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.
Even if Obama was not present at the time the speaker made such comments, his campaign is still responsible. But then again, this is to be expected. His surrogates take cheap shots, while Obama cuts and runs by acting as if nothing happened and extendig an olive branch to his opponents. Lest not forget that it was a surrogate who compared Bill Clinton’s remarks to McArthism, and now this. If it is one thing that erks me is Obama’s unpatriotism, attacking a person who served in our United States defending the very freedoms this yellow belly is now enjoying. And lastly, don’t forget that Obama is running to disarm our country by promising to cut our defense budget. If you think I’m making this up, just do a search in youtube. Ladies and gentelmen, McCain is a patriot while Obama is not. Obama may have wit, but he lacks the wisdom to be our commander in chief. He may be a smart puppy, a Harvard well to do, but he does not know the working class. He does not know what it feels like to work hard. His hands are soft and his nails manicured. The man does not know the meaning of hard labor. He is nothing but an act, an art that he’s mastered quite well. A showman with nothing but smoke and mirrors to cover up who he really is. The office of the presidency is deserves better. It deserves respect. And the person occupying the highest office of these United States should be a patriot, true to the people and responsibilities he so swears under oath, to protect the Constitution and the people of the United States of America. Unfortunately, a man of quilifying dignity has not occupied the Office for some time. Some have come close, but have lost their way. The men or women running and/or occupying the Office should envoke the spirit of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. May God have mercy on us all the day a person is elected and betrays all that this country was founding on.
Yup! This is going to be one of the most fun political seasons ever in my memory. It’s also one of the most childish I’ve ever seen as well.
It would be the stuff of high comedy if it wasn’t so bloody important to this country. How can some of these nut cases stand to look at themselves in their mirror every day?
If you think for one minute this was not known by obama!, your sorely mistaken!. A contemptible move on obama’s part to stain a very honorable soldier.
Very easy for him to counter with ‘well I didn’t know’. Watch for more of this from obama.
Oh how cute! McCain must have gotten word that he needs to be warming up for a fight.
You see, the Democrats have been sparring with each other, and quite aggressively. Whoever
wins the nomination, comes out swinging, in shape, in stride. McCain on the other hand, who
has had his party nomination simply given to him without any struggle at all, has already become
soft. He has no sparring partner. He has no training regimen. He’s not in the gym every day.
Both Clinton and Obama are already fighting. Every day. And McCain is already soft.
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So said one observer, above.
McCain may have his faults, but being ’soft’ is not one of them. I think that surviving 5 1/2 years as a ‘guest’ in the Hanoi Hilton proves the kind of character he has.
And the far left wonders why more and more Dems are crossing over to the McCain camp. All you need to do is watch and listen for a day or two.
McCain doesn’t deserve these kind of insults. He is an honest and respectable man. I am very very desappointed! Max
To Bernardo Smith,
Substitue Hillary everywhere in your comment where you have written Senator Obama and you would have an accurate statement, except that there wouldn’t be enough room to list all the scandals and underhanded actions that Hillary and her husband Bill have been a part of. Just look at today’s headlines and let’s see what she does about the latest actions of personnel in her campaign.
How blind are Hillary’s supporters??? It’s really really frightening how oblivious they are to their candidates underhanded and illegal actions, to her “speeches” without any merit, and to the lack of integrity or character of their candidate…… If she committed murder, they would find some excuse or justification for her actions, just unbelievable.
And for your information Mr. Smith, most Democrats and Americans are tired and fed-up with her and her husband and their actions based only in their best interests. When you get a chance take a look at Bill’s support of trade with China and see where that has gotten us today! Keep drinking the Kool-Aid the Clinton’s are giving you, you’ll be fine, honest………as honest as they are, uh-oh you’re in serious trouble…..
I don’t think that anyone from Obama’s should have distanced themselves or resigned over this comment.
McCain is nothing more than a war monger just like his idol George Bush is.
Of all people you’d think that after McCain went through what he did in Nam that he’d be a lot smarter and more careful about sending our sons and daughters, or continuing to send and keep them in a useless war that is costing this county millions while Americans and their families are starving.
Let’s get real, even if Obama would renounce those comments, he really won’t mean it. I intend to vote for McCain if Hillary doesn’t get the nomination. I know, I know, Hillary stated that we should all come together after the Democratic nominee is selected, but I will not be able to do that if Obama is the candidate. I don’t support the war in Iraq, but I do support our troops, after all they are the reason we have the freedom of choice to vote for whomever we see fit.
Something to think about. Instead of spending billions of dollars on the war, why aren’t we using this money to come up with alternative resources to heat and light our homes, as well as fuel for our vehicles. Wouldn’t the money be better spent by giving American Corporations this money to develop those resources?
Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran…warmonger? I don’t disagree. We don’t need a warmonger as president…we’ve had one for eight years. Look where that has gotten us.