McCain Mocks "Audacity Of Hopelessness"

Republican Says Obama's Policies Could Have Engulfed Entire Middle East In War

(CBS/ AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain, ridiculing Barack Obama for "the audacity of hopelessness" in his policies on Iraq, said Friday that the entire Middle East could have plunged into war had U.S. troops been withdrawn as his rival advocated.

Speaking to an audience of Hispanic military veterans, McCain stepped up his criticism of Obama while the Illinois senator continued his headline-grabbing tour of the Middle East and Europe. The Arizona Republican contended that Obama's policies - he opposed sending more troops to Iraq in the "surge" that McCain supported would have led to defeat there and in Afghanistan.

"We rejected the audacity of hopelessness, and we were right," McCain said, a play on the title of Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope."

McCain laid out a near-apocalyptic chain of events he said could have resulted had Obama managed to stop the troop buildup ordered by President Bush: U.S. forces retreating under fire, the Iraqi army collapsing, civilian casualties increasing dramatically, al Qaeda killing cooperative Sunni sheiks and finding safe havens to train fighters and launch attacks on Americans, and civil war, genocide and a wider conflict.

"Above all, America would have been humiliated and weakened," he said. "Terrorists would have seen our defeat as evidence America lacked the resolve to defeat them. As Iraq descended into chaos, other countries in the Middle East would have come to the aid of their favored factions, and the entire region might have erupted in war."

Noting that the buildup was unpopular with most Americans, McCain said: "Sen. Obama told the American people what he thought you wanted to hear. I told you the truth."

“Sen. Obama said this week that even knowing what he knows today that he still would have opposed the surge. In retrospect, given the opportunity to choose between failure and success, he chooses failure. I cannot conceive of a Commander in Chief making that choice.”

The Obama campaign said McCain’s “false accusations” would not add to the debate over the Iraq war.

“Barack Obama and John McCain may differ over our strategy in Iraq, but they are united in their support for our brave troops and their desire to protect this nation,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. “Sen. McCain's constant suggestion otherwise is not worthy of the campaign he claimed he would run or the magnitude of the challenges this nation faces.”

Obama has called for a withdrawal over 16 months. McCain again criticized him for advocating "a politically expedient timetable" and for voting against funding for troops. McCain had raised eyebrows earlier this week by charging that Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."

With once exception, Obama has voted for every spending bill for troops at war. In 2007, Bush vetoed a bill that provided funding on condition of troop withdrawals, and Obama joined 13 other senators who opposed the measure that took its place.

McCain's speech in Denver came at the conclusion of a week in which he struggled against Obama's overseas tour de force. Yet amid the awkward moments, McCain managed to campaign busily in key battleground states and to raise millions of dollars at fundraisers.

Polls in many swing states are close, and some are tightening. The Arizona Republican sought to turn this to his advantage in what was clearly a difficult week to be a stay-at-home candidate.

McCain repeatedly emphasized his long military and congressional background, scolded Obama from afar on foreign policy, and kept playfully fueling speculation that he was close to picking a running mate. His address to the group of Hispanic veterans also gave him a chance to court the valued Hispanic vote.

Veterans care has been an issue that has come up numerous times at recent town halls McCain has held, reports CBS News' John Bentley, and the Arizona senator reaffirmed his commitment to getting soldiers appropriate treatment.

McCain was to visit the Dalai Lama in Aspen, Colo., his first meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader and a chance to express criticism of Chinese treatment of those who live in Tibet just weeks before the Olympics in Beijing.

McCain also was to spend the weekend in Arizona and make a round of television news shows on Sunday.

Everywhere he went in recent days - in New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Ohio and here in Colorado - the Arizona senator drew warm and appreciative crowds. No matter that many, if not most, of those in the audiences were senior citizens. Seniors vote in big numbers.

For the most part, the side-by-side images weren't pretty:

Obama meeting with leaders in Iraq, McCain on a golf cart in Kennebunkport, Maine, with the first President Bush.

Obama before a sweeping Mideast landscape, McCain holding a news conference in a supermarket in Bethlehem - Pennsylvania, that is - and narrowly escaping an attack from a tumbling stack of apple sauce jars.

Obama delivering his trip's keynote speech at Berlin's Victory Column, McCain eating bratwurst and chatting with reporters at a German restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.

McCain responds philosophically when asked about being overshadowed by his rival's overseas trip and outsize attention: "It is what it is."

McCain has inched ahead of Obama in Colorado, come within inches in Minnesota and narrowed the gap in Michigan and Wisconsin, according to Quinnipiac University polls of likely voters in these battleground states. The polls, taken for The Wall Street Journal and washingtonpost.com, showed voters in each state saying energy policy is more important than the war in Iraq.

[rltw175b]

mccain is a fool trying to pander to the military, but most veterans could see through his lies...

maybe next time he could support the GI Bill!!!

representatives and senators
that voted against the GI bill

AGAINST

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lugar (R-IN)
McConnell (R-KY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Voinovich (R-OH)
NOT VOTING

Coburn (R-OK)
Kennedy (D-MA) In The Hospital
McCain (R-AZ) No Excuse!!

[jeffstersf]

Watch him crumble
See him fall
Humpty Dumpty McCain
Can''t think at all.

[downtowner97]

Don''t forget, he wants to "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran".

[david1737]

McCain lost me last year when he LIED about the situation in a Baghdad market in which he took a walk through.

The market was described as being %u201Clike a normal outdoor market in Indiana." When in fact, McCain had to be protected by more than 100 soldiers in armored Humvees, with attack helicopters circling over head, and snipers on the roof tops near by.

Bottom line McCain can''t be trusted, especially in respects to his depiction of the situation in Iraq.

[pvperson]

RLTW175B, your list only has one democrat and he has a brain tumor. Maybe the republicans should have their heads checked.

[harrydoghiny]

"Johnny McBush says"....ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[david1737]

Fact is:

John McCain opposed legislation that would provide college scholarships to people who have served in the U.S. military.

[pvperson]

McCain:

My friends, surge
My friends, POW
My friends, surge
My friends, POW

I wonder if he can keep this going till the election?

[david1737]

Meanwhile terrorist attacks in Afghanistan are up 40% from this time last year.

[liberalme]

McCain can "mock" all he wants--nothing makes this man happy unless he''s getting all the attention.

McCain challengedObama-- Obama took the challenge and McCain still isn''t happy--why? Because he can''t stand the attention Obama is getting--McCain was sure Obama would fall on his face and didn''t.

Stay on that little golf cart McCain, Obama has it under control!

[don3173]

John McCain is forgetting that Barack Obama not only objected to the "surge" but objected to America getting into this fiasco in Iraq to begin with. Senator Obama''s objection to the surge was based in his belief that Iraq''s politicians would fail to achieve the long term political goals and reconcilliation needed despite increased security. He was right. The Iraqi leaders are not going to do what is needed for their country until we stop holding their hand.

[wardoglrs]

It dont matter this time either way we lose ObamaNation Or McCaineism.
American cant pick the right people. This is why we have what we have in the White House.

I Give up,Time to get the gun out cause the government is watching you and me and its Germany all over again

[david1737]

Meanwhile McCain won''t talk about the fact that he "Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures."

[david1737]

McCain quote:

"I can look you in the eye and say we''ve made progress in Iraq. We''ve drawn down troops to pre-sugre levels."

McCain 5-30-08

When in fact we remain 22,000 above pre-surge levels.

McCain isn''t Able!

[mbcsmith]

I Give up,Time to get the gun out cause the government is watching you and me and its Germany all over again


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Posted by WarDogLRS at 04:22 PM : Jul 25, 2008


Mccain supports your right to have that gun. Nobama, not so much.

[donevis-2009]

It''s Okay John, take your meds and go back to Hob-knobbing with the Okies. "Luv You Man"

[mbcsmith]

Fact is:

John McCain opposed legislation that would provide college scholarships to people who have served in the U.S. military.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by david1737 at 04:20 PM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse


Fact is:

McCain supports legislation that would provide portable education assistance to vets. He just wanted the American taxpayer to get something for that $300 billion, like tying it to length of service.

[mbcsmith]

Meanwhile McCain won''''t talk about the fact that he "Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures."


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Posted by david1737 at 04:22 PM : Jul 25, 2008



For good reason. The U.S. military complex needs streamlining to create efficiencies and rapid response.

[inventagod2]

McSame offers America a 100 year oil occupation instead?

[donevis-2009]

Obama, a black man in a white mans world crushes McCain by drawing a 200,000 + crowd in a foreign country while John addresses a crowd of 200 in a local PUB. "Right On. You Go John"

[david1737]

McCain has no clue!

Here''s a list of McCain gaffes:

McCain mistook -%u201CSomalia%u201D for %u201CSudan%u201D - As recounted in a reporter%u2019s pool report from McCain%u2019s Straight Talk Express bus on June 30, the senator said while discussing Darfur, a region of Sudan: "How can we bring pressure on the government of Somalia?"

Senior adviser Mark Salter corrected him: %u201CSudan.%u201D


McCain mistook -%u201CGermany%u201D for %u201CRussia%u201D - A YouTube clip from last year memorializes McCain referring to Vladimir Putin of Russia - following a trip to Germany - as %u201CPresident Putin of Germany.%u201D

This spring, McCain said troops in Iraq were %u201Cdown to pre-surge levels%u201D when in fact there were 22,000 more troops than when the surge policy began.

But wait there''s more:

-Also this spring, McCain twice appeared to mistake Sunnis and Shiites, two branches of Islam that split violently.

Even more:

-In Phoenix earlier this month, McCain referred to "Czechoslovakia,%u201D which has been divided since Jan. 1, 1993, into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He also referred to Czechoslovakia during a debate in November and a radio show in April.

[mbcsmith]

Why is Nobama AFRAID to debate McCain in a town hall setting. Answer: Nobama can''t think for himself. As displayed in the LIB debates, every time he thinks on his feet, his handlers have to explain "what he really meant". NOT MY PRESIDENT!

[hasher471]

McCain: "We rejected the audacity of hopelessness, and we were right," McCain said, a play on the title of Obama''s book "The Audacity of Hope."
------------------
Stupid old ***. He doesn''t have any ideas of his own, so he mocks others. That 2 faced SOB is now starting to claim the Surge was HIS idea.

[oneopinion]

McCain is becoming a parody of himself. Jaheesus, give us a day without a personal attack on the better candidate.

[ariel133]

"Audacity Of Hopelessness"

That''s exactly right, Senator McCain, but, unfortuneately, the blind and naive refuse to see that Obama is a nothing more than a puff piece.

Oh, well, perhaps when the time draws you two togeher in a debate they will finally see the light, but who knows, there are far too many who would much prefer a fantasy life.

[mbcsmith]

Obama, a black man in a white mans world crushes McCain by drawing a 200,000 + crowd in a foreign country while John addresses a crowd of 200 in a local PUB. "Right On. You Go John"


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Posted by donevis at 04:32 PM : Jul 25, 2008



Nobama hasn''t figured it out yet. Berliners can''t vote for u.S. president. Why didn''t Nobama take a few minutes to visit the wounded soldiers while he was thee. Seems like the presidential thing to do.

[david1737]

Mccain supports your right to have that gun. Nobama, not so much.

Posted by mbcsmith


All I can say is *** Cheney, too sad to lol.

[rltw175b]

McCain missed every single Afghanistan hearing his committee held.
mcSurge - the top republican on the senate armed services committee, has attended zero of his committees six hearings on Afghanistan over the last two years,
A review of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings as listed on the committee Web site for the past two years reveals that McCains committee has held six hearings that included the word - Afghanistan- in the title or Central Command - which overseas U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
McCain missed them all.

McCain the so-called foreign policy expert - yeah right!!

[donevis-2009]

Fact is

He''ll say anything the crowd wants to hear. It''s election Time and he needs something other than "Bomb, bomb, bomb, Bomb, bomb Iran to say. Sheeze.

[rhunter10]

McCain''s campaign style has all the sophistication of a middle-school smart-*** running for class president. Between the name-calling, the snarky word-twisting, scrambled facts, and out-right lying he''s caused me to lose all respect for the man. Maybe he''s slipping into second childhood. Like we really need another round of no-class gutter politics. America deserves a better contest.

[mbcsmith]

Here''''s a list of McCain gaffes:
Posted by david1737 at 04:32 PM : Jul 25, 2008

And Nobama is STILL afraid to debate McCain in a town hall setting with actual U.S. citizens asking the questions.

[rltw175b]

mbcsmith - mccain likes to pander to the troops, obama does not....

[mbcsmith]

All I can say is *** Cheney, too sad to lol.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by david1737 at 04:35 PM : Jul 25, 2008


UUUUMMM what''s your point?

[mbcsmith]

Like we really need another round of no-class gutter politics. America deserves a better contest.


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Posted by bellweather2 at 04:36 PM : Jul 25, 2008


I agree. Hillary would have been a much better candidate.

[hasher471]

Debates....don''t worry about McCain/Obama debates.
They''ll be debating after the conventions. Then you WILL see the distinct difference between a vital, intelligent old man and an old, grouchy, near death old man.

[mbcsmith]

mbcsmith - mccain likes to pander to the troops, obama does not....


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Posted by RLTW175B at 04:37 PM : Jul 25, 2008



Pander? That''s the best you got? Nobama has no respect for the miliary. Kind of a prerequisite for being commander-in-chief don''t you think.

[rltw175b]

afraid to debate McCain in a town hall?

mcWar town-halls are like watch paint dry...

[minuteman-5]

" White folk''s greed runs a world in need" from Audacity of hopelessness

Is the O man staying in Europe for another 90 days? I hope so, courting the non-voting euros

[mbcsmith]

mcWar town-halls are like watch paint dry...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RLTW175B at 04:40 PM : Jul 25, 2008



Yeah, I can see why you fascist LIBS don''t like free exchange of ideas. You got none.

[minuteman-5]

RLTW175B at 04:40 PM

Now McWar sounds cool, finally you got the nickname correct, an kicking Maverick McCain, McWar for short...

Barrack Obush doesn''t sound too good, continuing bush''s policies and getting all war-mongerish in Afghanistan, he''s just Osame as before Onothing

[rltw175b]

yeah im a liberal and what?

[minuteman-5]

mbcsmith - mccain likes to pander to the troops, obama does not....

Posted by RLTW175B

This kind of means, McCain likes to shake the hands of troops and thank them for their service to the country.....Obama does not ?

Thats what you call pandering ? thanks to the troops?

[notblue]

Of course the headline is correct, the Democrats have done everything in their power to enable defeat in the middle east. Why? because it''s waht''s best for americas security? NO because it''s what best for their POLITICS. Since Harry loser Reid came on national news to DECLare defeat over a year ago the effort to accomplish this goal has been ongoing, the American people will not for get this treason in 08 especially now that Iraq has a real chance for success despite the dems efforts to create chaos and ultimately defeat.

[hasher471]

Debates....don''''t worry about McCain/Obama debates.
They''''ll be debating after the conventions. Then you WILL see the distinct difference between a vital, intelligent YOUNG man and an old, grouchy, ill tempered, near death old man.

[smashwl7]

I Hope McTurd keeps pushing Obama for debates and townhalls.

Just like he kept pushing Obama to go to Iraq, Afganistan and Europe. Now he is sorry he did that, it backfired on him.

[rltw175b]

CBS_Oliver - he''s a mess!!!

[mbcsmith]

afraid to debate McCain in a town hall?

mcWar town-halls are like watch paint dry...


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Posted by RLTW175B at 04:40 PM : Jul 25, 2008
+ report abuse



The Nobama campaign has refused to debate in the town hall setting. He might actually have to come up with some thought on his own instead of his handlers.

AFRAID is what Nobama is.

[david1737]

First the Repubs are critical that Obama has "only visited Iraq once," then Obama wows America, and the rest of the world with a brilliantly received trip abroad, now the Repubs. are even more critical.

A message to the Repubs:

Your spin is thin!

[labrat9999]

Poor Republicans are running scared!! How sad. All they have left is McHuff and puff. Time to put the old man of the sea back in the box. You want a town hall meeting? Are you kidding? We want a guarantee that McVictory at Sea 1943 won''t fall asleep during the meeting...why waste the time. Plus this is more fun watching Mchuff and puff and gang emplode on the web, TV, magazines etc.,

[rltw175b]

Minuteman-5 - you can not campaign on a military base!!