Retired General, Obama Adviser Compares Bill Clinton to Joseph McCarthy
Bill Clinton speaks as he campaigns for his wife in Cary, N.C., Friday. (AP Photo)
SALEM, Ore. — A retired Air Force general compared former President Clinton to Joseph McCarthy, the 1950s communist-hunting senator, on Friday after Clinton seemed to question Democrat Barack Obama’s patriotism.
Merrill “Tony” McPeak, a former chief of staff of the Air Force and currently a co-chair of Obama’s presidential campaign, said he was disappointed by comments Clinton made while campaigning for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a speech Friday in Charlotte, N.C.
“I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country,” Clinton said. “And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics.”
McPeak learned of the remarks while at an Obama rally in Salem, Ore. Afterward, he called Clinton’s statement horrible and compared it to McCarthy, the Republican senator from Wisconsin who held hearings on suspected Communist sympathizers in the 1950s.
“It sounds more like McCarthy,” McPeak said. “I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I’ve had enough of it.”
Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer rejected the comparison.
“To liken these comments to McCarthyism is absurd,” Singer said. He said McPeak was “clearly misinterpreting” the remarks and suggested that might be an intentional effort to divert attention from a recent controversy involving controversial statements by Obama’s former pastor.
In a posting on Hillary Clinton’s Web site Friday, the campaign said the former president was simply talking about the need to keep the race focused on issues, “rather than falsely questioning any candidate’s patriotism.”
McPeak, who served under Clinton and the first President Bush, was skeptical.
“It’s a use of language as a disguised insult. We’ve seen this before, this little clever spin that’s put on stuff,” McPeak said. “I have no idea what his intentions are, but I’m disappointed in the statement. I think Bill Clinton is, or ought to be, better than that.”
The former president has attracted criticism over earlier comments during the heated Democratic primary race. Following South Carolina’s primary in January, he was accused of fanning racial tensions for appearing to cast Obama as little more than a black candidate popular in state with a heavily black electorate.
He also criticized the news media for making a race story out of his comments.
Oh my gosh!! President Clinton cannot say anything without the Obama campaign whinning about it.
Why is Obama afraid to let Americans VOTE and let the chips fall where they may. NOTE: Hillary won New Mexico with more votes than Obama and Gov. Richardson combined.
Mr Bill Clinton, as a former Rhodes Scholar, is educated enough to use words as a weapon.
His wife started the ball rolling with her comparison between Martin Luther King’s words, marches etc and the actions of LBJ the (white) former President who signed documents favourable to minorities.
Merrill Anthony McPeak was justified with his observations, and comments. I am two years younger, but remember the witch hunts well. They destroyed loyal Americans unfairly.
Mr Obama will prevail, and wipe the floor in November. Sen McCain can start running for cover, The Obama landslide will hit him.
Shame on the general in his old age. It appears that he has lost his vision and wisdom by his critical statements about President Bill Clinton. How wrong is he to be advocating such discord. Is he a repubilcan that will do anything to to get Oboma to win the democratic nominee so the republican party can trash him with the “Revrend Jerimiah Wright, Lewis Faricahn theology?
I am a 64 yoar old black woman who grew up in the cotton fields of North Carolina. I am a born again christian a member of the Baptist Church and attend church regularly. I visit many churches including white churches. I have never heard such hatred and defiance to the Word of God, the Bible, coming from a church pulpit. The church I attend and all the churches I have visited; They all preached and taught about LOVE! The Love of GOD! The power of Love: Jesus our Christ Who demonstrated the greatest act of Love by giving His life and His shed Blood to pay the penilty for the sins of mankind and raised from the dead to redeem us back to the Father. He acended back to heaven, now sitting on the right hand of God, our Heavenly Father as our intercessor. He sent us the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Teacher to leaqd and guide us in all Truth if we accept Him as our Redeemer and Lord.
Jesus our Christ changed “race” into a beautiful Rinbow with His Love. Then he told us to Love one another. He even said love your enemies.
Tell the General to check his faith and his beleif. It is amazinng how far off track Mr. Jerimiah Wright is from the Word of God, the Bible. He preaches hatred. He does not represent the black christian community. I do have doubts about Oboma. What does he know about the Love of Jesus Christ? Who baptized him or has he ever been baptized? This is a key factor in a christian church. Does he know that the Love of God is the only way to total race reconcillation? I am convinced that Hilary Clinton is the called out one for this appointed time because of her faith, comittment and experience. My prayer is that people will see and choose her. America and it’s economy needs to heal as well as be safe. I beleive Hilary is strong enough to man that 3:00 AM call in the morning, she will fight for us to have health care, jobs, secure the borders, initiate a right immigration policy, education and a better way of life as a whole; while allowing Oboma to draw up his plan as to how he is to bring the races togather by the next election.
I challenge the Christian community of all races, especially the black community to not be caught up in a black man making history, but, be caqught in the cares of our hurting people. Pray! Pray! Pray! Then Vote for Hilary Rodham Clinton our president. We cannot afford another Republican as president.
Oboma wait your turn, it will come. Don’t forget Oboma, the Republicans are going to hang you out to dry with that former Militant pastor that you listened to for twenty years.
Our spiritual setting has a great influence on who we really are in the soulish man.
I am praying for you Oboma.
Reading most of these comments really enables the rest of the world to understand better just why the USA is in such a mess.
A recent poll suggested that 50% of Americans cannot even find the UK on a global map.
You say things like does this person or that person think ‘us Americans are stupid?”. They don’t think they pretty much know it. Well at least 50% of you anyway.
You moan and complain about Obama’s pastor, what a joke. Most of your current administration (including Clintons as they are part of your old brigade) are direct descendants (certainly politically) of the people who screwed up your country in the first place. Ike tried to warn Kennedy about them and look what happened to him (and anyone connected to him) when he tried to make changes.
You had 9/11 which brought the whole world to your side and what did you do with this support? Now some of your administration even wants to cancel the remembrance parades etc that are held annually for that sad occasion.
What does this tell you? If you have 2 brain cells you can figure it out. When are you guys going to smarten up and realize (like most of the rest of the world does) that you are nothing more than sheep to your government? They can lie and do what they want to you because you are just sheep and as long as you get up every day, go to work and pay your taxes like good little sheep grazing in the fields then everything is cool. If you don’t they just send the sheep dogs after you to round you up.
McCain (although he seems like a really nice guy) will not upset any apple carts as he tries to cap his life off with role as president. He will follow the path and rules that have already been laid out for the past 40-50 years like a night watch man changing shifts and reading his allocated route for the night.
Clinton, lol. This is the best one. Forget about the history, even though it’s 99% certain the only reason she forgave Bill was because he promised to back her for a presidency shot some day (as he is doing). This woman is a lunatic, she will do anything for power and I mean anything (see above about forgiving Bill). She lies and cheats and if you guys don’t think she is behind everything that is happening to Obama right now then please join the queue for people who need help with the Atlas.
Obama is Americas only hope of becoming great again. Why? Simple he is the one with the least amount of baggage and crap that all the others have. He’s the chance for all you bozo’s to cut the cord to the old brigade and all their murderous and illegal activities once and for all.
Fresh blood.
As for the comments from his pastor, get a life. Sure the guy was out of line but so are 50% of the people in a bar, a restaurant or even on the beach if you listen to their conversations. Why I just seen two respectable business men make complete fools of themselves in a restaurant tonight. They were total a–holes and should have been thrown out. But, these guys had too many drinks and I am sure are great guys in the morning.
But guess what, should we blame the company they work for and stop doing business with them? Should we tar all the people they know and talk to with the same brush?
Well common sense tells us not and the reason is simple. Because you cannot be responsible for the people you know and the things they do. You can try to make them see the error of their ways if an opportune time arises but you can’t necessarily make the horse drink the water.
It’s not Obama’s fault what his preacher said. As for his wife she is right. Why should she have been proud of the USA? because they murder their presidents, civil rights leaders, presidential candidates and even sons of murdered presidents, bring terror to the people of its country, declare wars and rumors of wars because they want what someone else has and they feel no one can stop them? Yeah all this stuff would make me proud too….
And why I am on this subject, China and Russia building arms and increasing their military is not like by you guys also. This is funny. With the USA doing whatever it wants in the world regardless of international laws (some of which they no longer abide by now) is it any wonder that these two countries are getting worried and feel the need to prepare themselves just in case the ‘good ole usa’ turns its sights towards them. Which it surely would if they were weak.
I love the American people and I believe deep down most of the world does. It’s not the people who are bringing this backlash on you, it’s your government. This may be your last chance EVER to reverse the tide and become great again so for the sake of your children you should take it.
Vote for a candidate that other countries will take a breath and say, ‘what the heck let’s give them a chance and hear what he has to say’.
Last chance hotel for you guys and I sincerely hope you take it. The rest of us need you guys back.
Great Bill! you are fighting for Hill to become a president and you to be her FIRST LADY as she did in 8 years. keep on and fight for your post.