McCain Backs Away From Toughest Hit On Obama ... Or Maybe Not! [Updated]

***UPDATED BELOW***

Earlier this week, when John McCain said "it seems to me that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign," Time's Joe Klein called the political hit "as intemperate a personal attack as I've ever heard a major-party candidate make in a presidential campaign."

In response, Obama himself told NBC's Brian Williams:

Yeah, I-- I was disappointed by that language. You know, John McCain and I disagree on policy. You know, we disagreed on going into the war in Iraq. We disagreed, until recently, about the need to get more troops into Afghanistan. But I've never questioned-- that he wants to make America safer. And for him to suggest that I don't-- for him to suggest that somehow -- I'm less concerned about the safety of my wife and daughter-- than he is I think -- was -- was unfortunate.

So is McCain now backing away from directly impugning Obama's desire to keep America safe? Judging from prepared remarks emailed to reporters ahead of the Arizona Republican's speech to the American GI forum Friday afternoon, it would appear so. The closest his speech comes to that previous line of attack is when it declares: "He [Obama] would choose to lose in Iraq in hopes of winning in Afghanistan. But had his position been adopted, we would have lost both wars."

Of course it's unlikely that Obama would see his preference to re-focus on Afghanistan as choosing to "lose" in Iraq. But at least McCain is now framing Obama's position as a balance of priorities as opposed to an out and out desire to fail the country as a way to reap some political benefit. So while McCain is still prepared to go after Obama's symbolic vote to cut off troop funding and his stated opposition to the surge, it appears he may have realized that a frontal assault on Obama's wish for America to succeed is counter-productive.

2:05 PM UPDATE: Perhaps we spoke too soon. CNN reports that John McCain defended his previous attack on Obama during an interview with Wolf Blitzer that will air later this afternoon.

"I am accusing, I am stating the facts. The facts are that I don't question Sen. Obama's patriotism. I'm sure that he's a very patriotic American," he said in an interview from Denver, Colorado, where is making a speech and will later meet with the Dalai Lama.

"I question his judgment because he lacks experience and knowledge, and I questioned his judgment. ... Sen. Obama just views this war as another political issue, which he can change positions," McCain said.

Stay tuned.

Comments

[auntiecairo]

Still wondering how you win a war that was never declared? We are occupiers in Iraq - it's not a war - there's no enemy - just insurgents. If I were Obama I'd be saying it seems like McCain wants there to be strife in the Middle East where there is none - because he has no other message. Iraq is not and never was a threat to us -- he doesn't need to worry about our reputation - it's already ruined by virtue of our starting a war in a sovereign nature and breaking our own rules of interrogation and torture. The reason so many people turned out to see Obama in Europe and elsewhere is they actually have hope that the U.S. will be restored to the leader of freedom it once was - and not the "instigator" it has been under Bush et al. McCain's lashing out at Obama shows how scared and desperate the Republicans are - that someone might actually notice this war has been to benefit big corporations and oil companies -- at the expense of American lives and billions of dollars --

[ThePeacemakers]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill fired off letters to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the head of the agency which oversees contractors for the Department of Defense regarding a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today uncovering serious allegations of impropriety by agency auditors. The GAO found in its study that supervisors at the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) used intimidation, harassment, and threats to get their employees to alter audits in favor of contractors.

[oxford]

and, McCain will, and has, said anything to win. (Except to acknowledge which of his campaign members and supporters are members of the PNAC).

[nyc4obama123]

Why can't McBush run for the president of Panama you know were he was intact born.

[SCG]

How about President of Iraq? Lots of oil I'm told.

[Jame01958]

How can one lose the war just to win the presidency, when MISSION ACCOMPLISHED was proclaimed....5 YEARS AGO and its been an OCCUPATION EVER SINCE. If McCain keeps claiming he was right about the surge, then why doesnt he APOLOGIZE for voting for the war that was so disastoriously planned and Generals testified that they needed 200,000 or more troops going in to Iraq hence those Generals were ignored and now today, 6 years later we have the surge and McCain and the GOP proclaim VICTORY IN AN OCCUPIED SOVEIRGN STATE.

[Conejo]

It is becoming painfully obvious that McCain has nothing positive to offer. Everything he says is negative about Obama. And the media continues to protect McCain, often not publishing or downplaying his mistakes. They do this, I guess, in the misguided attempt to be "fair" and show both sides equally. Obama, ever the gentleman, simply takes all these lies and distortions and usually makes no comments or at best makes only mild criticisms when pressed to respond. McCain's behavior really disgusts me. One of these days, perhaps toward the end of the campaign, Obama is going to have to take the gloves off and really let McCain have it.

[serenegeezer]

I thought the word that Joe Klein used in describing McCain's comment was scurrilous". Was it not?

[InfinteShibumi]

Indeed it was.

[totalliberal]

Did we mention that John McCain wants to "start" a war to get elected.

[tedbear]

It is true that the polls are changing toward McCain. The time has come for Obama to start a hard line to counter the totally rude behavior of McCain. All McCain can say is Obama is "inexperienced." Maybe people are believing that. Fear is a major motivator. I am sure Obama can get down and dirty if need be. And maybe now is the time of need.

[kasinca]

Who had the foresight to oppose a unilateral, illegal, immoral, attack against a soveriegn nation that posed absolutely no threat to the security of the United States? It was Obama.

Who is the warmonger who continues to talk about winning but cannot define what victory would look like? McSame. War is all they have and they are willing to create one to have one.

[Gma11]

If I were McCain I'd be very cautious about entering into the presence of the Dalai Lama. The lama, of course, will treat him with respect.

But one's own karma can be quite a *itch!

[Senzasord]

John McCain never met a war he didn't love. Witness the fact that he is prepared to fight in Iraq for another 100 years even though that war has already been won. After all Bush announced it from the deck of the Abraham Lincoln several years ago.

You can't lose a war you have already won.

[marthlois]

"Hello - My name is John Sidney McCain. There will be more wars, my friends - more wars!
But hey, you servicemen and women - if you promise to make military service your career, I will back you on Veterans benefits!!!!"

"I do not believe in Senate voting records and I do not believe in Utube either! People seem to think they can prove that I have a poor voting record re: veterans & that I've flipped back and forth/up and down
about my support of President Bush's war! Nonsense, my friends"

I simply cannot wait for the press and the Obama camp rip apart his remarks today. No articles out yet?
But there is a great article about his Iraq facts over at TPM!

[Sixtwo]

For God sake consider the group McCain was speaking to--GIs. Don't forget that the same JOHN McCAIN recently voted AGAINST the legislation to increase benefits for veterans! He would have unmasked his "two faces" had he continued his same rhetoric about Obama's position re the surge when Obama voted for the Bill and he didn't. It is noted that McCain's speech focused almost exclusively on the Iraw war. McCain is flapping like a fish out of the water.

[lincheryl]

Also this week he was talking about separating injuries obtained in battle and others. THEY ALL should get the best care.

[levibatgirl]

Somebody tell mcwarpresident2 he has proven himself to lack knowledge pretty much every time he has spoken the last week.

Oh wait. The msm is covering his a$$.

[Actionmac]

you mean CBS, they got busted and now we know what the BS in CBS stands for.

[augster]

You give the media too much credit for actually having an opinion. What they have is self-preservation. For them, a horse-race is the life of the story. As soon as they acknowledge that McSame has no chance, the story is over. Or the story becomes how they have written him off. So they keep touting his chances, propping him up, minimizing Obama's lead and hoping that American's will tune in through the finish.

[luvangelHussein330]

or not....