McCain Speaker: Have Your Tiger Woods, We've Got McCain

At a campaign stop today, Sen. John McCain's introductory speaker took a sharp and potentially sensitive swipe at Sen. Barack Obama, saying that McCain was "the real audacity of hope" and not just a political "Tiger Woods."

Former Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, who introduced the Arizona senator at a Vets For Freedom rally, sought to contrast McCain's "lifetime of service to our nation" against the lack of resolve of his political opponents. And while he never addressed Obama by name, he did offer this nugget.

"Rest assured," he told the crowd, "that men like Senator McCain will be the goal and the men that my two young boys will emulate and admire. You can have your Tiger Woods, we've got Senator McCain."

The line, first reported by NBC and Hotline, received a loud roar from the crowd and, standing behind and to the left of Bellavia, McCain let out an approving laugh. But considering the rate at which Tiger Woods is winning golf tournaments these days, McCain's camp may be hoping the analogy doesn't prove true.

And considering the pins-and-needles environment that is the current political landscape, the comment has the potential of being interpreted as racially divisive.

That said, the Tiger Woods line has been deployed earlier in the campaign, by GOP ad-guru Alex Castellanos

"All the sudden you've got two dots, and two dots make a line," he was quoted as saying in Politico last month. "You start getting some sense of who he is, and it's not the Obama you thought. He's not the Tiger Woods of politics."

And on an Obama conference call today, Teamsters President James Hoffa mentioned Woods as well -- in a flattering manner: "With regard to his race, he's African American. I know he's of mixed race, but, you know, he's like a Tiger Woods. He's just a great person that's really excited a lot of people. We're not detecting a lot of discussion about his religion or his race here."

Perhaps of equal political significance was Bellavia's broad hit at the U.S. congress, which he accused of not having the conviction or courage to win the Iraq War.

"Our patriotism demands the just defense of our nation and the promotion of freedom and liberty in places where there is none," he said. "As a soldier it often appears that our civilian leadership in Congress gravely misunderstand the consequence of victory or defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan today. Their will to win has been replaced by political maneuvering and partisan politics."

Comments

[Pammy1151]

I have often said that Obama will do for this country and the world what Tiger Woods has done for golf. No small task if you have any clue about the world of golf and how it has operated in the past. One of the worst sports when it came to including women and blacks. In fact I do believe that women are still NOT allowed to belong to Augusta Golf Club but Tiger Woods has a huge piece of it with all of his green jackets.

[kissmygrits]

I missed the part where Tiger Woods dedicated his life to public service, was a constitutional law scholar and professor and state and U.S. senator for 12 years? These people are retarded.

[psfurlong356]

it would be totally cool if Tiger wins the Masters (again) this week in Augusta National, which opened to blacks. not that long ago.

[psfurlong356]

I've heard this exact reference to Tiger Woods by Brit Hume on Fox News. I don't live in that mindset, so I'm not 100% sure what their point is, but on the surface it as least condescending if not worse.

[robXdion]

Consider the source. BRIT HUME? He's one "macaca" comment from being Pat Buchanan.

[clawhammer]

I'm new to posting on this site, but maybe my experience with an acquaintance (white, late 70s, retired naval officer) can provide some perspective. He has never liked Tiger Woods, and finds any basis to criticize him. Like Barack Obama in presidential politics, Tiger Woods has spoiled the illusion that professional golf is the province of white men. Or perhaps more accurately, Tiger Woods has spoiled the illusion that white men have dominated golf because they are naturally better at it and therefore deserving of their success. They are mostly accustomed to being served their drinks by people who look like Tiger Woods and Barack Obama, and they don't adjust readily to losing to such people. Tiger Woods is, in fact, their worst nightmare, because they can't attribute his success to "affirmative action" or some other "helping hand" program. He just beats them.

[bailey2006]

Thanks for the insight. You pretty much nailed it!!

[Titonwan]

I like your cut of your jib already Clawhammer! Well said.

[Darkbane]

LOL! Compared him to Tiger woods....o­ne of the biggest endorsment having , amazing, out of left field sports stars of our generation­.......who happened to reach the top of a white male dominated sport.

Remember the "Are they gonna start serving watermelon and fried chicken" comment that one golfer made when Tiger first hit the scene. Saddle up folks they will become alot worse before this is over!

Kinda funny how Hillary's Rocky comparison and now this Tiger Woods analogy works against them.

[psfurlong356]

That was Fuzzy Zoeler that said that...

[karajan72]

Another racist!!! Everyone will be called a racist before this campaign is over.

[Heavenhelpusall]

Get over yourselves. Clearly, there is an intended racial connection, however, Tiger has kicked A$$ in golf and brought more people to golf than anyone else. So, while a racial overtone can be derived, so to will Obama bring unclaimed folks to the political process. Kind of like Hillary being Rocky.
Sometimes people have diarreha of the mouth and before they know it the stuff is all laid out for everyone to see!

obama/hagel

[BreezyB]

This guy does realize that Tiger Woods in the best the game has ever seen, right?

[inthecolour]

So...I guess this means he is secretly supporting Obama? Because I'm not sure how this can be seen as anything but a compliment.

Good job!

[geobushono]

Senator,..­..soon to become President Obama, Can we just put these people in camps?

[vsign]

So who goes to the camps?

Rich white people?

Or all white people?

[JiminNC]

No, just you and your friends.

[Titonwan]

People like you who don't know the difference. :(

[MarineBugler]

Well, the 'establishment' was totally blindsided by Tiger. He raised the bar on performance in his sport making all other players look like fools, idiots, amateurs, etc ....

Well not a bad comparison to be made, IMHO.

Give me Tiger/Obama, or give me death!

[seenitall]

typical republican­...typical McCain reaction..­.there will be a truly heart-felt apology that will be snickered at by his ignorant, bigoted followers

[moda31]

by referencing tiger woods he implies both are black man succeeding in a white dominated world, and embraced by white people because they offer some sort of easier to swallow attempt at atonement. uh yeah sure absolutely nothing that could possibly be offensive about that line of thinking. what an idiot. if people are going to insist on making this kind of ignorant analogy then i guess i can take solace in the fact that tiger woods tends to kick a lot of old white guy ass, and hopefully barack obama will do the same come november.

[tiredofhillary]

Alright!!!! Lets get this thing started already! McCain is showing his true colors. Repugs are racist or at least give the impression that they are.

As a AA female, I took offense to the comment. Kinda makes you think the whole MLK thing didn't come from the heart.

But, if I were to be compared to anybody, Tiger Woods is not bad. And just like Tiger, Sen. Obama will kick his a#@# in Nov.

[kellygrrrl]

Obama has been compared to Jackie Robinson for months now
adding a comparison to Tiger Woods is just icing on the cake.

Take a read at Jackie Robinson's contract. He was prohibited from getting "angry" if white fans spat on him. That was in his contract.
Tiger Woods won Augusta when blacks were still not allowed to join.

McCain has been compared to Fred Flintstone and Homer Simpson.

[loper2008]

yeah Tiger Woods was way more than a passing fancy with a lucky streak ... he has proved himself as a true golfer, so whatever, let's take the compliment and run with. he kicks all those old white guys butts every day.

[kellygrrrl]

is Obama Asian?

[robXdion]

Part of the problem is this is an ARMY STAFF SERGEANT. Not exactly beacons of intelligence and tact. Some of these veterans suffer from delusions and nostalgia of their years in service. They get out of the military and get cynical with civilian life because their background is irrelevant. And so they end up rooting for a war because it reminds them of yesteryears and puts their old lifestyle into the public eye. I'm certain more service members currently serving are against Iraq, while most veterans wax nostalgic. And there are more veterans for the war than against it. But the thinking, smart ones oppose it for the right reasons and therefore have been elected to public office.

[robXdion]

Oh.....BTW I am a former Marine Sergeant. I dealt with these characters often.

[babybabybaby]

Sigh.. so true. The military is made #1 in the minds of these men and women. Then they go back to the real world and none of those skills are applicable.

What's ironic is that this war was started by two men who've never stepped foot onto a battlefield. They think its "romantic.­" How did we let this happen?