McCain attends pro-Iraq war rally

Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Before attending the Senate Armed Services hearing with Petraeus and Crocker, McCain attended a rally sponsored by the pro-Iraq war Vets for Freedom, where he continued to praise Petraeus, calling him "one of [America's] greatest generals."

Before McCain spoke, former Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia introduced the Arizona senator, telling those in attendance he wants his sons to view McCain as a role model, versus someone like Tiger Woods. While McCain did not mention either of his Democratic opponents, Bellavia engaged, calling the Arizona senator and former prisoner of war "the real audacity of hope."

McCain then took the stage for fewer than five minutes, using his time to thank the people sharing the stage and the soldiers, Marines, etc. in the audience. McCain recounted an experience from last July with Petraeus when he visited with young men and women who decided to re-enlist after their time was up. "They had the opportunity to go home. Instead, they decided to stay in the most honorable of all American traditions and that is to stay and fight for someone else's freedom," McCain said.

"No one detests war more than a veteran," he continued. "But the veteran also knows the consequences of defeat means greater sacrifice and greater numbers who are wounded and killed. You know better than any the consequences of defeat. My friends, we will never surrender to the extremists and they will."

Sens. Lieberman, Graham, and Cornyn were among the other elected officials who also spoke at the rally on Upper Senate Park.

"More than anything else, we need you to win," Graham said to applause. "You know who wants you to come home more than anybody? Al Qaeda because you're kicking their ass. And Iran would love it if you would leave. Well, we're going to come home and we're going to leave behind a stable functioning government where the people of Iraq beat Al Qaeda with our help."

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Comments

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
A warmonger is, pejoratively, someone who is anxious to encourage a people or nation to go to war. It is often used to describe militaristic leaders, or mercenaries, commonly with the implication that they either may have selfish motives for encouraging war, or may actually enjoy war.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warmonger

I rest my case.

twocanpete (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:22 AM)

Tiger Woods? Of course. Why would we want any minorites aspiring to greatness and near perfection in their field? Unless of course that field happens to be war and you can help get a Republican elected. Then it's fine.

CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:23 AM)

Oh my, I think we're all pretty aware that McCain is the pro-war candidate ::snicker::.

That's what scares us.

Obama 08 (for a new world view)

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Change! (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:24 AM)

He is only helping himself to be seen as advocating 100-occupation of Iraq and is making himself vulnerable to Democratic attacks. He has to be pro-American troos, not pro-Iraq.
We have to realize that we as a nation cannot occupy and build nations of every kind. We live in a region hat is birth to the attackers of Sept. 11, and what can we hope from our occupation of Iraq when we have indeed helped to strengthen extremist groups by creating Al Qaida in Iraq? We chased bin Laden since the early 1990's, but we cannot catch him, and it was our occupation of Saudi Arabia that gave us bin laden.

Jerry S. Oakland, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:30 AM)

Expelliarmus, OH (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:30 AM)

Petreaus one of the greates generals ever? Please McCain, General Petreaus isn't even fighting a war, the U.S. has the poor general occupying a country illegally. Definition of a Great General, is someone who shows leadership under fire, NOT HERE, sorry.

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:31 AM)

Yeah, I'm pretty confused by the Tiger Woods hate. He's as clean a role model as they come. He doesn't do drugs, steroids, never makes tabloids in a negative light, has applied a level of discipline and work ethic that's led him to become possibly the greatest golfer in the history of the sport...

Why pick him as the antithesis to John McCain?

Call me crazy, but I'd have expected a Republican to at least aim for the NBA (A.I. is always a favorite target, or Ron Artest) or the MLB (Barry! Barry!).

Pander, Picayune MS (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:34 AM)

New Rasmussen poll showing 65% of Americans want troops home within a year.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/the_war_in_iraq/iraq_troop_withdrawal

Good luck with your positition on Iraq, Senator McCain.

Alan, B'ham, AL (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:35 AM)

Everyone who thinks war is romantic please go sign up at once. And sign your unborn children up while you're at it. And get ready for a new depression era here on the domestic front.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:35 AM)

JohnnyU...won't happen dude...if the cheerleader crowd even responds it will be with their usual flag waving faux patriotism...those republicans send their kids to college not to die for their wars...same thing in vietnam...my uncle dies but bush saves the skies of alabama from the commie hordes...got it now?

Rick, NC (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:43 AM)

Hey Mac, I'd keep some distance from these pro-war clowns if I were you, at least through November. Vets for whose Freedom?

Peter Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:48 AM)

I hope tiger will stop trying to be such a bad fellow,he is doing such a bad job of it.This guy has done more for his sport ,and the inclusion of other that don't look like you to a sport that has been kind of a all white guys sport.Not only giving millions of iner-city kids a chance to play thur the First Tee program he has built schools trying to give back to the country that has given him so much.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:54 AM)

I'd be more open to McCain's point of view if he offered any facts to support it, i.e. that the Iraq people want us to stay (not from what I've heard), the Shittes and Sunnis will eventually stop trying to kill each other as long as we are there (hasn't happened yet), we have the military and wealth to sustain our occupation (I hear the top brass feels the army is stretched too thin and economists say we are deeply in debt.)All Bush ever offered was his gut feeling and assurances, never convincing, fact based arguments, seems like McCain is carrying on in that vein. When did American leaders give up on the thought process? When did we become a nation lead by sentimental old fools?

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:58 AM)

That's the kind of racist bullcrap that we have come to know from the Republicans since the big Dixiecrat moveover. Tiger Woods is multiracial...Barack Obama is multiracial so therefore by this guy's twisted logic he must be bad. Tiger Woods has transcended his profession, has been a good role model, has been charitable, and is an inspiration to millions. This guy is just another jealous bum. No sane person would choose to be more like McCain as opposed to Tiger Woods. I hope that the lies that they have spun about this stupid war become the anchor around McCain's neck that doom his campaign.

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 10:58 AM)

Anyone seeing his speeches he makes? I think his teleprompter or his cue cards need to be a little larger. This Iraq Disaster does not need a pathalogical "kickass" shilling from Graham, and it definitely does not need more of the same------McCain is not HEARING what the overwhelming majority of the populace is telling him----NO MORE

Sherri, Charleston WV (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:01 AM)

we should fear former Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia. not only does he stump for mcwarmonger
he has reproduced.

eze, seattle left coast (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:02 AM)

Mr. McCain our troops did not buy inot a never ending back end draft. By the way why do you not support the new GI bill? I guess like the housing crisis these veterans should rely on the free market system to offer them fair access loans for college. Mr. McCain, you of all veterans know of the sacrifice our troops have given. Honor them with a new GI bill.

Terry, Great Plains (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:04 AM)

Yes, whatever you want to call him...McCrazy, McCrotchety, McCan't, McOld, McAncient, McCretin, McCorpse, McWarMonger, McTorture, McHypocrite...the Republican candidate for Prez sure has a knack for insulting voters...

Before attending the Senate Armed Services hearing with Petraeus and Crocker, McCain attended a rally sponsored by the pro-Iraq war Vets for Freedom, where he continued to praise Petraeus, calling him "one of [America's] greatest generals."

Before McCain spoke, former Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia introduced the Arizona senator, telling those in attendance he wants his sons to view McCain as a role model, versus someone like Tiger Woods.

You heard right! First it was Starbucks, now it's Tiger Woods! If either of those two American icons rate on your faves list, you need not vote McPoopyPants!

And remember, Tiger Woods is of mixed ethnic background, just like Obama, and also plays golf a lot in the Middle East, meaning he might be a fifth columnist, Muslim terrorist too! Please God, don't let him suicide bomb himself and Vejay Singh into oblivion at the 18th hole of Augusta!

balthus, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:05 AM)

I sometimes wonder about the people who post on these blogs. It seems like a lot of the same people. Are you all unemployed or stay-at-home parents? Or shoot, yall could be office workers who sit in cubicals and spend about 2 hours our of your 8 hour work day doing actual work. zzzzI've been there, and I'm happy you all aren't as detached from what's really going on in the world like a lot of people.
But what I think: Yall people are calling for change but it seems like yall do the same-ole-same. Most of you guys don't even read past the headlines, but you post something that promotes your candidate.
Barack Obama's campaign has shown me that I can believe in the American people, young and old, rich and poor. Americans don't need goverment handouts, but they WANT them. Imagine if people gave to their local church or community center like they are giving to the candidates. They would actually see there money being USED in THEIR OWN community. And I think this would probably encourage people to give more. And many more weathly would be encouraged as well.
I love America but I'm not going to vote for someone who is going to raise my taxes.
John McCain is not a great candidate because of his policies he is a great candidate because the Dems are dividing their own party. When the primary is over in July Clinton supporters or Obama supporters will have to "surrender"(harsh term but that's what it seems like) to the other candidate in order to get a dem in the White House. I doubt this can happen. McCain is inevitable, and it's sad. I am entirely against the fail policies of GWB McCain will further. But the American people aren't really thirsty for change. Hopefully yall prove me wrong.

Brad, Purdue University (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:07 AM)

Give most of those Marines and Service Personnel a decent economy and jobs to come home to and see what the re-enlistment figures are then.

There are soldiers who are dedicated to their mission of course, but there are many who even though tired of this conflict and their extended stays have nothing waiting for them at home in the way of employment and stability outside of the service. So they re-enlist.

C A, Tuscaloosa, Al (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:10 AM)

John McCain: Who owns you? Do you even know?

Follow the money and then decide what kind of judgment this old pol has.

iowan (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:14 AM)

I still have not heard McCain DEFINE exactly what "victory" is and stick with the definition. If he can not define the goal, how will we ever reach it? I think our country is in trouble if this man gets elected.

Mel (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:15 AM)

As I've said many times: McCain's only interested in war. That's his platform, his reason for running for President. He shows the Bush mindset. He is Bush No understanding of history. No understanding of the will of the people. He listens to only those who support his love of war and conflict. Move on John. The world is changing, you haven't, you won't. Like Bush, you're stuck in a very dark room listening to yourself...

R.Merrell (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:20 AM)

Read an excerpt from David Bellavia's book, then read this article by a British journalist that accompanied his soldiers. http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/features/12830/a-cat-ate-the-face-of-the-corpse.thtml

Decide for yourself.

Be advised that Bellavia is planning on running as a Republican for Tom Reynold's congressional seat in Western New York, against Jon Power's, another veteran with a decidedly different take on Iraq. http://www.powersforcongress.com/main.cfm?s=powers

The group Senator McCain spoke in front of, Vets for Freedom, registered with the IRS as a 527 committee national lobby. It is associated with, promoted and financed by many of the same people who brought us the war in Iraq.

Russ Elba,NY (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:21 AM)

As a veteran, I think mccain is a disgusting oportunistic warmongering political hack with absolutely no credibility or leadership qualities whatsoever, a complete hypocrite.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:25 AM)

Despite what McCain believes about leaving means greater sacrifice later, does he still believe that is was proper to go into Iraq in the first place? If so, then he really doesn't understand that Afghanistan was (and should be still) the primary objective. We have failed to secure that which was the primary front on Al Qeda.

We have failed to do the proper thing in Iraq. We didn't go in with enough and failed to have a plan to secure the area. If this is going to a success, there needs to be a way to have the corruption expected in Iraq (as well as other Arab countries) eliminated and have the political solutions complete with most everyone agreeing to them. Oh, where is that coalition of the willing that Bush claims that he had going in? If it actually existed, where is it now?

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:35 AM)

Alan, B'ham --- what's the old saying, if everyone else is jumping off a bridge, are you going to do so as well?

All of the people who comment on here usually end up just driving me nuts. Like boogeyman talking about what it takes to be a leader. Though you spoke of Petraeus, I assume your opiniong of McCain as well. The President is NOT supposed to be a represetative ... that's why we have representatives in Congress. He's an elected official who WE ASK to lead us, not do what we want. If the public opinion was what was most important, the men who founded this country would have let everything be based on popular vote.

Guess what? They didn't. And with good reason.

They didn't because Alan's 65% are ignorant. A wonderful Americana/Human mix of stupid, arrogant, greedy, sleazy, and apathetic. And the majority of that 65% DOESN'T VOTE.

This is NOT a democracy. It is a democratic republic, and we need to remember that. You don't elect a leader because he agrees with everything you want, you elect representatives, senators, etc. for that. You elect Presidents based on qualification, conviction, and proven leadership.

But, silly me, what are the odds that at least 65% of the people who post here members of the ... well... 65%....

McCain 08 (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:39 AM)

For the first time a political party "The Democrats" have a vested interested in its own country loosing a war for political gain is truly a sad state of affairs. The American people are truly sheep, and have a very short attention span, I predict that if the democrats take office and start a hasty withdrawl that we will be hit here in the U.S. within 3 years. This isn't the America of the 1940's that was willing to sacrifice and stomach massive casualties to fight for freedom, we have become a more liberalized version that has no will to fight. We truly need to scale back the military and should become more isolationist and non interventionist, which would mean that we'd loose our status as world power, but i'm just so tired of the liberals crying about the war, pull the darned troops out and prepare to be hit here at home... Then the Democratic president can roll over for the terrorist when they come here....

But of course this will never be posted because of moderation, but it is the truth..

The Truth Hurts (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:39 AM)

Leave behind a "stable functioning government" - yeah right. Can we establish that on your own soil first! Thank you!

Pissed off, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:39 AM)

Gen. Petraeus is a puppet of the utterly corrupt immoral and bordering on treasonous Bush regime. The General sold out his Troops his Nation and apparently his ideals long ago. The Iraq War has no end, no game plan, no objective...nothing has changed since he was last performing his Bush talking points to the Congress...and this time someone should have the intestinal fortitude to call him on it.

Coy Reese, Shady Spring, West Virginia (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:43 AM)

Which John McCain does he want to be a role model for his son? The one who had affairs and left his wife or the new reinvented John McCain? Personally I think Tiger Woods is a much better choice.

jeanie o, saint inigoes, md (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:44 AM)

Hope someone got some good footage of McSame cheerleading for a war that 2 out of 3 Americans want to end. He wants to run on the war, make it clear that in doing so he's running against the wishes of the majority.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:45 AM)

A pro Iraq war rally? How big was the crowd 50?
Why no report on the crickets chirping during Sen McCains pauses?

Bill,Rochester,NY (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:47 AM)

All McCain talks about (with strange and mysterious glee) is WAR...in Iraq, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran and we know we should have gone into Afghanistan in the first place... so where will this end?

Will we not be satisfied until we take over and occupy the whole region, own the government and thus the oil in the process?

I think all of those who are for this war should not only volunteer, themselves, but should also volunteer THEIR young sons and daughters as well for 2,3,4 tour!!

what about here (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:52 AM)

McCain is a miserable liar. Neither of the Democratic candidates are advocating "surrender." And he whines that his desire to keep troops in Iraq for a hundred years is mischaracterized by Democrats as a "Hundred-Years War" which it most certainly would be since the Iraqis will resist the occupation as long as it persists, even if it's two hundred years.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:54 AM)

Leave it to McFossil to find the one place on American soil that would hold a "pro-Iraq" war rally!
Can't believe anyone would actually attend.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:54 AM)

McCain recounted an experience from last July with Petraeus when he visited with young men and women who decided to re-enlist after their time was up. "They had the opportunity to go home. Instead, they decided to stay in the most honorable of all American traditions and that is to stay and fight for someone else's freedom," McCain said.

This may be true, because we see ourselves as a elite family outside of our relations. Many of us will remain, if it means we can help save our extended family. We are there to protect one another.

pam, phila, pa (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:04 PM)

This "Dog and Pony show" for those that are not old or well informed enough to remember them.. REEKS of what in 70's in NAM was called the "Saigon Follies". with some minor changes for time.. and technology. the same old worn out "truths".. "We are winning, but more so, we are losing"..
So suggest that someone get the chopper pads ready on the roof of green zone embassy.. as they will be needed.. and get the carriers off the coast to pick up boat and choppers on way out.. Seems we did NOT learn from history..and as this "hearing" went.. are now doomed to repeat it..

Chcukc Nashville (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:04 PM)

Just how many people attend these "pro-war" demonstrations?

What's up with the Tiger Woods comment? What did Tiger Woods ever do to the Republicans to deserve this put down?

Is this the kind of thing we can expect for the rest of McCain's campaign? This plus the bio-pic? If so, I'm not too worried.

lizzy,seattle,wa (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:13 PM)

"They had the opportunity to go home. Instead, they decided to stay in the most honorable of all American traditions and that is to stay and fight for someone else's freedom," McCain said.

Bullpuckey, sir. They decided to re-enlist because their buddies needed them to. Very few of the people still over there are buying your crap about fighting for Iraqi freedom. Alan Greenspan had the guts to admit that the war is largely about oil, and McCain, you are a coward because you can't even admit that.

Stop lying already, nobody believes you anymore, except a small percentage of Americans who still think Iraq was involved in 9/11.

Dave P, Texas USA (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:18 PM)

Hmmm...we get them all killed over there, so there will be none to actually protect matters here.

Expelliarmus, OH (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:36 PM)

Every other top officer who has disagreed with Bush has been fired.
This guy is just trying to keep his job.

W.D.Russell, East Liverpool, Ohio (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:36 PM)

How is McWar's poll numbers up, no one here seems to like him

Dr.Strangedog, MI (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:41 PM)

Senator Mccain may be suffering from latent PTSD himself!

That would exasperate his moral abilities and turn a warmonger into a beserker.

Dwaine, CO (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:47 PM)

I just received an email from my nephew who is in Iraq. He was with the invasion, was stop lossed then to fifteen months. Came back here dealing with depression and guilt which are not uncommon, stationed in Texas and found out when he had four months left on his contract that he was going to be sent back to Iraq with his unit and would then be stopped lossed for their entire tour unless he re-upped and contracted to go to another post. He took what seemed to be the best of his poor options, went and served for a year in South Korea and then on a technicality they violated his contract and reatteached him to a battalion in North Carolina that was preparing to go in for the surge. They were expecting to come back home in July, although his year tour should have been up in April, but the latest word is they will now not be released to return home until Sept. He was supposed to be out on this latest contract in September but now when he will be released is put off indefinitely. Just saying

Susan Erickson, North Branch, MN (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 12:58 PM)

McCain will never tell the country what it would take to "WIN" this war because he knows the people will want to hold him to it. By constantly stating abstracts those who follow him can overlay his words with their own thoughts. If we are doing so well, tell us that we are 5, 6, 8, 10 or 20 years away from pulling out our combat brigades. Otherwise, stick by the 100 years statement and die by it.

Coleen, Seattle, Washington (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:27 PM)

Earl Woods, Tiger's father is who I would want my kids to look up too. Lt. Col Earl Woods did 2 tours in Viet Nam, the second part as a Green Beret. Staff Sgt. David Bellavia is a silly little goober looking to make a few brownies with the old dude McCain.

Clint, Houston Texas (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:42 PM)

Let's call it:
The 100 year military occupation where different religous sects and warlords constantly fight while we play policeman.

Yeah John--that's going to work.

Look, they are going to fight one another because of their religion which trumps their politics. It matters not if we are there. Most intelligent Americans have come to this conclusion, as have most Iraq people. But good luck John with your 100 year military occupation of Iraq.

"We must be as careful getting out, as we were careless getting"--Barrack Obama

Be Careful (Sent Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:52 PM)

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