McCain: Dean vs. McCain

Posted: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:13 AM by Mark Murray

In remarks this morning before the Communications Workers of America, Dean went after McCain. “We have seen overwhelming enthusiasm for our candidates all across the country because voters are hungry for change, not more of the same failed Republican leadership we’d get with John McCain as president,” Dean said, per excerpts of his prepared remarks. “That’s why nearly 30 million Americans have turned out in Democratic primaries and caucuses, and why we’re setting turnout records in just about every state. We are beating Republican turnout in the South, the West, the Midwest and the Northeast.”

“We’re going to beat John McCain because John McCain is not a strong candidate,” Dean added. “He’s out of touch with the American people. And after 26 years in Washington, all he offers is more of the same. He’s shown that this election year, as he changed his positions on key issues in order to win.” More: “Yesterday he once again got the basic facts in Iraq on the ground wrong. What that tells the American people is that he will continue the open-ended commitment to fighting President Bush's war in Iraq. Senator McCain has made it clear he’s willing to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years. But he has not said if he will keep permanent bases in Iraq, and he has not offered a plan for a way forward in Iraq. One hundred years in Iraq is not a plan.”

RNC chairman Mike Duncan issued this response: “Rather than debate the issues facing our nation, Howard Dean is making it clear that he intends to make the Democrats’ campaign about character attacks and personal insults. Dean’s rhetoric has been vitriolic for months and today’s comments are nothing more than a reflection of the increasingly divisive and destructive nomination battle within his party.”

The New York Times: “Senator John D. Rockefeller IV personally apologized to Senator John McCain of Arizona on Tuesday after remarking in an interview that Mr. McCain’s years as a Navy fighter pilot would not have given him an understanding of everyday issues faced by Americans… ‘McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they get to the ground? He doesn’t know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues.’”

“On Tuesday, the McCain campaign demanded an apology, not just from Senator Rockefeller, but also from Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, because he has received the West Virginian’s endorsement… The Obama campaign … issued a statement: ‘Senator Obama has a deep respect for Senator McCain’s service to this country and he does not agree with what Senator Rockefeller said.’”

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Comments

I agree with EVERYTHING Dean said. Not only is McCain out of touch with the American people, I feel he's MENTALLY incapable/unstable of being our Commander in Chief. I respect everything he's been through and done for our country, but I think he is in way over his head, and poses a danger to our country.

OBAMA, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:23 AM)

The look on McCain's face yesterday when he screwed up the sunni/shia thing again was priceless. This is the guy who's STRONG point is foreign policy. THAT'S scary.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:32 AM)

So now mccain is "demanding" apologies-from anyone who speaks the truth about him. He wants to hide behind his "hero" image, and no one dare point out the fact that he has absolutely no qualifications to be president. BTW, everything Dean said is true, and the RNC should realize the biggest issue facing our nation is replacing the most miserable failure of a presidential administration in history-and we don't need or want more of the same, which is what we would get with bush lacky mccain.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:35 AM)

Rockefeller hit the nail on the head when he described McCain. He shouldn't apologize. McCain is just as "lofty" when he talks about Iraq. He is too invested in his John Wayne ideals and not pragmatic about the cost of the Iraq invasion to them and us.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:36 AM)

Scream Dean is at it again. Isn't he the one that disenfranchised two of the biggest states in the union? Isn't he the one that decided that each candidate would get a proportional take of the delegates rather then winner take all? And now he's telling us McCain is the one that is out of touch?

A.J. Greer, Piedmont, KS (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:39 AM)

Much to my surprise, I also agreed with everything Dean said today. And why won't McFossil release his medical records? There is NO way this man cannot have some serious "issues" after being a POW for 5 years. Is he even mentally prepared to be President? And then there are his anger issues..........I can't believe this is the "best" the Repubs could come up with this year! Shows you just what condition the entire Party is in.....they are stuck in the 1950's!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:42 AM)

YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAA
Howard Dean is an incompetant buffoon.
How in the world could the leader of The Democratic Party, which prides itself on inclusivity and tolerance, allow the disenfranchisement of some two (2) million voters in two different states?
How could he allow a process that gives more delegates to the LOSER of a caucus or primary than it does to the winner in places like Nevada and Texas?
How could he allow the mainstream media to attack one candidate so viciously while allowing the other to get away with lies and contradictions regarding his association with an indicted political racketeer?
How could he allow the party to reward its biggest campaign fundraising draw, Bill Clinton, with a huge slap in the face to both him and his wife by people like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Bill Richardson, all of whom sought help from the Clintons at one time or another for election or reelection speaking engagements, and fundraising events?
None of this makes any sense.
Dean needs to go!
Now, I know this post will upset some people, mostly the ObamaNIACS.
But it IS the TRUTH, and as we all know.....

The TRUTH Hurts (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:43 AM)

Rockefeller apologized?!? What, did he go insane for a few minutes to spew his hate on McCain, and then he came back to his senses? If that is true, then a man with that type of mental problem should be in rehab rather then be a Senator.

Susan Tream (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:47 AM)

What Dean said is true. But A Democratic Nominee may not face McCain in the General Election.

Many Americans and I believe rightfully so that McCain is not Constitutionally eligible to become President.

1. The Panama Canal Zone was never a TERRITORY of the United States. It was leased from Panama never purchased and the U.S. paid Panama annual RENT of $250 Million.

2. John's Birth Certificate says he was born in Colon, Republic of Panama an island city that was never part of the Canal Zone.

3. The Coco Solo Naval Hospital land acquired on Dec 17, 1941 by Franklin Roosevelt Executive Order 8981 and commissioned (placed in service) in September 1942 when John McCain was 6 years old. http://ftp1.us.proftpd.org/hyperwar//USN/Building_Bases/bases-18.html

Donaldd Beaumont, Texas (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:52 AM)

...And when the Dems can't even take the White House from the most unpopular president/war/recession in a generation and the voters put in an imbecile like Mcwar...THEN can we FINALLY get rid of Crazy Howie? PLEASE?!?

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:54 AM)

Dean, and Rockefeller are dead-on accurate. We dems have nothing to apologize for speaking the truth. So is that going to be the GOP's strategy? Clap their hands across the dem's mouths, while they fill the airways, and headlines with their lies, and vicious attacks unchecked?

Dems, if we are wrong, by all means apologize. However the, 'we better tippy toe around the GOP' attitude will leave us burned, and beaten in the GE by that fire breathing dragon of a party. We have to stand up to them. Let us be strong in our convictions. Only then, will we win the day.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:14 AM)

Sounds like a "change" speech for Obama. Clinton is also more of the same only worse. At the same time Obama hasn't really done anything since going to Washington, so I wonder if changing from what's been going on to doing nothing at all is actually better.
Just wondering!

Cory, Tampa, Florida (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:54 AM)

Another Thing,
If this is Deans Stratagy to attach McCains War record he should tread lightly.
the GOP will paint the democratic party into the un-patriotic corner.

GDI in Michigan (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:01 AM)

If being a veteran and a war hero was so important qualification to be president, why didn't Republicans elect him in 2000 against "W", who even didn't go to Vietnam? What changed in 8 years? Even Republicans know that being a war hero by itself is not enough to be a president and McCain lacks those qualifications needed.

Tolga, Columbia, MD (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:25 AM)

The are some very important questions concerning Senator McCain that need to be addressed. First, why does he keep trying to paint Al Quada as Shiites when they are well known to be Sunni's? Could it be that he is trying manipulate us all by thinking that an Attack On Iran is attack on Al Quada just like they told us an attack on Iraq is an attack on Al quada. Second, why hasn't he voted for the New GI Bill? This is a very good indicator that no matter how contradictory it seems he is not really for the troops. I respect his service, and I respect how he never gave up trying for the Republican Prez, Nomination. But these questions need to be addressed. Also just because he served his country in a very honorable way does not take away from the the facts the need to be discussed. If he is meant to be president he should be held accountable for his actions and words just like the other candidates should be.

JB, NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:30 AM)

These concerns that people raise about McCain are valid to me. Being able to distingish which sect of Islam (and possibly Arab governments that are that majority) funds which terrorist groups is important. It is beginning to seem like this administration failed to do the necessary research before going into Iraq. Could McCain do the same if he becomes president, I'd like to think no, but it does concern me.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:33 AM)

Sorry A.J.- Dean did not disenfranchise anyone. And quit using the term 'disenfrachised', you clearly don't know what that term means, and meant for blacks before they had the RIGHT to vote. It's clearly the fault of the state leaders for moving up the primaries. The DNC warned them what would happen, and they did it anyway. I applaud Dean in the way he has handled it. Why should he be running between the Clinton and Obama camp trying to solve this when it is the states themselves that should've came up with a better re-vote plan earlier.
As far as Dean's attacks on McCain, it is truthful for him to say the McCain has swapped sides on a lot of issues. He actually voted against the Bush tax cuts previously because "They helped the rich", and now he is hell bent on keeping them. That's a pretty big flop in 6 years for a guy that's been in politics as long as McCain.

Matt, MN (Sent Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:42 AM)

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