McCain rakes Obama on Iraq
ROCHESTER, N.H. -- John McCain continued his assault today on Barack Obama's Iraq policy, saying that his Democratic rival wrongly opposed the surge of US troops and that the withdrawal Obama backs would endanger the gains in Iraq.
"He was wrong then, he's wrong now," McCain said at a town hall meeting in Rochester, N.H.
The presumptive Republican nominee said that he wants to bring US troops home as well -- but only when conditions on the ground allow.
"They will come home in honor and victory," McCain said, as the crowd stood and applauded.
Reminding voters that he was one of the biggest supporters of sending 30,000 additional US troops to Iraq last year, he said he would much rather lose a political race than lose a war -- and that it seems Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a campaign."
"I would hope he would have the courage to reverse his position," McCain said.
UPDATE: Senator John F. Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, came to Obama's defense.
"That is just ridiculous and insulting," Kerry said on MSNBC about McCain's remark. "....Of course Barack Obama wants America to be successful."
Kerry said McCain is "flailing around on Iraq" now that Iraqi officials have generally agreed to Obama's timetable.
Asked a pointed question about the "illegal war" in Iraq and popular support in both Iraq and the United States for ending the "occupation," McCain did not back down from his support of the surge.
When others tried to shout down the woman who asked the question, McCain quieted them down so the woman could finish.
"You obviously represent the views of many Americans, and I respect that position," he replied.
McCain also said that New Hampshire will be a battleground state in November, and vowed to do everything he can to win it. A University of New Hampshire poll released yesterday found McCain and Obama in a virtual tie among likely voters.
"I'm not going to let you down," McCain said.
Before the town hall meeting, McCain huddled with one of his biggest allies in the state -- editors at the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The newspaper, an important conservative voice, endorsed McCain and ripped rival Mitt Romney before the crucial January primary. And in an editorial published today, it praised McCain again, specifically his willingness to take on all comers at the town halls, and bashed Democrat Barack Obama.
"That's one of the reasons McCain won the New Hampshire primary -- twice," the editorial said. "He isn't afraid to face the voters directly and answer them honestly.
"We wish we could say the same for his opponent in this important presidential election. But while McCain is answering voters' questions, Sen. Barack Obama will be somewhere on the other side of the world, playing to his real constituency -- those sophisticated non-Americans who speak multiple languages and eat organic arugula."
re: last paragraph..."organic arugula"? Nice one--supposed to be a dig at, I'm not sure, Liberal foreigners? Sort of like the old Rove "latte-sipping, Prius-driving liberal" attacks? Egads, the GOP is desperate and punching at the air. Why don't they come up with some good policy visions and new ideas and skip the pathetic, pansy-ass attack crap?
so when the dissenting woman in the audience wouldn't shut up, he said, "You obviously represent the views of many Americans, and I respect that position."
but when Obama says anything like that, it's political expediency.
So if I eat arugula and speak more than one language, I'm a non-American?
Talk about a sophisticated argument. Either the Union-Leader has gotten its pathetic attack metaphors crossed, or its editors are just plain stupid. Wait, can't it be both?
To say the last paragraph was biggoted is an understatement. In addition, McCain should not only "respect" the opinions of voters, he should be taking a long hard look at what the majority of voters actually want. You've changed a lot in eight years, John.
Wow The union Leader supports McKain Remember they also supported Tricky dick nixon, Ronnie the Hollywood stage Warrior Reagan Etcetc. The concrete face of the Old Man of the Mountain has collapsed but the concrete brain of those who write for the Union Leader is still in place.If we had listened to those sophisticated people who speaks many languages like Pope John Paul II and leaders in YES France and Germany we would not be in the mess we are today. No we had to endure the ssage of 'cowboys like Bush and Cheney and all the arrogant neo cons who never served a day in military service anyplace. Go Obama.
We should all be suspicious of people who like bitter greens. The leaves are bitter so as to deter animals from eating them. What perversion of nature causes people to enjoy and seek out bitter flavours(coffee, tea, chocolate, hops) and consume them? People who like their bitter greens grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and are interested in people, places, & events outside the U.S. are most likley terrorists. We should be grateful to the editors of the Union Leader for pointing out how to discern non-patriots by there idosyncratic personal preferences for strange flavors & non mainstream production methods. Organic Arugula eaters beware, the Union Leader has got your number you unpatriotic communist swine.
I have serious concerns regarding Barak Obama as commander in chief, however my overwhelming hatred of George Bush and thus all republicans prevents me from voting for John Mccain. Regardless of whether we elect democrats or republicans nothing will change, they're the two heads of the same monster.
ps. I'd rather sip lattes with multilingual arugula consumers than chew tobacco with the morons who elected bush.
Let me get this straight - the McCain camp pushed, prodded, cajoled and insisted that Barrack Obama travel overseas to visit Iraq and other nations and now that he's gone the McCain camp is blasting him for not being here to attend to the needs of the American people? What a bunch of two-faced chumps. You were the people that WANTED him over there. You put up a stupid calendar to show how long it had been since he'd visited Iraq. Now that he's there he's somehow supposed to be here too??? What a bunch of bull.
Mark, you've mixed up the facts. Obama is the tobacco chewing smoker. Bush is the multilingual arugula consumer.
I think you all are full of bull. I think we should elect Ralph Nader. He's for the consumer. Now there.
Folk's, IF and I say IF you people elect Barack Obama in Nov., this country will be the most devided country that it has ever been in history, so you liberal's that are sticking up for Obama, had best think again before you go to the poll's in Nov. an vote for him!
Vote for a real leader that has the right kind of change's in mind for this country, a man that has the experience, knowledge, integraty, honor, an respect to be the commander in chief!!
Sen. John McCain is that man!! He will make us all very very proud to call ourselve's American's!!!!
Vote for Sen. John McCain for president of our great an wonderful nation in Nov.!!!!
Thank you for reading this!!!!
Ray in Calif.
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