McCain Supporter Repeatedly Refers To Barack "Hussein" Obama

UPDATE: Bob Cunningham is now angry at McCain, and is questioning McCain's claim that he and Cunningham had never met:

Mr. Cunningham later posted a video on his Web site, asserting his right to free speech and referring to Mr. Obama as a "hack Chicago politician from the Daley political machine." He did not use Mr. Obama's middle name.

He added: "I'm angry at McCain. Why would John McCain repudiate me? I've been able to unite McCain and Obama against me. I might become a supporter of Ralph Nader."

The contretemps between Mr. McCain and Mr. Cunningham continued well into the evening, when Mr. Cunningham then announced that he was going to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton. He also said, contrary to Mr. McCain's claim that he had never met Mr. Cunningham, that he had encountered the senator at an earlier Cincinnati fund-raiser. Mr. Cunningham said on CNN that he had twice met Mr. McCain, though he did not explain the circumstances.

Late Tuesday, the McCain campaign acknowledged that the men might have met.

"Senator McCain gave an honest answer," said Mark Salter, one of Mr. McCain's senior advisers. "He doesn't recall meeting him. He's at thousands of events. If Mr. Cunningham said he was at the fund-raiser, perhaps he was. He was one of 100,000 people McCain has shaken hands with this year."

At a John McCain town hall today, supporter and local talk radio host Bill Cunningham warmed up the crowd by making repeated reference to Barack Obama's middle name:

"At some point in the near future the media, the stooges from the New York Times, CBS (The Clinton Broadcasting System), NBC (The Nobody But Clinton Network), The All Bill Clinton Channel (ABC), and the Clinton News Network at some point is going to peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama," said controversial conservative commentator Bill Cunningham, an Ohio native.

"That day will come and then you'll know the truth about his business dealings with Rezko, when he got sweetheart deals in Chicago," he added, "and the illegal loans that he received, at some point the media will quit taking sides on this and maybe start covering Barack Hussein Obama the same way they covered Bush, the same way they covered Cheney, and they same way they cover every Republican."

Story continues below

Cunningham also referred to Obama as "hack, Chicago-style politician," according to the Associated Press. Watch it here:

A History Of Attacks: Media Matters points out that the Cunningham has a history of referring to Obama as Barack Hussein Obama. In addition:

During his nationally syndicated radio talk show, Bill Cunningham repeatedly called Sen. Barack Obama, "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama," even though "Mohammed" is not a part of Obama's name, saying at one point that "it would be a shock" if "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama can be elected the president of this country in these difficult terrorist times." Cunningham also falsely claimed that Obama "was raised in madrassas in Indonesia" and falsely accused Obama's church of being "black separatist" and "black racist."

Portman Response: Rob Portman, a former Ohio Rep. who is being mentioned as a possible Vice Presidential candidate, followed Cunningham saying:

"Willie, you're out of control again. So, what else is new? But we love him," Portman said. "But I've got to tell you, Bill Cunningham lending his voice to this campaign is extremely important. He did it in 2000, he did it in 2004. It was crucial to victory then and it's even more important this year with his bigger radio audience. So, Bill Cunningham, thank you for lending your voice."

McCain Apologizes: John McCain issued an apology before reporters could ask him about the statements:

"I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals who are honorable Americans, we just have strong philosophical differences, so I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them," he said, adding later that "I absolutely repudiate such comments, and again I will take responsibility it will never happen again. It will never happen again."

Obama Response: Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton offered this response:

"We appreciate Senator McCain's remarks. It is a sign that if there is a McCain-Obama general election, it can be intensely competitive but the candidates will attempt to keep it respectful and focused on issues."

Cunningham Disowns McCain: Cunningham was not pleased to hear McCain apologized for his behavior. When asked for comment, he replied:

"I've had it with McCain. I'm going to throw my support to Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Comments

[AnninCA]

Interesting....but I don't think McCain will win if he tries to play this Obama's way. The tip-toe method sure hasn't worked for Hillary.

[Rendon76]

Fucking monkey faced racist. Why do radio personalities run the Republican Party? Anyhow McCain did well to denounce this hack who unjustifiably calls others hacks.

[avajackson]

Did he denounce or reject him? That's a big difference! Just kidding.

[Rendon76]

Haha

[Jonny38103]

A rose is a rose is a rose. Obama's middle name is Hussein. Big deal. It's a name. I know that the wrong "right" will try to use this against him, but it only works if we act like we're ashamed of it. Say it, own it, be it. Stop being afraid!

[Waitaminute]

exactly, the only people thats give a crap about what this fool says, would never vote for Obama anyway.

[Researchguy66]

Dude, the context for Gertrude Stein is ALL WRONG.

What you're looking for is "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" - Shakespeare

[mrdontplay]

How ironic that this rant was aired by CBS.

...as he called them the "Clinton Broadcast Station"

This is what you get when the low rent "bush-leaguers" get a mic.

What else did you expect?

What do you think the quotes would be if I went in the projects and gave a mic to corner store willy?

Why don't you see these guys are both the same.

One shows up and makes millions for talking on a show.

Corner store willy could do a show too, ya know.

I support FREE SPEECH.

Let these guys say what's on their minds.

Let the world know who they really are.

Let us move up and move on past this BS.

YES WE CAN

[dwillisno1]

Even in his denouncement, McCain revealed his arrogance and poor judgment. He said, this will never happen again. A better approach would be to promise first to do everything in his power to make sure it doesn't happen again. His statement puts him in a position to either be sabotaged or again the victim of someone else's stupidity. More importantly he should promise to find out how it happened and fire the person responsible.That would show true repentance and make it less likely to happen again.

[jmaster]

Cincinnati a s**thole? Hardly - it's a great town, but the s**theads ARE in control. Across the river too --- Jim Bunning is a senile hack playing off a once-great pitching arm and little else, Mitch McConnell is a closet case sadomasochist, and Goof Davis is a Canadian reject whose only true aspiration is to become a lobbyist if/when he grows up. Little Willie Cunningham is partly to blame, for sure. Meanwhile, McCain asking him to speak in public is a lot like asking a toad to piss in your hand. McCain may have stepped on the clutch re Little Willie, but he clearly had his other foot on the gas.

[AmericanNation]

As comnforting as it is to hear the moral and intellectual indignation from bipartisan writers to the use of racial, ethnic, and religious misinformation and prejudice to attack Senator Obama's campaign, it should be noted that to the proponents of the strategy it is only relevant for the purposes of activating their polical base. Such tactics have clearly worked, and continue to do so, ironically, in recent history, it was Senator McCain himself who was falsely accused by Republican operatives of having fathered a bi-racial child, in a tight race this cost him enough votes for President Bush to win. And, the photograph of Senator Obama in traditional dress may seem inocuous to the modern voter but to many wearing anything that resembles Arab dress makes one a threat - note the first death after 9-11 was an innocent American Sikh who was running his gas station and wearing a turban he was killed by another American who saw a charicature not a human being and had no idea that there was a pronounced difference between a Muslim, a terrorist, and a Sikh. And, finally, in regards to the name issue, calling Senator Obama, Mohamed (which is not part of his name but cojures up images of extremists) or Hussein (which is part of his name and conjures up images of Saddam Hussein and extremists), there is little that can be done to stop Coulter, Limbaugh, Cunningham, et al from utilizin all these tactics and more to demonize Senator Obama. The only solution is that voter participation in America must rise to compete wih the small but well organized special interest groups who the aforementioned propoganda and misinformation tactics are geared to mobilize and energize.

[mrdontplay]

point taken but at some point we can become the problem.

If a person is in a BAD relationship and they complain complain complain and nothing changes eventually its a you thing.

Same thing here. There is a chance that those who value diversity and equality are NOT WANTED IN THE USA.

Seriously.

If time after time the hate mongers win out then maybe that's what the USA is all about.

Think about it?

The last two elections were stolen, almost 4000 us troops killed in Iraq, 300,000+ Iraqis gone.

All against the interests of the world and our country.

What do we stand for?

[1proudinfidel]

Are we not diverse already? How may different races, religions, ethic groups, businesses , thoughts, and ideas do we need before we can be "proclaimed" diverse?
Equality? Since when are people equal? They may be equal as human beings, but that is where is ends. Some win some have to lose. There will always be people who make more money that you or I. Are you saying we should be comrades in a socialist government so that everyone except a select few will be equally miserable? Is this what you mean by equality?

Ah yes, stolen elections, and the WHOLE administration is in on it. C'mon, smell the stuff you are shoveling here. Please bring something of interest here.

War dead..all against the interests of the world and country???? Got some facts to support that? What sir, do you stand for? Xenophobia? Isolationism?

[Neocon187]

That's a very good point, and exactly why I say that the amount of racism spewed by the republican party during the upcomming campaign will show the world exactly what the US stands for, and will implode the repubican party.

[lastams]

Although the disavowing of this particular rant was a refreshing change from McCain’s support of the whole RNC slime campaign, still and all his basic message remains the same.
McCain wants us to believe that a democracy in Iraq is bravely fighting AlQaeda and Iran, instead of the dozens and dozens of armed sectarian mobs that are soaking up our dollars. While he sings, "bomb bomb bomb Iran, in Saudi Arabia a repressive Islamic regime gets fat on oil revenues and continues to support terrorists, the Pakistani government harbors the Taliban, and Western governments think we are insane.
McCain’s answer to health insurance is to reduce taxes so “people can afford health insurance”.
Consider a family of four making 3o thousand a year and having their taxes reduced by 500 or even a thousand dollars. On what planet do the Republicans think that this family will be able to purchase ANY health insurance, from anyone, for that amount? Probably the same planet where the Surge is working and a walk through a Baghdad market is just like a stroll in Indiana.
It is a shame that McCain has chosen to seek the support of the 20 or so percent of Americans that are still duped by Whitehouse lies and fantasies. If he was brave enough to start discussing real issues in a real world, he might be viable Centralist candidate. Instead he has become one more Republican parrot, stirring up moral indignation while brazenly picking our pockets.

[PADDYWHACK]

Another example of the genus Radiobuffoonus Dextrus,keep it up,it only shows the KKK ethos under the surface.These morons will provide us with a lot of entertainment as they squirm and squeal in the dust of defeat.

[HeironymousJosch]

Just another red-blooded American conservative commentator standing up for traditional values I guess.

[transendentilist]

Yeah, but did you see the suit on that guy? Where does he buy his clothes, Rubes Are Us?

[Richard729]

Is there anyone who doubts that the Cunningham attack against Barack Obama wasn't encouraged by John McCain? Of course it was. Keith Olbermann made the excellent point that there is no way that McCain, who was waiting in the wings to speak to the Republican rally, wasn't aware that Cunningham, who introduced John McCain after his tirade against Obama, didn't have knowledge of the hate-mongering racist on the stage.

This is a harbinger of things to come. McCain tells his hatchet men on Screech Radio, Fox News, and other proxies to defame Obama's character and question his patriotism while he feigns ignorance and "apologizes" for such incendiary rhetoric.

They get away with it in the same way they worked the media and the Swift Boaters in 2004 against John Kerry and in 2002 when they accused U.S. Senator Max Cleland, a decorated Viet Nam War veteran and triple amputee, of being a traitor to his country and a friend of Osama bin Laden. The draft dodger and big time Bush contributor, Saxby Chambliss, won that election for the Republicans.

There's only one way to beat these depraved, corrupt, corrosive Republican thugs at their own game: launch an all-out offensive against the Republicans for their support of Bush's genocidal Iraq War and John McCain's support for war in Iraq for another 100 years and Bush's conflagrant assault on the U.S. Constitution and our individual liberties and freedoms.

A political party as invidious and totalitarian as Bush and his Republican thralls have been over the last seven years should be made to answer for their absolute contempt and disdain for our democratic way of life and the principles of freedom and individual rights that they have trampled on at every opportunity.

Republicans are the real traitors and the enemies of America. Each time they dilute and diminish the rights and freedoms of the American people they will have succeeded in accomplishing and advancing the goals of the terrorists who attacked our country on Bush's watch on September 11, 2001.

[MamaBird62]

That's exactly what I thought when I heard how McCain handled this. He knows these outrageous comments will make the news. Everyone who has heard McCain's 1998 "joke" about Chelsea Clinton (who was a child at the time) should know he has little sense of decency and will stoop to anything to insult an opponent. (google this joke if you haven't heard it, and if anyone says they're supporting McCain, let them know about the joke and ask them why it's OK for him to be such an ass)

[Reine]

I believe McCain & was proud of him for apologizing. I think it's time to see these two parties for what they are. They are both dirty so please don't attack just the republicans as democrats are just as bad. If McCain, hadn't apologized than I could understand why people would be so upset. I saw McCain's staff calling him aside to tell him what Cunningham had said.

[batgirlevi]

What struck me about this reactionary lying POS is he sounds like many of the trolls at HuffPo.

I'm glad most Americans see them for the stupid lying bigots they are.

[tfangmel]

Who is McCain trying to fool?? He knew all about Cunningham and his racist views. His campaign invited him to "warm-up" the audience. If McCain so disavowed the statements, why didn't he say it to the crowd. This is the same tactic he used when one of his supporters called Hillary a "bitch". McCain laughed it off. McCain also claims he didn't know Cunningham. this is a LIE. They met at least two times six weeks ago!!!!

[knowhelpnow]

I'm sorry doesn't cut it anymore. I find it hard to believe that he didn't know what kind of person was going before him.
It seems there are quite a few of these kinds of people spreading the word for Republicans, I mean down and dirty. Bush had not only McCain but also Kerry swift boated. To me having someone swift boated like Kerry on his military record seemed just strange since Bush himself stagnated (only for a short period of time in the the Reserves/Guard before something more important came up) and Kerry was in Vietnam really stunned me, and with McCain something to do with a dark child the whole process disgusts me. They are not telling anyone what and how they are going to do but smearing the good names of candidates. I hate the whole process.

[mrdontplay]

I reject and denounce the hatred that makes this post an issue.