McCain Apologizes for Radio Host’s Obama Comments at Rally
Feb. 26: Radio host Bill Cunningham speaks at a rally for Sen. John McCain. (AP)
John McCain apologized Tuesday for disparaging comments about Barack Obama made by talk radio host Bill Cunningham at a McCain campaign rally in Cincinnati.
Cunningham, a radio host at WLW-AM, had warmed up the crowd at Memorial Hall with comments about Obama and Hillary Clinton, likening Obama to a “hack, Chicago-style” politician and saying the Illinois senator would “saddle up next to Hezbollah,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il if elected president.
When McCain addressed the crowd, he apologized for the remarks. “I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals (Obama and Clinton) who are honorable Americans,” he said. “We just have strong philosophical differences, and so I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them.”
Though McCain apologized for remarks directed at both Democratic presidential candidates, Cunningham’s comments were directed at the Obama camp.
Cunningham had delivered remarks that painted a grim future for America if “Barack Hussein Obama” is elected president. He mentioned Obama’s middle name three times.
“Obama just came back from meeting Ahmadinejad; he’s got a meeting the next week with Kim Jong Il of North Korea. Then he’s going to saddle up next to Hezbollah; they’re going to have a little cookie-and-cream party. All’s going to be right with the world.
“When the great prophet from Chicago takes the stand, and the world leaders who want to kill us will simply be singing ‘Kumbayah’ together around the table of Barack Obama, it’s all going to be great,” Cunningham said. “Things are going to be wonderful.”
Cunningham ended his stump speech with “if you think about immigration, think about terror, think about success in Iraq, there is only one man who can get the job done, John ‘Wayne’ McCain for president.”
McCain later took the stage and apologized for the remarks.
“I will take responsibility in any offense that was inflicted,” the Arizona senator said.
Asked whether the use of Obama’s middle name — the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — is proper, McCain said: “No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate.”
McCain said he didn’t know who decided to allow Cunningham to speak, but he said he was sure it was in coordination with his campaign. He said he didn’t hear the comments and has never met Cunningham, but “I will certainly make sure that nothing like that happens again.”
Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, applauded McCain’s remarks.
“It is a sign that if there is a McCain-Obama general election, it can be intensely competitive but the candidates will attempt to keep it respectful and focused on issues,” Burton said.
Last fall, McCain faced criticism for not immediately repudiating a voter in South Carolina who called Clinton a “bitch.” McCain chuckled in response to the voter’s question, but didn’t embrace the epithet. A few minutes later, he said he respected Clinton, a New York senator and colleague.
At one point on Tuesday, Cunningham compared Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Madeleine Albright, who he said “looks like death warmed over.” He also commented on the difference between former Ohio Rep. Rob Portman, whose wife is named Jane, and Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, who is gay. “Jane’s the main difference. But that’s a different story,” Cunningham said.
As Cunningham finished, Portman, who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, took the microphone to introduce McCain.
“Willie, you’re out of control again. So, what else is new? But we love him,” Portman said. “But I’ve got to tell you, Bill Cunningham lending his voice to this campaign is extremely important. He did it in 2000, he did it in 2004. It was crucial to victory then and it’s even more important this year with his bigger radio audience. So, Bill Cunningham, thank you for lending your voice.”
Speaking to reporters later alongside McCain, Portman said: “I was backstage so I didn’t hear everything he said. Bill Cunningham is a radio talk show host who is often controversial so it does not surprise me that he was controversial.” He added: “That’s, I guess, how he makes his living.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
That was downright weak of John McCain to denounce Bill Cunningham !!!
First of all, Mac , it’s a well-known rule of POLITICS that you never denounce your
own team, especially when you hand-picked Bill Cunningham to represent you/speak
FOR YOU at that political pow-wow !!! You threw your own player (teammate) under
the bus !!! YEESH ! That’s a “no-no” for sure !!!
Come On ! There were multiple replies you could have said to the Media/Press :
1. ” Well, I wasn’t really expecting him to say THAT !!! I’m John McCain, and I DIDN’T approve THAT message.” ( Humor diffuses )
2. ” HUH ! “…. “I never knew that was Barack’s middle name !” (Refference to “Hussein” This is the infamous “DUMB ACT ” )
3. ” You know , my Aunt Lucy was a lobster (pause)…yeah, we would pull on her anteneas to make her walk. One summer , we actually got her half-way across the table at a convention…
( This is an especially effective technique called the “Red Lobster/Red Herring”… they’ll
forget what they originally came to question you about ).
4. ” Well , Bill’s a little emotional , I love him to death (grimace), but that’s the way he is.” (The “I’m a Good Boy”)
5. ” Well ,THAT didn’t come from MY headquarters !!!” ( The “Wash-Your-Hands-Clean”)
6. ” Ummm…. Barack Obama …. uhh… did COCAINE ,umm..is…uhh…is um,a product of
uh… you know… Frank umm.. the COMMUNISTIC MENTOR in Barack’s book… on … umm.. Wikipedia, but , uhh…….
you know , despite a recent photo of him in SOMOLIA GARB uhh… and… uhh… his um,
anti-American tendencies and proclivities,he…. you know ,BARACK REFUSES TO WEAR AN AMERICAN FLAG ON HIS LAPEL and WON’T PUT HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART DURING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM ….umm… Barack
will make a HECK of a ummm…. President….but…uh…. I guess Bill Cuningham just isn’t…
well…umm.. LIBERALE enough ,and ,ummm… I guess ( then REPEAT SUGGESTIONS 1-5 above)
Basically, I had nothing against either of the candidates personally… until today… when I found out that BOTH of them are in favor of SHUTTING-US-UP…. and I thought this was an election year ?!?
P.S. Where are the Republican debates ???
Barack Hussein Obama’s first and middle name are muslim, not Christian. Is Barack Hussein ashamed of his middle name? He is trying to hide his true muslim background.
VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN IN NOVEMBER!!!
This guy badly needs help if he really believes what he said.
McCain claimed to have never met him. Cunnigham said they met twice. Then McCain says that he might have met him in a rally. I lost some respect for McCain today.
Also, we all know that the 9-11 terrorists are Muslim extremists. They by no means represent the average Muslim or the religion itself. So why is it okay to characterize all muslims as, at minimum, a threat to America, a bad thing, something to be afraid of. It is so bad, such that the religion is now seen as a negative thing in this country. And this is what Cunnigham basic premise in his speech.
We are much smarter than that. Here in America, we appreciate people from all walks of life. For most part, most people are not the bigots/racists Cunningham is hoping to appeal to.
Yes, his name is BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA! Get over it!
None of us chose our background. Smith, Kelly, Coulter, Clinton, Obama - what difference does it make, each is as good as the other. If you think otherwise, get ready to justify your position.
Obama 08!
McCain took responsibility for what was done on his campaign trail. He was a man about it. Its McCain’s campaign. He can apologize for whoever he wants. If Cunningham took it personally then he should cry about it. Its very clear who the manly man was, and who the wimp who took it personally was.
If the icon’s who can’t stand McCain are so right and they have so much influence, then why has McCain gotten so far?
I think Cunningham should go join his girlfriend Coulter and bless Hillary “Rodham” Clinton’s campaign.
everbody in this great country of ours has the right to say whats on their mind about anybody,thing, or topic. We are free people with rights ! And everybody should respect the rights of everybody to tell it the way they may feel. Even if it hurts or my not be the way you feel or I period !!!!
I can’t believe that a good portion of you bloggers are not even dealing with facts but want to hate a person because of their beliefs, name or because some of us have a different view of politics than you. Take a look within yourselves…. and you say you love America. Apparently not because if you did you would embrace America with the differences and debate on issues. Does McCain where his American Flag lapel pin? No. Does Hillary? No. Does Obama? No.
Grow America - stop acting like immature non thinking adults
John McCain is crazy to repudiate Willie.
A nice chunk of America is supporting a guy that they know nothing about. Barrack Hussein Obama could have legally changed his name, and we would probably know even less about him. I’ve never voted for a Republican candadate, in 48 yrs, but I won’t vote for somebody I know nothing about. The media and the feeble minded love this guy. I can’t wait to see what comes out of his closet in 2 years.
Bill Cunningham is an embarrassment to the american people and Bill Cunningham is an embarrassment to the human race. All such mean-spirited radio hosts should be banned from spreading their racist vitriol over the airwaves.
At what point are we as a country going to learn to judge a man by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin? The bottom line is white MEN are runnig scared that there is a black man that is completely equivalent to them in every way. He looks good, got money, family values, and wants to pull the under dog up instead of stopping them down.
Would it make a difference if his name was Rashard Antoine Jenkins? We are so hung up on the Name. Even Hillary sounds a littlepreppy for my taste. Bill is called Willian and get this, Richard is called Dick. Should we discount these names to?
The country may not be ready for a Black man as President. We may not even be ready for a White Woman as president. All I know is that we are tired of fat mouthed racial bigots that perch on the highest tree tops looking down on anyone that is not like them. This is not a race about NAMES, This is not a race about COLOR. This is a race about RECOVERY, getting back that which America has lost. HOPE and True Freedom. Cunningham need to sit down and shut up.
Back in the day on a plantation, and if he was Black, somebody would have already cut his tongue out.
We will have to deal with whom ever gets in the White House. It won’t be any worse than anyone who has already been there. (Bush,Clinton, Bush,Reagan,Carter,Ford,Nixon. Come on now. Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.
Bill Monroe, after reading your post I took a copy of it to a mall and let 100 people read it. Bill, 101 people say YOU ARE A RACIST.
bob of fl meet trudy. trudy meet bob of fl. You two should get married and raise some GESTAPO.
george stuck, do you really believe that Cunningham meant no negative politics by saying Obamas’ middle name 3 times? And you do not have to vote. Why don’t you store it away where the sun don’t shine.
Capitalist– Are you high?Did you know what you typed on your screen? Did you reat it out loud before you hit “send”? If so you must go to the emergency room.You are in need of help. Stop making youself look and sound like a racist.
WELL KIDS I COULD GO ON AND ON. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST TIME ON THIS BOARD. I KNOW FOX DOES NOT LIKE A TWO SIDED DEBATE SO THE POST MODERATOR WILL MOST LIKELY ZAP ME. IT’S SO MUCH MATERIAL HERE FOR ME. MAN, I PITY YOU PEOPLE. TO LIVE AND THINK LIKE YOU PEOPLE DO. AND THE SCARY THING IS THAT YOU ARE RAISING YOUR CHILDREN TO THINK THE SAME WAY. EXCUSE ME NOW. AFTER READING THIS BOARD I HAVE TO TAKE A SHOWER.