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.
So let me understand this...McCain acts like a Gentleman...and you add a “barf alert”....nice........
From the article: “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.”
“[McCain] said he didn’t hear the comments and has never met Cunningham, but ‘I will certainly make sure that nothing like that happens again.’”
When McCain doesn’t even want people to refer to Obama’s socialist policies, I wonder what chance the RINO senator has in the General.
He has class, Cunningham does not.
Clever!
Now we know what a tough campaign McPain is going to wage. By October, he'll be apologizing for being white, and for having gone to Vietnam.
That Club of 100 really is a club.
Fer crying out loud it IS his middle name. How can it possibly be disparaging??
Isn't that his middle name???
Isn't he PROUD of his name???
Isn't he proud of his muslim heritage??
Why doesn't he FLAUNT that picture?
Why doesn't he FLAUNT his middle name???
McCain's apologist comments were pathetic on this one.
Exactly - what chance does McCain have when he doesn’t even want to address the truth about Hussein Obama. Looks like the senator is “reaching across the aisle again.”
Playing the "gentleman" never got Bush anywhere. That is the problem with the repubs, they want it both ways! Can't happen.
To defeat the Dems, we have to be as dirty as they are, the nicey, nice does not work!
Very bad move, McCain.
this is quite genius...by disavowing the fact Cunningham continually used his middle name...he’s calling attention to the fact of his name.
Sadly, this is probably all too close to the truth. And it does not bode well for November.....
Bullseye. If you want to take the high road you don't invite Bill Cunningham. He's not quite Michael Savage, but Bill will still find the edge of good taste and then run right past it. (even more so when he had the 9pm-midnight show.)
THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?
It is kind of smarmy of him.. he does not have to apologize for everyone else...
“If you want to take the high road you don’t invite Bill Cunningham.”
I don’t understand this comment. Cunningham called B Hussein Obama by his middle name and spoke about his socialist policies. What’s wrong with either?
Gentleman? I suppose we must have interpreted this differently. To me it read like some centrist sycophant kissing a Neo-Marxists a$$ and making a conservative feel foolish in the process.
I suppose the tirades and f-bombs are reserved for Conservative and Republicans.
No thanks, I like my President to have a spine.
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