John McCain, Lindsey Graham Condemn RNC Chairman Michael Steele's Afghanistan Comments

Two prominent GOP senators sharply criticized Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday for recently calling the war in Afghanistan "Obama's war."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Steele's recent remarks about the war are "wildly inaccurate" and inexcusable.

The Arizona Republican said on ABC's "This Week" that Steele needs to assess whether he can still function in his job and must make "an appropriate decision" about his future.

At a recent GOP fundraiser, Steele called the U.S. commitment of troops in Afghanistan a mistaken "war of Obama's choosing." McCain added that it's "America's war and we can't afford to fail."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also strongly condemned the comment from the RNC chief. But Graham isn't demanding that Steele resign as some Republicans have done.

Graham told CBS' "Face The Nation" that Afghanistan is "America's war" and that the U.S. needs to have a military presence there for national security reasons.

Graham called Steele's comment "uninformed, unnecessary, unwise."

The harsh rebuke by the two GOP heavy hitters comes in the wake of similar fury from other conservatives. Steele, who is prone to verbal gaffes, waded into his latest controversy at a Connecticut fundraiser last Thursday.

"This was a war of Obama's choosing," Steele said at the event. "This is not something the United States has actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in."

Steele also accused Obama of "demonizing Iraq while saying the battle really should be in Afghanistan."

Comments

[PeruvianFlakley]

11:16 AM on 07/06/2010

When the head of the RNC says things like "this is a war of obama's choosing", and suggests that republicans can pick up pamphlets from the RNC on framing the way in that way...
it's not a gaffe.

[Ed C Atlanta]

08:24 AM on 07/06/2010

hey mike how's that hip hop thingy about bringing more people of color to the republican party working out for you?

[bongoboy]

02:18 AM on 07/06/2010

losers need a loser to lead the losers. when you think about it it makes sense.

[osusana]

11:16 PM on 07/05/2010

Is it "war", or is it a family matter? You know, everyone is trying to be nice to crazy Uncle Mike because he's hard to handle, but now and then he escalates from babbling nonsense quietly in the corner to really shooting his mouth off in public and embarassing the whole family!

Then various members of the family are at odds about how to best deal with the "Family Embarassment". One cousin says he should be committed, but then great Aunt Emma says just take him off the christmas Card list until this all blows over and he can be trusted to just mumble to himself in a quiet corner. Of course, by that time other members of the family, like loony Cousin Rand, will have taken up the standard bearer position for the embarassing branch of the family and the saga continues.

Please pass the popcorn.

[DoinMyHomework]

11:01 PM on 07/05/2010

You know I think we've just witnessed an historic moment...

The Republican Party calling one of their own WILDLY INACCURATE!

I wonder how they picked his needle out of the haystack?
Maybe they just didn't notice pretty much everyone else in their party? Or their news channel?

[ladybost74]

01:07 AM on 07/06/2010

if i where him i would just step down, he must have an ulcer as big as my head from all the grief. lol nott that its not his fault

[vidyadhara]

09:50 PM on 07/05/2010

F your stupid wars.

[powhatan1]

08:48 PM on 07/05/2010

not that I am a big fan of Steele, but Graham and McCain? I am NO fan of theirs

[ladybost74]

01:07 AM on 07/06/2010

i agree, no fan of steele but mccain would not be my next choice

[bongoboy]

02:18 AM on 07/06/2010

be a fan of graham; trust me on this one; he just insulted the hell out of tea baggers this weekend in the news.

[jeanwny]

08:41 PM on 07/05/2010

Thank you Mikey, we can always count on you to embarrass your party (?) and yourself, is it scheduled ?

[Glory2]

01:39 AM on 07/06/2010

STAY THE COURSE Mike, you got the rethugs just where you need them. If fired, I'm sure you have a plan for their a@@es. Don't let them push you around.

[Charlie Fox]

08:35 PM on 07/05/2010

Michael Steele: Secret Democrat? Details at Eleven!

[ladybost74]

01:08 AM on 07/06/2010

i dont think he is a secret democrat just a ploy because he is black and they are not letting him sit and out and fry

[as promised]

08:15 PM on 07/05/2010

Did anyone hear "Doctor" Ron Paul defending (or attempting to) Steele today? I swear this guy has to be just as embarrasing to the right as he is to the left. Just complete and utter nonsense. All of it! Looney-tune.

[Billyguitar]

07:39 PM on 07/05/2010

Funny stuff. They can't fire him because he's black but that's why they hired him in the first place. They're all chowin' down now at the trough of irony!!

[Scentedflower]

07:07 PM on 07/05/2010

Ron Paul yapping on CNN supporting Steele. This old man is loo sing.

[water57]

06:00 PM on 07/05/2010

Boys and girls, if Palin would have complete the 6th grade, she would have the same thought process as Steele.

[powhatan1]

08:49 PM on 07/05/2010

are you out of high school yet?

[Okieborn]

03:49 PM on 07/05/2010

President Obama should heed the Republicans love of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
If they think it is the thing to do, then President Obama should start pulling our troops out immediately !!

[JMBrodie]

03:52 PM on 07/05/2010

Let's hope so...

[way2sunny]

03:26 PM on 07/05/2010

Marry in haste, repent in leisure, GOP. You got exactly what you deserved in Steele, just like Sarah Palin.

[FALCON72]

10:05 AM on 07/06/2010

True....and because they legitimatized those two wackos they find themselves in the position of not being able to distance themselves without offending the base.