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.
Mccain is too old to make sound judgment for our country.
Richard Rheiner, This is not about the President but since you brought him in to this not all people agree with you. Isn’t it great to live in a land whee you can disagree with your leader and what he does without fear?
I watch Fox News. I am so disappointed that they have hired that loser, Dick Morris. It makes me sick that he is making money with all his hate speech of the Clintons. Fox News should be embarrassed. I am voting for Senator McCain. Get rid of Dick Morris before you lose alot of your viewers. He is as bad as all the Rev. speeches.
yes yes he souns like a warmonger. call it as is seen.
John McCain is not a warmonger, he is a war hero. Some of you seem to have these confused. We are at war because some radicals want us all dead along with the 2800 souls that died on 911. How can you just turn you back on those who died let alone those who survive? In life there must be sacrifice. We are sacrificeing young lives everyday. We have lost 4,000 in five years fighting those radicals. We have lost approx. 38000 on our highways each of those 5 years yet I don’t hear any or little crying about them. I think we’re safer on the streets of Bagdad. Really! The military needs support for both the war and the soldiers who are fighting it, not this cowardly whineing some of us contiue to put out. John McCain is a war hero. Get over it.
Fighting the vietnam war?? Wow. Oooook. Somebody needs to lay off the acid.
Where there is smoke there is fire! Obama has smoke all about him. I cannot imagine the disaster that America will face if Obama is elected. He is totally gifted with words that mean absolutely nothing! How could anyone be so naive to rally for his cause. America was founded upon truths, and love of God and Country. Anything less is not good enough. Obama keeps company with negative beliefs of hate. We are not in an overcome mode. We are faced with survival for our great nation. Everywhere we look there is danger beckoning. Do we really want a President that withdraws from the face of peril that awaits if left unattended?
Has anyone ever heard Obama apologize to anyone on anything, he is unable to feel, He has no compassion, no morals, or integrity, decorum. He is a like a robot someone programed!!!!~ Can anyone tell me a time he has stood up and said I was wrong, or I’m sorry or I made a mistake, I’ll wait to hear…
So the liberals take the high road, NOT! Obama is such a tool!
If we use JSmith’s logic of “calling a spade a spade” then go a head and call McCain a warmonger. Now we can apply it to Obama. He would be a racist, separatist, government hating, conspiracy theorist. This based on the fact that he justifies the comments of his “spiritual guide.” He would also be a baby murderer. This based on the fact that he voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Shall we continue. Fact of the matter is that we as humans should not have to resort to name calling. We should engage in intelligent, respectful debate. That is the beauty of America and free speech. Lets not forget that when we engage in debate, we should let each person in the debate to finish thought. I know for a fact that the LEFT has a difficult time with that.