McCain On Obama: "Clear Who Hamas Wants to be the Next President"

From The Weekly Standard's Michael Goldfarb:

McCain spoke with bloggers this morning on a number of issues ranging from William Ayers to Rev. Wright to Tony Rezko. Jennifer Rubin noted that Hamas had endorsed Senator Obama and asked McCain whether Obama might have given "an unhelpful signal" to the terrorist group. McCain's response:

All I can tell you Jennifer is that I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare....If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly.

Huffington Post's Will Thomas breaks down the truth behind McCain's fear mongering claims that Hamas supports Obama:

John McCain has repeatedly insisted in public that he wants to run a respectful campaign, but a recent fundraising email from his campaign suggests there will be nothing revolutionary about the Republican nominee's tactics this year.

McCain's deputy campaign manager, Christian Ferry, sent an email to donors today with the subject line: "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election." The email, which attacks Obama over his foreign policy stances, includes these paragraphs:

Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders. Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America."

We need change in America, but not the kind of change that wins kind words from Hamas, surrenders in Iraq and will hold unconditional talks with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

The letter comes in response to this report of a Hamas leader speaking favorably about Barack Obama. The article -- though not the McCain campaign -- notes that Obama has condemned Hamas, repeatedly said that he would not meet with the terrorist organization, and also condemned former President Carter's decision to meet with Hamas leaders.

Contrast the fundraising letter to the praise McCain has won for statements about running a respectful campaign:

Sen. John McCain called Saturday for a presidential campaign that is more like a respectful argument among friends than a bitter clash of enemies, and said he is better able than either of his Democratic rivals to govern across party lines....

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"It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis, we fight among ourselves for the things we believe in," McCain said. "It is not just our right, but our civic and moral obligation."

"Let us exercise our responsibilities as free people. But let us remember we are not enemies," he added.

And speaking of former Rep. Morris Udall, McCain said:

"I intend to wage this campaign and to govern this country in a way that they would be proud of me."

McCain, in April, on running a "respectful campaign":

The subject arose when a questioner at Episcopal High School asked McCain whether the prospect of two senators running against each other in the fall might lead to less negativity.

McCain said he hopes so, adding that he respects both Obama and Clinton, and believes they respect him. "Americans want more respectful campaigns," he added.

And in January, a respectful McCain said:

"I'm going to raise the level of political dialog in America," McCain, R-Ariz., said at a campaign rally in central Michigan, "and I'm going to treat my opponents with respect and demand that they treat me with respect."

***UPDATE***
Spokesman Hari Sevugan responded to McCain's insinuations about Obama by pointing out that McCain may be going back on his pledge to run a positive campaign:

"We want to take Senator McCain at his word that he wants to run a respectful campaign, but that is becoming increasingly difficult when he continually tries to use the politics of association and makes claims he knows not to be true to advance his campaign."

Comments

[NoHolyCows]

Please someone help me. Was MacCain a war hero or war criminal when he was bombing people in Vietnam.
Did the Vietnamese attack our country like Al-Quida did?

[coolrepublica]

McCain is a war hero. He signed up to serve his country and was tortured and spend years in captivity. Service to country. You know that thing you know nothing about.

[deb3mscapecod]

Well at least he didn't come home in a box. He got to see his mother again, become a Senator and marry a rich chick. My best friends brother was killed there in 68. 500 a week were dying then......­his father never got over it and they never thought Vietnam was worth their son's life. Just because someone was a good soldier doesn't mean that we cannot question their judgement.

[1differentdrummer]

I tend to agree somewhat but please tell me why we were in 'Nam and what we accomplished there. Did we improve life for anyone, I mean beside the Frenchified ruling class? I acknowledge the bloodbath when we left and deplore it, but what if there had never been a Tonkin Gulf Resolution and we had gotten out without our big involvement?

[December7]

Rev Wright on PBS
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html

[NoHolyCows]

I saw Bill Moyers interview with Pastor Wright. Nothing anti-American. just some innocent and legitimate questions about how, who and for whom the history of our nation was / is written. Also a challenge for our hearts and minds not to hesitate when the time is near...

Unfortunately (sadly) some people think they can avoid choosing a side by standing in the gray middle...

Obama is right not to disown him. and wrong not to embrace him.

[realpolitic]

Too bad many on the right will not watch the interview, but hear about it from Fox News.

[abby4ever]

I think this is about the cheapest shot I've ever seen---from McCain or anyone. It is disingenuous, immature, it is just plain dirty politics. How is this part of the respectful campaign he said he would run?

[coolrepublica]

So stating facts is now dirty politics. McCain did not make this up. Hamas leaders said they would prefer Obama over the other two candidates. Why is that a cheap shot. If the Queen of England had said that she preferred Obama over the other two candidates would it have been dirty politics for McCain to point it out?

Don't blame the messenger.

[abby4ever]

The fact that some person, good or bad, prefers a certain candidate, should not be used as a way to cast aspersions on that candidate. McCain is obviously trying to connect terror with Obama, in the public perception, in a disingenuous way. That is what is dirty about it. If you can't see that, others can.

[pfurlong56]

Beelzebub endorses McCain, Breaking News... Hagee on the case.

[arocco]

Everyone seems not to understand that Al-Qaeda's biggest recruiter is a guy by the name of Bush. If you think McCain will not have the same effect you dreaming.

[gonavy]

It's dirty politics if it doesn't fit with their agenda. You know how this game is played. By the end everyone is dirty.

[December7]

GW- talks of World War III
McCain - 100yrs war
HRC - nuking Iran

Could be the rest of the world is serious about waging peace at last! But what do we do to the over 200,000 contractors who outnumber our military in Iraq? No! No! No! we shall not talk to our enemies!

Its not about Hamas, its the Blackwater(s), Huliburton(s), Sheikhs(s) back room deals, stupid!

[nogimmicks]

They are just trying to outHitler each other.

[graffen48]

"If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingl­y."

Hey McCain, I guess we should make judgements accordingly since you are favored by John-all catholics are whores- Hagee hmm, just to name one freak that supports you. There are many others.

[cathye]

It's also clear who America -- and the rest of the world, yes even Hamas -- DOESN'T want. Drop dead McNasty.

[JohnJames]

Is it just chance or is this website programmed to delete any posting that mentions the counrty of Isr--l. Everything I posted was published except for those postings that were critical of that country and its overbearing influence in the US

[pacats]

Why are they trying to scare us with external sources? What is being done through the media everyday is scary enough.

There is an article written on 4/22/08 by The Nation, titled "Willie Horton meets Barack Obama" Take a few minutes and read the article. or go to "Michael Baisden' web site and click on days news. This ad is intended to scare, not inform. One of the people who put this ad together is named Bruce Hawkins. He was a former field organizer for Pat Buchanan and the second person involved in this ad is named Lance Tarrance. He is or was a senior strategist for John McCain, straight talk express America. The address for the group is the same address for Impacto Group. Impacto is a Hispanic media firm in Washington run by Leslie Sanchez.. Leslie is a CNN contributor, talking head. Send e-mails to Leslie and to CNN, your politicians, the DNC, or whoever else you prefer to have your voice heard. What the Republicians have always done in campaigning is no longer acceptable. Children are dying every day in the cities. We need solutions, not scare tactics.

Two local North Carolina news stations( ABC Charlotte affiliate WSOC, TV) and (CBH Raleigh affiliate,
WRAL. TV). have refused to run the North Carolina Republican Party ad about Rev. Wright, and Obama, being extremist. Sending letters, e-mails to voice your opinions can make a difference.

[AdLib]

(This post just got wiped...ac­t of God or right wing Mods on duty? I'm quoting a HuffPo article!)

Who do the religious extremists really want to be President?

John McCain: "Well I think it's important to note that pastor John Hagee who has supported and endorsed my candidacy supports what I stand for and believe in."

Rev. John Hagee:

On Hurricane Katrina and LGBT Americans:
"All hurricanes are acts of God because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that."

"There was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades."

On African-Americans
The San Antonio Express-News reported that Hagee announced a 'slave sale' to raise funds for high school seniors in his church bulletin, 'The Cluster.'

"The item was introduced with the sentence 'Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone" and ended with "Make plans to come and go home with a slave."

On Women
"Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist.­"

[JohnJames]

Hey, not fair. Hagee is our fanatic and he's from the Heartland on top of it and he supports Isr--l. Well, kind of. At least until the Rapture.

[Spesabsquemetu]

It's nice to know that Sen. McCain is in close contact with Hamas, that he can now claim to know who they want to see elected. So who exactly was the close friend of Sen. McCain who passed on the inside track to Hamas and their preferences?

Did Sen. McCain learn about his Hamas friends preferences from the Rev. Hagee ( "the Catholic Church is a whore") ?

Did he hear it long after he had attended one of his Keating five rallies to expunge the word "corruption" from his reputation?

Didn't Sen. McCain ever learn the difference between right and wrong, truth and dishonesty, integrity and corruption?

Tell us Senator: exactly which part of the "Keating five" scandelous arrangement didn't you understand as being corrupt? But you want to talk about your inside track to Hamas and denigrate a United States Senator who has dedicated years of service to his country.
Didn't you learn about honor in the military, Senator? Honor, ethics, integrity, truthfulness?

But you want to talk about Hamas and your inside track to what they think.
How telling.

[gonavy]

OK, I guess no one else wants to take this on.

This statement from the leader of Hamas was released in the news weeks ago.

What is it that Red always says.....O­h, Dumbass.

[Spesabsquemetu]

A statement was made, which - as with all the divisive and dishonest tactics being utilized "in the name of freedom and democracy", someone then proceeds to imply something other than what is stated, particularly aimed at falsely representing Sen. Obama.

It's like those racist remarks coming from the mouths of so called patriots of democracy.

The remarks are twisted and distorted with scurrilous attempts to then "erase" the harm they inflict, and it is then suggested that the slanderous remarks didn't REALLY mean and carry the racist innuendo that they did indeed carry.
It's like all those divisive remarks, photos, lies - hurled at Sen. Obama, that then get LUMPED into the "this is really good for the democratic party" balogna while referencing the high record number of democrats turning out to register and vote.
It's that "slime" by association whereby - a major dishonesty is purported as a "truth" when the TRUTH is that there is a major dishonesty beneath the so-called claim to "truth".

At some point you have to begin to wonder: Do the individuals who lie so very easily even have a conscience?

But under your guise of so-called "clarity", I suppose that we can therefore state that Sen. McCain - as his pastor Hagee, believes that the Catholic Church is a whore.
Someone better let all the Catholics across the nation know real quick what JOHN MCCAIN and PASTOR HAGEE BELIEVE.

[iBgood]

Bill Moyers had an interview with Rev Wright tonight. The guy is brilliant and very honest.

I prefer to hear the truth and have no interest in fake patriotism and stupid flag pins.

[ThunderclapNewman]

It was a riveting interview.

Wright is a very intelligent and articulate man

[BeyondGoodAndEvil2]

And has been unfairly vilified.

[December7]

Rev Wright on PBS

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html

[SCG2]

I made the mistake of trying to watch 20/20 to see the Arianna interview, I figured Bill Moyers will repeat soon on another PBS station in the cycle. Stossel did one of his half-truth hit jobs on her.

I miss Hugh Downs, is a class act.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil2]

Wow they just blacked out one of Maher's torture jokes.

[BlueStateMan]

Most of Maher's jokes ARE torture.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil2]

LOL Well, they are his writers' jokes.

[WHusseinLA]

Is a huffpo m0d running things at HBO?

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

Can you still see the show? If so, NO!

[StillAmused]

From bombing people he couldn't see over North Vietnam, to suffering the ugly consequences, to enjoying the longest-running "welcome home" celebration in U.S. history, to threatening to bomb more people he can't see...

Yeah, the twisted, angry little man is a "war hero"... and a perfect, last-minute fit for the GOP -- always big on "heroes" -- after self-deluded 'hero' Rudy and TV 'hero' Fred fizzled.

[kawika]

Ok..Why is it that Obama has more donations from frontline troops , than any of the other contenders.
Obama should do an AD on that!

[Chiang]

He'd have to prove it.

[realpolitic]

You mean unlike Bush who makes all kinds of false statements.

[Rog49Thomas]

Maybe our troops are supporting Hamas!

That's why we have to keep re deploying them in Iraq.

Just imagine if we let them come home.

[FiddleDD2]

McMaverick isn't respectful of veterans as he won't support the Webb/Hagel GI bill. McMaverick called his wife a c**t. Respect isnt' his thingy.