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.
I love it when liberals talk about doing research. It usually means they have read some liberal web sites and then condemn conservatives for doing the same thing. It is absurd to say that Al-Queda was not aided/funded by Sadaam and given sancturary in Iraq. And, that is only one of the reasons we invaded Iraq. Others include: violating UN agreements, merciless killing of innocent people and invasion of countries we desired to protect. “My research is better than your research” is a cop-out.
Obama = an empty suit, a great speaker with no substance, the most liberal senator.
Obama claims he will negotiate wih republicans. How can he negotiate when he is the MOST liberal senator.
While I am not absolutely thrilled with McCain as our President, I do know that my family will be safer in this country if he is President. Obama and Hillary will turn us into a socialist and passive society with the rest of the liberals. Islam would like nothing better than for us all to be liberals. Then they could take our country much easier. Oh and just in case you didn’t know, Al Qeada is in America. They haven’t made their presence known yet.
O. Hussein Barack is correct. There was no Al Queda presence in Iraq prior to President Bush invading the country. They were established in various locations in the United States, including New York City on 9/11. Since the invasion of Iraq, they have not shown up “unescorted” in America. I, for one, prefer it that way.
Obama said that there was no Al-Qaida in Iraq before Bush invaded Iraq.
Do you know where they were? HERE!
Why doesn’t McCain ask Obama what he would do to fight terrorism? How does he feel about securing our borders and becoming much stricter on immigration laws. Is it because McCain himself has no plan for fighting terrorism other than “talk” about his POW days and how he will hunt down Osama. We’ve been hunting Osama, and I don’t think we the American people want to continue to do the same things we’ve been doing for we will keep getting the same results. We want SECURED borders, wire tapping, surveillance–whatever it takes to keep our families safe. We are fighting a MONSTER. I also believe McCain is just not up to this job. He has no administrative experience. He can not control his own temper. How can he be expected to deal temperately with others. His own wife can’t trust him and neither could the first one. Please, Electorate, it is not too late to push for Mike Huckabee. Ask for a public debate. We will lose in November if we don’t change course NOW.
I would feel more secure with McCain as president then Obama when it comes to dealing with Al-Qeada. Obama might try and defend muslim.
Barack Hussein Obama should not be upset that his picture in Muslim dress is being aired. It’s not a dummy photo, he dressed like that. The truth is the truth. His Father and Step Father are Muslims. His middle name is Hussein.
No wonder he has so much money, Is it coming from Saudi Arabia or Oprah? It’s a real concern.
Be warned. Do not criticize our great leader Obama. He is the New Politiics and no one is permitted to smear his sacred name. If you do, you are racist, hater, evil and ignorant, childish blah blah.
Only we have the sacred right to ridicule and judge all of you (ie. republicans, congress, clintons, in fact the whole world), because we are smart and educated people, and all you belong to the OLD POLITICS. However you have no right to even say anything against our savior, because we set the rules thats why.
We will not hesitate to play the blame game on Clintons, Bushes, Congress, America, Whole World if any bad report of our beloved savior comes to our ears. Yes, that we are very good at doing. Fox news, Times, Farakhan, Al Qaeda, Rezko, Exelon, IRS, US Army etc etc.. are all paid undercovers working for the clintons and GOP out to smear the integrity of our leader.
But we want change. We dont care. So whatever he does, is considered brillant and smart, because he is our CHANGE and he is our HOPE. But you pathetic stooges deserve to be judged and humilated because you are boring and you resist the change. Be warned!
OsamaObama Hussien - he is am embarrassment to America and slaps every soldier in the face every time he opens his mouth. This creep makes me sick. Get after him McCain, on every slap out of his piehole.