Obama Hits Hamas "Smear": McCain Is "Losing His Bearings"

Over the past few weeks, John McCain has pushed the idea that the terrorist organization Hamas is supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Today, Obama hit back at McCain for the smear by association.

"This is offensive, and I think it's disappointing," Obama told Blitzer, when asked his thoughts about McCain's comments that the terrorist organization Hamas wants Obama to be president. "Because John McCain always says 'I am not going to run that kind of politics,' and to engage in that kind of smear is unfortunate, particularly because my policy toward Hamas has been no different than his."

"I've said it's a terrorist organization and we should not negotiate with them unless they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and unless they are willing to abide by previous accords between the Palestinians and the Israelis. So for him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination. We don't need name calling in this debate."

Will Thomas reported on the first example of McCain's camp passing the smear through a fundraising letter with the subject line: "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election." It also has a nice breakdown of McCain's repeated promises to run a respectful campaign.

McCain later repeated the Hamas smear himself, saying "It's clear who Hamas wants to be the next President."

Comments

[robodweeb]

"I Believe that success will be fairly easy. - John McCain 9/24/02

"The American people ... were led to believe that this would be some kind of a day at the beach which many of us, uh, fully understood from the beginning would be a very, very difficult undertaking." - John McCain 8/22/06

[djthedj]

So, whenever McCain says something really stupid or just plain wrong, no one is allowed to point it out or they are attacking his age? OK, just so we all know the rules.

[obamagal]

... and just so we also all know:


bearing |ˈbe(�")ri ng |
noun
1 [in sing. ] a person's way of standing or moving : a man of precise military bearing.
� the way one behaves or conducts oneself : she has the bearing of a First Lady.
2 relation or relevance : the case has no direct bearing on the issues.
3 the level to which something bad can be tolerated : school was bad enough, but now it's past bearing.
4 a part of a machine that bears friction, esp. between a rotating part and its housing.
� a ball bearing.
5 Architecture a structural part that supports weight, such as a wall that supports a beam.
� the point at which a structural part rests upon a supporting structure, such as the specific area of a beam that rests upon a wall.
6 the direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point. It is typically measured in degrees, usually with magnetic north as zero : the Point is on a bearing of 015�.
� ( one's bearings) awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings : he rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to get his bearings.
7 Heraldry a device or charge : armorial bearings.
8 the act, capability, or time of producing fruit or offspring : I gave myself up to the bearing of children.

McCain's camp played the age card, not Obama.

[druidlady42]

Thank you, Obamagal, for clarifying the real meaning of "bearings"!

Once again, our word-challenged MSM is in a needless and stupid feeding frenzy over Obama's supposed reference to McCain's age!

It may be a "generational thing" considering the abyssmal state of our educational system in the last 20 years, but I have always been taught that "losing one's bearings" referred to going astray from one's center of perspective and balance, as a ship being tossed off its "bearings" during a storm!

John McCain has repeatedly said that he would not conduct a negative campaign, yet he is doing just that by trying to label Obama as a pawn of Hamas! Instead of rightfully saying "Shame on you, McCain!", he has simply and quietly said that McCain is "losing his bearings"-­--straying away from his center of stated values!

[samson24]

I'm really glad you learned how to use a dictionary. Please look up "imaginative", and
" mirror" and look into it.

[robodweeb]

Does this sound senile to you...

"We will win this conflict. We will win it easily." - John McCain 1/22/03

"I knew it was probably going to be long and hard and tough. And those that voted for it and thought that somehow it was going to be some kind of an easy task, then I'm sorry they were mistaken. Maybe they didn't know what they were voting for." - John McCain (1/4/07, MSNBC)

[djthedj]

No, sounds more like a good old fashioned liar to me.

[SaulGood]

now you are attacking him for his age as well? jeesh, poor old guy. whoops!

[mark77]

I can't believe the McCain camp thinks using the phrase "losing his bearings" is offensive, after trying to link Obama to Hamas terrorists. What do they expect Obama to say? "I respecffully disagree with McCain's statement that I am the preferred candidate of Hamas"???

[Tommygun264]

If the McSame camp responds in such a rabid manner over what they "perceive" to be a case of someone implying that their candidaate is senile, they are going to have a stroke once the general election campaign starts and people start coming straight out and saying John McSame is senile (and citing case after case to back up their assertions). They should just be grateful that Senator McSame will be facing off against Senator Obama, who will at least treat his opponent with respect - Hillary would savage the poor guy to the point that Grampy McSame might win the general election on a sympathy vote.

[CocteausTwin]

and his death bed. I do not give, I'll be polite here, a hoot about his age. It is the person, the character that I base my interpretation.

[hope]

Wars of aggression, raping the treasury, tax breaks for cronies, invading womens ovaries, saying anything to anyone about anything in order to win.


Sounds to me like McCain has got his Republican bearings dead center.

[Rocky4356]

Why do racist hate to be called racist. Guess the same reason fat guys hate to be called fat. Denial is not a river in Egypt. Funny when Hillary makes racist comments it OK. Funny when pastor Hagee makes his stupid comments about catholics it OK. Funny when Falwell was going off the deep end its OK. You want to be racist accept the fact that you and get on with your life. Really who cares if you are a racist. When your gas tank is empty and you digging around your empty pockets trying to find some dollars -race means nothing. some of us really need to get a life. maybe try bowling

[JackLivigni]

I guess you mean McCain is a racist for trying to paint the black man as a muslim terrorist? Is that what you were trying to say?

Republican­=Schizophr­enia

First they vote for Bush TWICE.... now they tell pollsters they don't like him... but never take responsibility for having voted for him.... clearly you all have a lousy track record when it comes to judgment.

[Kalima]

This is my last comment for your day and my night. I have noticed that if I try to post
anything that is longer than 4 sentences, my post appears and disappears. It's fine
because people who know me, also know that I am not an American, so maybe
what I think at this time, is of no importance. As a member of this world community,
I feel that I do have the right to worry about your next choice for the leadership of
America, it concerns ALL of us. As many people here have noted, America chose
wisely, the world is indeed watching you.

[CocteausTwin]

Hey I, as an American, do care about what you think. We are in this world/life together. Have a great day!

[SaulGood]

i concur, ct.

it is frustrating, indeed, kalima. i totally feel ya. many of mine get lost in the huffposphere.

[Kalima]

Thank you CTwins, I do believe that we are in this together too. It's my
night time now but I will have a great dream of unity soon.

[ExRepublican]

Happy B-day Kalima

[Kalima]

Thank you Ex. I have less than 1 hour left before the next one but I do
so love being a Taurus. Long live Earth Mothers with Venus rising!
I have wanted to say that in print for so long. BTW, you are cute.

[TNT2008]

Losing? McCain lost his bearings and his marbles earlier this year when he stopped believing in everything as he knew it! McCain is a complete bozo and his petite little Cindy is only proving that she can lie with a straight face by stating that her husband WILL NOT run a negative campaign. Until she releases her tax records and he releases his complete medical records, I don't believe he should even be considered as presidential material..­........ma­nchurian candidate!

[bygollymissmolly]

I heard on Countdown last night that the McCain campaign shot back that Obama was using age against McCain. I'm not sure what "losing your bearings" has to do with age, but what the hey.

I am going to make a prediction that the Republicans have no intention of running McCain as their candidate. I suspect that they are using him as their sacrificial lamb now, but on September 2, they will pick Romney/Huckabee, saying McCain is too sick (he does have cancer, something the MSM is ignoring).

That is why I would like to see the Democrats and Obama run against the Republican party and their policies. If they run strictly against McCain, Romney will come out fresh and new. If they run against the Republicans and the harm they have done to this country, they will be ahead of the game.

[ThunderclapNewman]

The tin foil on your hat is supposed to have the shiny side facing out.

[SaulGood]

lol. that's it? this is going to be fun.

[CocteausTwin]

nmad my dyslexia, I am reversing mine now.

[Felicty]

I don't think McCain is confused at all. I think he was just temporarily distracted by all the fumes rising from his Depends diaper.

[americanwomaninpa]

Felicty, Be careful. Many young people have to wear that kind of protection to. I wouldn't want to see you send out all that bad Karma, and have it come back and bite you in the butt....so to speak.

[suntzu]

Obama's reference to McCain's losing his bearings has nothing to do with McCain's age. After all a 10-year old child lost in the shopping mall can be said to have lost her bearings. But the metaphor is spot-on. The word "bearing" refers to where the compass should be pointed towards a known destination. Obama's comment means McCain has no idea where America is right now and where it is heading.

It is ABSOLUTELY SPOT-ON and he should continue to use it.

The Republicans know that this was the true intent of Obama's remark, and are trying to cover it over with the age issue. McCain's campaign is already way off course, and they know it.

[sickupandfed]

Right on... I would only add this: I don't care if the nature of the comment is to refer to the orientation of his politics or his age. He's addled no matter which way you look at it...

He needs to bow out even more than Hillary; at least we know she'd know where she is each day.

[tora]

This is a very sad day for America, that a senile looney like McCain is trying to run for presidency. The fact that this man has no LOGIC to anything says it all.

[Kalima]

It will be a much sadder day if Dems don't stick together, and he wins, dry your tears
and fight for that not to happen. I'll supply the tissues.

[Mattjoe]

bearing |ˈbe(ə)ri ng |
noun
1 [in sing. ] a person's way of standing or moving : a man of precise military bearing.
• the way one behaves or conducts oneself : she has the bearing of a First Lady.
2 relation or relevance : the case has no direct bearing on the issues.
3 the level to which something bad can be tolerated : school was bad enough, but now it's past bearing.
4 a part of a machine that bears friction, esp. between a rotating part and its housing.
• a ball bearing.
5 Architecture a structural part that supports weight, such as a wall that supports a beam.
• the point at which a structural part rests upon a supporting structure, such as the specific area of a beam that rests upon a wall.
6 the direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point. It is typically measured in degrees, usually with magnetic north as zero : the Point is on a bearing of 015°.
• ( one's bearings) awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings : he rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to get his bearings.
7 Heraldry a device or charge : armorial bearings.
8 the act, capability, or time of producing fruit or offspring : I gave myself up to the bearing of children.

[mhauser]

Good job, I was getting ready to do the same thing!

[HumeSkeptic]

And therein lies the beauty of Obama's remark. It was brilliant.

[robodweeb]

"I Believe that success will be fairly easy. - John McCain 9/24/02

McClone's forte is foreign policy and military affairs?

He says Barack has no foreign policy experience but yet McClone supported Bush in 2000 who hadn't even served on the Foreign Relations Committee as Obama has done.

And Obama KNEW what invading Iraq would result in a quagmire fiasco.