Obama Aides Won't Call For Charlie Black's Firing

Surrogates to Barack Obama derided, on Tuesday, remarks from a top aide to the McCain campaign claiming that a terrorist attack would benefit his candidate. But they would not go so far, as others have, in calling for Black's firing.

"I don't think it is up to us to suggest how Sen. McCain staffs his campaign," said 9/11 Commission Member Richard Ben-Veniste. "I think the remarks were so out of place that they call for some recalibration in the thinking and perhaps in a greater adherence to principle here in staying away from the politics of fear. I suggest it would be a good idea to caution those whose candid thoughts have created this turmoil for Senator McCain."

On Monday, McCain's chief adviser, Charlie Black, stirred the political pot by claiming that, electorally, it would be a "big advantage" for his boss if a terrorist attack were to happen between now and the election.

Reaction was swift, with McCain distancing himself from the remarks and the Obama campaign ripping them as a "disgrace." Then, last night, former counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke raised the bar, insisting that "Charlie Black ought to be gone tomorrow morning."

Aides to Obama wouldn't take that leap. Instead, on a conference call with reporters, they categorized Black's statement as the political bluster, fear tactics, and a distraction from the issues. On one occasion they were pressed to say whether they thought Black's words could or should be attributed to McCain.

The question of, to whom to ascribe Mr. Black's comments is an academic one," said aide Dennis McDonough.

Asked by Time Magazine's Jay Carney whether they believed Black was, in essence wishing a terrorist attack on the United States, McDonough again stuck to the script:

"It appears that Mr. Black views terror through a political lens, that's not our view. Our view is that terror is a fundamental security challenge."

Comments

[KBAR]

What did Charlie Black say that was different than what Hillary said in a speech?

[mbjesq]

This is a mature response. The calling-for-resignation from your adversary's team is a bush-league move of political grandstanding. (A prime example: the Clinton team demanding Samantha Power's head after her "monster" comment, http://memestreamblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/obama-fails-a-test-of-character/ .)

You run your campaign, and let the other guys run theirs. Of course, a politician is judged by the company they keep, and comment is fair-game. In this case, the commentary from the Obama team was classy, yet pointed.

[KillTheMessenger]

Very good. We should not help cleaning the McCain campaign. We need the dirtiest minds spewing the most venom all the time over there to get a nice contrast... the voters need to see clearly who they are voting for.

[Dardango]

This is the problem with contemporary Democrats. If an Obama camapign manager had even thought such a thing this would have been a 2-3 day story with Republicans coming out of the woodworks in "outrage" over this "unAmerican statement" and calling for his ouster, which they would have gotten.

If Obama's campaign is going to take the nice guy approach, they will join the Kerry and Dukakis campaigns in the dustbin of history.

[S1m0n]

Someone that unsavory and accident prone is better than a mole.

[Moxo]

So another terrorist attack means that the terrorists SUPPORT John McCain? And if there is no attack it means they support barack Obama??

Will McCain new campaign theme now be, "No attack means the terrorist WAN'T Obama to win"?

[TheOneironaut]

Oh I love the O'bama campaign! Throw teh ball back in MahCane's court..let see what he does with it!

[obamanation31]

Here's what he said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7xZQ4Q3j4

[coba]

i dont think obama should call for the firing of black for this issue. think about if black gets fired then the media will stop talking about it. Also black has links to foreign countries that are communist so i think they are saving black for later

http://www.barackobama.com/live/

[PorkBelly]

Why get him fired when they can beat up on the idiot lobbyist for the next 4.5 months?

[DallasMike]

Charlie Black did not "wish" for an attack.
He just stated the obvious.
Just like another katrina would help the Dems

[Buddy McCue]

If Bush and Co. had responded to Katrina in an appropriate way, it wouldn't have helped his opposition.

[PAposter]

Like the levees that broke overnight in Missouri, and the levees a week and half ago in Iowa? Then I guess the Democrats are in great shape, huh?

[harriscrl3]

It amazes me how when Obama made the bitter comments they went at him full barrell. CNN played it over and over no one cared about context what he meant they just went for the jugular. Compare that to this comment and suddenly they try to explain what Black meant. Oh he didnt mean it like that there is truth to it yada yada. The double standard in the media REEKS. This morning I was watching Morning Joe and they were saying in reference to Black's comemnt Oh weh ave to stop this gotcha politics taking people's word out of context I damn near vomited when I hear that. NOW we want to end the gotcha politics and it was so funny they agreed to end with the Black comment and move right on to Obama and his problem with Muslim. Apparently mcCain didnt have any when he was running around with spirtual advisors that said America was founded to destroy Islam that wasnt a muslim problem that he had. But Obama has one just like he has problem with every group and demographics in this country. I'm waiting for them to say does Obama have a child problem thats how outrageous the media has gotten. Obama camp is smart in not calling for him to be fired. Considering his background this is soemone YOU WANT to remain on McCain's campaign.

Carol

[whiteboyblues]

Maybe Black can get with some of the terrorist groups he has ties with and make something happen?

[mntnguy]

And once again how are you going to pay for it? You keep coming up with ideas and I must admit the public useing these types of vehicles is a good one they all should be at the very least it would help build the infrastructure to maintain and fuel these new cars and trucks. BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT? You want to give the richest Americans bigger tax breaks. leave those of us on the lower income spectrum holding the bag and fatten up your wife investment accounts because you hide every living asset you guys have in her name why? who know? anyone? There is no money for your plan there for it is pure and simple pandering once again the so called straight talk express has derailed in 2000 I voted for Mc Cain but in 08 I will be making my vote for Obama at least when he won his party nomination he moved and took over the DNC and started making the changes he promised by contrast when Mc Cain locked up his party nomination The RNC took over his campaign changed his positions on everything to be in line with there extreme right way of thinking and he rolled over and took it! plus I can not vote for a man who went to the same naval academy as me and graduated nearly dead last in his class how sad! underachiever for president! That should be his campaign slogan

[SouthFloridaDem]

I don't think they should call for his resignation. It's a stupid comment. Personally, I say let these people stay in their jobs and keep making stupid comments. The electorate isn't the same one as in 2004. Terrorism doesn't scare people like it used to. And these guys have cried wolf waaay too often. Rule of thumb is if your opponent is constantly putting his foot in his mouth, don't help him stop -- help him to lift the foot to the mouth!