McCain Disavows Top Adviser -- But Said the Same Thing in December

John McCain just disavowed comments from his top adviser Charlie Black for saying the assassination of Benazir Bhutto "helped" McCain win the nomination and another terrorist attack against the U.S. "would be a big advantage to him."

McCain responded with shock, saying, "I can't imagine why he would say it. It's not true...I strenuously disagree."

Yet following the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto last December McCain struck the same note -- telling Roger Simon of the Politico:

"My theme has been throughout this campaign that I am the one with the experience, the knowledge and the judgment," McCain told reporters after a speech to an overflow crowd at an Elks Lodge here. "So, perhaps it (i.e., the turmoil caused by the assassination) may serve to enhance those credentials."

Comments

[Insearchoftruth]

06:59 AM on 06/24/2008

Terrorism is not a major issue right now. At the same time terrorism is an issue that McCain believes he can win. One way to think about Black's comment is that it reveals a republican intent to elevate the importance of this issue for voters. McCain has stated that if war or terrorism are the central issues he will win the Presidency and if they are not he will lose. The question is will Bush help him by engineering a crises? Journalists can help inform voters by not giving McCain a pass on this and probe republican's strategic intent. How will we know if a crises is real or manufactured?

[politicalgenius]

10:14 AM on 06/24/2008

journalists have a responsibility to informt the voters as well. It's quite evident the Republican platform is deeply rooted in fear and cynicism.

[demfriend]

12:28 AM on 06/24/2008

So now we know the "secret" that the republicans are counting on another terrorist attack or another dead politician to win the white house? Sad to think it is fear that will motivate the votes again. When will we americans decide we want someonewho will not do their best to scare us but to improve our lives? I would hope that the real mccain will be brought out by the MSM instead of just a few voices and we will have a real election and not a fear factor one.

[Daly]

10:54 PM on 06/23/2008

I bet that the millions of lies our of Cain's own mouth will never make it to any debate as long has his team hand picks the "town meeting" attendees Cain will never have to face a Russett - YOU SAID THIS moment.

[hopeless277]

04:40 PM on 06/23/2008

Something tells me that an attack is in the works. I'm sure Cheney has a nuke somewhere in the U.S. ready to go off on a moments notice. How else to declare nation wide martial law and begin imprisoning 'treasonous(read Democratic) Americans" ? God these Republicans are sub-human, lizard brain creatures. They truly must have had really screwed up childhoods.