Posted on 07/27/2008 11:10:43 PM PDT by Red Steel
On Sunday's This Week, ABC's George Stephanopoulos condemned John McCain for charging that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign. Stephanopoulos, who interviewed McCain on Saturday at his Arizona ranch, declared: I can't believe you believe that. McCain insisted I'm not questioning his patriotism. I'm questioning his actions. I'm questioning his lack, total lack of understanding, leading Stephanopoulos to counter: But that is questioning his patriotism. When you say someone would rather lose a war, a candidate, that's questioning his honor, his decency, his character.
As McCain continued to defend his assessment, Stephanopoulos kept rejecting his reasoning (So putting lives at risk for a political campaign, you believe he's doing that?) and excoriating his characterization of Obama: But you're questioning his motives.
Stephanopoulos matched a theme pushed on Wednesday's World News by ABC reporter David Wright. My July 23 NewsBusters item recounted:
Wright began his interview with McCain by scolding him for his extraordinary statement that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign. Wright demanded: Do you really think he's that craven? Wright also lectured: But what you seem to be saying there is that it's all about personal ambition for him and not about what he honestly thinks is right for the country.
The exchange on the Sunday, July 27 This Week in the interview taped the day before in Arizona, with McCain's dogs walking around them at least once:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You've taken heat this week with your comments saying that Senator Obama would rather lose a war than win a political campaign. I can't believe you believe that.
JOHN McCAIN: Well, I'm not questioning his patriotism. I'm questioning his actions. I'm questioning his lack, total lack of understanding.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But that is questioning his patriotism. When you say someone would rather lose a war, a candidate, that's questioning his honor, his decency, his character.
McCAIN: All I'm say something is, and I will repeat, he does not understand. I'm not questioning his patriotism. I am saying that he made the decision which was political in order to help him get the nomination.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So putting lives at risk for a political campaign, you believe he's doing that?
McCAIN: I believe that when he said that we had to leave Iraq and we had to be out by last March and we had to have a date certain, that was in contravention to and still is to the Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General David Petraeus. When he never asked to sit down for a briefing with General Petraeus, our commander on the ground, when he waited 900 days to go back again where young American lives are on the line, I think that's a fundamental lack of understanding and I think the American people will make the appropriate choices.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you're questioning his motives.
McCAIN: I say that it was very clear that a decision had to be made, and I made it when it wasn't popular. He made a decision which was popular with his base, and that is a fundamental difference and he does not understand and did not understand and still doesn't understand that the surge was the vital strategy in us not having to lose a war, chaos, genocide, increased influence of Iranians in the region, the consequences of failure would have been severe. Now the benefits are enormous of a stable ally in the region, of a country that is a friend of ours, a break on Iranian influence, certainly a break on al Qaeda and other jihadist organizations. So he made the decision that that was the best way to go to get the nomination of his party.
Good, subtle slap against the Democratic party...
I saw that exchange and was struck by the fact that McCain uttered not a single Obama-style uh, uh, uh, er, um, um, uh.
McCain should think about how the press is freaking out over this statement.
The truth hurts, and this definitely resonates with the public, because they see he made the speech with fawning Germans, and went to an exercise photo-op, but couldn't stop off and visit the soldiers--which could have gotten him MORE publicity if he did so WITHOUT the press attending.
Most of the Dems want to lose the war ...whats the big deal?
just weird. lol
To anger a conservative, tell a lie;
To anger a liberal, tell the truth.
My new tag line! Thanks!
Hey, Georgie, you Clinton-whore, I would also the same thing of your former boss: Bill Clinton would rather lose a war than his own political campaign, just as he’d rather let Osama Bin Laden go free than inconvenience himself while he’s chasing interns around the Oval Office.
Of course, wag-the-dog style, Bill Clinton would also fight a war or launch a slew of cruise missiles if he thought it could be of benefit to his own political standing, as when he needed sudden distractions from his 1998 politcal cesspool in both Aug. (Sudan and Afghanistan attacks) and Dec. (bombings of Iraq). While both situations called for a strong military response, the Clintonistas chose merely a showmanship type of response designed to distract attention while accomplishing far too little on the military front.
But it’s OK, Georgie, we know you were long gone from the WH, by that point, into your illustrious (and well paid) career as a media whore. From Clintonista whore to media whore — that’s one hell of a 2-stage career you’ve managed for yourself, Georgie.
Nothing would be more satisfying than to have McCain win the election and then cut off all access by these so-called reporters, as well as their networks and newspapers. The lowest rung in hell is reserved for these lying vipers.
He has only promised to withdraw our forces.
This does not end the war. It makes the enemy stronger in the war - which will continue in Iraq - even if our forces withdraw. War will continue until one side achieves victory.
This distinction must be made: US Withdrawal ≠ End of War
George can shove it. HE was one of those clowns who helped that fraud Clinton occupy the Oval Office.
I fail to see how ABC can reasonably present George Stephanopoulos as an unbiased reporter.
This guy was and still is a Clinton and democrat butt boy and always will be.
Unwatchable punk.
So what is McCain supposed to say? Thank the democrats for their support and say they've just been misunderstood?
And I can't believe that the major media hires Democrat political operatives and tries to call them "journalists".
I watch ABC news in preference to NBC or CBS (the urge to puke is "slightly" less), and when "Step-in-in" appears on the screen, the TV goes "off".
He can’t believe McCain actually came out and said it. Neither can I. McCain may finally be realizing he needs to take the gloves off. The fawning MSM won’t ask Obama the tough questions or put his policies in their proper light—someone has to. Johnny either wants the job or he doesn’t.
Yes, I would question the patriotism of someone who declares himself citizen of the world without even mentioning he is a citizen of the United States. I think someone needs to start questioning the patriotism of the Left—its high time the masks came off.
“Ive never heard Obama say he wants us to win.”
The bigger issue is whom does he think is “us”?
"OK, you don't believe Obama want to lose a war. Fine. But just for the sake of argument, if he did want to lose the war, what would he be doing or saying differently than what we have already seen and heard from him?"
Bin Ladin call off the war, Steffie
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