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

[rtnd22]

Amadenejahd, and McCain both need a one way ticket to Uranis...t­hey are out to destroy the world

[Soothsayer08]

This was a tastless and insensitive comment, and the Iranian are right in their outrage. Don't these idiots realize the people in the Middle East have access to our news?

[mistlesuede]

I don't think Grampy realizes much of anything. To even think that this comment should have been made at all in public, shows he has no discipline and is incredibly unprofessional. HE IS a third term of Shrub on steriods waiting to happen.
Have you noticed that he is showing signs of being like Ronald Reagan? Needs to have his wife everywhere he goes to poke him in the back and tell him what to say. Ronald Reagan had early Alzheimer's symptoms that were being hidden from the public. I am afraid this could be exactly the same thing going on again. There is no other explanation for why Cindy Lou Who has to be EVERYWHERE with him. He can't be left alone.

[meanguy]

"This was a tastless and insensitive comment, and the Iranian are right in their outrage. Don't these idiots realize the people in the Middle East have access to our news?"

are we supposed to live our lives in fear of offending the delicate sensibilities of the iranian government?

[JohnnieP]

For the most part, Most, if not all, of John McCain's assinine remarks made during his '08 Presidential
campaign can be attributed to the fact that he's been on the brink of senility for years.

[coba]

great mccain gives iran something else to cry about to the united nations. i remember when hillary said she could destroy iran. you know what iran did? they went the the united nations and got sympathy. this just spread anti american sentiments around the world when our politicians say stuff like this. and this ultimately makes us unsafe sensico.wordpress.com/

[Grunty1]

One of the fastest ways to reduce gas prices would be to muzzle Mc'Cain and B'ush for the rest of the year.

[coba]

great mccain gives iran something else to cry about to the united nations. i remember when hillary said she could destroy iran. you know what iran did? they went the the united nations and got sympathy. this just spread anti american sentiments around the world when our politicians say stuff like this. and this ultimately makes us unsafe sensico.wordpress.com/

[jeffp26]

I guess the Iranians, like the majority of americans in the latest polls, don't get McClone's jokes.

I do. He's the joke, right?

[Grunty1]

He isn't meant to be a joke. He's like one of those hilarious movies that are so terribly bad that they are comedy gold.

[zendem1]

Yep. MST 2K

[DexGor]

Surprisingly tame language on the part of Hosseini. I think it's safe to say that most of the people on HuffPo were more offended.

[DaOne]

I am no fan of the regime in Tehran. That said, what McCain said is typical of the "off the cuff" nonsense that will hamper diplomatic efforts as we go forward.

In so many ways, McCain has not adapted to the subtleties of the modern age. We cannot afford his sloppiness in the Presidency.

Obama 08