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

[thebyron]

Noun + verb + P.O.W.

[Cougar90210]

People like Rick Davis are at the heart of everything that is wrong with politics today. They are motivated by one thing only: self-interest. And anyone and anything that might deter their self-aggrandizement (and multi-million dollar salaries) be damned. I'm sure historians could trace a long lineage of similar scurrilous and soulless individuals back through our electoral history, but in my lifetime Lee Atwater was the one who set the standard for Rove, Schmidt, Davis, and too many others. He died an untimely death, and supposedly expressed regrets for his misdeeds and "lack of heart" while essentially on his deathbed. See Bill Moyers' comments on Atwater's legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4V4nb6OTG0

Is it possible that rogues like Atwater, et al, whose adult lives have consisted of producing absolutely nothing of substance or meaning, and whose daily chores include lying, character assassination, demagoguery, misrepresentation, etc., can express some semblance of regret for their inhumanity to others only when facing death? Is it possible for someone so steeped in meanness to achieve good for the nation and/or the world through their actions? [Look at who they helped get elected (and who they are trying to get elected) before answering that question.] For all of the radical free-marketers out there who believe, I suppose, that people like this are merely a "natural" outgrowth of the "political marketplace," what will the market bear when it comes to shameful behavior?

[gps8001]

Can someone explain why an apology was demanded from the Obama campaign and not the person who actually made the statement. I don't see what this has to do with the Obama campaign. Is it just me?

[Susej]

According to the McCain campaign team, B Obama should apologize for insults hurled by my dog [loud barking] when the picture of McCain came on TV.

[LemonMeringue]

There is video on YouTube of an interview where Chris Wallace moderates and Davis is accused of making millions by SELLING access to McCain.

Out these crooks.

[WendyKa]

Obama did not demand an apology for the death threats he received from the angry mobs Palin and McCain worked up with their divisive rhetoric. And if anyone should get an apology, it would be Obama. Not McCain for what another politician said. One who McCain praised at the forum.

Unbelievable. And to inject another POW comment in THIS?

Noun, Verb, POW, noun, Maverick. Obama verb Ayers! This is all he has left.

[Salstar]

I agree, but I hope that the families of the dead soldiers from Vietnam to the present war are noticeing that Palin and Davis have both stated that "No one know sacrifice like John MCain", referring to him being a POW. He should thank God that he made it out of there to come home to his family just to leave them.

[lemonyashes]

We could just say that McCain incited Lewis to say these things because that would be closer to the truth.

[lakephillip]

He Is such a CREEP EEEEEW!

[robtvand]

He is a real life Captain Queeg. If you don't know who that is, rent the movie "The Caine Mutiny" or read the book of the same title. It's a great film with Humphrey Bogart.

[InTheSouth]

I firmly agree with Congressman Lewis. I believe his comments are honest and truthful as he sees it. He should not apologize for an honest statement of fact.

[sisteract]

Someone should show Davis the footage of the guy with the monkey doll. Then maybe he would see the point that John Lewis was trying to make.

[Khrish]

McCain has shown me that he is just the kind of person reflected in the articles that I have read. I cringe to think of him as the head of this great nation. While I knew from the outset that palin was a scrapping from the bottom of the barrel; I have come to see that they are two peas in a pod. If they will wage this kind of gutter fight with another American who does not agree with their ideas, what will they do to foreign nations who disagree with them. I know that I must work even harder to keep these two weapons of mass destruction out of the white house.

[TishiJo]

Seniors Beware! John McCain will give you $5000 to help pay for healthcare insurance which will go directly to the insurance company without lowering the cost of premiums, and to pay for it he plans to tax you on that insurance and make budget cuts to Medicare. He also plans to privatize social security.
Barack Obama want to fix social security, not privatize and put it a risk; Obama will not tax any seniors who earn $50,000 a year or under! Obama does not take contributions from corporate lobbyists including insurance companies, and this will enable him to negotiate for reasonably priced healthcare insurance and to eliminate pre-existing conditions drawbacks.

[haveitoldyoulately]

McCain will give a FAMILY $5,000....INDIVIDUALS will get $2500

I want to see someone get health insurance for their whole family for $5000 a year

[moeg]

Thanks for the details. Btw, for a really good health plan you have to pay a heckuva lot more than $5,000. Of course, Mickey C is so out of touch with so-called Main Street that he doesn't even know this. I'm paying about $18,000 a year now and it's about to go up again! Many people I personally know go to India, Belgium and England for surgery. And what no one talks about is dental insurance. A national health care plan needs to include that as well. So much is now known about the relationship between ones teeth, gums, mouth in general that it would seem compelling to cover oral health issues as part of a comprehensive plan.

[rdipent]

McCains health care plan does not affect seniors, it affects those who are working and get health care benefits from their employer. McCains plan would treat the cost o the employer paid health care insurance as cash income that the worker would now pay income tax on. so, if your health plan cost the employer $15,000. a year, you pay income tax on that $15,000 plus your regular earnings. Such a deal!

[haveitoldyoulately]

The man is losing it....Today he said he can't wait for Wednesday's debate...."Cause I'm gonna wipe Obama's, you know what"

**poor man can't even remember what IT'S called**

[InTheSouth]

McCain has NOTHING to wipe with. He boasted he was going to attack in the last debate and he never did. Obama can handle anything he tries to throw at him because it will be lame and without substance anyway. I will watch with interest and probably amusement if McCain tries to bring up the hollow smears he has been airing.

[free2u]

John McCain has talked a lot about his time as a POW. I recently read an article that made me look at things from a different perspective.If someone saved your life wouldn't you feel indebted to them for the rest of your life ? Google this and you'll see what I mean How war hero John McCain betrayed Vietnamese peasant

[Barryson]

A point: John McCain was not ENTITLED to any "civil" rights in North Vietnam. Surely he was entitled to humane treatment as stated by the Geneva Convention, but definitely no civil rights.

Secondly: Being a P.O.W. does not give him a free pass for inciting unruly mobs with hate-filled speech.

[ricitizen]

Ohio Newspaper Endorses Obama. The following from there final paragraph:

"Historically, Ohio has had a critical role in presidential elections and appears poised once again to be a key in deciding who sits in the Oval Office for the next four years. This is an awesome responsibility, and one that cannot be taken lightly. For the future of Ohio and America, there is only one reasonable choice for president: Barack Obama"

Toledo Ohio Blade Endorses http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081012/OPINION02/810120311

[DrDemon]

Great news regarding the news!

[JT16682]

"O" for "O"...

[brabra]

FLORIDA RESIDENTS..if you have retired relatives, talk to them and have them read this information about the McCain plan to cut medicaid. Florida is a heavily populated retirement state. This directly effect them. If you truly love them protect them from this. http://www.whisperdispatch.com/news/politics-govt/wall-street-journal-mccain-will-cut-medicare-and-medicaid.html

[rdipent]

Please use the correct terms. Medicare is for seniors and the disabled which he wants to cut. Medicaid is for poor folks, which he also wants to cut.