McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads, calls on White House to follow suit

Boston Globe ^ | 5 August 2004 | Ron Fournier

[demlosers]

WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable'' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

''It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me,'' McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.

[Miss Marple]

I have been thinking about this while cleaning a closet.

I have come back here to say that McCain's comment may not be a bad thing. I need to remember that Bush is always several steps ahead of the Rats.

McCain issuing this comment will allow the President to make a "taking the high road " statement, much as Laura Bush did when questioned about Theresa's comments.

Additionally, it will cause some reporters to cover the Swift Boat Veterans and their comments, rather than ignoring them. And in the search for all of the facts, which McCain encouraged, more information will make it to the mainstream.

So, I have decided that I am not upset at either the ad nor McCain's statement. My blood pressure can go back down, and I will remain eager to see the next development in this story.

[Badeye]

Good point. McCain knows better whats better for everybody.

Just ask him.....(grin)

[Ros42]

I agree with you there!! This Arizonan has had about enough of his mouth!!!

[ElkGroveDan]

(What is it with guys named "John" lately?)

Someone needs to suggest to this lady that she needs to set up a third one:

[Onelifetogive]

McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads, calls on White House to follow suit

I agree. Every mention of this we can get will be good.

Bush should say, "While I cannot stop those who served with John Kerry in Vietnam from telling their stories, I do NOT endorse what they are saying. They are speaking only for themselves and not for the BUSH Campaign."

That would just be MORE PUBLICITY!!!

[Rokke]

Don't knock McCain. If it weren't for his dumbass campaign finance reform illusion, it would be harder for the Bush campaign to completely dissassociate itself with the ad. Now they can. And McCain commenting about it just keeps the issue at the forefront, and shows how worthless his CFR really is. And in the meantime, the Kerry campaign finds itself off message responding to an attack at the very core (the only core) of Kerry's campaign theme. I'm not sure this ad will help Bush, but I very much doubt it will help Kerry.

[Christian4Bush]

Let's see: the Dims call W all manner of names and say that he got us into a war under false pretenses. McCain says nothing. People question Kerry's record. McCain hits the roof.

Yup...that's about right...but did we really expect otherwise?

"A dog returns to its vomit" and "A sow that is washed returns to its wallowing in the mud."

[Bigh4u2]

So it's ok to question Bush's military record but not Kerry's??

I think your in the Wrong party Senator!!

[nathanbedford]

Good, rather than dealing with the substance, the liberal media now has its process story they can run with, ie the ad is unfair and so says McCain , but at least they will give it play. Not ideal but they will not ignore it to death either.

[Radix]

McCain is just being tactful as he and Kerry are members of the world's most exclusive club.

Actually, by commenting at all on the ad he likely draws more attention to it, and that is a good thing.

[TexasCajun]

What's this about Kerry being on committee looking into Vietnam POWs and MIAs and agreeing with the North Vietnamese that all were accounted for?

And McCain, of all people, is this guy's buddy. Strange.

[NonValueAdded]

Where has he been on all the anti-Bush ads??? He owes US all an apology for that abomination of a bill called "Campaign Finance Reform." Perhaps he can explain how Soros fits into his scheme of things.

Sorry Sen. McCain, but just as in a courtroom, Kerry opened up that line of questioning with the performance on his last day of the convention. Where is your outrage at what Kerry is doing with his Vietnam record?

[Arrowhead1952]

Ain’t no use in looking down,
Ain’t no discharge on the ground
How will I get out of Nam?

[Just mythoughts]

"Ya know, I had a feeling this would happen, but I feel this is just posturing being done to publicly condemn the ads but secretly endorse their ideas. I see the Bush administration doing the same thing, though I hope he doesn't."


Personally I hope President Bush says nothing to very little. This is a "WAR" that JFKerry provoked and I prefer that those who served with this lying crooked liberal exposed him allllll by themselves. JFKerry opened up this can of worms and tried to make it about a "political" campaign and this book and this ad all by themselves exposes JFKerry being the "commie" liberal liar he is.

[Rebelbase]

"This is why I was worried about that ad. I can guarantee that this will be asked of the President at the next press aailability. "

Plausable deniabilty. Bush won't have seen the commercial, nor have read the book. He has every right to refrain from commenting.

[FreeAtlanta]

It also might take a staged battle between McCain and the swift boat vets to actually get the main waste stream media to cover them. McCain may inadvertently help the vets get their message into the press that has thus fare ignored them.

[Christian4Bush]

Good point Dan.

PING to my Post at 107 on this thread, and tell me what you think.

[FreeAtlanta]

Lieberman needs to come out and endorse Bush. When he was running, he basically said that he was the only Dem that supported Israel and a strong stance against terror. He should now follow his convictions and support President Bush. That is the only way he could gain some of my respect.

[kabar]

McCain issuing this comment will allow the President to make a "taking the high road " statement, much as Laura Bush did when questioned about Theresa's comments.

Sorry to disagree. McCain's statement will give the MSM the smokescreen they need to ignore the story in much the same way they did with Gary Aldrich. The vets will be dismissed as a bunch of liars and smear artists. After all, a true war hero like McCain who suffered five years as a POW denounces them and defends Kerry. I don't view McCain's statement as helpful. I am now really concerned about what he will say in prime time at the convention.

[Ros42]

Two questions for McCain...are you campaigning for Bush or Kerry? Were you in the Swift Boat or not? If your answers are Bush, and NO, then shut the hell up!!!!