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.
fox news spreads enough hate for obama. what about mc cains use of public financing to get loans and then spending over the limit. wheres the fox team on that
Well said “dumb like a fox”
Thanks.
I find it interesting that Obama fans really don’t know much about their candidate at all. As witnessed in the responses to this particular article, many who support Obama not only don’t fully understand McCain’s position, they don’t understand Obama’s either. Perhaps it’s because Obama has taken so many positions, whereas John McCain has been completly consistent
“I began to suspect,that I might have been wrong.”
Barrack Obama (The Audacity of Hope, 2006)
“There’s not that much difference between my position and George Bush’s position at this stage.”
Barrack Obama (Chicago Times, 2004)
In Sep 2004 Obama told the Associated Press that even though Bush had “bungled his handling of the war,” simply pulling out of Iraq “would make things worse.” He also stated that he would be in support of sending more troops if it would stabilize Iraq…. (which is exactly the position that “Warmonger” McCain has advocated from the beginning.)
In November 2004 Obama told Charlie Rose on PBS:
“Once we go in, then we’re committed.” (This is McCains position too)
AND
“Once the decision was made, then we’ve got to do everything we can to stabilize the country, to make it successful, because we’ll have too much at stake in the Middle East. And that’s the position that I continue to take.” (This is McCains position too)
So, as evidenced by these (and other statements), Obama is as much a “warmongerer” as McCain. The difference is, even though you may not agree with McCain, his position is and has been consistent and logical. What cannot be explained, even by Obama, is why someone who claims to have opposed the war from the beginning would make statements such as those above when the war was going well.
Bomb iran and say no to Barry and
Clinton Company inc. LTD
Shultz is a buffoon… who takes him seriously anyway?! The fact that Obama and Hillary seem allergic to military action actually scares me! Who WILL defend this country when the phone rings at 3am?? It WONT be Hillary, it WONT be Obama….. it’ll have to be McCain!
WHAT! Why is this even an issue for Barrack Obama! Why should he apologize for something someone else said.
I saw nothing wrong with what the man said and i dont think Obama has to denounce or reject anything. He isnt on his campiagn nor was even speaking for Obama or with Obama
Call a spade a spade.
Republican hatchet jobs? I think the Democrats are out to get off their high horse and really examine Obama, hey!! what a novel idea!!! How about it? Any Democrat want to take off their rose colored glasses and really look at their potential candidate? Na, I think not, just more rhetoric about change and hope. Well guess what people? This country is built on those premises. We are a strong country still, sure we have differences, but let’s not be blindsided by someone who offers nothing but tax and spend. That my friend is Socalism!! McCain has proven his worth in more ways than one, has Obama? Can you actually say that? If you say yes then you have been politically and morally duped!!!
obama wont denounce because he will lose votes by denouncing. He cant afford that. He’s not as prominent as the press is making him out to be. He’s a young kid accepting attention from anyone he can get.
Everyone who believes our great country is something to be proud of, and want it to be safe from the people who want to destroy us, stand up and be counted as a true american. Sometimes we have to fight for our freedoms, or to keep them. Do you want to live in countries that have dictators, and people live with violence on a daily basis. We could very easily lose our freedoms. Then we could not have even this forum to have our say. That is freedom.