Iran Condemns McCain's Cigarette Joke

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned remarks by Republican presidential candidate John McCain that exporting cigarettes could be a way of killing Iranians.

The state-owned English language IRAN daily has quoted ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini denouncing the remarks as "inappropriate" and describing McCain's attitude as "regretful."

Last week, McCain was asked about an Associated Press report that the U.S. exported $158 million worth of cigarettes to Iran during the Bush administration in spite of restrictions on U.S. imports.

"Maybe that's a way of killing them," McCain said. He then said that he was joking.

Iran has officially announced that it supports neither U.S. presidential campaign but does hope the election will bring a change in U.S. foreign policy.

Comments

[robotfog]

McClunk was being asked a question which, I think, centered around American businesses doing business with Iran. Rather than explain how he feels about companies doing business with our great "enemy", he tries to deflect. Why can't he just address the question? There is an international boycott on some Iranian province (I can't remember which one) and several American company's are approved to do business there. One of the corporations is halliburton, of course. There are a couple of others, though.

Irony of Ironies, Iran is trying to increase it's use of hydroelectric energy. The reason for their nuclear power plant is part of their energy plan to move away from the use of the very fossil fuels they sell to us. Maybe McClunk should run Iran. Then they will use up their own oil while we develop a real energy plan.

Sorry. I got off topic.

[robotfog]

I think it would be more meaningful if Iran were to boycott the U.S.

[meanguy]

so, the iranian government (you know, the who have vowed to destroy israel, and who have laws permitting the execution of anyone converting from Islam to Christianity) is in agreement with the American Left?

why am i NOT surprised?

[SimonNZ]

That's nothing Sand Negroes! You'all best get ready 'cos there's a whole lot'a bombing comin' your way when Sheriff McBush comes to town! (and maybe $10 a gallon gas but we'll keep that between ourselves for now OK).

[mgray34]

There's an old saying in the African American community...Black people have to work twice as hard, do twice as much, and take twice as much crap just to be on an even playing field with whites. Case and point: The McCain campaign. With the number of major missteps, gaffes, misspeaks (12) IN JUST ONE WEEK , does anybody out there really think that Obama's campaign would have survived?

I think back to "Bittergate" and the Rev. Wright fiasco. Look at how much mileage those two stories got. McCain reference "Bittergate" the other day. There was very little mention of the week of hell McCain had on the MSM today, however, there were several stories on the MSM about how Obama flipped flopped on Iraq. Obama is running one the best campaigns ever in modern politics, while McCain is running one of the worst and yet McCain is getting a free pass.

[ndnndpendent]

Gee this man just gets more impressive the longer this campaign drags on, I wish we could just get this over with and get to vote for the cool guy and we could get on with the real business of fixing this third world country.

[LarBear]

ndnndpendent..... QUOTE: "and we could get on with the real business of fixing this third world country." FIXING THEM???

My Nation, the USA, interferes (CIA) in Iranian Politics... WE prop up the Shah until he is overthrown... We threaten their existence as a Nation... Then, they decide to do Nuclear Weapons to use on Europe, or Israel, as a threat to counter us...

I think I missed the propaganda classes... Why am I supposed to hate and want the people of Iran dead? Likely, without the Office Holders, both Nations Elect, the people of the two Nations could be friendly... I felt the same way after spending two weeks meeting the people of China...

Seems to me, hands down, our corrupt, Dominant Political System, with it's two Branches, Democrat and Republican, are clearly the Greater threat to me and my Nation... And, clearly, as we are doing so, right now, WE keep the Corrupt System intact..
POGO "WE have met the Enemy and IT is US....

[chrissy22]

lol strain very will put

[Speakchic]

Just what the world needs another arrogant, careless and tasteless American President with no respect for lives outside of the USA. What McCain doesn't seem to understand is that jokes like this are hurtful and rude and showcase an arrogance about Americans that most around the world despise about us a nation. If anyone in another country ESPECIALLY a political figure made any reference joking or not the US would not only condemn the remarks but the country would suffer a terrible image portrayal from anyone who would listen. And what's even more disturbing is that this isn't McCain's first time showcasing such little disregard for Iranian lives.

Obama '08!

[barackobama4prez]

"Bomb bomb bomb

bomb bomb Iran."

[Bluejay00234]

lol

[demfriend]

Like the "Bomb Iran" song which he really meant, just like Bush does, the cigarette "joke" shows his disregard for the lives of Iranians. Why all of the countries people? What have they all done that they deserve to die? His brand of "humour" ecapes me and I fail to see how wishing a country of people dead should be considered funny by the MSM or anyone. When you are on the front page of poliical news and there is a country with the capacity to kill others either local in the middle east or our own troops in the nearby countries whre they are fighting, "joking" about killing the people of that country can cause an international incident or the increase oof our troop deaths. Not a good thing to do even in "jest".

[Strain]

They have an idiot as president, we have an idiot as president and another idiot running for president.
The world isn't a safe place when we have these idiots running countries.

[robotfog]

which is why I recommend intelligence and psych tests for all people running for positions of leadership across the world. Oh, and emotional stability tests.

bush wouldn't have passed the shoe tieing test.

[festi]

You know something is wrong when the spokesman for the IRanian government is the one seen to be moderate adn intelligent.

Wow. Maybe if McCain wins someone will send him a carton.....

[meanguy]

you know something is wrong when americans post in support of the iranian regime

[poco767b]

Iran needs to endorse McCain.

[protagonia]

Wasn't particularly bright as a young man -

and now he's old.

[drakke]

Succinct -- correct; almost a mini Haiku. Bravo

[MikePS65]

Iran is outraged, but not enough to stop buying Marlboros.

If they DID stop buying American cigarettes, McCain could kiss his Big Tobacco lobby support goodbye. Until then, it's just all good folksy fun - nothing more heartwarming than the down-home Republican candidate musing about how we can kill people in other countries. Ha ha ha.

He either:

a) doesn't know what's inappropriate to say
b) does know what's inappropriate to say and doesn't care
c) can't control his mouth

Pick any of them, put the words "The President of the United States" before each, and decide if any is a good option.

[IRepTheKing]

Good point.

[wbwbruce]

Sounds like either Bush or McSame.