McCain, Obama Spar Over Iran Comments
Presumptive GOP Nominee Accuses Obama Of Inexperience, Reckless Judgment
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Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to members of the National Restaurant Association on Monday, May 19, 2008, in Chicago. McCain accused Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama of inexperience and reckless judgment Monday, for saying Iran does not pose the same serious threat to the United States as the old Soviet Union did in its day. (AP)
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Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a town hall meeting in Billings, Mont., Monday, May 19, 2008. (AP)
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Bush Condemns Iran
In Israel for its 60th anniversary, President Bush addressed the Knesset and reaffirmed his government's pledge to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear weapons program. Bill Plante reports.
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GOP Targets Obama
In what seemed like a Republican barrage against Barack Obama, President Bush and John McCain lobbed separate attacks at the Illinois senator's foreign policy platform. Chip Reid reports.
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Obama Strikes Back
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been the subject of criticism from Republicans for his willingness to negotiate with some of America's top enemies. Dean Reynolds reports.
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Iran
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John McCain
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The likely GOP presidential nominee made the criticism Monday in Chicago, Obama's home turf.
"Such a statement betrays the depth of Senator Obama's inexperience and reckless judgment. These are very serious deficiencies for an American president to possess," McCain said in an appearance at the restaurant industry's annual meeting.
He was referring to comments Obama made Sunday in Pendleton, Ore.: "Iran, Cuba, Venezuela - these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. And yet we were willing to talk to the Soviet Union at the time when they were saying, `We're going to wipe you off the planet."'
A video clip of Obama making the comments was distributed Monday by McCain's campaign.
McCain listed the dangers he sees from Iran: It provides deadly explosive devices used to kill U.S. soldiers in Iraq, sponsors terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East and is committed to the destruction of Israel.
"The threat the government of Iran poses is anything but tiny," McCain said.
Responding to McCain, Obama told a town hall rally later Monday in Billings, Mont., "Let me be absolutely clear: Iran is a grave threat." But the Soviet Union posed an added threat, he said. "The Soviet Union had thousands of nuclear weapons, and Iran doesn't have one."
Obama said the threat from Iran had grown as a result of the U.S. war in Iraq. "Iran is the biggest single beneficiary of the war in Iraq," he said. "John McCain wants to double down that failed policy." If McCain is elected, Obama said, "We'll keep talking tough in Washington, while countries like Iran ignore our tough talk."
The alternative, Obama said, is to follow the example of Presidents Kennedy and Reagan who negotiated with the Soviet Union. Obama called for "tough, disciplined and direct diplomacy. That's what Kennedy did; that's what Reagan did."
Obama's "words sound strong, but he is playing defense, and you'd think he wouldn't want to be doing that, especially against John McCain," said CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.
Although the Democratic primary race rolls on, McCain and Obama have criticized each other as if they are in the general election campaign. On Friday, Obama called McCain's tough-guy foreign policy "naive and irresponsible;" McCain questioned whether Obama has the strength and judgment to be commander in chief.
At the heart of the dispute between the candidates is Obama's assertion that, as president, he would meet with leaders of these rogue countries without preconditions. Obama insists that direct engagement with the Soviets helped prevent nuclear war and, over time, helped to bring down the Berlin Wall.
McCain strongly disagrees with Obama's position; he argues such a meeting would lend international prestige to U.S. foes.
"An unconditional summit meeting with the next American president would confer both international legitimacy on the Iranian president and could strengthen him domestically, when he is very unpopular among the Iranian people," McCain said.
His remarks were interrupted for several moments by three protesters from the Code Pink anti-war group, one of whom yelled, "No war in Iran!" as she was hustled from the room.
McCain prefaced his speech to the National Restaurant Association with criticism of Obama but then focused mostly on economic issues. He said Obama and his Democratic rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, would raise taxes and regulate businesses "more than ever."
The Arizona senator has been trying to counter the allegation by Democrats that McCain would continue Bush administration policies.
Yet McCain's arguments on Monday - on tax cuts, trade agreements and farm subsidies - mirror those of President Bush.
McCain said that letting the Bush tax cuts expire, as the Democrats would do, would raise taxes by a trillion dollars or more. And he said Obama was wrong to oppose the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact that, though still controversial after more than a decade, resulted in an estimated $17 billion dollars in exports from Illinois alone.
McCain said farm subsidy payments, like those in the farm bill Congress recently sent to Bush, are the biggest obstacle to global trade deals. Like McCain, Bush dislikes the bill and is threatening to veto it.
"Here we are at a time when food prices are at historic highs, and farm income is up by 56 percent in just the past two years," McCain said. "Yet even now, the Congress has voted to give billions of dollars in subsidies to some of the biggest and richest agribusiness corporations in America."
The Illinois Farm Bureau and other farm groups point out that high energy prices have driven up the costs farmers pay to produce their crops.
"Farmers are in the middle of planting the most expensive crop in history," Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson said last week.
Acknowledging he was in Obama territory, McCain said he agreed with Illinois Democrats that Obama is the right choice to be their senator.
"I couldn't agree more, and I promise to do everything in my power to help him finish his first term in the United States Senate," McCain quipped.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.




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See all 677 Comments-This McCane has a fixation on the past.
-McCane stop believing the Iranians are the ones who tortured you, in Saigon! It''s VietKong who did! You are suffering the same syndrom Israelis are toward Palestinians.
-McCane get over it. And hopefully America will kick your sorry arse back into the nursing home, in Nov08.
1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush%u2019s invasions of Iraq?
2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
3. Are we paying less for gas now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
If you answer these questions truthfully, is there any way you want to continue down the same foreign policy blunders of the last seven years?
This is a not a difficult question, most 3rd graders could answer this one.
In its day, the Soviet Union had thousands of nukes aimed at the U.S. (some from as close as Cuba), the worlds largest army occupying half of Europe and preparing to swallow the other half, and was actively instigating communist revolutions all over the world. In its day the Soviet military rivalled the U.S. military, and even surpassed it in certain fields. In its day the Soviets beat us into space.
If McCain thinks Iran poses even 1/100th the threat to America that the Soviet Union did in its day, then he''s either dumber than I thought, or a much more astute observer of how dumb Americans are about history and geography than I thought. My guess is the latter.
1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush%u2019s invasions of Iraq?
2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
3. Are we paying less for gas now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
If you answer these questions truthfully, is there any way you want to continue down the same foreign policy blunders of the last seven years?
This is a not a difficult question, most 3rd graders could answer this one.
Apparently, McCain is another one of those Republicans who never met a public expense he didn''t want to charge to his grandkids. What would a trillion dollars do? Leave us with only an $8.5 trillion debt to go toward a balanced federal government.
Haven''t Reagan/Bush/McCain charged enough of their political lives to their grandchildren??
-This McCane has a fixation on the past.
-McCane stop believing the Iranians are the ones who tortured you, in Saigon! It''''''''s VietKong who did! You are suffering the same syndrom Israelis are toward Palestinians.
-McCane get over it. And hopefully America will kick your sorry arse back into the nursing home, in Nov08.
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Posted by trishab4 at 03:20 PM : May 19, 2008
learn to spell and someone might take any of your posts seriously
Posted by jamesm12341 at 03:23 PM : May 19, 2008
-So jamesm12341, you think that because I mispell things, my comments got no content, right!
-This old senile thinks Iran represents more danger to the States than what Russia represented back then? I am LMAO!
I really like that Obama can (and does and will) so easily discredit these war criminals in public and in front of the America people. Bush and McBush are moronic idiots. Go ahead and Swiftboat Barack (make his and our day).
1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush%u2019s invasions of Iraq?
2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
3. Are we paying less for gas now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush%u2019s invasion of Iraq?
If you answer these questions truthfully, is there any way you want to continue down the same foreign policy blunders of the last seven years?
This is a not a difficult question, most 3rd graders could answer this one.
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Posted by ccfsdca
Your funny you do not have a clue keep dreaming, I will wake you up in November.
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Posted by Orgone at 04:09 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
Please tell us all what McSame will do different than the PATHETIC piece of human trash we have now? This poor simple minded loser, McSame, care''s only about war and more war. He''s so set on attacking Iran he can taste it and IF we elect him, he WILL start a war with them within 6 months. Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by ccfsdca at 03:42 PM : May 19, 2008"
You''ve proven pretty convincingly that math is not your strong suit.
This is why McSame will loose:
"The Arizona senator has been trying to counter the allegation by Democrats that McCain would continue Bush administration policies.
Yet McCain''s arguments on Monday - on tax cuts, trade agreements and farm subsidies - mirror those of President Bush."
Bush III...how nice.
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Posted by jamesm12341 at 03:53 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
YOU are an ARROGANT Bootlicker swastika breath, what would YOU know about NORMAL People who make NORMAL mistakes. Now lets put that pointed hat on... sing it out so the fuhrer can hear you!! Ready?? SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Good bootlicker... I''ll make sure you get a NEW magic Swastika at the next Klan rally!! Where does slime like this come from???
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Posted by shingles1 at 04:02 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
I agree. This old LOSER can''t wait to get his hands on our Military... he wants war and more war... It would be the biggest mistake this nation has EVER made to elect this tired old man... He''s to old and to stuck on Bush.
Obama is the worst person possible to be president. What makes Iran so dangerous is that they are religious fanatics vowing to destroy America and Israel.
The leaders of the Soviet Union on their worst day were rational. You could deal with them. They were not religious fanatics from the Middle Ages.
It is really scary to think Obama can deal with fanatics, unless he is one of them himself.
Posted by Orgone at 04:09 PM : May 19, 2008"
I''m going to really enjoy taking a pi$$ in your Wheaties in November. Just in case I don''t get the chance to say it to you in person in November....we win, you loose, ROTFLMAO...at you.
Posted by jh6379 at 04:17 PM : May 19, 2008
-LMOA, thanks boys, girls for summerizing my thoughts.
-Got to go, visitng a hospitalized friend!
Posted by Orgone at 04:09 PM : May 19, 2008"
Yea, gotta love those real Republicans values and principles of his, like leaving his wife while she''s in the hospital with cancer, like defrauding the savings and loan industry, like filling his campaign with paid lobbyists. Nothing like those principles is there.
The leaders of the Soviet Union on their worst day were rational. You could deal with them. They were not religious fanatics from the Middle Ages.
Posted by andylance1 at 04:19 PM : May 19, 2008"
I can''t tell which is more appalling, your horse$hit historic knowledge, your horse$hit religious knowledge or your horse$hit political knowledge.
It''s called diplomacy ******, it''s what nations do to solve their differences. Your knee-jerk 4th grade response to foreign policy is only rivaled by McCains foolishness. You have two choices pin head, talk to them or nuke them, the latter will end up in mutual assured destruction.
Andy, you are about 8 years too late to give Obama that title as GWB will go down in history owning that dubious lable. :)
Posted by jamesm12341 at 04:25 PM : May 19, 2008"
Apparently old enough to know you''re a tool.
Posted by Orgone at 04:09 PM : May 19, 2008
***, you ''nutcases'' are so silly and greedy. You don''t give the slightest bit of care to all the injustices the GOP commit or the way they have ruined the country. You are just so one-dimesional (they are going to raise taxes). You fruitcakes make me laugh! Go Obama! Go DEMs! Lets take back our country. My man, buy you a one-way ticket to Canada...and don''t come back.
If talking to your adversaries might prevent a physical encounter and the resultant deaths and costs, wouldn''t it be wise to do so?
I am 100% behind Obama''s plan to talk to our enemies or potential enemies.
The alternative is always close at hand and military action is always an alternative.
I believe it was Teddy Roosevelt who said, "speak softly and carry a big stick".
Posted by Orgone at 04:09 PM : May 19, 2008"
Huh, no I don''t recall that since gas prices weren''t an issue in 2006.
The only thing you got right in that statement is that the economy took a turn for the worse. Now why would that be? Could it be the collusion betweeen the Bush govenment and the oil industry directed by Cheney with his secret meetings to set energy policy that included only Oil company executives? could it be the disastrous war, which instead of "paying for itself", has cost us a trillion dollars and rising?
Amazing, what can''t revisionist history do!
Posted by jamesm12341 at 04:30 PM : May 19, 2008"
Liberals get degrees remember, we''re all elitists...LOL. Isn''t it about time for you to head to third shift at McD''s?
Posted by shingles1
So well said. All this proves to me is that the people who support the GOP and Neo-Cons don''t for a moment allow common sense to enter their heads. They hear McSame or Dubya say something and go running. What pitiful idiots!
Posted by Tonyd_31 at 04:36 PM : May 19, 2008
It''s not ''well said'' you two imbeciles. I hate it when bedwetting whiners get on here and talk about shiit they know nothing about. Don''t you guys have a *** convention to go to or something?
Posted by jamesm12341 at 04:30 PM : May 19, 2008"
Have YOU ever, even ONCE in your entire life come up with an orginal thought. ALL I''ve ever heard out of your stupid boot polished covered mouth is "Liberal''s" did it. Bush LIES to us, "Liberals" did it. Bush can''t manage our budget, "Liberals" did it. You know they DO have night courses at most High Schools... there you can learn what the meaning of the Word Liberal is and the fact that ALL, yep sparky ALL our greatest Leaders were liberal. In fact the GREATEST Generation is also the MOST liberal, well except for the first! Now stand and put on that swastika... let heir Cheney KNOW you are licking those boots today!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
Posted by LibH8er at 04:38 PM : May 19, 2008"
The great pi$$-boy hates it when libs agree with each other. Oh the horror...how terrible. What is with your fascination with urine? Do you have some kind of scatological fetish? It''s always about bed-wetting with you...perhaps you still have a fetish about wearing diapers.
Posted by tibu987
You are an intelligent person. I don''t understand why the Neo-cons and the brainwashed jellyfish don''t understand this. I guess they think they can silence or ignore them to death. Or that if one is blessed enough to talk to the American officials, gold will rain down. They are so stupid. If GWB or McSame said it, then it must be right. I am almost tired of laughing today.
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Posted by Oscarez at 04:31 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL LOOK at his RECORD! LOOK at the Record of the Republican Party... what else can the pathetic old fool do?? ROFLMAO He''s toast... EVEN with all the fight the Democrats have had, even with all the negatives and even when the press give''s him a free pass he still can''t overtake EITHER of them.
Even your name reeks of bedwetting, crybaby lib. You are a pathetic little limp wristed dolt. Don''t forget to go make the payments on your rental furniture - loser!
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Posted by LibH8er at 04:38 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
Well help us out here you PATHETIC NAZI!! Explain to all of us HOW Iran is WORSE than the Soviet Union. Now Sparky I grew up during the Cold War, remember the Cuban Missle Crisis and what Nukes can do... So PLEASE tell me how Iran is more of a Threat than the USSR! God you slime dogs will do or say anything to protect the "party" won''t you!! Stand up here... click those heels together... Act like a bootlicker who will follow the fuhrer to the bunker!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!! SIEG HEIL McSAME!! Dumb as a box of rocks!!
Posted by Oscarez at 04:45 PM : May 19, 2008
Get the weiners out of your ears!!! LOL
and when have I ever posted the "liberals did it"?
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Posted by jamesm12341 at 04:44 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
Like I said... TAKE a night class or two.. EDUCATE yourself.. You aren''t even smart enough to know a "Liberal" if one bit you and Orginal means something that YOU thought of, a position that is NOT one of the "party" or one of their talking heads. You have accused at least 90% of the people who post on here of being "Liberal". I''m a LIBERAL as was my father before me, HE was part of the Greatest Generation. You have YET to properly relate to people what a liberal is or what they stand for. YOU are just an Ignorant Bootlicker who was given a hate target and you use it.. PLEASE take a night course or too... PLEASE!! Sieg Heil Bush
Even your name reeks of bedwetting, crybaby lib. You are a pathetic little limp wristed dolt. Don''''t forget to go make the payments on your rental furniture - loser!
Posted by LibH8er at 04:45 PM : May 19, 2008"
So you do have a scatological hangup. Are you one of those "golden shower boys"? Do you wear diapers to work? Don''t they show through the McDonald''s uniform? you know if I had a really freaky urine fetish, I''m not sure I would get on a public forum and advertise that fact..unless of course you are doing so trolling for a date. Not sure your gonna find to many scat and pi$$ fetishists on this forum to hook up with.
Posted by LibH8er
Well little lady, why don''t you send a posting to the rest of your neo-con idiots as you are the only whiners who get on here talking about things you don''t know. You just regurgitate the ''bs'' you hear from the drug addict Rush, Hannity, and and the rest of the Fox crew. Common sense is a myth for you guys. If you had just the slightest, you would be on here begging for forgiveness for ever helping the current regime for getting in power.
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Posted by jamesm12341 at 04:46 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
Please take a NIGHT COURSE... LEARN what a LIBERAL is an what they stand for... I''m help with the cost. When I think of all the great things LIBERALS have done for this nation... EVERY right we have is because of them. How they have stood up and fought for people and their rights... faced guard dogs, beatings and so much more... I mean your stupidity about it all just stuns me. SIEG HEIL BUSH
Posted by tibu987
I bet you would. It''s called appeasment and surrender. Something bedwetting lib democrats know about all too well.
Posted by Tonyd_31 at 04:51 PM : May 19, 2008"
I didn''t know libh8er was a chick....I just thought he was a ******.
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Posted by apinchofsalt at 04:51 PM : May 19, 2008
+ report abuse
How''s that? Now I listened to that speech and he sure sounded to me like he was right on target. He MOST certainly was the other day when he cracked that pathetic LOSER Bush in the mouth.. so YOU tell us, how is Iran a bigger threat than the USSR. I''ll wait! Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by apinchofsalt
And GWB does, huh? Well at least if Obama messes up as much as he did, you can vote him out after 4 years but that seems like an improbability. No one can do a worser job than the current prez (well maybe McSame can since he wants to continue his failed policies)
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