Dems seize on McCain's Iran gaffe

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

The Democratic National Committee seized on John McCain's apparent gaffe while discussing Iran earlier Tuesday, saying it raises questions whether the Arizona senator "can be trusted to offer a clear way forward."

The misstep in question occurred during a news conference in Jordan earlier Tuesday, when the presumptive Republican presidential nominee repeatedly said Iran was supplying al Qaeda. Iran is predominately a Shiite country and is not aiding the Sunni dominated Al-Qaeda.

McCain ultimately corrected himself after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered in his ear.

"I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al Qaeda. I am sorry, I am sorry," the Arizona senator said.

(DNC Spokeswoman Karen Finney) "After eight years of the Bush Administration's incompetence in Iraq, McCain's comments don't give the American people a reason to believe that he can be trusted to offer a clear way forward," she said. "Not only is Senator McCain wrong on Iraq once again, but he showed he either doesn't understand the challenges facing Iraq and the region or is willing to ignore the facts on the ground."



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[bluestateguy]

1. Impacting...

.....

[halfright]

42. my crazy Uncle John

don't mind him, but I love him and respect him

[Chovexani]

77. You're probably on the wrong website then.

[annabanana]

2. jeez. . He's going to have to do better with those talking points.

(Maybe he could get a remote voicebox implanted and just let the RNC speak for him.)

[jimlup]

34. After all Bush did:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/10/29/bulge/

[Quantess]

3. Well, Dems should seize upon it!

Instead of letting all the scrutiny to go toward Obama.

[depakid]

4. I think he may be in the first stages of dementia

I've seen some indications in his speech patterns, as well as his mental acuity.

[truthisfreedom]

6. That's what the rethugs want. Like Reagan, they want someone they can manipulate and deceive.

Just like bush, too.

[pleah]

7. I think you may be right.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. If he doesn't understand the economy God help us if he gets elected

he did say that - he didn't understand the economy. I guess he's not very bright?

[Frank Cannon]

40. Now, in all fairness, he DID say he would read a book about it

You got to give him something for that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

56. Readers Digest's 2008 manual on Iraq?

[Brigid]

24. I remember thinking the same thing about Reagan.

Turns out I was right. If it's true about McCain, it's the last thing we need.

[mzmolly]

5. Oops. This is NOT a gaffe McCain can afford to make.

*ehem*

[BadGimp]

8. This "gaffe" is illustrative of the way the GOP morphs all things Iraq into al Qaeda

... for purely political purposes.

Soon enough they start to believe their own lies and they say crap like this in a place like that.

wow what a Tard..

Frickin Grampa Munster if you ask me..

We need a President to end this damn Republican War!

[earthlover]

22. I don't think the term "tard" is particularly refined....

insensitive, and not in keeping with inclusion.

[YDogg]

33. Perhaps BadGimp meant petard ...

... as in "hoist with his own petard."

:shrug:

[DBoon]

54. No, I think he mis-typed "turd"

nt

[Seabiscuit]

63. True. It's not dementia, it's the fact McCain sold his soul and brain down the river. He's so used

to parrotting neocon talking points/lies about "Al Queda" this and "Al Queda" that, that he wouldn't recognize the truth if it slapped him upside the face.

[roseBudd]

9. I think he has memory problems, the fracas with Bumiller on the plane felt like he was angry

and covering for forgetfulness.

[rurallib]

10. Calling FuxNews: Bury the McCain story; more on Obama and Wright

There all fixed - never happened. The American public will never know. Trust me on that.

[speedingbullet]

70. Right

I'm a bit disappointed but you have been proven correct. There is very little coverage of this story. Obama's "Preacher-gate" goes on and on.

[gratuitous]

11. Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick has to answer for something he said?

Well, that's a switcheroo! Will he have to answer for what everyone else who supports his candidacy says, like the Democratic candidates? Oh wait, it's just the Democrats who are concerned about what Straight-Talkin' Johnny Maverick said; the media folks couldn't care less, because Johnny Maverick is so straight-talkin'.

[fascisthunter]

12. He Got Busted Peddling Right Wing BS... Stick a Fork in this Warmongering Asshole

The only thing he protects is the military industrial complex and its profits.

[scarface2004]

14. bom bom bom....bom iran!!!!

john mcain is a piece of shit...

[lark]

72. He's true to his calling

"all war all the time"

[shrdlu]

15. Remembering another GOP scholar:

"...In the second debate between President Gerald Ford and challenger Jimmy Carter in October 1976, Ford said that “Poland is no longer under communist domination.” The audience gasped, and the remark became the big news of the debate, if not the big news of the entire 1976 debate series."

[DFW]

30. Poor Gerry Ford

He was only off by 14 years, give him a break.

[Dhalgren]

51. Not to be pedantic, but Ford said that Poland wasn't under

"Soviet" domination anymore. Carter had led him right into the gaffe and you could see the look on Carter's face when Ford said it. Carter's face said, "A gift!" And it was. In Ford's defense, he was trying to make a point on international relations, but tangled up in a couple of quick Carter comments. The next thing you know, Ford was handing Carter the Presidency. It was pretty sweet.

I think that Obama has an excellent chance of turning McCain into a pile of moldy dog-doo during the debates - if Obama wants to...

[goclark]

60. Just get the visual of Obama on stage with McCain

The Old Shoe and the New Shoe

Lost in the 60's

[Megahurtz]

16. This man is dangerous.

:nuke:

[Brigid]

26. Funny, looks like the next POTUS to me.

:evilgrin:

[nuxvomica]

17. "apparent gaffe"?

Is it possible even CNN is suspicious about whether the line between ignorance and deliberate propaganda was crossed? "Apparent" is an interesting choice of words in this context.

[MindMatter]

37. It wasn't a gaffe and it wasn't ignorant

There is no such thing as "al Qaeda". It is simply a brand name -- a scary way to say "the bad guys". It is shorthand for "the Arabs that want to cut off your head", just as Willie Horton was shorthand for "the black guys that want to rape your white daughter.

Let's not dignify any of that by calling it a "gaffe". Let's call it what it is. Fiction. Propaganda. Bullshit. Make believe. Fear mongering.

[Politicalboi]

48. I heard that

al Qaeda is a CIA scam and it means going to the bathroom. And i am serious.

[Infinite Hope]

18. Saying what he thinks people want to hear. Wheels have indeed fallen off straight talk express. n/t

[AlertLurker]

19. He's channeling Ronald Reagan again.

Isn't it the USA that's actually training extremists and providing them with bases for operations within Iran?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/mek.htm

[rpannier]

20. Actually LIEberman was whispering

You and me, my room after the speech

[ingac70]

23. ....

:rofl:

[NewJeffCT]

36. A local radio host here in CT

said that it was a real "Ron & Nancy" type moment between them.

He was being sarcastic, of course, as he referred to Lieberman as McCain's "man date"

[BurtWorm]

21. Pound him, Dems.

Make him suffer. (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)

[truth2power]

25. So al Qaeda aren't extremists?...

"I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al Qaeda."

Keep digging, John! :crazy:

[OKthatsIT]

69. HA! Watch Al Qaeda disappear when Bush leaves office

provided Clinton loses.

You think we could help Obama by refusing Skull & Bones employment in the CIA?

Geeeeez...enough is enough, already.

[baldguy]

27. Iran - al Qaeda - MoveOn.Org -- they're all the same.

[TheCowsCameHome]

28. How far did LIEberman stick his tongue in Gramps ear?

I'll bet it came out the other side.

[DFW]

29. Emergency!! Bad case of Foot-in-Mouth disease!!!!

Some old guy in his seventies who needs a map to find out which
way is up thinks he is capable of being CiC of the American
armed forces, and thinks it's OK to use public money to jet
from Iraq to London for a fundraiser before heading home.

Double emergency!!!!!!! 20% of the country believes him!!!!!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

31. This is what happens when you let the little head do the thinking

for the big one.

And that's been a big problem for Republikkkans and their voters for years: too many of them think with their c**ks. That organ is a poor substitute for the brain.

:evilfrown:

[Taxmyth]

32. We already know John McCain can't be trusted

But he does have a lot of unconditional support. We don't even have a candidate yet. Hillary can beat John McCain, Obama can not. End of message.

[Politicalboi]

50. Do the Math

Or check out phrigndumass post and then do the math. Hillary can't win unless she cheats. Which apparently with you Hillbots would be ok.

[Quantess]

59. Nope. It's the other way around.

Once Obama overcomes the nutty preacher connection, he's the clear leader. Hey, ask about McCain's nutty preacher connections. Of course, it all depends on one's own perception of "nuttiness".

[pleah]

35. McCrazy just made worst person in the world for this.

:crazy:

[calimary]

39. Well-deserved. Just what we want in a commander-in-chief - an addled

old coot still obsessing on fighting that old war that got away - now unable to get his facts or his factions straight. Yeah - just who we want taking questions from the press off the cuff and botching the details, misspeaking us into maybe another war, or pissing somebody else off inadvertently. Great. Just great.

We may indeed be seeing some early signs of dementia. And lieberman has to whisper in his ear, Nancy Reagan-style, to set him straight? How embarrassing! He's a marionette already and he hasn't even gotten to convention season yet. At least ronnie grew into that job over time. :eyes:

[pleah]

41. LOL

So true.

[Nevernose]

44. What is it now? 47 dementia-related gaffes this month?

Or 48?

While I have great respect for the wisdom of age, there comes a point where wisdom can become a ponderous thing.

And that's assuming that McCain ever had any wisdom to begin with. I didn't like him ten or twenty years ago -- when it was "cool" for liberals to demonstrate their fair & balanced demeanors by saying good things about John McCain -- and I don't like him now. At best he's a phony incompetent, and at worst he's a fruitcake. Actually, worser than worst, he's a phony, incompetent fruitcake.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

38. Bush said stupid things because he's stupid; McCain because he's senile nt

[DBoon]

55. No, McCain says stupid things to connect with the Republican voters

Stupid people will vote for him because they can relate.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

78. I beg to differ. I don't think the man is not exactly a genius

Sure, he may have had a degree of intelligence when younger, but he's 71 and all you have to do is listen to him.

[katty]

43. GOP doublespeak mixed with a tired elder-more of this come

[99th_Monkey]

45. While McCain & Hillary offer empty excuses for their mis-steps, Obama gives substantive address

and knocks it out of the park.

[LuckyTheDog]

46. Oh, SNAP!

I guess I pushed the button too soon!

:crazy:

[Zorra]

47. And the kids at the dinner table snicker as Gramps slips into the past again. n/t

[HughBeaumont]

49. Unfortunately, Dumberica the Idiocracy doesn't care.

Bewsh has said far more idiotic shit than this brain surgeon on his worst day, and to this nation's utter shame and detriment is a two-term president. Tell me again when saying stupid things ever stopped anyone in this nation of the dumbed-down?

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/HughBeaumont/35

[Nihil]

62. Sadly true ...

> Bewsh has said far more idiotic shit than this brain surgeon on his worst
> day, and to this nation's utter shame and detriment is a two-term president.

Well, as Bush comes to the end of his 8 year free pass, maybe there's hope
for the future? Let's face it, it was damned unsporting for the Democrats
to pick on McCain's cockup when they haven't said or done SFA about all of
Bush's or Cheney's. Still, at least there was that loyal long-time Democrat
(oops "Independent") Lieberman to help the latest aging neo-con puppet.

:eyes:

[better tomorrow]

52. I sure hope that....

if the phone rings at 3 AM that he doesn't think it is the smoke detector instead..... :rofl:

[BRLIB]

53. Well then will this be on AP Radio news tomorrow

those who suck bushler's asshole?
and likewise the MSM?
I doubt it, so McBush is still their master.....90% won't hear this truth.....

[howmad1]

57. Oh, c'mon people.......

....he was a war hero. Oh, wait a minute. This asshole war hero got hisself shot the fuckin down. Phfffft, some friggin war hero. Probably spilled his guts when he was tortured. Yikes, a presidential candidate. God help us.

[KingFlorez]

58. He is dangerous

I'm really glad the Democrats are seizing this opportunity.

[Laughing Mirror]

61. Actually, John, it's the US aiding and supply the Sunni Al-Qaeda

But you and Lieberman get your lies mixed up when you try to offer an explanation.

We're on to your shit. Give up!

[classysassy]

64. John&Joe

should remake some of the Hope and Crosby road pictures,start with the road home.

[Supersedeas]

65. as if the misstep and utter confusion is something only Dems would nitpick about

[Tippy]

66. Never liked or trusted John McCain as a Senator......

And I really worry about his abilities to lead our country his age alone must be considered....

[Igel]

67. There are two ways to deny what he said.

The first is simply to say that Iran is not aiding al-Qa'ida. This way is smart.

The second is to adduce a reason for it: Iran is Shi'ite, al-Qa'ida is Sunni, and this is why there can be no aid. This route to denial is stupid because it's not a sufficient or even necessary reason for McCain's utterance to be false.

The article uses the second reason masquerading as the first, making the denial stupid. I'm sensitive to the problem: If McCain says "X" and the media simply say "not X" there are no grounds for choosing who is right; the media feel compelled to give justification, some sort of evidence. But they should choose accurate evidence.

The problem is what McCain *should* have said: Iran is aiding Hamas "extremists".

This is true, if Hamas and the Israelis are to be believed; that they agree on this point makes me seriously want to doubt it, but I recognize the silliness in being so contrarian. But for this to be true is to assert that Shi'ite Hamas is assisting a Sunni-dominated Hamas. Immediately much of the obfuscating faux reasoning used to deny any Iran/al-Qa'ida cooperation is rendered void and counterfactual.

[AntiFascist]

68. He's just another idiotic neocon...

trying to stir up war with idiotic arguments. How can he have a chance at winning the GE with mistakes like this? He should be sorry he's trying to run for president.

[FlyingSquirrel]

71. McCain is gonna need Lieberman whispering in his ear thru Nov.

He'll probably choose him as his running mate.

[texshelters]

73. More proof that experience only helps when you're not a loose canon.

Didn't Clinton tell us that McCain has more experience than Obama?

"I think that I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House. I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience to the White House. And Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002."

Well, just don't bomb Iran, okay?

Tex Shelters

[DuaneBidoux]

74. At least that gives us an idea why he thinks there's progress.

[DuaneBidoux]

75. We should get one hell of a great commercial out of this one.

[ContraBass Black]

76. And then he can collaborate with Huckabee to keep out the Pakistani illegal immigrants.

They're so desperate, they' swimming across two oceans to get here.

[Supersedeas]

79. you see...it is not OBJECTIVELY a gaff...it is only Dem nitpicking