McCain Mocks Obama for Comment on Al Qaeda in Iraq at Debate
John McCain tried to capitalize Wednesday on what he sees as a weakness for his potential Democratic opponent, Barack Obama — his positions on Iraq.
McCain ridiculed the Illinois senator for a comment he made in a debate with Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night. Obama was asked if he would send soldiers back to Iraq to quell an insurrection or civil war if Al Qaeda in Iraq re-surges there. He responded that as president, he would take action “if Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq.”
McCain, who has staked much of his political fortunes to political and military successes in Iraq and his own national security credentials, suggested his anti-war colleague’s response was either naive or uninformed.
“When you examine that statement, it’s pretty remarkable,” McCain told a crowd in Tyler, Texas.
“I have some news. Al Qaeda is in Iraq. It’s called ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq,”‘ McCain said, drawing laughter at Obama’s expense.
The dig triggered a back-and-forth that continued long-distance through much of the day.
Obama quickly answered back, telling a crowd at Ohio State University in Columbus, “I do know that Al Qaeda is in Iraq.”
“McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying ‘Well let me give you some news Barack, Al Qaeda is in Iraq,’ like I wasn’t reading the papers,” he said. “But I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq.”
While an Illinois state senator in 2002, Obama gave an anti-war speech that the Iraq conflict would strengthen Al Qaeda’s ability to recruit.
Noting that McCain likes to tell audiences that he’d follow Usama bin Laden to the “gates of Hell” to catch him, Obama said Wednesday: “All he (McCain) has done is to follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq.”
McCain said he had not watched the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night but was told of Obama’s response to the Iraq question.
Obama did not say whether he’d send troops in the event of an insurrection but responded: “As commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.”
The exchange previewed the likely flash-points for the candidates if they do in fact face off during the general election.
The latest head-to-head Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, taken Feb. 21-25, showed McCain besting both Democratic candidates in a hypothetical general election — but a race with Obama looks more competitive.
The poll showed McCain with a 46-to-40 percent advantage over Hillary Clinton, but with a slim 44-to-42 percent lead over Obama. Most recent head-to-head polls show Obama beating McCain by a hair and McCain edging out Clinton in a general election. The poll’s margin of error was 3 points.
In an effort to highlight his own security credentials, McCain has throughout the primary season repeatedly attacked both Obama and Clinton for saying they would withdraw troops from Iraq.
“And my friends, if we left, they (Al Qaeda) wouldn’t be establishing a base,” McCain said Wednesday. “They’d be taking a country, and I’m not going to allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender. I will not surrender to Al Qaeda.”
He said that withdrawing troops would be “waving the white flag.”
In the debate, Clinton did not answer the question about re-invasion of Iraq on grounds it contained “lots of different hypothetical assessments.”
For years, McCain has urged sending more troops into Iraq, even before President Bush adopted such a strategy about a year ago.
“I knew enough from talking to the men and women who are serving that this new strategy was what we needed, and I’m telling you, it is succeeding,” McCain said. “So what needs to happen, we need to continue this strategy. It should be General Petraeus’ recommendation, not that of a politician running for higher office, as to when and how we withdraw.”
He was referring to Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq.
As he began a swing through Bush’s home state of Texas, which holds a presidential primary election on Tuesday, McCain made sure to play up a line he always uses.
“I also think it might be nice for President Bush to get a little credit that there’s not been another attack on the United States of America,” he said to applause.
FOX News Molly Henneberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
If I see another claim that Obama is a Muslim, or took his oath on the Koran I’m going to scream! This is completely and utterly FALSE! Do some research people, stop regurgitating the LIES that are constantly being fed to you by the far right!
Your blind acceptance of such ridiculous trash is a disservice to YOU and to your country! Get informed!!!
Obama is wrong. Al Quaeda was in Iraq before the war. Saddam had material aided them. He had provide resources, training, people and consultation. Too bad Hilleray can’t slam him now because she can’t afford to alienate the far left democrats required to win the primary. However, in the general election Obama will get slammed for his far left views and his lack of connection to facts and reality.
Why don’t some of you just put a white hat over your head’s because
that is how you come across. Im so sick of all of the talk about this whole election. I think by now we all know who we are going to vote for!!!!!!!! Let’s get on with it. If you have proof that Obama is a muslim then why don’t you make it public until then shut up!!!!!!!!!!!! It all boils down to the fact you do not want to have an african american or a female as President…
The U.S. ran much smoother when we had a democrat in office…Get used to
the fact that we will have a black man or a woman in the white house!!!!!!!!
Typical Obama speech: A noun, then a verb, then the word “change.”
You’ve never seen the wind either, but everyone knows it’s there. Did you know that Al Queda was in the US? Even before Iraq? Well the look where the twin towers USED to be! Al Queda will come to where ever we are! Truth… Islam hates us! They were here and around the world attacking us when Slick Willie was in office. They will be here until the end of time. Ignoring Iraq would not have made things better, on the contrary. Sadaam thumbed his nose at the world and all the Dems can say is”No WMD’s.” He abused millions and killed thousands.
If Iran poses a threat, they too should be made to pay. If a man were “looking” like he was going to hit me, I’d crack his skull. If a country is gearing up for an attack, we better take notice.
These people want us dead and they don’t play. They are willing to die. You guys aren’t even willing to fight!
Obama will say and do anything to get elected. To get elected he says he will leave Iraq to get elected and he says he will reinvade Iraq if needed. I don’t expect Obama to do anything he says he will do when elected. That is why if Clinton loses the nomination I will vote for McCain, I can trust him to do what he says he will do.
Lets follow the train of thought regarding a young man in Germany after WWI. Following a long horrible war the country was in shambles. A young leader emerged! Was it the personal, perverse and distorted views of the leader that lead to a country willing to support a political party known as the Nazi’s, or was it the people of the country, so desperate they were willing overlook his immoral charater.
What is wrong with Americans?? Do you all realize what is happening?
I never thought I’d see the day when the Media is afraid to say a black person’s middle name.
Obama belongs to a church in which the pastor praises Farrakhan and as I learned on Fox teaches the Black Value System and focuses on black people! Why are non blacks NOT outraged? Instead of outrage, Americans of all colors and ethnicities embraces him. What is wrong with you?! PEOPLE WAKE UP!! Why am I the only one outraged!!
To my non black Americans and non racist black Americans, why aren’t you banning together to fight this and let it be known that the preferential treatment has to stop and that you are not going to support ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE that attends a church that focuses on one race for TWENTY years.
If the other candidates attended a Pro Whites Only church, there would be hell to pay. There would be blacks protesting and screaming racism. Why isn’t this so for Obama?
It is making me sick in my stomach to see what is happening and to see White America and other non blacks Americans just sit up here and take it!
DO WE WANT A MAN WHO HAS BELONGED TO A BLACK SEPARIST CHURCH FOR 20 YEARS TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY?
Please please stand up and let it be known that we will NOT be duped any longer! People please, take a stand!
Crazy is as crazy does.
Once again I am amazed at how quickly people will regurgitate and spew empty rhetoric without doing a bit of research. I put zero credence in anybody’s opinion that hasn’t checked their facts first. Lazy, lazy lazy.
Look at the issues and where the candidates stand as opposed to how they voted.
http:/www.ontheissues.org
Read a history book, or better yet, talk to someone who actually served in armed combat. World War II Veterans are some of the most interesting, grounded people I know.
Get your noses out of the rearend of the main stream media. They run news stories according to how well they will boost their ratings. News has gone Hollywood…hasn’t anybody noticed?
“We need ‘fresh blood’ in the White House!” I have heard some sycophants say. Well, that is exactly what we’ll get if Obama turns tail and retreats from Iraq just when we have decimated Al Qaida’s ranks to the point where they are using mentally retarded people to do their dirty work.
(Hey wait a minute…sounds like the tactics of a certain liberal I know…)
We are winning in Iraq, there have been no new attacks, he has freed 50 milllion people, after the corporate scandals of the Clinton era, 911 which was planned under Bill Clinton’s watch, and Katrina he brought back the economy with his tax cuts.
HISTORY will show President Bush as one of our GREATEST PRESIDENTS!
Too bad 1/2 of this country will not recognize that.
I asked co-workers prior to the 2004 election if the FACT there have been no new attacks since 911 played any role in who they were voting for in 2004.
They said to my astonishment, NO!
I gotta tell you, Blind Hatred is destroying this country.
Think about it, if you get killed in a terrorist attack similar to 911, if you are DEAD, none of the other stuff is going to matter.