McCain Scrambles to Control Backers
Local radio talk show host Bill Cunningham introduces John McCain at a campaign event Tuesday in Cincinnati. McCain afterward repudiated comments made by Cunningham seen as disparaging toward Barack Obama. (AP Photo)
Though John McCain vowed that attacks on Barack Obama at his campaign events “will never happen again,” the Republican presidential candidate says he’s concerned he may be unable to control all of his supporters - especially third party groups.
At a rally in Cincinnati Tuesday, McCain denounced the remarks of local radio talk show host Bill Cunningham, who introduced the candidate with several attacks on Obama, including suggesting he is a “hack” who would sit down for tea with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah terror leaders.
Cunningham also called Obama by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, during the on-stage introduction. McCain immediately denounced the remarks and promised a civil debate should Obama become the Democratic presidential nominee.
But speaking to reporters aboard his campaign tour bus late Tuesday, McCain acknowledged that conservative independent groups pursuing a similar line to Cunningham’s could be impossible to control.
“I think you have to worry about that, particularly the 527s,” McCain said, referring to the independent advocacy groups that are not subject to contributor limits.
“We’re aware of many of the things that 527s have done … where unlimited amounts of money can pour into negative campaigns such as we saw against John Kerry and his combat record, as we saw against (former Georgia Sen.) Max Cleland … they’re really very not accountable to anyone. At least I have to say ‘I’m John McCain and I approve this message.’”
Some critics blame his signature campaign finance reform legislation, co-sponsored with Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, for the explosion of uncontrolled 527 groups. But, McCain said the law is not the problem and argued that 527 groups were able to sprout up as a result of loophole in a 1974 campaign finance law.
McCain said he would do his best to prevent dirty politicking by his campaign and surrogates.
“The moral of the story is we just have to have stronger control of our campaign. … There is no excuse for what happened today,” he said, adding that his campaign has plans to expand its bare bones staff.
Cunningham says he was told by party officials to give the audience red meat to warm up the crowd that came to see McCain. He says he did and the crowd loved it, but McCain then threw him under the bus. Cunningham says McCain has now lost his support.
“I’m gonna follow the lead of Ann Coulter. I’ve had it with John McCain,” Cunningham told FOX News’ “Hannity & Colmes.”
“I’m going to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton for president because she would do a better job in the Oval Office, I think, than the liberal John McCain. I’m done with him.”
Cunningham said McCain “embarrassed himself,” and then made up a name of his own for the Arizona senator, “John Juan Pablo McCain,” an apparent reference to McCain’s sponsorship of immigration reform legislation. He added that McCain should be “repudiating Democrats and leaving conservatives alone.”
Meanwhile, as McCain preaches civility, his own campaign put out a call to Obama’s camp to call off Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who has been attacking McCain for choosing to forgo public campaign financing.
“Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee leadership have launched a personal and negative assault on Senator McCain’s character. Howard Dean himself questioned Senator McCain’s integrity, and a DNC official called McCain a liar,” said Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker.
“We agree with the Obama campaign’s statement today that this debate should be respectful and focused on issues, and it would be encouraging to see Senator Obama denounce the character attacks coming from the leadership of his party.”
FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
Thanks for the early warning from Texas and Ohio; they have arrived but we won’t let them stay long. Two peas same pod, no Hat no Cattle; they’r a’commin down to Mississippi next, we hear. Lock up your children and the aged. Nail everything down inna groun’
Both a’wanna bring ‘em troops home from them fighton Arabs, an we gather, yessum, them Bin Laden Fellows, El Caida’s an hem Taliban’s an ‘hem Gadaffi will be commin right behind our troops, to take over here. We will fight them our way on our soil, but you folks down there beware, hey.
An a’then you keep ‘em woman with ‘hem fake smile, an the young Messiah, you keep ‘em there for good. We don’t want them.
Those who bash Mike Huckabee have obviously not heard him speak about all the issues he stands for. If you’re looking for a true conservative, go to MikeHuckabee.com and find out for yourself that he is a man of integrity and character. That’s why millions of good, intelligent people are backing him, even against all odds. Listen to your conscience. It will tell you that it’s better to support someone with honest principles, and who truly cares about the American people instead of special interest groups — than to just get on a bandwagon and vote for someone just because political pundits tell you to, or because you want to be on the side that looks like it’s winning. Someone may be winning the presidential primary race, but if they get elected, our country is the one that will ultimately lose. It will change it for the worse and we all will suffer for it.
I challenge you to please, think for yourself. Be courageous. Take a stand against all this horrible stuff we’re hearing and experiencing in this campaign and do the right thing. Check out MIKE HUCKABEE — a true leader who perseveres.
John McCain, regardless of his status as a vet and former POW, is out of line attacking the Swift Boat Veterans. And I’m also a veteran. Neither he nor John Kerry or anyone else has ever proven that they were not telling the truth.
As a conservative, I refuse to ever vote for McCain under any circumstance. Any Republican can call me names, but there’s no difference between McCain and any of the Democrat candidates.
I agree with comments from Jason and Mark made on 2/27.
Today, if you apply for a job in a grocery store (I’m not being disrespectful to those that do. I’m just making a point), you have to have a thorough background check before you can get the job. Yet here we are, electing the President of the United States, and we aren’t allowed to do a background check on BARAK HUSSEIN OBAMA for the highest job office in the land! Every time someone tries to point out questionable areas about his background, people cry racism, or Islamophobia! But in reality, it’s way beyond that. It’s about our national security!
The fact that he has a Muslim name and background cannot simply be pushed under the rug as if it doesn’t matter. The world is currently in a war against Islamofascists that are infiltrating countries everywhere, and we cannot be too quick to allow someone to become president who has a questionable background — without researching his entire background first. Because after he gets into office, it will be too late. If his background is clean, then why is it off limits to bring it up? What is he hiding??? What are people afraid we’ll find out???
The fact that he belongs to a black militant church cannot be ignored. (True Christians in the Bible, especially Jesus, did not practice the hate and segregation his church preaches. Nor would they hold up a Muslim Leader like Farakan with such high regard, because of the hate and killing the Koran teaches. Calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make you one. Actions speak louder than words. And it is common knowledge that Muslims think it’s okay to lie as long as it is for the common good of Islam).
Also, the fact that Obama Hussein doesn’t believe in respecting our flag or anthem by putting his hand over his heart cannot be overlooked and should be very suspect. The fact that he carries a full Muslim name cannot be ignored. The fact that people like Ama-jimee-jad in Iran says Barack “will be good for our nation” should make everyone do a double take! The fact that Barack’s wife said she has not been proud of our nation until now is equally suspect. Why so much anger and hate towards a nation (the U.S.) that has given them so much?
Wake up people! This is not a popularity contest! This is about choosing the next leader of our nation. Do your research and find out who this BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA really is!
as a 66 year old dyed in the wool republican i am becomming more and more less inthused about mc cain this only helps to make my deceision. I’m becomming an independent and will vote for hillary even though i will hold my nose all the way at least shes loyal and honest McCain has none of those attributes
Like McCain or not, we cannot let Obama or Clinton into the white house. Rep have to unite against Socialistic government. Obama may or may not be muslim. Even if he is christian, the church he attends is racist. As a proud white woman, I will not support someone who says that they support “Africa” but not “White America.” With Hillary, you get two for the price of one. Don’t think Bill and Hillary won’t run this country as a couple, even though the couple isn’t on the ballot. McCain may not be perfect, but he looks a heck of a lot better than Obama or Clinton.
This just proves once again how much of a party-bucking liberal John McCain is. There is no excuse for his actions. I can’t see how anyone can call himself a conservative and still be in favor of McCain. He was all too willing to buck the party line before and he’ll wind up doing it again. It would be better to vote for one the Democrats than support the watering down of our party.