McCain Camp Insists Obama Is Playing Age Card

The McCain camp is taking offense at an appearance of Barack Obama on Wolf Blitzer this week, claiming that Obama is playing the the age card.

Obama told Blitzer that he was "disappointed" by McCain repeating a smear connecting Obama to Hamas:

"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."

The McCain camp released a memo in response, saying Obama using the phrase "losing his bearings" is a deliberate attempt to attack McCain's age:

First, let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama's attack today: He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning.

You can read the whole memo below (and you should; it's quite a rant).

Obama's spokeman Bill Burton had this to say about the "age" memo:

Clearly losing one's bearings has no relation to age, given this bizarre rant that Mark Salter just sent out. It's clear why a candidate offering a third term of George Bush's disastrous economic policies and failed strategy in Iraq would want to distract and attack, but it's not the kind of campaign John McCain has promised the American people that he would run.

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To: Interested Parties

From: Mark Salter, Senior Advisor
Date: May 8, 2008
Re: Senator Obama's Attack Today

First, let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama's attack today: He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning.

We have all become familiar with Senator Obama's new brand of politics. First, you demand civility from your opponent, then you attack him, distort his record and send out surrogates to question his integrity. It is called hypocrisy, and it is the oldest kind of politics there is.

It is important to focus on what Senator Obama is attempting to do here: He is trying desperately to delegitimize the discussion of issues that raise legitimate questions about his judgment and preparedness to be President of the United States.

Story continues below

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Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue -- from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad - constitute negative, personal attacks.

Senator Obama is hopeful that the media will continue to form a protective barrier around him, declaring serious limits to the questions, discussion and debate in this race.

Senator Obama has good reason to think this plan will succeed, as serious journalists have written of the need for 'de-tox' to cure 'swooning' over Senator Obama, and others have admitted to losing their objectivity while with him on the campaign trail.

Today, Senator Obama is complaining about comments John McCain made about a senior Hamas advisor stating that Hamas would welcome Senator Obama's election as president. Indeed, on April 13th, senior Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef said, 'We don't mind - actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance.'

The McCain campaign has never suggested that Senator Obama supports Hamas' agenda, but it is more than fair to raise this quote about Senator Obama because it speaks to the policy implications of his judgment.

Just today, the president of Iran, whom Senator Obama wants to meet with unconditionally, called the state of Israel a 'stinking corpse.' Iran is the paymaster and state sponsor of Hamas.

In his victory speech this week, Senator Obama stated that 'wisdom' is meeting with our enemies, including Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, North Korea's Kim Jong Il, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Raul Castro. John McCain couldn't disagree more. Rather than giving tyrants and dictators the prestige of meeting with an American president, John McCain will instead meet with the champions of human freedom around the world and opposition leaders fighting for liberty .

We understand why Senator Obama doesn't want to engage in a debate over leadership and judgment with John McCain, but the American people demand that debate take place.

These are serious times that call for a serious debate on the profound issues facing our future. John McCain is ready for that debate and we hope Senator Obama will one day get serious and join it.

Comments

[txbyrd]

Accusing people of playing the "race card" will backfire.

If people point out McCain's confusion over nations, it is an "age card."

I guess if someone says, "McCain has a VERY long history of public service," this will be seen as playing the "age card."

Play the "race card"-- OK, he's Black. Piss a lot of Blacks off.

Play the "gender card"-- OK, she's female. Piss a lot of women off.

Point out the "age card" and you only remind people.....

wait, what was the question?

[txbyrd]

That should be :

Accusing people of playing the AGE card will backfire.

Got my 'cards' confused.

I'm old too.

[NABNYC]

John McCain is an old man, past retirement age by most standards. Politicians and judges are notorious for refusing to step aside because they like the title, the ritual, sitting on the throne, the honors, the lunches, the dinners, and the very cushy paycheck. The fact is there are a lot of politicians who have no business holding on to their political seats. Ahem, Diane Feinstein.

I personally think 71 or 72 is too old to be president given the demands of the office if the candidate actually intends to do the job. People use Reagan as an example of an old man in the office, but remember he was senile, his staff and family covered it up, and others were basically running the place. We're not really looking for a figurehead. I want a president who will actually do something, unlike Bush who turned everything over to Cheney and the neocons and only showed up for photo-ops.

I also would like McCain's medical records. In addition to being too old for a 16 hour/day job, he has had a very serious bout with cancer, and there are legitimate reasons for the public to demand a complete medical disclosure by him before the election. And yes, he is old.

[Wanjiru]

...paging AARP...

.

[Gmoney1]

If McCain and his supporters are sensitive about McCain's age, why should'nt the american public be - he had no business trying to connect Hamas to Obama - now he and his people are whining wow - I would have said - he's losing his mind, marbles, faculities, judgement reason, grasp, etc...

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones - haaaaaaaaaa - he's old and mean - get over it -

[Wanjiru]

he's old and mean - get over it -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...????...

...get over what?...

...where did you get the impression that I support McCain?...

...how about you learn to read?...

.

[Wanjiru]

...in all fairness to Sen. McCain, he lost his bearings long before this presidential race period...

*smirk*

.

[Dadam]

Oh, it's okay to smear because of race, "inexperience", a pastor, a flag lapel pin, but AGE is not?

Fuck that old geezer. I don't want my president wearing Depends.

[TrueBlueMajority]

Oh please. Isn't McCain a Navy man? Doesn't he know what "lose your bearings" means?

It's a navigation term. It means he's lost his way. It means he used to be a straight talker and now he's just mindlessly repeating whatever GOPropaganda will get him elected.

McCain HAS lost his bearings. He's lost his moral compass. He lost it long ago, when he ate birthday cake with George Bush while Katrina victims were dying, and when he bearhugged the same George Bush who had accused him of fathering an illegitimate black child.

But it is interesting that McCain is so touchy about the age thing... Obama hit a nerve and I hope he keeps doing it.

[Thereandback]

Exactly! I'm tired of hearing analysts on television completely ignoring the navigation reference and it is dishonest for McCain to pretend that the phrase was about age.

[nomobull]

thank you i thought it was a military term.but i was not sure but i did know it had nothing to do with age.

[JiminNC]

Barack is too young an inexperienced but your age is off limits McMummy??? Dementia is real! Czhekoslavakia is not. They might have needed a missile system 16 years ago. Putin is not the president of Germany and actually is no longer the president of Russia. You don't know Shia from Shinola and we are supposed to ignore your little lapses of memory? Not going to happen sir.

[escapee]

McMummy? Hilarious!!

[castlerider]

Well John,
To paraphrase what you said about mentioning Hamas' wanting Obama to win, how you only did it because the voters wanted you to...

He's only bringing up your age because US VOTERS WANTED HIM TO!!!!!!

Get a clue, old man. 4 years of that job will leave you barely able to get up in the morning.- and there's NO WAY you'll be able to do 8!

[tiredofhillary]

You mean to tell me that McSame is 71-72 yrs old and that should not be an issue?

Give me a break old man!

[ducksawce]

It has nothing to do with age...It has to do with lucidity

Jimmy Carter is 12 years oler than Mc Cain and 12 years younger in lucidity.

Bush Senior is also much older and more lucid.

Mc Cain thinks old...therefore he is old

[realpolitic]

McCain tries to link Obama with Hamas and then attacks Obama for playing the age card. The world of politics is certainly topsy-turvy. I guess the straight talk express is adding new stops and jumping the tracks. Regardless, McCain will lose in a landslide.

[loki]

Im sorry, I have nothing against the elderly. I am quickly becoming one myself, but we really dont need another " Oh, I cant remember" Reagan presidency. And I would bet everything I own that he will be one. He already forgets and confuses many things, this is only the beginning.

[lobo1939]

So file an elder abuse complain, John. I am sure the Bush civil rights commission would rush it right to the suprem court and they would declare you president for life.

[Maanu]

Yet more proof that come GE and debate time, McGoo is done.

[Mscharizmaa]

How ridiculous. Obama didn't bring up age...McCain's camp made the giant leap from losing bearing to age. And, if he would stop changing what he did and did not say, then maybe people would stop thinking his losing it.

[going2ireland]

Looks like McCain's panties are in a bunch!!

May I suggest briefs instead of boxers. The thought of your "boys" having so much freedom gives me the willies!

[RobtBrock]

Depends.