust the Muslims”.
And in each case, I’m sure that person thought he or she was advocating what was best for the country.
So, yeah, someone who wished we had lost in Iraq could still be a patriot.
SteveMG on July 25, 2008 at 6:35 PM
So this is news? The socialist democrat party and Fauxbama have been invested in American defeat from day one. They WANTED to lose the war to make Bush look bad. I’d beat them all over the head with the Gen. “Betrayus” ad and their reactions until they were screaming bloody murder….I’d never let them live down how they all rooted for the enemy. I’d tie them all to Code Pinko. Karma is a bi**h……….
adamsmith on July 25, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Well that explains a lot…
Damn…here for the last few days any time I mentioned Ron Paul, MB4 shut his cake hole..WTF???
BigWyo on July 25, 2008 at 8:02 PM
I don’t know why that would be. MB4 was a Mitt supporter.
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Judging from the posts, MB4 seems to take the libertarian view….everything sucks, all politicians suck, anarchy is the way…I’m pissed at the world..
And if MB4 was a Mitt supporter, why be such a dick about it?? Mitt is just a polished up McCain…He probably has more economic sense…But he’s just as middle of the road…just prettier and younger…
Smacks op LooserTarian…..
BigWyo on July 25, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Well, if everything was right with the world nobody would have anything to complain about and HotAir would be ColdVacuum.
Besides, most politicians do suck, you’ve gotta’ admit….
FloatingRock on July 25, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Please list 5 of them here, in this thread, without degrading McCain, without even mentioning him.
I know you can do it.
Entelechy on July 25, 2008 at 9:50 PM