McCain Rejects Aide's Terror Remark

Top Adviser Told Magazine That A Terror Attack "Would Be A Big Advantage" To McCain

(AP)  A top adviser to John McCain said another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be a "big advantage" for the Republican presidential candidate, drawing a sharp rebuke Monday from both the presumed GOP nominee and Democrat Barack Obama.

Charlie Black, already in the spotlight for his past lobbying work, is quoted in the upcoming July 7 edition of Fortune magazine as saying such an attack "certainly would be a big advantage to him." Black said Monday he regretted the comment.

Black is also quoted as saying the "unfortunate event" of the assassination of former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 "helped us."

Questioned about Black's comments during a news conference, McCain said, "I cannot imagine why he would say it. It's not true. I've worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear."

Citing his work to establish a commission to investigate the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and his membership on the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain added: "I cannot imagine it, and so, if he said that - and I don't know the context - I strenuously disagree."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement: "The fact that John McCain's top adviser says that a terrorist attack on American soil would be a 'big advantage' for their political campaign is a complete disgrace, and is exactly the kind of politics that needs to change. Barack Obama will turn the page on these failed policies and this cynical and divisive brand of politics so that we can unite this nation around a common purpose to finish the fight against al Qaeda."

The remarks caught McCain flat-footed on a day when he focused on energy issues - first in a speech, then at a town-hall meeting and then during a news conference as he stood beside two $100,000 electric cars. McCain offered $300 million to anyone who develops a revolutionary automobile battery, and he predicted such incentives would lower alternative energy costs.

Moments later, he was befuddled when reporters asked about Black's comments. Black was similarly surprised when reporters happened upon him outside a later McCain fundraiser.

Speaking quietly, Black read from handwritten notes. "I deeply regret the comments. They were inappropriate. I recognize that John McCain has devoted his entire adult life to protecting his country and placing its security before every other consideration," Black said.

Black repeatedly has argued that McCain - a former Navy pilot and Vietnam prisoner of war who has traveled the globe while serving in Congress - benefits any time national security matters are the news of the day. By contrast, Obama has less than four years experience in the Senate and has paid only one visit to Iraq. He plans a second trip before the November election.

During the 2004 presidential race, President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other Republicans argued that Democratic nominee John Kerry was soft on terrorism; the argument resonated with voters. The GOP also questioned the Democrats' record on national security in 2002, with White House political adviser Karl Rove saying Republicans should not shy away from citing terrorism concerns as a reason to vote for their party.

The approach also paid dividends at the polls during that year's congressional elections.

The GOP line - that Democrats had a pre-Sept. 11 mind-set - failed in the 2006 midterm elections as Democrats wrested control of Congress from the Republicans.

More recently, former White House press secretary Scott McClellan wrote in a memoir that during the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Bush and his team tried to make the weapons of mass destruction "threat and the Iraqi connection to terrorism appear just a little more certain, a little less questionable than they were."

For his part, McCain has tried to portray Obama as naive on national security and foreign policy.

On Monday, McCain told reporters he was stunned that Obama has never been briefed by Gen. David Petraeus, who is leading U.S. forces in Iraq, yet Obama is calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

"Remarkable how someone can make an assessment of the situation without asking for a briefing from the commanding general," McCain said.

[abbe91]

911 was a "big advantage for republicans". How disappointed they would have been if Bush/Cheney didn''''t let it happen.

[riptide213]

One person%u2019s terrorist, is another%u2019s freedom fighter.

One candidate%u2019s aid, is an aid to terrorists.

One President%u2019s war, is one candidate%u2019s war.

One person%u2019s vote for peace, is another%u2019s blood, conflict, or war vote.



Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.

Mao Tse-Tung
Chinese Communist politician

[longduck69]

BUSH - MUGABE 2008! Do you actually think Fuhrer Bush will give up power? No! He will keep ze power! What if there is another attack on American soil? Can''t he suspend the Constitution like he has done in the past? The liberals should be singing the praises of the Fuhrer Bush. He has done more to build up big government, increase taxes, increase debt and lead our nation closer to that dream of a Socialist Police State. I can see it now, "God Bless America, Socialist Police State that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above." What a vision? I wonder if McCain would be as liberal as Fuhrer Bush?

[smurfcrusher]

"A top adviser to John McCain said another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be a "big advantage" for the Republican presidential candidate".

I must disagree, since the Republicans are in charge of the war on terror, and it would just be one more goof in a very long string of goofs on their part.

[rowdywicca]

Is the old goats boys club session over now? Got all your wet dreaming about movies stars over yet?

[joecoolswat]

shazam95....however, you must have started with some inheritence money to work with, and built on that....is that true ?

[joecoolswat]

cold777 ...read my last post before leaving

[joecoolswat]

cold777....take it easy, see you later

Later, Shazamie

Take care, Nelson.....you limey codpiece (just kidding)..later dude

[joecoolswat]

cold777....just because market forces and captialism forces change during a presidential term, doesn''t mean the president is to blame.....I would blame the congress for not pulling in spending, not balancing the budget

Hopefully not, but if Obama gets elected, you will still see high gas, everything will be the same, becuase he''s just the president, he''s not magic want to wipe away poverty and save the country....its not possible, it is market forces that dicatate whats going on....it also didn''t help that the terrorists hit us on 9/11 causing the stock market collapse, and billions of dollars lost in our economy...nobody remembers that happended to us

[cold777]

I am done with blogging for the rest of the week.....part of my new "Stop the Blogging Addiction Campaign".....if I break my promise JoeCoolSwat and shazam95 call me on it......SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

BYE!

[nelson5714]

cold777.....yes it may have....but I don''''t believe it is because of Bush specifically....

Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 06:38 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

Typical *** *** conservative - you screech "take personal responsibility" but deny that the asshat codpiece is responsible for ANY of the ******* of the last 7 years of his Pretzelduncy

[nelson5714]

I don''''t like ard and grits nelson I am a jew boy.... smile.

Posted by shazam95 at 06:36 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

Lard and grits is an american and jew staple hence your love of deep fried lardy cheese grits

[joecoolswat]

cold777.....yes it may have....but I don''t believe it is because of Bush specifically....Becomming wealthy is more possible now a days, and becomming poor is very possible too, with the higher price of everything, the mortgage companies giving out sub-prime mortgages to people who can''t pay and then the whole thing collapsing, made more people poor, made more middle class people fall into poverty, so to speak, but the wealthy can afford to move their money, take a second mortgage, invest, and seek tax shelters....therefore protecting themselves and increasing their wealth....but I don''t blame it on bush...thats just silly....it is capitalism

But, to make everyone even and no rich, no poor is called Marxism, right out of the karl marx book of socialism and communism....that is what Obama is preaching...thats why they call him Marxist

[nelson5714]

nelson you are repeating mr magoo one thousand time ...goggie,boggie,boy.


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Posted by shazam95 at 06:35 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

Of course - the Repshitlican candidate for Pretzeldunce is someone called Senile MAgoo from the state of Assinzona

[cold777]

JoeCoolSwat: Do you believe that the gap between the rich and the poor has grown since Bush came to office?

[nelson5714]

nelson what do you think about bob barr and jessi the body ventura....

Posted by shazam95 at 06:32 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

they''re both americans so they''re both useless sacks of ***......Bob Barr is from the south so he''s probably dumber than Ventura

[joecoolswat]

cold777.....I do feel sorry for homeless people, even helping the homeless and people in my own family who are hurting.....but it gets back to the phrase

Democrats or liberals give a fish to a homeless man and are all happy they helped him, and said remember who to vote for...you need me!! They also see the goverment as the solution to all problems.

Republicans would rather teach the homeless man to fish, give him a pole and feed him for life....we believe more in the individual, that he can make it, that we see success as how many people no longer need assistance.....

[nelson5714]

you dig porridge boy.....


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Posted by shazam95 at 06:31 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

and you adore deep fried cheesy lard grits cletus

[cold777]

There was a comic book.....don''t know if its still around....called Tintin......nelson reminds me of the criminals in that comic book.

[nelson5714]

McCain is a former POW and a liberal republican, so he will try to end the war, as soon as possible, but as a former fighter pilot, he won''''t take $hit from terrorists....but Obama will virtually destroy this country by taxation and spending, with an array of new socialist programs, healthcare for all, foodcare for everyone, housing free for all.....its called socialism and it fails, taxpayers get fed up

Posted by JoeCoolSwat at 06:27 PM : Jun 24, 2008"

Yeah Magoo himself has said that he wants to stay in Iraq for a hundred years or a million years and has said that he wanted to continue the vietnam war and from that we can deduce the cowardly POW who refused to quit lounging around the swimming pools of the Hanoi Hilton will get the US out of Iraq......hell you''re even dumber than the chimp

As for taxes - asshat, the US is in n economic mess because of the codpiece tax cuts and the codpiece war both of which are supported by the codpiece worshing yellow bellied asshat Senile Senator from Assinzona