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McCain Gaffes: A Tough Week In The Youtube Era

2008-06-10T17:22:31Z

John McCain is having a rough week. Not only was he panned for trying to steal Barack Obama's thunder by lifelessly reading a teleprompter in front of the big green monster, but he's introduced a few gaffes along the way. Thankfully, we have the modern miracle of Youtube, so you can enjoy these priceless slip ups again and again. Try to keep up.

Let Them Drink Hot Water

During his New Orleans speech, McCain promised to deliver 'hot water' to dehydrated infants. A quick look at the prepared speech shows that McCain actually inserted the word "hot" on the fly.

The prepared version: "We should be able to deliver bottled water to dehydrated babies and rescue the infirm from a hospital with no electricity."

[WATCH]

McCain's War On Beer

Perhaps thinking of his wife's family fortune, McCain accidentally promised to veto all earmark-filled beers. Actually, I'd support that policy.

[WATCH]

A Google

Bush taught us how to use "the Google." Now we have the McCain version, which explains his VP vetting process:

"We're going through a process where you get a whole bunch of names, and ya ... Well, basically, it's a Google," McCain said. "You just, you know, what you can find out now on the Internet. It's remarkable, you know."

The Non-Denial Denial Denial

So, first McCain gently chides the press for their treatment of Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary, saying "The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans." No big deal there, until a reporter from Newsweek asks McCain about the statement, which he then flatly denied making:

"I did not [say that] -- that was in prepared remarks, and I did not [say it] -- I'm not in the business of commenting on the press and their coverage or not coverage."

You decide if McCain didn't actually say what he said:

The McCain camp, realizing their candidate had created an elaborate story that hinged on a blatant falsehood, came up with a brilliant explanation: he didn't say, even though we admit that he said it:

Presented with video showing that the GOP nominee did in fact read the remarks as they were prepared, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Newsweek's account of McCain's answer is "paraphrased and unclear."

Rogers said he was not questioning the magazine's transcription, but pointing out that they included brackets.

But, given that he was responding to a direct question about a portion of the speech, it's unclear what else McCain could have been alluding to when noting twice that he "did not." That he also pointed out that the same section had been "in the prepared remarks" only clarifies that he was referring to the passage in question.

Newsweek's Bailey said the McCain quote as included in their Q & A posted online was verbatim.

General Election Fundraising: GOP More Competitive Than Expected, FEC Records Show

2008-05-23T16:52:27Z

Barack Obama has been hailed this election season for, among other things, his impressive fundraising apparatus. But while the Democratic frontrunner's financial edge over Republican rival John McCain has become an assumption in most reporting, the cash advantage is not reflected in the recent FEC filing reports.

In reality, despite all the reports of an energized party, Democrats are behind Republicans this year in cash on hand, and they hold only a negligible lead in funds raised over the past month. And while Obama himself raised significantly more cash than John McCain, the difference is more than made up for by the fundraising of the Republican National Committee.

According to FEC reports from the month of April, Barack Obama raised $31 million and ended the month with $37 million cash on hand. By contrast, McCain ended April with $16 million raised and $22 million cash on hand.

However, the Republican National Committee holds ten-fold that of their Democratic counterpart, with $40.1 million in the bank and $15.7 million raised in the month of April; the DNC's numbers are $4.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively. The combined amounts put the Democratic fundraising for April above the Republicans by only $2 million, while Republicans have almost $22 million more in the bank.

This past April, McCain signed an agreement with the Republican National Committee that would allow him to raise significantly more funds from individual donors. The deal would direct the first $2300 of a donation to McCain's campaign, and then direct up to $67,700 to the RNC itself, as well as campaign funds targeted at four crucial swing states. The deal was initially met with scrutiny by campaign finance reform organizations, who complain that McCain is violating the spirit of the law that he helped to create. Nevertheless, the deal has gone forward, and recently both Obama and Clinton reached a similar agreement with the DNC.

The deal makes the fundraising efforts of the national committees particularly important this year. Despite the fundraising success in nearly every other venue, the DNC has been consistently out-raised by the RNC over the past several months. This has been compounded by DNC chairman Howard Dean's investment in a '50-state strategy' meant to lay the foundation for Democratic victories in traditionally Republican communities. While the investment may be paying off -- Democratic special election wins in conservative districts maybe be a signal -- the strategy has left the national committee with fewer funds than Republicans.

It is too early to determine whether or not Democrats will be able to claim a significant money advantage this election, as they are widely expected to do. On the one hand, contributions to Obama are likely to increase once he becomes the official nominee, and his deal with the DNC will allow him to take larger contributions for big donors even while tapping into the vast support of small donors that has powered his campaign.

On the other hand, the fundraising success of the RNC this year suggests Republicans may be able to keep their candidate competitive, particularly if and when President Bush begins to earnestly raise funds for McCain (despite his national unpopularity, the president is still an adept and powerful fundraiser). And if John McCain accepts pubic financing as expected, he would receive $85 million while still allowing his supporters to funnel money directly to the RNC. One thing this early FEC report does suggest, the Democrats are going to have to continue to energize the donors who have supported the long primary battle in order to remain financially competitive.

Jim Webb Speaks Out On Race, Addresses Grievances Of White America

2008-05-21T19:53:16Z

It's refreshing when someone makes the effort to advance the discussion of this year's election beyond debating a black/white divide. So when that someone is oft-mentioned potential Democratic running mate Jim Webb, it's worth taking note.

Webb appeared on Morning Joe today to speak about his newest book, A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America, and to dodge questions about whether he would accept a spot on Barack Obama's presidential ticket. But since the Kentucky primary had just provided pundits with fodder to discuss the ever-popular "Does Obama have a working whites problem?" Webb weighed in on the election results and his Scots-Irish heritage.

The Virginia senator suggested that race is indeed a factor in Obama's poor performance among white voters along the east of the country, saying, "we shouldn't be surprised by the way they're voting now." But he bristled at what he suggested is a simplistic interpretation of the issue. "When I hear people say this is racism, my back gets up a little bit, because that's my cultural group."

Webb sought to explain what motivates Scots-Irish Americans. First, says Webb, it's not a generic race or geographic label, but rather "a very powerful cultural group that's always underestimated, and it's not always in the Appalachian mountains." And the issue is not Obama himself, who Webb thinks is "saying a lot of good things that will appeal to this cultural group in time."

Rather, Webb -- whose previous book Born Fighting explores the effect of Scots-Irish culture on America's formation -- argued that Scots-Irish voters' unwillingness to support Obama is less about the candidate himself, than about a sense of injustice among the community manifested by the government assistance afforded to minorities in the post-Civil Rights Era:

This isn't Selma, 1965. This is a result of how affirmative action, which was basically a justifiable concept when it applied to African Americans, expanded to every single ethnic group in America that was not white, and these were the people who had not received benefits and were not getting anything out of it. And they're basically saying let's pay attention to what has happened to this cultural group in terms of opportunities.

Webb even drew a parallel between this bloc and African Americans, suggesting that their grievances with and needs from the federal government are remarkably similar.

Black America and Scots-Irish America are like tortured siblings. They both have long history and they both missed the boat when it came to the larger benefits that a lot of other people were able to receive. There's a saying in the Appalachian mountains that they say to one another, and it's, "if you're poor and white, you're out of sight." ...

If this cultural group could get at the same table as black America you could rechange populist American politics. Because they have so much in common in terms of what they need out of government.

A powerful coalition indeed. If only there were two politicians who understood these cultures, and had the desire and capacity to unite them for a common cause...

[WATCH -- race discussion starts at 4:30]

McCain Campaign: Comment Trolls Wanted

2008-05-20T19:53:54Z

Wishing you could be a campaign surrogate, but don't have a national platform? Do you find blogging your own opinions tedious? Wish you could have someone tell you what to think during this political season? Well look no further than John McCain's new blog outreach!

That's right; the McCain camp wants to recruit online supporters and activists to serve as comment trolls. From their website:

Help spread the word about John McCain on news and blog sites. Your efforts to help get the message out about John McCain's policies and plan for the future is one of the most valuable things you can do for this campaign....
Select from the numerous web, blog and news sites listed here, go there, and make your opinions supporting John McCain known. Once you've commented on a post, video or news story, report the details of your comment by clicking the button below.

Now, don't worry if you've never heard of a blog, or never written a comment, or heck, even used a computer. Because not only does the campaign tell you on which blogs to comment -- Redstate for right-wingers, Daily Kos for progressives (sorry HuffPo fans, we didn't make the list) -- it will even tell you what to say! Just click on the Blog Interaction page for "Today's Talking Points."

Just look at today's gem, entitled "Time For Solutions:"

John McCain will put the national interest ahead of partisanship, he will work with anyone who sincerely wants to get this country moving again. If John McCain is elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. The era of problem solving will begin.

You might be thinking, "What's in it for me?" As a matter of fact, for every comment the McCain verifies, you will awarded McCain Action Center. Which is important, because in Fantasy Land 2013, those things will replace the dollar as American currency.

Obama: McCain Campaign Paid For And Run By Lobbyists

2008-05-19T20:33:45Z

Today, Barack Obama sharpened his criticism John McCain's relationships with Washington lobbyists:

During a speech at a local high school here, Obama said voters should be concerned that "after nearly three decades in Washington, John McCain can't see or won't acknowledge what's obvious to all of us here today -- that lobbyists aren't just part of the system in Washington, they're part of the problem."

"The fact is, John McCain's campaign is being run by Washington lobbyists and paid for with their money," Obama said. "Senator McCain has been a candidate in this race for more than a year, but it was only in the past few days, when stories surfaced publicly about his lobbyist aides and their clients, that Senator McCain took any action to curb their roles."...

"And just yesterday, Senator McCain's national finance co-chair had to resign after it was revealed that he lobbied Senator McCain and others on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia," he said, eliciting boos. "I'm glad Senator McCain is taking these steps. But it's noteworthy that two of the most influential corporate lobbyists in Washington have taken time off to run his campaign. And they are still at the helm today."

The comments come after a series of high-profile resignations amid the McCain camp, where several advisers to the candidate also hold lucrative, and sometimes controversial, lobbying positions. Notably, three advisers -- Charlie Black, Tom Loeffler and Peter Madigan -- have been targeted by critics for their firms' histories of lobbying dictators accused of human rights abuses. Tom Loeffler resigned from McCain's campaign this weekend as a result of his lobbyist ties. The campaign has also rolled out a series of strict conflict-of-interest rules for all staff.

Charlie Black has opted to defend his work, saying he is "not ashamed of anything [his] firm did." Black's firm has lobbied on behalf of several dictators in recent years, including Ferdinand Marcos, Mobutu Sese Seko and Jonas Savimbi. Today, Black denies any conflict of interest:

Black said he complied with the policy "before there even was a rule." Black said he has no income from either his firm or the campaign but joked about an allowance from his wife, Judy Black, who is a lobbyist....

Black also defended campaign manager Rick Davis, who still holds a stake in his firm, Davis Manafort. Black said Davis hasn't received income from the firm since 2006 and hasn't been a lobbyist for five years. "By the way Rick Davis and nobody else at his firm either has been a registered lobbyist in five years-five years," Black said.

While Black may now comply with the rules on conflicts of interest, the change is surely a recent one; only this past February he was reportedly fulfilling his lobbying duties while riding aboard McCain's Straight Talk Express bus.

As for Davis, he was registered as a lobbyist at least a recently as 2005, according to a disclosure report provided by the Democratic National Convention. DNC Communications Director Karen Finney offered this response to Black's statements today:

Given what we are learning about their client lists, it's understandable why Charlie Black would try to distort the record on the lobbyists running the McCain campaign. But the question is whether Charlie Black is lying, or do the lobbyists running McCain's campaign have so many clients he can't keep them all straight?"

GOP House Leaders Disrespect American Flag

2008-05-16T19:05:52Z

We all know by now that Barack Obama is not a patriot. After all, he doesn't always wear a flag pin, and he objects to the idea that he should be required to in order to run for office. But who knew that House Minority Leader John Boehner disrespects the flag too?

Obama has been attacked repeatedly for not wearing a flag pin, with Republicans claiming that his patriotism is in question. It's all a bit silly. After all, John McCain hasn't worn a flag since he became the de facto Republican nominee.

But let's grant the inanity for a moment. For a party that is suddenly obsessed with proper deference to the flag, their leaders are pretty clueless. Check out this picture from a press conference with Republican House leaders yesterday.

Notice anything off? If you're a bit of a flag-o-phile, you might recognize that the flag is hanging the wrong way. According to the document "Our Flag," (pdf) printed under approval of Senate Concurrent Resolution 108, Chapter 6.i:

When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street.

The correct position is displayed below, as well as a shot of the Democratic leadership showing due deference to the American flag.

So Boehner -- aka the GOP's newest commie pinko -- allowed the American flag to fly incorrectly throughout his press conference. At least Obama's flag pin is a replica; the Republicans disgraced the actual flag.

Silly? Unbelievably. As is the whole issue.

Clinton "Elite" Bashing A Shift For Campaign That Regularly Celebrates Experts

2008-05-05T17:43:32Z

Hillary Clinton's acknowledgment this weekend to ignore expert assessments of her gas tax suspension is a marked shift for a candidate known for her interest in policy minutiae. In fact, Clinton has complained about this kind of from-the-hip policy advocacy by the current administration throughout her campaign.

On Sunday, Clinton was asked to name a credible economist who supported her plan to suspend the federal gas tax during the summer months while taxing windfall profits of oil companies. Clinton decided against naming a supporting economist (a task which is admittedly difficult) and instead dismissed such expert advice as "elite opinion":

"We've been for the last seven years seeing a tremendous amount of government power and elite opinion behind policies that don't work well for the middle class... I'm not going to put my lot in with economists."

These comments come on the tail of arguments from her strategist Howard Wolfson:

"There are times that a president will take a position that a broad support of quote-unquote experts agree with. And there are times they will take a position that quote-unquote experts do not agree with."

But it wasn't so long ago that Clinton saw the economic policy, and the role of economic experts, in a very different light. Last month she had this to say about the housing crisis:

"So we need a president who can restore our confidence, a president who is ready to confront complex economic problems with comprehensive solutions, a president who will act at the first signs of trouble, working with experts to identify the problem, with agencies to adapt regulations, with Congress to pass necessary legislation, working to prevent crises rather than just reacting too little too late."

At that time, she recommended addressing the economic crisis by relying on the analysis of a team of economic experts.

"That's why I'm proposing an Emergency Working Group on Foreclosures. It could be led by a distinguished, non-partisan group of economic leaders like Alan Greenspan, Robert Rubin, Paul Volcker."

Indeed, failing to heed experts of all sorts has been one of Clinton's consistent attacks against President Bush. In a speech last August she referenced an executive order that gives political appointees the power to overrule agency experts. She took issue particularly over interferences in healthcare and global climate change.

"It should not take an act of Congress or an act of a Senator to get the President to listen to health experts on a matter of women's health."

"A lawyer previously employed by the American Petroleum Institute, [a political appointee] had no scientific background. Nonetheless, he insisted on editing scientific documents on climate change to cast doubt and greater uncertainty than the experts felt warranted."

Clinton feels so strongly about the threat from subverting the analysis of experts that she has promised to sign an executive order that, according to her website, "restores expert-driven, evidence-based agency decision-making":

Hillary will return to the longstanding practice of giving experts a central voice in agency rulemaking and will direct agencies to pursue evidence-based decisions.

And while her executive order applies directly to the Bush administration's attack on scientific research, Clinton has in the past held the same respect for economic leaders as she has for scientific experts. A few examples of her invoking the calculations of economic experts to develop policy:

Expanding Pre-K

"We now have lots of evidence from hard-headed economists that investing in early childhood makes sense."

Repairing Infrastructure

"Economists estimate that every $1 billion spent on fixing crumbling infrastructure creates nearly 48,000 new jobs."

Of course, all candidates rely on the experience of experts. Clinton's campaign (like other candidates) continually emails reporters citing expert's praise for her myriad policies. She convenes military experts, economic planning experts and healthcare experts to appear with her at campaign events. In late December, her campaign even sent out a letter trumpeting support from over 200 foreign policy experts.

Indeed, there's a key question that remains unasked -- is there any other time, beyond this current gas tax flap, that Clinton has acted against what she saw as the expert consensus?

Frances Townsend Joins CNN: Latest White House Official To Spin With The Media

2008-05-04T16:49:22Z

Seeking to round out its collection of White House obfuscaters, CNN has announced that it will add Frances Townsend to its roster of contributers. Unlike her former White House colleague and now-fellow CNN commenter Tony Snow -- the utility player of White House spin -- Fran is bringing her expertise to bear on issues of homeland security.

And what better source of objective, insightful analysis than a former Homeland Security Adviser to the President? Witness this gem of intelligence insight, where Townsend explains that she doesn't know whether al-Qaida was in Iraq prior to the Iraq war, because she wasn't at the briefing (it seems like a lot of officials missed that meeting). Or how about this nugget of nuanced punditry, where Townsend claims Al-Qaida may try to disrupt the 2008 elections, even while admitting there is "no specific intelligence" that supports the idea. Of course, since "may" just means "possible," then Townsend's anaylsis is correct, just like the idea that Snow and Townsend may provide unbiased commentary to the American discourse.

Harry Reid: "Everyone Knows" About McCain's Nasty Temper

2008-05-02T22:38:37Z

In an interview today with the website Big Think, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called John McCain a "flawed candidate," and attacked his much-heralded bipartisan reputation as an "illusion."

"He's wrong on the war. He's wrong on the economy," McCain said. "Everyone knows about his temper, his inability to get along with people."

Reid avoided playing favorites between the two Democrats currently in the race, praising both as intelligent and calling them "equally qualified." Instead, he continued to poke at the belief that McCain truly embodies his maverick label.

I think this illusion that he's a great bipartisan is without much foundation. He worked with Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform. That's nice. He's reached across the aisle on a couple of occasions, but that's a couple of occasions. He supports the president on all of his crazy economic policies. He has supported the president on this war, the worst foreign policy blunder in the history of the country.

Asked if McCain presidency would be a mandate to continue the Iraq war, Reid dismissed the idea. "We have lost going on 4100 Americans, tens of thousands wounded, a third of them grievously wounded... I can't imagine the American people endorsing this war."

Reid spoke positively about his efforts to oppose the war as majority leader, placing blame on an "ever so thin" majority and Republican obstruction for the lack of a withdrawal timeline. Reid also highlighted work done by the Congress to up-armor vehicles in Iraq, improve Walter Reid medical center, and increase benefits to veterans.

Ultimately, Reid sounded confident that the current strategy in Congress to end the war will bear fruit following the 2008 election, suggesting "we're competitive in 11 Senate races. Eleven Senate races! I don't know how many we're going to pick up, but wouldn't it be wonderful if my margin were five or six?"

[WATCH]

Rove: Stress Positions Are Torture When Done To John McCain

2008-05-01T18:03:52Z

Karl Rove's recent opinion piece on John McCain contradicts the definition of torture to which his former employer adheres.

Despite repeated claims that the United States does not torture detainees, a great deal of information has been reported about severe interrogation methods used by the CIA since 9/11. The New York Times reported on the interrogation methods in October of 2007:

The Bush administration had entered uncharted legal territory beginning in 2002, holding prisoners outside the scrutiny of the International Red Cross and subjecting them to harrowing pressure tactics. They included slaps to the head; hours held naked in a frigid cell; days and nights without sleep while battered by thundering rock music; long periods manacled in stress positions; or the ultimate, waterboarding.

Nevertheless, the administration has repeatedly denied that these activities amount to torture. President Bush has said repeatedly since 2005, "We do not torture." Similar statements have been made by CIA Director Mike McConnell, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, White House spokesperson Dana Perino and Office of Legal Counsel spokesman Brian Reohrkasse

But a recent opinion piece by Karl Rove turned that distinction between enhanced interrogation methods and torture on its head. Rove wrote:

Another McCain story, somewhat better known, is about the Vietnamese practice of torturing him by tying his head between his ankles with his arms behind him, and then leaving him for hours. The torture so badly busted up his shoulders that to this day Mr. McCain can't raise his arms over his head.

So, are stress positions torture? Does Karl Rove agree with the Geneva Convention on this point? Or is torture only torture when it's used against Americans?

Newt Gingrich On The View, Says Hillary's "The Candidate": Watch Video

2008-04-29T18:05:04Z

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich took to the airwaves on the only show where his unique combination of oozing charm and banal political advice can be appreciated: The View! And don't think he didn't take the opportunity to play schoolmaster to the entire Democratic party, lecturing the DNC, Howard Dean and Barack Obama.

We should all be angry at Howard Dean, Newt declares, because he is "shamefully biased in favor of Obama." The proof? Well first, Hillary is winning the popular vote, at least if you include the states where Barack wasn't on the ballot. Ergo, Dean hates Hillary. And women. Of course, there's no explanation of why winning a contested popular vote but losing the official delegate vote (which after all, is how the Democratic convention is decided) makes Dean a Obamaniac. It just does.

But wait, there's more! Dean won't let Michigan and Florida count, so he must love Obama (I guess Terry McAuliffe does too). After all, Newt has an easy fix to the Florida situation: just revote. No mention, of course, on how to finance or organize a new election which both state parties have ruled out. Newt seems to be vaguely aware of this dilemma, as he outlines a plan for a Michigan revote, but simply gives Florida the "wave-of-my-hand" solution.

And who, Barbara Walters feverishly wants to know, "Who is the candidate?" Newt says, as of today, "the candidate" is Sen. Clinton. The candidate to win? The candidate Republicans want? The candidate with the initials H.R.C.? Who knows.

Obama Hamas Ties Pushed In McCain Letter: So Much For "Respectful" Campaign

2008-04-18T20:26:45Z

John McCain has repeatedly insisted in public that he wants to run a respectful campaign, but a recent fundraising email from his campaign suggests there will be nothing revolutionary about the Republican nominee's tactics this year.

McCain's deputy campaign manager, Christian Ferry, sent an email to donors today with the subject line: "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election." The email, which attacks Obama over his foreign policy stances, includes these paragraphs:

Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders. Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America."

We need change in America, but not the kind of change that wins kind words from Hamas, surrenders in Iraq and will hold unconditional talks with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

The letter comes in response to this report of a Hamas leader speaking favorably about Barack Obama. The article -- though not the McCain campaign -- notes that Obama has condemned Hamas, repeatedly said that he would not meet with the terrorist organization, and also condemned former President Carter's decision to meet with Hamas leaders.

Contrast the fundraising letter to the praise McCain has won for statements about running a respectful campaign:

Sen. John McCain called Saturday for a presidential campaign that is more like a respectful argument among friends than a bitter clash of enemies, and said he is better able than either of his Democratic rivals to govern across party lines....

"It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis, we fight among ourselves for the things we believe in," McCain said. "It is not just our right, but our civic and moral obligation."

"Let us exercise our responsibilities as free people. But let us remember we are not enemies," he added.

And speaking of former Rep. Morris Udall, McCain said:

"I intend to wage this campaign and to govern this country in a way that they would be proud of me."

McCain, in April, on running a "respectful campaign":

The subject arose when a questioner at Episcopal High School asked McCain whether the prospect of two senators running against each other in the fall might lead to less negativity.

McCain said he hopes so, adding that he respects both Obama and Clinton, and believes they respect him. "Americans want more respectful campaigns," he added.

And in January, respectful McCain said:

"I'm going to raise the level of political dialog in America," McCain, R-Ariz., said at a campaign rally in central Michigan, "and I'm going to treat my opponents with respect and demand that they treat me with respect."

John McCain Repeats Al-Qaida Shiite Confusion

2008-04-08T15:53:42Z

John McCain again confused Shiites and Sunnis during today's Senate Armed Services hearing, undermining suggestions that the conflation is simply a "McCain moment."

In the past month, the veneer of Sen. John McCain's foreign policy expertise has been muddied by his repeated confusion of Sunnis and Shiites. During his Middle East tour, McCain repeatedly claimed that al-Qaida, a Sunni terrorist organization, was receiving funding and training from Shia Iran. Only later, after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered a correction in his ear, did McCain acknowledge his error. Nevertheless, MCain has since repeated the mistake.

Lieberman's lesson has not quite sunk in, it seems. While questioning Gen. David Petraeus about the presence of foreign fighters, McCain referred to al-Qaida in Iraq as a Shia organization. Realizing his error, he quickly added a reference to Sunnis:

JOHN MCCAIN: "There are numerous threats to security in Iraq and the future of Iraq. Do you still view al-Qaeda in Iraq as a major threat?"

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: "It is a major threat. Though it is certainly as not as major a threat as it was say, 15 months ago."

MCCAIN: "Certainly not an obscure sect of the Shias overall?

PETRAEUS: "No, sir."

MCCAIN: "Or Sunnis or anybody else then?

Read HuffPost's full coverage of the Petraeus hearing.

John Conyers To McCain: "We're Not Just African Americans"

2008-04-04T22:24:29Z

Rep. John Conyers excoriated Sen. John McCain today over his belated apology for voting against a holiday bill honoring Martin Luther King. Conyers himself authored the bill over 25 years ago when he and McCain were in the House together.

For Conyers, McCain's apology has come a little late. "It's incredible that all he can do is show up on April 4th and think that everything is OK. We're not just African Americans, but we're most people."

MSNBC's correspondent defended McCain, telling Conyers that the Arizona senator had just apologized for repeatedly voting against King's legacy. The comments prompted a sardonic response:

Conyers: Yea, well look. I'm happy. That was in 1983, he didn't make any apology, he didn't make any apologies in 1987, so I guess I'm thrilled and forgiving that finally when he's running for President he remembers to apologize. No, that's great.

McCain Booed At Martin Luther King Speech: Watch The Video

2008-04-04T17:28:44Z

Senator John McCain, "who says he will court the African-American vote this year and campaign in places Republicans often shun," spoke in Memphis on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

But his speech was met with boos and interruptions from many in the audience, as he apologized for repeatedly opposing the creation of a holiday to celebrate King's legacy.

(The image of a black man holding an umbrella over McCain's head while he gave the speech didn't exactly complement the moment.)

Take a look:

McCain voted against the creation of a holiday honoring King in 1983, a vote which was supported by a large number of Republicans. McCain claimed this week that he was largely unaware on the importance of King's work at the time, due to his Vietnam-era service overseas. Speaking on Thursday to reporters, he explained that his conversion occurred around 1990:

"I voted in my...first year in Congress against it and then I began to learn and I studied and people talked to me. And I not only supported it but I fought very hard in my home state of Arizona for recognition against a governor who was of my own party."

But McCain's voting record since 1990 doesn't support this explanation. In addition to voting to oppose a state holiday in 1987 (which he later supported) and a federal holiday in 1989, McCain voted in 1994 to cut funding for the commission that promoted King's holiday.