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.
It is shameful to denounce McCain as a coward and to compare him to Hugo Chavez. McCain has an indisputable moral code and to even call that into question is absurd! Saying McCain needs to grow some balls, I would like to see you in the Vietnamese prison camps being tortured and then refusing to go home when offered it.
People who say these things are, sadly, delusional and need to look at the facts as they present themselves and not go off into some fantasy of thier own making.
Also people get all fired up when the Democrats say something bad about Republicans but then say it is absoluty alright for Republicans to denounce Democrats! What hypocracy! McCain did the right and civil thing to apologize to Obama and I would expect nothing less from a man of his character.
Hello.
I would appreciate very much if you would let me know why the Republican debate that was scheduled for February 28th was canceled. We have 3 candidates still running for the Republican candidate for President and there are 16 states, including your own, that have not voted yet. I am from Texas and am a member of my county Republican committee. I and many voters from all over the United States feel cheated that some of you have handed the election over to John McCain before many of us have voted.
I am urging you to reschedule a debate of all the Republican candidates before your March election. Show to all of us, the voters, that you desire to make this a fair election!
Please have a Republican debate and talk about all the candidates IN YOUR STORIES!
WHERE IS MIKE HUCKABEE AND RON PAUL?
Thanks JT
Mr Mc Cain should have given out praises, for you. Bill, had the courage to say what many of us are thinking. I’m unhappy with Mr McCain.
Hello! Bill Cunningham is who he is, and always has been. You ask him to set up a candidate and you’re going to get Bill at his best. If McCain has a problem, it should be with his staff. If they didn’t know who Bill Cunningham was, they should never have asked him to set John up.
Don
Interesting that McCain uses two DEMOCRATS as examples of how third parties have hurt candidates in elections. Cleland is a Democrat from Georgia, and Kerry is a Democrat from Massachusetts.
I guess John is saying that Republican 527s are dirtier than Democratic 527s in an attempt to keep the Dem 527s from throwing mud at him. It won’t work. But it does show us more of McCain’s true colors - crossing the aisle and denouncing Republicans at the drop of a hat for pure political gain.
Vote Huckabee!
Comment by Rajah Kahn
February 27th, 2008 at 2:10 pm ….Your 2 plus 2 equals 14 logic is astounding. Chavez isn’t berated because of his military background, he’s become a political pariah in the international community because he’s trying to usurp permanent power for himself and become a dictator in Venezuela. Do you really expect anyone to by your snake oil?
More on topic. I don’t think McCain has to “muzzle” his supporters at all. I’m finally seeing some blood pumping in his campaign..let it ride Johnny. Obama has no issue with Farakhan endorsing him…militant votes are just as welcome as non-militant ones right Obama? Besides look at that record as a Senator, addressing issues in Zimbabwe, Darfur and visits to Kenya rather than working on Illinois’ issues (I guess running for president and a book takes priority). Obama thinks about the imporant issues all the time…like considering Will Smith to play him in a film.
Like I said, short of falacies or unfair content, let it ride Johnny. About time.
Both Christianity and Islam (and Judaism, for that matter) are bizarre cults whose “gods” are totally fictional and invented (Hesus Krishna was invented in 300 AD or so), so I can’t see what difference it makes if someone is Muslim or Christian–both are delusional.
I will vote for Huckabee…….at the Republican Convention and in November. McCain and the mainstream Republicans just don’t get it.
We are supporting McCain the White Knights of America. Lets keep the White House White!
Americans who voted for McCain or Obama were the one who didn’t have access to the internet.These two are traitors to their country.