Obama Camp Chides Host Who Called McCain a ‘Warmonger’
Barack Obama’s campaign distanced itself Saturday from a liberal talk show host who called John McCain a “warmonger” while introducing the Illinois senator at a North Dakota campaign stop the night before, after the McCain campaign called on Obama to denounce the comment.
Local talk show host Ed Schultz used the term to describe the Arizona senator while warming up the crowd in Grand Forks, N.D., before Obama’s arrival at the state’s Democratic convention.
“John McCain is not a warmonger and should not be described as such,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Saturday. She added, “He’s a supporter of a war that Senator Obama believes should have never been authorized and never been waged.”
The campaign stressed that Obama was not present when the “warmonger” comment was made and that Schultz is not a campaign surrogate.
That wasn’t enough for the McCain campaign, which pressed Obama to personally repudiate Schultz.
“Barack Obama promises a new brand of politics, but today refused to directly denounce Ed Schultz and his vicious smear attack on John McCain. John McCain is committed to a civil debate worthy of the American people and has a record of standing by that commitment,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. “Senator Obama must personally and publicly repudiate his campaign supporter’s attacks — rather than give tacit approval to this blatant smear — or his rhetoric of change will be exposed as nothing but words.”
The McCain campaign likens the insult to the language used by conservative radio talk show host Bill Cunningham, who rallied the crowd for McCain in Cincinnati, Ohio, in late February by repeatedly invoking Obama’s middle name, “Hussein,” mocking him as a “hack” and suggesting that as president he’d cozy up to Hezbollah and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. McCain condemned Cunningham, prompting a fierce response from the talk show host.
On Friday, however, Obama thanked Schultz and called him the “voice of progressive radio.” Obama also appeared as a guest on his radio show earlier in the week.
Without realizing Obama’s campaign had commented on the matter, McCain said Saturday afternoon in Prescott, Ariz., that Schultz’ “kind of language is unnecessary for this campaign.”
“I hope that in keeping with the spirit of Senator Obama that they … will condemn such language since it was a part of his campaign,” he said.
After learning about Cunningham’s incendiary comments from advisers after the February event, McCain rebuked and disassociated himself with the talk show host minutes later at a press conference. The presumptive GOP nominee repeatedly has vowed to run a “respectful” race and campaign officials were attempting to draw a contrast between McCain’s quick condemnation of Cunningham’s remarks and Obama’s reaction.
FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.
Obama’s words mean absolutely nothing, as Obama has duped the American public. As usual, Senator McCain is the ultimate gentleman who has set the example and a high standard of dignity in this campaign.
Hopefully McCain will see by this how underhanded Obama is and quit trying to be so fair. Obama will throw any dirt he can, either by his own mouth, his campaign or through others such as this. Obama is the first one to cry foul if something is said against him that even hints as a smear but arrogantly expects he is untouchable should it be his camp or a spokesperson introducing him. I would love to see all the information so readily available about Obama spoken of or printed by the media. He may talk nice but pages could be filled about the sleaziness of this man. Also, I would like someone to start asking some serious questions and demand answers, not spin or changing of the subject. How about, Obama, are you in favor of slave reparations???? Insist on an answer, yes or no! And if yes, what would you like to see happen? Why doesn’t the media get an answer to this questions. I know there are many like myself who want to know, now, not after this man becomes nominated.
Up to now this war has been waged on the back of our military and their families.
For the rest of us the only sacrifice might be paying a little more at the gas pump.
Let’s see how long we are willing to pay for this war in November: lost jobs, recession, inflation, foreclosures, as well as a huge national debt that will pin all of us under its weight.
Good luck, Remember the aftermath of another bogus war: Vietnam.
Thank you for this opportunity for promoting critical thinking.
Are you telling me that if Sen.Obama were presented the facts about going to war in the same way everyone else was -he would have voted against the war???
The reason we went to war may not be what we were told but the reason we stay has been very clear.
I for one would rather this war be fought over there and NOT HERE!
My vote is for our freedom and believe me that is what we are fighting for. I have 2 nephews fighting in Iraq and they understand why we are there-DO YOU?
WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE IT IS TO LATE!
So, McCain makes no secret that he supports his country in Iraq or Afghanistan. Mr. Obama has stated that he (Obama) would send troops into Pakistan after bin laden, a country that does not want our troops there. Guess that makes Obama a warmonger, too.
“John McCain is not a warmonger and should not be described as such,”
uhh, what more does McCain want? maybe he is getting a little out of touch with reality after all…
I am sick of Obama. I am sick of Obamaniacs.