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.
Obama has made it clear that his policy is and always has been: End the war, don’t win it.
I’ll try that again.
Obama’s policy for the Iraq War is and always has been:
End it, don’t win it.
* Democrat stalwart Ellen Ratner did in fact state that she hoped Bush would mess up the Iraq war because it would help the Democrats, Fox News Channel's "Your World" Dec. 28, 2002.
* Another Democrat stalwart, Gary Kamiya of salon.com on April 11, 2003, wrote that he and his "intellectual" friends hoped the Iraq resistance would do maximum damage to U.S. troops.
The Ratners and Kamiyas are mainstream Rats. Those a little further left carry signs in "anti-war" demonstrations that read, "We support our troops -- if they kill their commanding officers."
Sixteen years ago a San Francisco talk show host named Stephanopoulos Stepinawfulstuff -- he's stepped in this time.
If you ask me, Obama has such a high opinion of himself that he thinks that if it takes a lost war, a trashed economy, $6 gas and a nuked city or two in order for him to be President, the country will be better off. So he is patriotic, to his own way of thinking, if you just look at to big picture.
He is the Change He has be waiting for!
LLS
George Stephanopoulos, I can’t believe you are on TV.
When McCain delved into his explanation to say he didn’t question his patriotism, the knife twisted. It’s even more of an insult than “craven” politician, because what he’s really saying by stating how the poor kid just doesn’t “understand” this or that is that he’s STUPID.
One or the other: Either he’s morally bankrupt or freaking STUPID. I personally don’t think he’s stupid, but it’s so obvious how immoral he is and would sell out ANYBODY to get what he wants. He’s blinded by his own ambition, like his entire party. I have thought these thoughts for a long time. It’s so refreshing to hear John McCain say something for a change that we have ALL thought for so long.
“Because that’s the stuff they exploit to WIN ELECTIONS.....”
My favorite observation about Dems.....only in their fellow Americans’ misery are they able to find opportunity.
“....takes a lost war, a trashed economy, $6 gas and a nuked city or two”
About what the DNC sees as an ideal election environment...
What georgy really meant is, I cannnot believe you said the truth out loud, thats not fair
"What patriotism? Every Sunday for 20 years Obama took his family to listen to a man who wants God to damn America."
So you are not saying that or this but you are just saying?
I agree. If I found myself in a bar with him (not likely) I would pound on him just for principle. Even if he was not “famous” - he is just that kind of punk.
Ever notice that the Obama sychophants on TV only go ballistic over McCain statements that HIT HOME, and are true and damaging to the false Messiah.
When ever McCain makes a wishy washy statement that essentially lets Obama off the hook (and there are many), Stephanopolous and the girls could care less.
McCAIN: Yes I am questioning his patriotism but I can't say that. I'm not going to give you a sound bite to play again and again and ask me if I really meant that again and again.
lol! John McCain has cut to the quick on this murky “love the soldier, hate the mission” sort of liberalism. Poor Stephie. He thought the whole “love the soldier, hate the mission” was an “established” line. And I like that Mr. McCain just sat quietly while Stephie did the squirming thing: John McCain held the line like a rock. Good.
I not only question ObamalamaDingDong’s patriotism, I directly challenge the lack of it.
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