McCain Surrogate: Al Qaeda Blogger Using Reverse Psychology

The McCain campaign blasted back against a story in today's Washington Post reporting that an al-Qaeda official in a "commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah," had called for the support of the Arizona Republican.

In doing so, foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann attacked everything from the paper ("I use journalism in quotations marks when referring to this story"), to the controversial figures who have said nice things about Barack Obama, to a conference call questioner who asked him to reevaluate the history of the Iraq War.

The most interesting line, however, came from former CIA Director Jim Woosley, who sought to frame the al-Qaeda blog posting as some sort of attempt at reverse political psychology

"If one takes one individual Islamist blogger from one terrorist Islamist blog who has come up with this statement that it would be good to have McCain in the White House, I think one has to consider the motives," he said. "This individual knows that the endorsement of people like him is a kiss of death, figuratively and literally. So it seems to be that it is pretty clear by making this statement it would be a good thing for McCain to be president. He wants to damage McCain. He's not speaking from his heart."

How Woosley interpreted the musings of an al Qaeda blogger to be a foray into electoral strategy remains unclear. So is the idea that this endorsement shouldn't be considered honest but the "endorsement" of Obama by members of Hammas or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which Scheunemann evoked repeatedly, somehow should be regarded as sincere.

But it is important to recall that in the 2004 election, Republican officials were quick to interpret a late-in-the-election tape from Osama bin Laden as a surefire endorsement of John Kerry's candidacy. Even Kerry himself said the issue cost him the election.

Now, it appears, the standards are different, with al-Qaeda well-versed in electoral trickery and eagerly pushing a candidate that they think would, in the end, most harm its cause.

UPDATE: Greg Sargent at TPM offers an interesting reminder concerning this topic:

When discussing this topic, it's always useful to recall that journalist Ron Suskind reported that CIA analysts concluded that Bin Laden had released a tape of himself on the eve of the 2004 election in order to help Bush stay in power, partly because his presidency made such a handy recruiting tool.

Comments

[Liam]

So... let me get this straight. When Hamas "endorses" Barack Obama, that's proof that he's supported by terrorists, but when al Qaeda "endorses" John McCain, that's "reverse psychology" because they want Obama to win?

Pull your head out of your nethers, McCain. You should be looking in the mirror and crying in embarrassment at how you're behaving in this campaign.

And, with as few years left on the planet as you likely have (actuarially speaking) do you REALLY think this was the time to mortgage your soul?

[quasar]

No. They truly do want McCain / Bush to win. But the effect may be that Obama will benefit.

[bbrecht]

hahahaha

[valkyrie607]

There is no such thing as Al Qaeda.

[Tropiholic]

vote with bin laden. vote for mc*gaffe!

[dcecon]

The McCain campaign sounds like the Sicilian in the Princess Bride before he got warmed up. Why not go deeper into reverse, reverse psychology? An Al Queda blogger schooled in game theory might anticipate that an endorsement of McCain would be interpreted as a way to help Obama. Therefore, he might reason, they should endorse Obama instead, so Americans will think that they are really in favor of McCain. And, so on.

[ConCreteHead]

I also heard through campaign chatter that CINDY McCAIN had told her husband the GOP Presidential Candidate that she wanted him to completely stop eating his vegetables ... When actually she was using one of James Woosley's super secret CIA reverse phsycology mind tricks and now John is inhaling vegetables at every meal.

Cindy was later overheard telling Governor SARAH PALIN she should have used that same James Woosley's super secret CIA reverse phsycology mind trick on Walter Monagan and said “Hey Walter that Trooper Wooten is a great guy, I really like him, the kids and I think he is just great, Todd even thinks he deserves a promotion” ... “That would have worked much better than the hockey mom / lipstick on a pitbull shtick that instead embarrassed yourself along with your reputation as Governor, your state, your family, our campaign, and the republican party” ...

[johnwinner]

Obviously Al Quaeda want McCain! 1. They actually want to keep fighting in Iraq; US pulls out, Shi'ites win, they lose. 2. McCain doesn't know where Pakistan is. 3. President Obama would tighten US domestic security without loss of rights, fear mongering, or giving billions of dollars to Bush's cronies (some of whom have ties to Osama Bin Laden).

[totko]

Takes one to know one! Is that 'reverse psychology' or 'Rove-erse Psychology'?

[Tim303]

Yes--my thinking exactly. This statement has the form of a double bluff. They tried a single bluff in 2004 (vote for Kerry for an easy ride). This one is more complicated: "Al Qaeda is telling me to vote for McCain so that I vote for Obama--which is exactly why I'll vote for McCain." Let's hope people are hip to it. It's reverse reverse psychology!

[BETTERDAYSARECOMMIN]

It sure is suspicious that somthing about Osama is being injected right now. Sounds and looks like another Republican trick.

[robbie44]

I sure do hate it !!!!!!!

[Scoppertop]

And I suppose Al Qaeda supporting Kerry in 2004 was reverse psychology as well? In 2008, at least, the GOP is seen as the minority it has always been.

[dlinguist]

Here is my humble advice to the McCain and Obama Campaigns:

Have both Candidates issue a joint statement that the Washington Post story is irresponsible and irrelevant. That both the McCain and Obama campaigns will refuse to answer any questions or otherwise comment on what an alleged Al Qaeda official may or may not have said. Our enemy doesn't get a voice in our elections.

Any chance this will happen? Wanna buy a bridge to nowhere?

[owlsocks]

Oh yes, I can, unfortunately see how a McCain win, and his subsequent continuation of Bush policies and this war, would result in higher recruitment for Bin Laden's terrorist friends.

Sadly, I believe that the guy on that terrorist blog WAS speaking from his heart. A McCain Presidency would boost their cause.

Vote Obama!

[InspectorMauriceEscargot]

(1) I have not heard anyone say that McCain will be tested, like Biden said BO will be. Al-queda is crazy, not stupid. They'd rather have someone who has a better chance of not being as harsh, and they have the word from his potential VP's own mouth.

(2) Al-queda are liars and have no regard for life or right and wrong, so lying about this is just standard procedure for them. You can't believe a liar about anything, which is why I'm so down and out. No one running this time has told the truth about much of anything. It is just the lesser of two evils, depending on each party's backers' definiton of evil.