McCain on Iran, new TV ad

Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:26 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, McCain

From NBC's Mark Murray
In an interview with NBC's Brian Williams that will air later tonight on Nightly News, McCain discussed Iran's missile test fire and his new TV ad.

On Iran: "Well, it's very disturbing. And it's part of the trend of the acquisition of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them on the part of the Iranians, who continue to state their commitment to extinction of the state of Israel. So it's very disturbing. We need to act very closely with our friends and allies -- both in Europe and in other regions -- to oppose meaningful effective sanctions on Iranians and they've got to be trade, diplomatic, financial, every possible way that we can."

VIDEO: NBC's Brian Williams interview with GOP presidential hopeful John McCain, R-Ariz., about the urgency in dealing with Iran, the economy and the presidential election.

On McCain's differences with Obama regarding Iran: "I don't think that it would be appropriate to sit down, without pre-condition, with President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who has said his nation is dedicated to the extinction of the state of Israel. If President Ahmadinejad said, 'I want to sit down so that I can tell you after the meeting that I'm going to respect the right of Israel to exist and we will stop our path towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons,' then I would down with him. But not to give him an opportunity to say that he wants to to wipe Israel off the map; quote, Israel is a stinking corpse, quote; and declare his country's intention to acquire nuclear weapons. So I think that is the difference there."

On what his new TV ad, which invokes the '60s, is trying to imply about Obama: "I'm not. I think the point is that this nation has been, was united after Ronald Reagan came to the presidency. We joined together in common cause. We joined together to win the Cold War. Americans served and sacrificed in many ways, and I'm very proud of our record under President Reagan that ended the Cold War and brought about a new era in the world."

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Comments

And Obamas response: Cover his eyes and pretend it didn't happen.

Goose Loosey (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:36 AM)

This stubborn approach to Iran has allowed them to do whatever they want. Our military is stretched way too thin to make any meaningful response to Iran, and McSame is still toeing the Bush line. We have no allies that would have any influence over the Iranians.

McSame's mind is old, his body is old, and his philosophy is mired in the 1960's. He likes the "stinking corpse" line because that's what McCain sees in the mirror every morning!

What a farce.

David Kolva, MD Oswego/Syracuse, NY (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:37 AM)

Am I missing something here about that new ad or is McCain slipping yet another cog? The 1960 didn't have anything to do with Ronald Reagan...that was the 80s.

I'm very worried about the prospect of him becoming president. He so often seems like he can't connect the dots when he speaks contemporaneously. Am I the ONLY one seeing that? Surely not...so why isn't the media pointing that out?????

Suz in KS (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:37 AM)

Now MSNBC is McCain channel.

With Morning joe and his former republicans + Todd(his wife works for McCain) and Mitchell(angry clinton supporter).

Your ratings will decrease if you continue.

Obama blog speak about that.

Steve, WA (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:38 AM)

I saw McFossil's ad on TV last night and I think it makes him look just as old as he is. I LOVE that he reminises about Vietnam........ANOTHER failed war. As I've stated before, McFossil is the greatest gift anyone can give Obama. He makes Obama look presidential, intelligent, thrustworthy. I say run McFossil's add 24/7 on ALL networks! Come on, give the man his due.....aftrall he was a POW!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:39 AM)

Obama just can't wrap his mind around the fact that there are people out their trying to destory our country. Barack figures all he needs to do is give Ahmadinejad a good talking to.

T. Howe (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:39 AM)

Did Brian Williams ask why Uncle Fluffy told his assinine "Killing Iranians" joke yesterday?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:40 AM)

Mark, please don't censor me. My comment is relevent.

I must suck it up, and speak my mind folks.

Who are we, and other bigoted countries who have nukes, to threaten nations who want the capability of nuclear defense technology, like Iran, or any other nation. We have it. We can defend ourselves. They should be able to do the same, or at least have the peace of mind in knowing, like us, they can defend themselves should they be forced to do so. We are the lying aggressors in the Middle East.

Yell, and scream all you like. We are the nation that used the most terrible of weapons first.

My daughter spent a few months in Egypt. They are so backward there that she had to go to the rental office, and the telephone company, etc., in order to stand in long lines to pay her bills. This was only 5 years ago.

We are paranoid, and more than anything invested in keeping 3rd world countries down because of our guilty fears. THAT IS WHY THEY HATE OUR, AND OTHER EURO GOVERNMENTS.

When is the last time Iran attacked anybody?

Nuclear technology is a progress for 3rd world nations in terms of the utilities in their homes, and hospitals, etc.,. I have never agreed with the hypocritical position of America, and other nations like her on this issue.

Now, attack me all you like oppressors!

donna (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:40 AM)

First read Posters

I would like to know how many of you think Obama flipped on his stance in iraq, I have been following this campaign since oct of 2007 and the stance I heard in Nov is the same as the one he is saying now which is as careless as we got into the war is how careful we have to be getting out. please show first read we do not believe everything they tell us just because they tell us, we do have our own brain and can make decisions on what we have seen from the candidate's themselves. everyone please write in to show we are not going to be mislead by the media in order to make this a closer race and they need to also write about the iraqi gov saying they are ready for us to leave also which was also BHO plan from the beginning. Please give credit were credit is due.

james Lawton, OK (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:41 AM)

Supporting Senator Obama for a safe America (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:41 AM)

Barack thought the whole thing was no big deal. They did just say it was just a test.

Grimly Sutter, Hales County, OK (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:43 AM)

"Now we face new challenges: the threat of radical Islamic extremism; we're in two wars; we were just discussing the Iranian threat; and we have major challenges, obviously, to our economy and our children's future. I'm trying to say that I'm prepared to take on those challenges."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Many of these challenges are the direct result of choices made by George W. Bush with the full backing of John Sidney McCain. They were wrong about Iraq, and the financial burden of that decision, coupled with the the anything goes deregulated financial environment, has been a DISASTER for America.

And John McCain's plan to fix these mistakes?

STAY THE COURSE. More of the same.

If the majority of Americans can't see through this media-created charlatan, then we should just stop voting and keep the King George we've already got. Why waste money printing new letterhead?

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:43 AM)

I'd like to buy a house before I make any money also, McSame. Don't you have to work toward the goal? What a not smart person.

Lone McCain Blogger (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:44 AM)

Isn't McSame the stinking corpse?
Why is he afraid of "words"?

I will outlaw every beer (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:45 AM)

Again, McCain conveniently ignores the facts.

First, the term "preconditions". Obama has said repeatedly that before there would be a meeting with President Ahmadinejad of Iran, there would be preparations, such as lower level discussions and an agenda developed before they met. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said yesterday, that HE favors diplomatic talks with Iran as does most of the civilized world.

Talking is not appeasement. We came to an agreement with North Korea, as Bush described it through tough diplomstic talks. Same with Libya. Israel, who know a bit about about terrorism is negotiatiing with both Syria and Hammas.

McCain's appraoch seems to he threaten and bomb. Perhaps then we'll talk.

Diplomacy is the preferred method of resolving problem for civilized nations.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:48 AM)

Whatever John McCain - we don't need you and you are not Ronald Reagan..

Why does he continue to try and compare himself to Ronald Reagan....

Do he really think he's like Ronald Reagan and if he say if enough - people won't think he's like George Bush -

John McCain - new's flash, Ronald Reagan is dead...you voted 95% in line with the alive President George Bush.

You can hide from that.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:50 AM)

Yet the TV AD wasn't about the progress under the Reagan Administration?? Did I miss the intent of the ad, or is he confused by the question?

Scott H (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:51 AM)

While Obama is over there talking, Iran is sending misiles towards Israel. While McCain is sending bombs that way Iran will launch earlier enough to send misiles towards Israel.

Maybe we should just stay out of it all together....either way I don't see positive outlook for the USA

John, MI (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:51 AM)

No matter how you package him, McCain is McCain.

Today's story: FISA
http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom, Illiana (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:52 AM)

"If President Ahmadinejad said, 'I want to sit down so that I can tell you after the meeting that I'm going to respect the right of Israel to exist and we will stop our path towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons,' then I would down with him."
***************************
You, sir, have no concept of what a negotiation is, if this is what you would expect as a precondition. This terrifies me.

Matt, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:52 AM)

McCain's comments in response to the queston about his ad makes no sense.

What does ROnald Reagan have to do with anything, except that McCain is shameless about how he wants to carry the Reagan mantle? Never mind that Reagan left office 20 years ago and the world in which he served as president bears no resemblance to what either McCain or Obama will face.

It's clear that McCain is using the Karl Rove's favorite strategy running against a strawman that doesn't exist. In this case, it's that 60s radical, pot-smoking, America-hating, scary-multi-culti Barack Obama. Never mind that it bears no resemblance to the real Barack Obama,who was eight years old when the sixties ended, or that McCain's political ilk were actually on the wrong side of most issues in the 1960s, including civil rights, desegregation and event the Vietnam War itself, which was a tragic and needless bloodbath.

Finally, what ever happened to John McCain's promise not to run on his military record?

jbentley, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:52 AM)

It shows that Barack is so naive about these rogue regimes... it's just sad that most disgruntled Americans are so eager to put Obama into office without regards of the consequences.

Just Me (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:53 AM)

Will the telecom immunity provision open the Administration to prosecution on the Bush Surveillance Program??

I smell a Supreme Court Case, do you?

http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom, Illiana (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:54 AM)

Lone McCain Blogger --- I'd like to buy a house before I make any money also, McSame. Don't you have to work toward the goal? What a not smart person.

In the fantasy world of Obama-land, you can buy a house for no money down, claim the bank lied to you, and keep the house for free! What a country this will be!!

Brady Hollis (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:57 AM)

How is his 60's ad about Reagan? Somebody explain that correlation please. Was Reagan president in the 60's? Um, no, why doesn't someone ever ask this old goat to explain himself. It's like in his interview today on CNN he says he'll fix social security and medicare, but no one has a follow up of and how do you plan to do that? The media has become a joke.

tina, ar (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:58 AM)

I think they meant (either McCain or MSNBC) "impose" rather than "oppose"

Jesse, Missouri (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:58 AM)

So I assume that the kid-gloves were still on because Sen. McCain wasn't pressed to answer what his position is on the Iraqi government wanting a timetable for American troop withdrawal. McCain said it himself in 2004 that if we were asked by the "sovereign" government of Iraq to leave, then we should leave. Where is the journalistic integrity? Are we a nation of our word or are we imperialists?

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:59 AM)

Actually, old John's brain can not keep up with the Iranian prime minister. Maybe that's why he's afraid of "words" and diplomacy.
Bush is too...slow to communicate with Amadinejad. We have 195 days left with Bush. (Yes, I'm counting) Barack is right on regarding diplomacy. I'm more concerned about the next 195 days with Bush, because the only way McCain will get in the oval office is as a visitor.

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:00 PM)

A new Gallup polling analysis suggests that Barack Obama is overcoming any previous difficulties he had with less-educated voters, defying a piece of conventional wisdom that was bandied about during the primaries and afterward.

Back in March, Obama trailed John McCain by a 47%-40% margin among voters with only a high-school education or less. But in June's aggregate polling, they were tied 43%-43%. From Gallup's analysis:

Obama's gains among less-educated voters are surely a positive sign for his campaign, and certainly help allay some of the concerns about his electability, specifically regarding his struggles in appealing to this core Democratic group. While he is on track to do less well than other recent Democratic presidential candidates among voters with less formal education, his great appeal to college-educated voters (in particular, those whose schooling continued after getting a college degree) helps to offset that.
And another media narrative bites the dust.

Greg (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:01 PM)

The biggest challenge and threat I feel is radical Republican propaganda and extremism. From my own lying government. It's a much graver concern to me. Iran's nuclear program has benefited from our renegade government and not received scrutiny from the World due the disdain of the 'cowboy' politics Bush/Cheney/McCain employ. Get real.

People, we've tried a folksy, mispeaking president - look where that's gotten us? Is it too much to ask that our leaders actually be able to carry on a cohesive, articulate thought? Please G-d, I hope not.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:03 PM)

Why is he afraid of "words"?
I will outlaw every beer

Apparently because they are elusive little suckers for him.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:04 PM)

A new era; 9/11 and Iranian nukes and missiles? Mcwar's solution is a Reagan/Cold War-era super-expensive missile shield, and Obama wants to talk to them, give them incentives (remember North Korea gave up its nukes for incentives?) Why not try talking before shooting, or spending billions more of my hard-earned money?

class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:04 PM)

This counts as presidential behavior these days? McCain yesterday joked about American increasing exports to Iran, saying that exporting cigarettes is a "way of killing them

Now just imagine the MSM outrage if Obama ha said this...not ready for primetime blah, blah, blah

Lyn (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:05 PM)

Instead of looking in a crystal ball and guessing what might happen if we employ Obama's view of diplomacy, the question people should be asking is what result has come from our current view of diplomacy. This is the only thing we can really judge. The method of diplomacy employed by the Bush administration is the same method that Mc Cain is in favor of, and it does not work. The results are obvious. People are being misled.

Harvey, New York (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:06 PM)

Are we going to kill them with cigarettes before or after we bomb them to smithereens?

http://www.StopThinkVote.com/quotes.html

DMWhipp, Florida (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:09 PM)

Grimly, Obama actually said we should talk to them before it escalates. $5 gas will look cheap if we go to war with Iran.

McCain wants more military spending as an answer. How will he balance his budget?

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:11 PM)

McFossil you are in trouble. How do you like the taste of crow?

1. Obama said we should go into Pakistan to surgically strike at the terrorist if we have credible intel about Al Quaida, even without the consent of the government. You chided him saying he was naive. But What happened? BUSH did just that on numerous occasions with lovely results. I ask: Are you man enough to admit OBAMA WAS RIGHT!?

2. Obama said that he would be willing to sit down without pre-conditions with rogue nations to diplomatically resolve difference. Again, You chided him saying he was naive. But what happened? BUSH did JUST THAT and now N. Korea has disarmed most spectacularly. I ask again: Are you Honest enough to admit that OBAMA WAS RIGHT?!

3. Obama has been calling for almost 2 yrs for a withdrawal timetable from Iraq. Oh that was so irresponsible you said. We need to 'win' not 'cut and run'. Now what just happened? The Iraq Government has called for either an immediate withdrawal of troops or that a Timetable be firmly agreed to, with, get this: REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND!!
Now I ask you again: WHO WAS RIGHT!!!??

You ran on Iraq's progress and 'success'. This now sovereign country NOW tells you get out and they do not care what the situation is there. One Question for you: Are you going to now talk about domestic issues??

Sorry You didn't prepare for that eventuality?

Hah! Whatchagonnado!!

Matthew (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:13 PM)

John McCain and Iraq: "100"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6ul9iMgmOw&feature=user

John McCain... War monger?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlX9l1g1ZE0&eurl

Banko (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:14 PM)

I just don't get these Republicans, who want pre-ordained conversations. They're willing to begin negotiations, so long as the end result of that effort is known ahead of time?

That just sounds nutty.

If everyone was already saying all the things we want them to say, what would be the reason to talk to them at all?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:15 PM)

I make typo's all the time but did you make a mistake in typing"to oppose meaningful effective santions"?
If so I quickly forgive, if not, then I can only surmise from this that McCain has "misspoken" once again and doesn't even know it! I watched him this morning on MSNBC and in my opinion he is a senile, decrepit ol' warmongering idiot! He is not smart and he is dangerous for America.

Maybe an update is needed?
Supporting Senator Obama for a safe America (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:41 AM)
____________________________________________________

I think he meant to say "impose"... but since he's opposed to intelligent, well thought out and non-reactive dialogue, he's probably gotten so used to saying "oppose" that it didn't even occur to him what that implied.

Where's Joe Lieberman when you need him?

KM (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:15 PM)

This is the same sabre rattling they did with North Korean. They didn't want to talk. They threatened and acted like cowboys.

What happened? Nothing productive. North Korea tested missles and then acquired a nuclear bomb.

McBush refuses to learn from history. His plan would do nothing but lead to the very same thing that happened in North Korea... they'll threaten and aggrevate Iran, but in the end because they won't talk to them, Iran will end up with a nuclear bomb just as North Korea did.

Idiots.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:16 PM)

"to (impose) meaningful effective sanctions on Iranians and they've got to be trade, diplomatic, financial, every possible way that we can"

Wasn't McCain just joking about the increase in imports we are sending to Iran, specifically cigarettes? Guess he plans to smoke them out. Ha ha ha ha...eh. Ok. This isn't funny.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:16 PM)

To bad we made Iran stronger with or war in Iraq.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:19 PM)

I think Bush is stupid, but, McCain is mean and stupid.

Seattle (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:20 PM)

Okay - here is McCain again arguing that his service in Vietnam somehow makes him more qualified to be president than Obama. That is fine. He served honorably, but he he does not get to protest and cry foul when someone - legitimately - asks how, exactly, being a POW qualifies him to lead the country or how, exactly, his time as a fighter pilot qualifies him to lead the country...these are legitimate and fair questions -- and if McCain continues to use these images and these arguments - not only is it FAIR to question how this service translates into skills necessary to be President -- it is IRRESPONSIBLE not to.

...and as for his claim that he puts country before politics - that may have been true 35 years ago, that may even have been true 8 years ago -- but it certainly is NOT true now...look at how he has bowed to the will of George Bush and the Republicans since he has decided to run for the Presidency - he has changed positions on everything from immigration to the environment...

Mel (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:21 PM)

THE MSM WILL NOT REPORT ON McCAIN'S VERY NUMEROUS REAL FLIP FLOPS

* McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions.

* McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off than they were before Bush took office.

* McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.

* McCain believes his endorsement from radical televangelist John Hagee was both a good and bad idea.

*McCain"s first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn"t be "rewarded" for acting"irresponsibly."His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.

* In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.

* On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own legislation.

McCain Flip flops
* McCain defended "privatizing" Social Security. Now he says he"s against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)

* McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn"t.

New Wave (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:23 PM)

Old man yells at cloud. He will take us into a war with Iran, if Bush doesn't do it before him. 3 wars, how nice. Warmongers, im sick of it. Diplomacy is the only way. We do not need another war.

Bob, Lyons Oregon (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:23 PM)

The McCain camp will work the Iran test fire for all that its worth, since Iraq is kicking us out...

John (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:24 PM)

Also, what fantasy land is McCain living in. Americans came together under President Reagan? Huh. And I thought there was still a strongly supported opposition party out there.

Yes, Americans were pulling for the U.S. in the Cold War. In that sense, we were together. But the devil is in the details. Americans were not universally supportive of SDI, or some of the other tactics employed by the Reagan Administration against the Soviets.

And we certainly didn't come together to support financing a guerrila war in Central America with arms sales to Iran.

Today, sure, we're together again. Except for those who profit from oil, Americans are united in our desire to find affordable energy alternatives. We're united in our desire to end terrorist attacks. We're united in our desire to see the economy improve. And I'm guessing we all agree mom and apple pie are good things, too.

Again, the devil is in the details. And the two parties are presenting pretty different details about how to pursue those goals.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:25 PM)

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