McCain Chief Uses POW Card To Defend Rally Rhetoric

Defending the aggressive campaign rhetoric at recent McCain-Palin events against criticisms made by Rep. John Lewis, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis raised John McCain's history as a POW on Sunday.

"Look, Chris, I think we have to take this very seriously," Davis told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace. "And the kind of comments made by Congressman Lewis, a big Obama supporter, are reprehensible. The idea that you're going to compare John McCain to the kinds of hate spread in the '60s by somebody like George Wallace is outrageous. Where was John McCain when George Wallace was spreading his hate and segregationist policies at that time? He was in a Vietnam prison camp serving his country with his civil rights also denied."

The use of such a line of defense came one day after Lewis warned that the Arizona Republican - through his recent campaign rhetoric - was "sowing the seeds of hatred and division" in scenes reminiscent of segregationist George Wallace. The McCain campaign was quick to jump on the statement and demand an apology from Obama. The Illinois Democrat's aides said that while the Wallace comparison was over the line, the longtime civil rights figure's underlying message was, in fact, true.

David Axelrod, sitting across from Davis, would echo that stance arguing that McCain's ads were designed to "inflame" but not to be compared to George Wallace.

Later in the Fox appearance, meanwhile, Davis distanced the McCain campaign from some of the more inflammatory crowd rhetoric - including calling Obama a "terrorist" and a "traitor" and yelling "kill him" when his name comes up. But he dismissed the suggestion that McCain or Sarah Palin were in any way responsible for inciting such ire.

That he could weave in McCain's history in Vietnam was not particularly unique or difficult. The reference to the civil rights era did provide an entree into reminding voters of the Arizona Republican's biography.

"Nobody knows sacrifice like John McCain does," said Davis. "And the idea that Barack Obama didn't address this issue directly, had his campaign walk out there with a half-baked statement that didn't even address the comments made by Lewis as related to John McCain. Barack Obama should apologize to John McCain directly for the kinds of comments made by John Lewis yesterday and that should be the end of this sordid affair."

Comments

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

Boy it sure seems Re Thugs are just wetting their pants to get Obama to apologize for SOMETHING, ANYTHING, and it ain't working. If anything McCain is finding himself in the position of having to defend Obama instead. I know someone from Obama's campaign comes around here sometimes and I want to say this to them......­..........­Never and I mean NEVER let Obama APOLOGIZE To MCCain,,,,Obama has nothing to APOLOGIZE for.......

[kadene]

There is no more credit left on that POW card. McCain's rabid and erratic behavior has maxed it out.

[Whinger]

John's a good ol' boy, never meaning no harm,
Making his way, anyway he knows how, like any good racist would!
Pushing the boat out, and bending ethical rules,
Just a little bit more than the law will allow, that's what extremists do!

[honestpolitician]

apologize? for something that is true? How about the GOP party apologize to the American people for telling lies about Obama's association with Ayers.

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[busybee08]

That would be nice. But the GOP will never and I say never apologize. McCain and Palin will never apologize. They all feel they are above reproach. Yet we all see them as reprehensible.

This has all been a sad state of affairs. An utter blast of the 60's.
1. racial epithets in television.
2. People ranting and raving, hailing monkeys lauded with the name of a black man, who also happens to be a Presidential candidate.
3. The media raising numerous questions of racism rearing its ungly head during the voting process.
4. A VP candidate telling a crowd "He is not like you and me".
5. Lies and smears being heralded
6. Unethical behavior being explained as ethical

Its all sick.

I didn't mention the attempst at voter fraud because we all know that has been apart of voting, particularly during the Bush years.

[sleek]

The McCain/Palin ticket is the first in American history in which both candidates were found to have violated ethics standards before a national election.
--from Washington Monthly

McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.

[Vern58]

Despite what McCain believes, the simple fact of his ex POW status does not give him any right to say what he wants and do what he has done. In spite of his being an ex POW, the man is a shameful example of a human being. Just being a POW at one time is no excuse. Period. I am sorry, but i am tired of the excuse.

[butlerman]

Amazing. Chris Wallace asks him directly if the McCain campaign should respond to these viscious comments at McCain/Palin rallys and Davis ignores the question and instead makes demands about Obama regarding John Lewis. Most people in this postion would have addressed the question and then maybe given their thoughts about what the other side is doing as well. But he answers as if Chris Wallace is asking about Obama reprimanding Lewis.No wonder he is a lobbyist. What sleight of hand, and diarrhea of the mouth.

[ladydriver]

McCain and Palin owe the American people an apology for the campaign of hatred, intolerance, lies, racism, etc. that they are waging. They insult our intelligence and then think they can flash the POW card and make everything all better. I've got some news for them...

We won't get fooled again!

OBAMA/BIDEN08

[iswideopen]

Every time John McCain gets caught in his own lies, the answer is: NOUN ,VERB, POW. John McCain was wrong, Obama owes him no apology, McCain is the one who owes the BIG TIME APOLOGY; not only to Obama, but EVERY MINORITY AMERICAN. If you can only govern the "right wing fringe crazies", you can not be president of the United States of America. From this point of view, John McCain, you are saying that we "JUST DON'T MATTER". HOW DARE YOU.......­..........­.

[lemonyashes]

Since when do liberals matter in the last 8 yrs.? Wasn't it Bush who called us "angry liberals"? How dare the president of the united states describe us in such a fashion!

[desertbloom]

There were POWs more heroic than McCain.

Read "Make Believe Maverick" in the current issue of Rolling Stone. The article is also available on-line. McCain is NOT the hero he makes himself out to be!

[Tenderfoot]

That is true,he has made a big fairy tale about his service.Of course the radical republicans love it,they will believe anything. Like Sara Palin being ready for the white house,any lie that fox news feeds .

[AbbieHoffman2]

My father was a P.O.W in WW2. - He was captured by the Japanese and spent the rest of the war starving and sick with dysentary in a prison camp. He never felt it necessary to talk about those 4 years or the fact he weighed around 115 when rescued. Real heros dont do that. If he were alive today he would be so ashamed of this man.

[3dtrix]

God bless your Dad - all of us owe him and his brothers in arms our good life - and our hunger for a better America.

[KevinMS]

You're absolutely correct, AbbieHoffman2. My dad was also a POW in WWII and went through the Bataan Death March. I can count the number of times he mentioned it on one hand.

In fact, of all those I've ever known who've served in combat duty, I can't think of one who'll willingly discuss it -- and certainly not eagerly.

[AbbieHoffman2]

Thanks KevinMS. Its rare that I have ever discussed this, much less had this in common with anyone. Your father and mine were true heros who just plain knew how to do the right thing - and not talk about it the rest of their lives.....­...I might add my father didnt grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth nor did he crash 4 planes while in the military. Check out the REAL McCain in the current "Rolling Stone". Its worse than you think.

[rosal]

Shameless. Now Obama has to apologize, but the old man inciting the crowds is acceptable because he was a POW? Notice that before he and Miss Moose started the Ayres bs, nobody was screaming all the colorful adjectives, it was only AFTER the odd couple started their rantin that all the dishonorable behavior started. No wonder nobody likes McErratic any more, not even people from his own party. Its a lot worse to lose one's honor than to lose an election.

[rowzeer]

The McCain camp was insulted by someone pointing out their insults.

[betheliza]

my thoughts exactly

[lemonyashes]

Does Lewis not have freedom of speech and a right to his opinion whether politically correct or not? What country do we live in again? McCain you were a POW for what reason, was it not to protect our constitutional freedoms?

[rowzeer]

You can't keep using the POW card over and over again.....­it's like when my kids keeping bringing up helping me with the dishes ONCE and that should keep them from ever doing them again.

[IndyReader]

Yah, that never worked for me, either. LOL!

[firewmn]

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[robtvand]

Great idea , firewmn. I hope it catches on. I'll contribute 44 bucks tomorrow.