Posted on 02/26/2008 11:37:45 AM PST by indcons
CINCINNATI (AP) — Republican John McCain quickly denounced the comments of a radio talk show host who while warming up a campaign crowd referred repeatedly to Barack Hussein Obama and called the Democrat a "hack, Chicago-style" politician.
Hussein is Obama's middle name, but talk show host Bill Cunningham used it three times as he addressed the crowd before the likely Republican nominee's appearance.
"Now we have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you're going to have in your pocket is change," Cunningham said as the audience roared.
The time will come, Cunningham added, when the media will "peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama" and tell the truth about his relationship with indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko and how Obama got "sweetheart deals" in Chicago.
McCain wasn't on stage nor in the building when Cunningham made the comments, but he quickly distanced himself from them and the talk show host after finishing his speech. McCain spoke to a couple hundred people at Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati.
"I apologize for it," McCain told reporters, addressing the issue before they had a chance to ask the Arizona senator about Cunningham's comments.
"I did not know about these remarks but I take responsibility for them. I repudiate them," he said. "My entire campaign I have treated Senator Obama and Senator (Hillary Rodham) Clinton with respect. I will continue to do that throughout this campaign.
McCain called both Democrats "honorable Americans" and said "I want to dissociate myself with any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them."
Asked whether the use of Obama's middle name — the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — is proper, McCain said: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."
McCain said he didn't know who decided to allow Cunningham to speak but said he was sure it was in coordination with his campaign. He said he didn't hear the comments and has never met Cunningham, but "I will certainly make sure that nothing like that happens again.
Call 703-418-2008 and tell them. McCain ought to be smart enough to know that he needs every Ohio vote he can get. Put on the pressure.
for what?
Whats next? Will McCain say something silly like, “Hillary would make a great president?”
LOL....bttt
The n00b troll’s posts are so transparent. Wonder how much it is getting paid for spouting such nonsense. Other FReepers have already exposed this troll.
He did not show class and grace. He showed he willing to insult one of his own in order to play nicey nice with crooks.
And, his actions on behalf of Cindy McCain (when she was accused of stealing drugs from her own medical “charity”) are revealing.
They probably should have invited Mike McConnell to host, but McCain thinks Mike’s name is Bob. Midday with Bob McConnell...doesnt sound right.....
“Playing the “gentleman” never got Bush anywhere."
“ I have to disagree as GWB was elected to the Office of President twice. Should McCain seem like like he’s snarking Obama it just looks petty. There are real issues to hit Obama with. That said I hope the blogs continue to give Obama as much hell as they can, since they’re not running for public office or bound by Queensbury type rules.
I'm not talking about where Bush got with conservatives or republicans, I'm talking about the Dems, the Libs!! Bush tried to reach across the aisle so many times, only to have his hand bitten by the snakes on the other side.
It doesn't much matter as most conservatives will not vote for Mc Cain anyway & we're doomed to have the muslim as our next Prez. Either way, it's not much of a choice, now is it????
That the host would say such things ahead of Senator McCain is deeply insulting to McCain, who ended up spending his time fixing this rather than focusing on his message.
With friends like these, as the saying goes.
If he had been planning to run for office since he was 2, I would agree, but since he probably wasn't, had he done it as an adult, it would end up looking like what Gary Warren Hartpence did. He would have looked ashamed and vain.
Using the middle name of a Presidential candidate is in the finest American tradition.
Candi-Freepers!
Candidate hacks who join FR only to pimp their candidate!
McCain should have said I haven’t heard the comments and left it at that. I haven’t heard McCain disparage Hillary and Barack for calling Bush a liar...I guess that is OK with him.
Furthermore, Hussein is his formal middle name and McCain should not suggest that it is disparaging to use it.
SHame on McCain, this will NOT help him with folks like me.
LOL
“You probably can’t stand Ann Coulter, she’s never nice to political enemies.”
Actually, I love Ann Coulter. She and I think very much alike. However, a Ronald Reagan, or a John McCain, would not use an Ann Coulter to warm up a crowd at a rally. It doesn’t work that way. Radio personalities are usually not the ones who do this kind of thing. Local politicians do, or Congressmen. You’ve got to be political about these things, not radical. Presidential candidates have to maintain their presidential demeanor. They don’t get down in the gutter and they don’t have themselves introduced by flame throwers. Ronald Reagan never did, George Bush Sr. and Jr. never did, and McCain won’t either. There are other forums for the flame throwers, but not presidential events. There is no history of this. How this guy Cunningham was brought in is beyond me. They had to know what he was, which is the ultimate flame thrower. Bad choice by someone on staff. Big mistake.
If you believe that your one vote can elect Obama, then......you’ll believe anything. Obama will win in a landslide regardless of whether you choose to waste your vote on Johnny Kosovo.
Only because you're a bigot. Case in point, this is a thread about McCain and you're still hatin' on Romney. Pathetic.
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