McCain Apologizes For Speaker’s Rant

From CBS News' Andante Higgins:


CINCINNATI – John McCain had to apologize for the statements of a radio talk show host today after he assailed Barack Obama at a McCain campaign rally.

"We have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change,” said Bill Cunningham, a conservative talk show host in Cincinnati. “When he gets done with you, all you’re going to have in your pocket is change.”

Cunningham repeatedly used Obama’s middle name and attacked the media for their coverage of Republicans. "At some point in the near future, the media – the stooges from the New York Times, CBS – the Clinton broadcasting system – NBC – the nobody but Clinton network – the all Bill Clinton channel, ABC, and the Clinton news network at some point is going to peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama,” he said. “At some point, the media will quit taking sides in this thing and maybe start covering Barack Hussein Obama the same way they covered Bush, the same way they covered Cheney and the same way the cover every Republican. I'll look forward to that day when truth comes."

After the event, McCain’s first words with reporters were to distance himself from Cunningham’s rant. “I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals who are honorable Americans,” McCain said, referring to Hillary Clinton and Obama. “We just have strong philosophical differences. And so I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them.”

McCain said he had never met Cunningham and would make sure none of the speakers at his events denigrated his opponents. “Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate and I have never done that on any of my campaigns,” he said. “I absolutely repudiate such comments.”