Posted on 04/01/2007 11:05:53 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
During a live press conference in Bagdad, Senators McCain and Graham were heckled by CNN reporter Michael Ware. An official at the press conference called Wares conduct outrageous, saying, here you have two United States Senators in Bagdad giving first-hand reports while Ware is laughing and mocking their comments. Ive never witnessed such disrespect. This guy is an activist not a reporter.
Senators McCain and Graham flew into Iraq and drove into Bagdad, making stops at an open market and a joint Iraq/American military security outpost before appearing at the press conference.
This is not the first time Michael Ware has taken issue with Senator McCains comments about early progress in Iraq. Last week, after Senator McCain told CNNs Wolf Blitzer that he needed to catch up on the news coming out of Iraq, Michael Ware responded, saying:
I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.
Michael Ware has also publicly expressed his views on the war last year in an interview with Bill Maher, saying, I've been given a front-row ticket to watch this slow-motion train wreck I try to stay as drunk for as long as possible while I'm here In fact, I'm drinking now.
Developing...
Do you remember Clinton's "I did not have sex with that woman... " speech?
The most stunning part about that was the applause at the end. This was a press conference from a supposedly fair and unbiased press. They have no business applauding in support of a President nor heckling a candidate.
Not sure what flavor but its a big bowl because I've been running into several myself who've drunk deeply of the kool aid.
You, and all the others commenting, need to keep in mind the date of that post.
Ware is without a doubt the most STRIDENT 'reporter' I've ever seen. Everything with him is a monumental struggle and the US is ALWAYS losing.
Which is why he's a star at CNN.
LOL!
I hope the little POS gets killed over there.
Count me out of that one. Retirement is welcome enough.
Or were you talking about the reporter? I assumed you meant McCain. Still, I'm not wishing death on anyone.
Sen. McCain 'Heckled' By CNN Reporter In Iraq?
***********************************EXCERPT***************************************
This would not be the first time that Ware, also a contributor to Time Magazine, has verbally sparred with Sen. McCain. Last week, he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad."
As of Sunday night, KUTV.com was unaware of a response from the Cable News Network regarding the report.
McCain, R-Ariz., was combative during the news conference, refusing to respond to a question about whether the U.S. had plans to attack Iran. He also replied testily to a question about remarks he had made in the United States last week that it was safe to walk some Baghdad streets.
"Things are better and there are encouraging signs. I've been here ... many times over the years. Never have I been able to drive from the airport, never have I been able go out into the city as I was today," he said.
"I'm not saying 'mission accomplished,' 'last throes,' 'dead-enders' or any of that," he said. "I believe that the signs are encouraging, but please don't interpret one comment of mine in any way to indicate that this isn't a long, difficult struggle."
With U.S. voters increasingly impatient with the conduct of the war and the American death toll rising, Democrats in the House and Senate have pushed through funding bills with timetables for withdrawing U.S. forces. The measures need to be reconciled before they are sent to President Bush, who has promised a veto.
Graham, R.-S.C., said setting a deadline would be a "huge mistake" and Bush would be right to use his veto because the security plan to which Bush has pledged 30,000 extra American troops was working.
McCain: Americans Don't See Iraq's Gains
**********************************EXCERPT*****************************
BAGHDAD -- A Republican congressional delegation led by Sen. John McCain on Sunday blasted Democratic efforts to impose a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and McCain charged that the American people were not getting a "full picture" of progress in the security crackdown in the capital.
McCain, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, was combative during a press conference in the military's media center in the heavily guard Green Zone, and responded testily to a question about public remarks he had made in the United States last week that it was safe to walk some Baghdad streets.
"The American people are not getting the full picture of what's happening here. They're not getting the full picture of the drop in murders, the establishment of security outposts throughout the city, the situation in Anbar province, the deployment of additional Iraqi brigades which are performing well, and other signs of progress having been made," said McCain.
He said the delegation drove from Baghdad's airport to the center of the city and cited that as proof that security was improving in the capital. VIP's normally make the trip by helicopter.
McCain Criticizes Focus on Iraq Violence
***************************************EXCERPT*****************************
BAGHDAD -- Sen. John McCain criticized reports out of Iraq he said focused unfairly on violence, saying Sunday that Americans were not getting a "full picture" of progress in the security crackdown in the capital.
McCain, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, was combative during a press conference in the military's media center in the heavily guarded Green Zone, and responded testily to a question about remarks he had made in the United States last week that it was safe to walk some Baghdad streets.
"The American people are not getting the full picture of what's happening here. They're not getting the full picture of the drop in murders, the establishment of security outposts throughout the city, the situation in Anbar province, the deployment of additional Iraqi brigades which are performing well, and other signs of progress having been made," said McCain, of Arizona.
He said the Republican congressional delegation he led to Iraq drove from Baghdad's airport to the center of the city, citing that as proof that security was improving in the capital. Prominent visitors normally make the trip by helicopter.
The delegation was accompanied by heavily armed U.S. troops when they were not in the Green Zone, site of the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government. They traveled in armored military vehicles under heavy guard.
******************************snip********************************
The delegation, which also included Rep. Mike Pence, a Republican from Indiana, and Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican, spoke glowingly of an hour they spent in the Bab al-Sharqi market which was hit by a suicide bomber on Jan. 22. At least 88 people died in the attack.
The congressmen said they were impressed with the resilience and warmth of the Iraqi people, some of whom they said would not take their money for souvenirs the delegation bought.
I'm no fan of McCain, but this is a disgrace. This guy isn't a journalist. CNN has been the cable tv equivilant of PBS....a dyed in the wool leftist establishement. It's funny....until 92 or so, they were the best news company in the world by far.
He looks like a serial killer--weird eyes.
"drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
You're going to see a lot hatred on Free Republic for John McCain as it is dominated by Bushbots who cannot tell the difference between a genuine patriot who could have rallied support for victory in Iraq by now had he been elected in 2000, and a bumbling prez who seems not to know the difference between victory or defeat.
This morning on the Imus program (Imus was off), Tom Aspell (NBC) talked to Charles McCord and as much as ridiculed McCain's visit to a market three minutes away from the Green Zone. He said there had been 100 troops guarding the McCain entourage as if they were POWs. There were also three Blackhawks and two Apaches in the air overhead. Aspell said Paris Hilton could walk through the neighborhood in a bikini with that kind of security.
Maybe I missed something, but I heard this reporter on TV this morning completely denying that he had shouted anything at McCain. And he claimed that this could be proven from the video.
You're buying some very bad Karma.
The Surge is Working!
Remember how the Stone Age Press adored InSane on the Straight Talk Express??
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.