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.
McCain thinks he’s smarter than he really is and Obama is a smooth talker with no substance. Huckabee and Clinton are cut from the same cloth and cannot be trusted. McCain will NEVER get my vote after his Washington style political campaign against Romney that was more fairy tale than factual. Obama has said he would invade Pakistan if the opportunity presented itself and he could get Bin Laden. UpcHUCKABEE is a religious bigot who will take away your religious freedom and Clinton, need I say more than “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” Bill back in the White House, as Romney said, “with nothing to do”. Hillary should be secretary of the treasury. She made millions in days by trading commodities in pork bellies when she had no prior experience. She should invest the US Govt money like that and get us out of debt. Something always smells funny around a Clinton… I won’t vote for McCain, Huckabee, or Clinton, and I haven’t seen any GOOD substance with Obama’s platform. It is a skeleton platform of “I will bring change” that lacks any guts of “How” or what he has previously done. WE ARE IN A CRISIS FOLKS………………
Al Qaeda was in the US prior to 9/11 what makes Obama think they weren’t in Iraq. The liberal press has given Obama a free pass. Obama is raising all kinds of money maybe Al Qaeda is donating the soft money. Al Qaeda continues to threaten us with harm. Obama is their WMD.
Brian in Nevada is right………….People forget that Zarqawi was in Iraq before the war. The Bush Adm. asked Saddam to handeds him over but he refused.
Obama doesn’t care the safety of American people. Clear as crystal!
Vote McCain 2008!
God Bless America!
I foretold over 10 years ago that the USA and Western Europe would be taken over by Muslims. That this would be done surreptitiously by creeping into the political system and trying to occupy positions of power. The process is coming to fruition. The USA will have a Muslim president who will then castrate the Congress and Senate to eventually suspend democracy. Eventually it will be the Russians, the Chinese and East and South East Asia that will have the last laugh. The champion of democracy will have collapsed within itself by being blindsided by a shrewd plan put in place by Saudi Arabia. Without a shot being fired the Muslims will have conquered the West. What would happen to Israel then? That is the time the wayward Jews of the US will realise the folly of their actions in supporting Obama!
Hey victor my vote cancels out your vote so we are back to square one.
Obama 08
It’s amazing to me as an intellectual how much racism is still rampant in this country. Republicans have destroyed our nation in the eyes of the world. Change is the message of hope that we all need as a society in the days and time we live in. Republican establishment has brought us war, uneducated children, energy crisis the list goes on and on. Same ole same ole
government will not do it this time and people have come to terms with that. Again the Republican party brings a 72 year old dinosaur that has been in Washington for eons. The only reason John McVain was a POW was because he was one of the worst pilots in military history, the man crashed 5 planes and killed 139 people on board an aircraft carrier. His own mother said that the people of the United States should just vote for her son because we have no other viable choice. Sen. Obama’s energy plan is amazing. Green collar jobs will be the future because what people are not understanding is fossil fuel will not last forever, some people just assume that as long as we have a pump to get this oil out of the ground it will be available.
Our fathers generation cannot handle the world anymore, it has gone beyond their comprehension. In every society the old try to hold onto power til their dying days and we cannot allow that to happen this time. It is time for them to pass the mantle to the next generation. All that I see on the news is Bill Dummingham calling Sen. Obama by his full name.
This should not be a problem if we as a nation do not allow ourselves to come to the conclusion that every Muslim, which Sen. Obama is not, is trying to kill us. Every religion has nuts.
We can see that for ourselves with the following of Herr Hutlerbee. Religion has no place in politics because not everyone in this country is religious. Black or Muslim or whatever should play no part in this man’s political aspirations. People like him, like it or not he will win, and them maybe we can heal our divides with the rest of the world.
Obama 08
Since before World War 1 we have been told that the war was to end ALL wars. guess what, never happened. So why not try it another way. STOP the war. If we are attacked, then lets defend. Minding our own business is not the strong point here in D.C.
Maybe if the lies from Bush and the lack of Morals and disgraceful display of Clinton, America would still be respected by the rest of the world. So I am all for a Change, maybe Obama is not the answer but at least, the very least, he is a new change to the OLD GANG that has already got us nowhere.
When Obama walks into any event or a State of the Union he will be introduced by the public anouncer” Ladies and Gentelmen The President of The United State, Barack Huesien Obama” so why if it offensive to bring up this guys middle name we and the world will hear it over and over if he wins?
I am so outraged and in shock that the american people would vote for a muslim to be our commander in chief.. Doesn’t anyone do there home work on electing the best person to run our country? Obama is hiding behind a Black christan church.. Pretending to be something hes not.just so he could run for president.. Any person that is running for president of the united states should, put there hand on our Bible to be sworen in.. and would be proud to do it.. Obama is allowed to swear in on the koren. Muslims hate us.Anyone that does not except our bible should not be allowed to run for office..There needs to be more on the news about Obamas underground involvement with the terriorist that took down the…. was it the trade center?? And he is friends with the terrorist that is pouring money into his compaign.. What is wrong with this picture?????and Why is the media protecting him so much????? We as americans have the right to know.This is our future and our childrens and grandchildrens future and you and your loved ones future. I am so disguisted with the media coverage..Its been plain to see you are prejudice and manipulating with the coverage of Obama. This politicaly correct and incorrect bull has gotten way out of line… Lord Help Us all if he is elected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Anderson:
Jo Ann, Ohio and Delia, Indiana I noticed too. I am very disappointed with the Moderators, always questioning every word coming out from Hillary and listening all the repeated words from Obama, that is truth Hillary always answer the Top questions and if you listen the news they give the credits to Obama instead, unbelievable. It was noticeable last night about the Farrakhan Obama connection he was almost convincing the moderators with bunch of words when at the point of the Jewish support Hillary has to force Obama to use a more committed word “reject” instead of only “denounce” Obama really didn’t want to. I was wondering none of the moderators interrupt Obama to go to the point they let him talk and talk as always filling his answers with Hillary’s. Also I didn’t like when they ask specific questions and allowed him to chance the subject, something is wrong. Have the Media confabulated to always find a reason and excuses for Obama’s responses or actions, however on Hillary always pointing out on any minor error and not on her accomplishments? It is very noticeable Obama has all in his favor, nobody can’t talk or touch even his name to point out something doubtable because immediately they find an excuse and then start talking nice about him. Per say McCain stated “ I have some news Algid is in Iraq“ since Obama as always trying to impress and since the moderators never question him whatever Obama brings out from his mouth told us a nonsense issue about Iraq as the last debate, although, Obama replied to McCain wrong that was it? This is important how this person is going to represent a country if he is lost and telling stories about the Iraq without convictions .IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THE COUNTRY! Hey there are pending questions about the gap between his answers and the reality as Karl Loves told tonight and HC just were ansious to interrup him….UHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMM