DNC To John McCain: "Stop Whining"

John McCain "defended himself Friday against television ads that accuse him of advocating a 100-year war in Iraq," the AP reported. (The Huffington Post unveiled the DNC's Iraq ad -- you can view it here.)

The ads tie McCain to President Bush and cite McCain's comments that there could be an American military presence in Iraq for 100 years. They are being run by the Democratic National Committee and the liberal group MoveOn.org.

"One hundred years in Iraq? And you thought no one could be worse than George Bush," an announcer says in the most recent ad, run by MoveOn.org.

McCain brought up the commercials at a town hall meeting Friday in Denver, saying they are lies. He doesn't deny saying "100 years" in connection with U.S. military operations in Iraq, but says he was clearly referring to a possible peacekeeping force -- not a centurylong war, as critics imply.

"You have seen an ad campaign that is mounted against me that says I wanted to stay and fight in Iraq and fight for 100 years," McCain told about 300 people at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center.

"My friends, it's a direct falsification, and I'm sorry that political campaigns have to deteriorate in this fashion," McCain said. "Because there's legitimate differences between myself and Senator Obama and Senator Clinton on what we should do in Iraq."

But the DNC is hardly backing down. In a statement released to The Huffington Post late Friday, DNC communications director Karen Finney said, "John McCain should stop whining. We can see why John McCain doesn't want people to see this ad, but its time for him to defend his own words. Clearly John McCain knows that the more people learn about his real record and his willingness to keep our brave troops in Iraq for 100 years, the more they'll see he is not the right choice for America's future."

Moreoever, the Dems pointed to a new poll showing why McCain is "so upset":

Results from a new national study among 629 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and independent voters showed that after viewing a new DNC ad attacking Senator McCain, independent voters' favorability ratings of the senator decreased by 10% points.

The study was conducted by HCD Research on April 29, 2008, to obtain Americans' perceptions of a new DNC ad entitled "100" that attacks Senator John McCain. The ad features a clip from a January 3, 2008 town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire in which Senator McCain responded with his hundred year remark to a comment from an audience member who mentioned last year's White House statement about the U.S. having a possible 50 year military presence in Iraq.

Among the study findings:

• Prior to viewing the ad, 57% of independents rated Senator McCain as either "Very Favorable" or "Mostly Favorable." After viewing the ad the number dropped to 47%. On the same measure, favorability ratings of Senator McCain by Republican viewers decreased by 4% points after viewing the ad, 80% to 76%.
• In response to a hypothetical election matchup between Senator McCain and Senator Barack Obama, survey participants favored Senator McCain 39-36 prior to viewing the ad and favored Senator Obama 40-36 after viewing the ad.
• In response to a hypothetical election matchup between Senator McCain and Hillary Clinton, survey participants favored Senator McCain 40-38 prior to viewing the ad and favored Senator Clinton 41-38 after viewing the ad.

Comments

[Crozier]

During presidential campaigns, "swiftboating" has been part of the negative and extremely successful strategies since the majority of Americans want their answers in 30 second sound bites or less. These individuals read headlines and vote. They do not believe that nuance is macho. Real Men Don't drink lattes, eat quiche or yes..........think and analyze....not the men who support McCain or Clinton.

I just read the ' VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST JOHN MCCAIN." I am a Vietnam veteran who served with 1st CAV- as a new ROTC minted butterbar. I rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during my reserve service after active duty. McCain is part of the LEGACY ELITE like BUSH II. He was born to two privileged parents- one of whom is still alive in her nineties. Married to an Anglican retired bishop, I am aware that the McCain family was Episcopalian...until John became an adult and found Dominionist Fundamentalism necessary for GOP credentials. Another such Episcopalian, George W Bush became a Methodist with fundy friends. THEM PISCOPALS ARE LIKE KATHLICKS AND THEY HAVE FAGGOT BISHOPS.

[Angelus2007]

I guess in your view you have now right to change your religion. These are things that many democrats do that make middle America think we are elite and snobbish. We go after the fact that someone changes religion and we don't like it so we cry about that. There are more than enough reasons to go after McCain on his record, picking on his religion shouldn't be one. And of all the bad things about McCain his service in Vietnam, whether is parents are privileged or not, is one of his most honorable traits. And his "priviliged parents" didn't keep him from being prisoner for 5 1/2 years. And those "Vietnam Vets again John McCain" are the minority. My father is a drafted 'Nam vet and meets with other 'Nam vets 2 times a month, and there isn't one who feels McCain is not a hero. Even though they may not vote for him.

[bakersdozen]

What constitutes a "hero?" I have great compassion for what McCain endured during his captivity, back in the days when only our "enemies" tortured. Of course, now we do the same, but that's another issue. He participated in an immoral, illegal war and he knew what he was signing up for. Dropping bombs on civilians he'd never have to see from 50,000 feet is not heroism.

[LivingStardust]

Aye, I can't stand the fascist sell-out, but even I will stipulate McCain was a war hero. However, his actions since then negate that in weighing him as potential Presidential material.

[JAYFRTTT]

Remember, Kennedy was a "KATHICK"! McCain's Privileged Parents really helped his stay in North Vietnam, did they not. NOT in the least. And, might I add, what has religion got to do with it. If one believes in a Supreme Being and decides to pay homage to Such what right is it of anyone, especially anyone from this Country - The Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free.

[bogananda666]

Just what is the definition of this Supreme Being?

[CitizenGeek]

Is fairness, the left is getting carried away with McCain's statement of 100 years in Iraq. I dislike McCain as much as the next reasonable person, but he was obviously referring to peacekeeping and not a century-long war. This kind of mis-information leaves the same kind of sour taste that Republican tactics leave ...

[itmaybetoolate]

I am guessing that you are not a democrat. I hope the next ad has his "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" ditty. He probably was NOT referring to a peace keeping force with that comment.

[jupitor]

Not all Dem's think dirty politics is good! We've gotten in the mud in these last years, and need to clean it up. John Mccain is a war hero, and a Vet. But we do feel he has a severe memory problem and a terable temper! A combination we can't afford to have in the WH running this country or haveing to ans. a red phone at 3 in the morning. That is why a lot of republicans are going for Obama and Vet's are to! Besides the young votes obama has brought to the table, he's brought these kind of voters, because they don't want mccain! Not because they don'lt respect him! I feel this ad goes to the heart of one of the problems both he and Hillary has, and that is they speak with out thinking of the consquences of what damage thier words do> Like Hillary trying to start a war with Iran with her Obliviate Iran speech. I'm sure the Repub's will use that is she nominated to show she's a loose canon! So I don't think Mccain should whine about this one! It's true.

[Gordon]

Not a democrat just because he disagrees with the ad?

Some of you people are cultist partisans.

[jdenham]

The statement goes just as much to his temperment as what he said. He does not think when he speaks sometimes. I think it shows his inability to say he is wrong and his problems with his temper.

[realpolitic]

The idea is that the thought of staying 100 years in Iraq and comparing it to our bases in Europe is a ridiculous premise. In Europe, Japan, and Korea, hostilities ceased with the a formal surrender ceremony, or in the case of Korea, an armistice. In Iraq, hostilities will likely never cease. We will always be seen as an occupyung force and fired on there.

[ProgressiveBum]

Problem is, what will it take to achieve peace? A broadly hated military occupation is not the way to do it.

[blindjester]

You mean, misinformation like "Obama secretly believes every inappropriate thing Rev. Wright has ever said"?

We call Iraq a war when Bush wants unprecedented authority to circumvent the 4th amendment, eliminate habeas corpus and use torture against prisoners. But if McCain talks about Iraq, it's a peacekeeping mission. It sounds so much nicer then!

The bombs just tickle when it's a peacekeeping mission, right? And it's paid for in monopoly money.

McCain is the war candidate. We want the troops to come home, and he doesn't.

[fnygy]

This isn't just fair game - its THE game. It's smart to make him defend and explain the "100 years" statement because it is both indefensible and inexplicable. How can we get to a "peace keeping force" without continuing this insane war? He cannot explain it - because it MAKES NO SENSE.

McCain is often flip in his responses - this is a gift that will keep on giving and I'm glad the DNC is running it and I'm even more glad they tell him to "stop whining." It's nice to be on the offensive for a change.

[Joeblue]

Yes, and he needs to explain it over and over again like they make Obama do.

[realpolitic]

He should defend the statement instead of whining about the Democrats using his own words in an ad. I mean it is not a good indication of how he might handle differences when he is president. His statements have been unclear many, many times.

[DFDoerr]

DNC to McCain:
We have only just begun "Swiftboating" you.
Afterall, their owed.

[madkey]

What to they get around to his latest comment on we went to war for oil. RNC and the GOP are going to have a problem with Mccain. Its his age, He continuously confuses Sunni with Shiites and now we went to war for Oil. I thought we were there because of Democracy. Well wait to we see that ad mixed with 100 years. Hillary Clinton is doing Mccains Job and John Mccain is doing Obamas Job.

[jupitor]

The problem is if hillary is the nomanee, they will take a clip out of that speech of why she supported mccain's / Bush war and run that and counter punch the DNC ad to heck! No game here guys if Hillary is the nomanee! They will simply put her on supporting the war in 40 second loops and that ad won't seem so scary any more. Than loop her saying she'll wipe out Iran on the same ad, and that ad of Mccains is no longer a weapon! You'd better hope Obama gets nomonated. He wasn't stupid enough to vote for the war, or shout he's going to wipe out a whole country, or voted for the stupid gas tx holliday that will hurt us all! The rev; wright thing is all they have against obama, and if he becomes the nomanee the counter punch is going to be clips Of Hagee saying some pretty nasty things if they try to loop wright.

[Eoin45]

Swiftboating has nothing to do with truth and as such we shouldn't resort to it. Hitting hard with the truth, as the ad did, is fine with me.

[LivingStardust]

As a Constitutionalist and not a member of either ridiculous party, I'd like to take this chance to say this RE: Whining comment.

Blow me you warmongering fascist tool.

See John? That's not whining. That's anger.

Also:

You are a liar and a moral reprobate with the audacity to back torture although you were once tortured yourself. It must take a lot of money to make someone turn against themselves in that way.

See John? That's not whining. That's righteous indignation at a venal scumbag.

Go home, old man. You win if the election is rigged again and that's the only way.

See John? That's not whining. That's just the facts.

[StanTheManic]

Brilliant!

Besides, who wants to follow the military strategy of a guy whose last mission was, well, in the loss column?

I too am no longer a member of either dumbass party, right after participating in the Iowa Caucus and saw who we foisted on the rest of the country. The Dems have no guts, or balls or whatever you want to call that "Eddie Haskell" approach.

Three people running for prez -- all three currently have jobs in which they promised or professed or alluded to bringing about change. B.S.

McCain's running an ad in Iowa, maybe other places, in which he says we can't have politics as usual, or words to that end. Hey, Johnny, you've been in the House and/or Senate since 19-eighty-freakin-one -- what have you accomplished? You are the EMBODIMENT of politics as usual, you war-damaged goon.

[ExRepublican]

great damn post.

May missy god bless you.

[qdog112]

McCain's gaffe's don't really matter. The corporations have such a grip on us that there is a segment of Americans who go along with what they say, waving the flag all the way. There is so much money to be made in the war business that the industrial military complex will fight to keep the cash alive.

The only way to stop this fiasco is to start the draft sans deferments. It will be over in weeks. Republicans don't want that, it will expose them for what they are.

[Crozier]

Yes, the MIC wanted a volunteer force. It was the way to stop the conscripted service of all. It would protect the privileged and remove the "rabble" from service. It would encourage "military brats" to serve and especially fill the warrant, NCO and enlisted ranks. The majority of the Officer Corps would be from the service academies and OCS programmes. ROTC programmes are always a problem because they live on college campuses often in opposition to the MIC adventures.

[annawing]

If he had just said, "That was an unfortunate comment, and I regret making it," it probably would have been dropped and forgotten. It is on tape, after all - we have all seen it. I will trust that it was taken out of context, but he still will not get my vote.

[cathye]

Except when Obama apologizes for mis-statements like that, they don't -_-

Hillary Clinton lies about her mistakes.
John McCain whines about them being "misinterpreted."

In the presidential race, word and actions are tied together. There is no way to separate what a person says from what a person really believes. So we have to judge them by what they say.

[realpolitic]

Republicans rarely apologize for their comments. They are not held to the same standard as Democrats. I can not remember any who did, except perhaps retired Senator Trent Lott who said we would have avoided problems if we would have elected segregationist Strom Thurmond as president in 1948.

[Crozier]

CORPORATE FASCIST MSM MEMO: Please leave Senator McCain to his own devices. DO NOT cover his many screwups....including the admission that IRAQ was about OIL....not lower prices for us but theft of the commodity the world needs for a few TRILLIONAIRES.

IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE MCCAIN AND CLINTON SUMMER GAS REBATES ARE PURE BULLCRAP SOLUTIONS AND THAT THEY MIRROR EACH OTHER.

Instead, the WHOLE EMPHASIS MUST BE TO SEVERELY WOUND SENATOR OBAMA SO THAT THE SHEEPLE CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO CORPORATE SHILLS.....CLINTON OR MCCAIN.

[crease]

The old man can`t handle the political pressure or what!!! what`s with the attack add on Obama in N.Carolina ? He sent a letter the re-pukes in N.Carolina but he could not call or come in person and tell them the add should be dropped,no, so now the shoe is on the other foot and he is bellyaching the whole time. I say to bad gramps get over it because come this fall you will be exposed for the chimp that you are, Your warmongering , health care plan and tax cuts for the weathy are already out there and when we put the rest of your plans out people will see you for who and what you really stand for.

[Viper]

Gee, Obama answers why people VOT against their economic interest in rural America... "Bitter" .

And the 100 millionare Club jumps on Obama as an Elitist because what he said was taking out of context.


Of course Hilary, whose husband had made the same obeservation about religion/gun wedge issues... gives comfort to the enemy and supports McCain.

Well, McCain when asked to clarify you then said 1000 years. In 2005 you said you were against a long stay and that our troops there caused the problem... "Bring'em Home" .

NOw you say the Iraq War was for oil... then you said you were refering to Gulf War 1, then you said no you were not and now you are saying you were B/S.


Lets not mistake Hilary Toughness for what it really is: Carl Rove Sleezy.

Regards

[SouthpawSass]

I still don't get how Clinton or McCain can pin the "elitist" title on Obama when in fact McCain's net worth is over $45 million, Clintons is over $34 million and Obama ranks third at just over $1 million.


How many homes, I wonder does each candidate own?

[cathye]

Obama just has the one, as far as I know.

[raker]

With his rosy cheeks and slicked hair Reagan always looked like he'd just been made-up by the undertaker. McCain looks like the undertaker is due but hasn't arrived yet.

[TocinoHumano]

Or like the undertaker got there, but it was too late.

[BillyT]

when the underaker got here, McCain was in drag doing his Hillary McCain thing of selling gas tax holiday sham to IN and NC ignorant voters who still believe they will rake in "8 billion dollars" from this summer alone, and the undertaker didn't recognize him.

I am convinced this is how McCain escapes death all the time: by doing time in drag as Hillary.

[igmond50]

Nice to see such an intelligent well concieved opinion. Bozo the clown would be proud.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

I before E except after C.

[Crozier]

ROFLMAO - Yes, the Democrats produced an Annapolis (USNA) presidential nominee, former President Jimmy Carter, who was in the top ten percent....and the Republicans produce an Annapolis nominee who was in the BOTTOM ONE PERCENT of his class.

That is perfect because the International Corporate Thieves need the DUMBEST and MOST WILLING SHILLS WITH INTEGRITY FOR SALE AND NO MORAL CORE TO THEIR BELIEFS...LIKE B RATED ACTORS OR FAILED SONS OF A SUCCESSFUL ADMIRAL GRANDFATHER AND FATHER WITH SENATE SCANDALS AND A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE REVERSAL OF HIS ONCE CORE BELIEFS.

[bogananda666]

McCain didn't get into his publicly paid education at Annapolis based on his merit, but his family's political contacts. His father and grandfather were Admirals and that's how he got into Annapolis. McCain has voted 20% of the time to fund the Veterans Administration while all the congresswomen have voted 8-% for VA funding. McCain opposed a new Veterans education bill. After all he got his education paid for and he got his, so screw the rest of us. Typical Repubican.

[cathye]

Notice the ever growing lump of metasticized cancer on his left cheek?

[BillyT]

DNC says STOP WHINING TO McCAIN....

Are you talking about

HILLARY McCAIN

or

JOHN McCAIN??

[ExRepublican]

Not so funny, "Billy"

Or is that "Billary" ?

[BillyT]

Billary....

another nickname for Hillary.

Her real full name, Hillary McCain, is just so stuffy....

And I am not trying to be funny. I just can't figure it out. Aren't those two one and the same?

John is nearly bald and very white, so when he puts on a wig and some lipstick, he can easily drag it and voila it's Hillary!!

[TocinoHumano]

I never heard of Hillary McCain. I think they meant John. Didn't you read the article?

[iBgood]

This 'war on terror' is as successful as the 'war on drugs'. And the very last ones on earth to be in charge are rethugs. They are too stupid, have no diplomacy due to their only focus being greed and power. mcsame like bush was a below average student who got a free pass to fly like a 'maverick' crash airplanes, killing his fellow sailors because his old man was Admiral. If it weren't for his daddy he would have been thrown out of the navy and probably served time. He is not a hero. He's a crazy bastard.

[bigironal25]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[helonias]

So when is the bomb bomb bomb Iran ad coming out and what will he say about that?

[nancytheragingliberal]

Helonias, Yes, I can't wait for that. There he was with his snotty nose and his handkerchief, singing that stupid song. He is a warmonger, and to the far right of W. He will complete the destruction hoisted on the world in the last 8 years, if we are so unlucky to have him as the next President.

[ExRepublican]

"if we are so unlucky to have him as the next President."

the best thing we can do is just the opposite of what most 'liberals' espouse.

Don't vote a far right nut into office. I know, I know, MOVEON.ORG and other nutcases are saying they won't vote for Hillary - well then, welcome Johnny McCaint. Don't b*tch if that happens

How f'n stupid.

[qdog112]

Right. He's got a ton of good stuff to come. How about when a supporter asked him how to stop that bitch (Hillary)? Now that was very presidential despite your stance on her, I can't imagine that happening at a Barack town hall without him correcting the questioner. It's a great sound bite.

[abby4ever]

We wouldn't even need a peacekeeping force in Iraq, had Bush and Company laid down the law to Maliki. I can't believe how much slack they have cut him--- six years on, he's still dithering. Of course, it's hard, with everything there being so tribal, with warring factions and the like. But I still think he's a ditherer, not near strong enough to take charge of such a wild country. In 100 years they will still be emersed in tribal wars and we will still be playing nanny.
What ever possessed anyone to think we could go in there and start a democracy???

[Nyland8]

"What ever possessed anyone to think we could go in there and start a democracy???"

Imperial Hubris.

8

[abby4ever]

You are right, but there is more: a think tank in London. It cost millions and persuaded Tony Blair that spreading democracy, even at gunpoint, would defeat terrorism. He had much more say in whether to go in or not than most Americans think, his arm wasn't twisted, he was all for it. I think Bush went more for oil, but Blair for an idea. One he still has and believes in, even though he left Iraq in flames. Doesn't bother him any more than it bothers Bush.