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.
With all the negative about McCain in the news and with Obama’s recent endorsement by the nation’s biggest racist, I wonder why we don’t see what a viable candidate Huckabee is. Huckabee is intelligent, REAL, and warm. Furthermore, Huckabee has had the executive experience that these lack. He has managed government. He also did it quite well, actually improving the quality of life in the state of Arkansas. While I understand that “dirt” will be flung at anyone running for office, I sincerely believe that Huckabee will have much less to fight off. It is NOT too late to start supporting Mike Huckabee. We conservatives do have someone we can get behind and support. Not to do this is just to give this election to the democrats. John McCain is too old, too dull, and too controversial. Mike is young, eloquent in expressing his ideas, and not as controversial. To all who fear a THEOCRACY, I don’t think you should. What you should fear is the Godless, arrogant, morally bankrupt society we have allowed to take over. Ever since oral sex in the oval house hit us (whoever heard of such garbage), we have been a planet spinning far out of its natural orbit. We are bombarded everywhere with Godlessness and shamed if we take a stand for righteousness. Please, you out there, who know what I am saying makes sense, take a chance and vote RIGHT.
Bill Cunningham’s remarks, while entitled to his opinion, were (IMHO) tasteless, classless and panders to what is the worst in us as a society. McCain was right in distancing himself from this. What has troubled me most about this entire campaign is realizing how ‘un-American’ the so-called patriots are for both conservatives and liberals. The brilliancy of Clinton and Obama’s campaign is allowing Americans to see who divided we still continue to be along the lines of race, gender, religion and class and how the democratic process applies only to persons who “fit” the perceived true american profile. We’ve tripped over ourselves in this environment of so-called “political correctness” and have gone to the extremes on both sides of the fence.
At the end of the day, I’m looking for my president to be a self-sacrificing servant leader, not perfect, not a saviour, but someone willing to roll up his or her sleeves and do what it takes to make America a truly great nation and be true to the values as stated in our nation’s constitution and bill of rights. That is the change that I seek.
fox news sucks..oreily makes me sick to my stomach
John McCain is a joke. I would vote for Jimmy Carter than vote for John McCain. And I hate Jimmy Carter. All I have to say is Lord help us. Either one of these three could be the antichrist. As far as there health care plans. Speak to anyone in Canada about there national health care plan. More than half of there paychecks go to the goverment to pay for it. And the care you recieve is aweful. And since when can we not say someone’s middle name on TV?
Cunningham is such a baby. He gets a little slap on the wrist and now decides he is going to support Clinton instead of McCain. Is that all it takes to swing support? The issue of selecting a president if far more important than that. I keep hearing how it would be great to have someone as president who has integrity — who admits when mistakes are made, regardless of party affiliation. So when McCain does that, people turn on him. I guess folks don’t want someone with integrity, they want the squabbling we have seen between Obama and Clinton. Like a couple of four year olds who don’t play well together.
Why is McCain trying to shield Kerry from the truth that was told about his dishonorable service both during and after his self awarded Purple Hearts? The Swift Boat Veterans told the truth and not one darned thing they said has been disproven. The Democrats and McCain (same thing) have turned the word “Swiftboating” into a negative slander when only the opposite is true - “Swiftboating” means the truth is out. Leave it to the liberals to turn the argument inside out, upside down and backwards.
As a conservative, I was going to hold my nose and vote for McCain, now…no-can-do!!!!
Why is John McCain trying to cower and belittle this conservative talk radio host? Bill Cunningham is a local favorite and it’s not because he dances around what “everybody” wants to hear. John McCain should be embracing the likes of Cunningham to establish that Conservative Base that he shrugged off a couple of years back. Not only is Ann Coulter backing Hillary but now Cunningham is too! When is McCain going to learn? I really want to believe he is going to reach out to the conservatives for our party but “throwing [Cunningham] under the bus in front of national media” doesn’t seem like a hand reaching out.
McCain be a man, Hillary has more guts than you. Nothing wrong calling the OB’s middle name.
I thouhgt I can vote for you in Nov, but not ……..
I love this food fight among the Republicans. They’ve ruined this country long enough. And finally the Dems are on the verge of doing something great - leaving the ‘business as usual’ past behind, and electing a REAL uniter (not like the buffoon in the White House).
Be nice McCain! Don’t you believe for one minute the Dems will play nice. They have already begun to sling “mud” and McCain has not sealed his nomination as of yet. Not all GOPers are behind McCain and there is still another GOP in the race. This country is going to hell in a hand basket and everyone is just turning a blind eye letting the ACLU do whatever. WAKE UP people.