Nunn says 'Czechoslovakia,' too

Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:11 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats

From NBC's Mark Murray and NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
McCain has received plenty attention -- including here -- for saying "Czechoslovakia," when that country no longer exists.

Well, it turns out that potential veep pick Sam Nunn also referred to Czechoslovakia at today's global-threats summit in Indiana with Obama.

Here's the video, courtesy of the McCain campaign:

"Missile defense -- that's another whole subject," Nunn said. "I won't take much time except to say we in this country are about to, under this government, under the Bush Administration, deploy a missile defense system in Poland and Czechoslovakia, which is an immature system that has not been adequately tested against an immature threat that has not yet materialized."

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Comments

whats up with old people and Czechoslovakia

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camie (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:17 PM)

Well, we live in a big world that has changed greatly in every way, and the older gentlemen have not kept up. We need smart younger leadership, with minds still razor sharp.

That is not to say we throw our elders behind our back. They should still be consulted for their wisdom, and experience.

donna (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:22 PM)

True enought but ,at this time, Sam Nunn is not running for VP or President of the U.S. At least he did not call the European's a bunch fo "Whiners".

Terry, Great Plains (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:25 PM)

Mark, it's a fair point, but I'd like to point out something that at least I feel is rather obvious...

Sam Nunn is, as you say, a "potential veep pick." John McCain is almost certainly (until the formal nomination at the convention) the presidential nominee for his party.

Now, anyone who wants to can accuse me of trying to spin for the guy I like. I'm not. What Nunn said today was equally as stupid as when McCain said it. But Nunn is not running for president. In fact, as of this moment, he isn't running for anything. That's something that's incredibly important to keep in mind.

And I find it incredibly sad if we're comparing the man who is a candidate for the Leader of the Free World with a guy who's simply a surrogate for another candidate. What does that say about Sen. McCain? Is he really only comparable to a guy whose job it is to spin stories for Sen. Obama?

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:27 PM)

The difference here is easy to see: NUNN'S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

If this had been Obama, I'd have been worried. Just as worried as when McCain said it twice.

Regardless, this is really pithy stuff. If we keep focusing on all these gaffes and flag pins, we'll never hear about the real issues. I have seen a little more coverage of actual issues recently, and that's made me feel a little better, but we need to focus on the economy and the War for Oil, not who's eating what and who made the most verbal mistakes.

P, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:27 PM)

Sam Nunn is not running for POTUS! And will not be a Veep choice.

margaret,baltimore,md. (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:28 PM)

I'm confused. Why would the McCain campaign want to point this out? Doesn't it just bring more attention to the fact that McCain doesn't know his geography?

Brett, Cerritos, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:33 PM)

Okay, to be fair, Nunn screwed up and doesn't seem up to speed either. On the other hand, Nunn isn't running for president, and McCain is. Now if Nunn were the confirmed VP pick, different story.

Ken, Sterling, VA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:37 PM)

Obama didn't correct him and he was sitting right next to him.

Steve Jersey city NJ (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:41 PM)

Yep, Sam Nunn's too old to be President too... but we knew that already since First Read claims he's in the running for the backup slot.

First Read says it, assume the opposite. Easy.

AnotherMike, Portland, OR (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:45 PM)

That's okay. Now if Nunn or McCain did not know how many states there were, I'd be worried.

McCain2008

Rhj (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:45 PM)

oh like obama and his 57 states, I am sure you did not make a big deal of that, I mean does he not live in the US, should'nt he have known how many states are in the country is wants to run????? please........give me a break!!! now starts all the lib rants.......but I would have expected this from the obama network, I mean we all know how they are in the tank for obama and have been since the primaries, even hillary and all her surrogates said it. she had no chance against msnbc, and here I am defending FOX NEWS who was fair to her. why do we not see them talking about obamas flip flops on the iraq war, he changes every day, even before he leaves for his trip he is already saying what he is going to do, what a joke, I thought you first have to go and then assess everything, but he caved in to move-on, and I sure do not want them to have a say in how our country should be run.

sandy (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:46 PM)

What's up with 'gotcha' so-called "journalism"? Journalists are morons.

Pepe Lopez (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:48 PM)

lol

Yeah that's a great point guys. Doesn't change the fact that McCain screwed it up two days in a row and eight years ago. And he said Social Security was a disgrace. Did Sam Nunn say that too?

Nice try though! :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:48 PM)

okay Obamatons, raise your hands. What is the name of Czechoslovakia today? If you can't answer that question without doing a google search, then shut your yap. If I had to choose, I'd rather have McCain make this error than Obama referring to our
57 STATES!!!!!
And, if you follow guidelines here, Sam Nunn is tool old to be VEEP.

NObama (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:50 PM)

This obviously means now Obama isn't president-material. Let's ask Barr and Nader about the issue and see what they call the Czech Republic...

Howie (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:52 PM)

Obama didn't correct him and he was sitting right next to him.
----------------------------
That's because Obama probably doesn't know the new name of the country either since he believes his own country has 57 STATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NObama (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:52 PM)

OK, so we have John McCain 2, Sam Nunn 1. Let's see if Sam is able to use accurate terminology from now on, or if he repeats the mistake, which would put him in Senator McCain's league.

The fun is in guessing what will be the next obsolete reference? The USSR? The Berlin Wall? Tang?

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:53 PM)

For the crazies like that Maggie, Peg, we've already paid our dues in blood, sweat and tears. The damn white house was built on slave labor, pretty symbolic for this country, huh? I'm not going anywhere! Maggie should leave!
OH-IO for Obama

---------------

I got you in row six, seat B. Ohh, between two big sweaty guys. Oh well, the trip only takes 4 months. Make sure to bring gloves so you don't get blisters while you're rowing.

Maggie White, Dallas Texas (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:53 PM)

Maggie White, Dallas Texas (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:55 PM)

So to which country are they actually referring? The Czech Republic or Slovakia?

Ian (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:00 PM)

Oh, Nobama:

You guys are beating the 57 states thing to death. Seriously, I see it here in multiple posts every single day. It's starting to sound like a Rudy Giuliani joke- Noun, Verb, and 57 states!

Feel free to keep harping on it, though- it was, after all, a mistake by Senator Obama. Lucky for you, though, to have so few of them to keep track of. For those of us watching the McCain blunders, however- yikes! It never ends!

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:01 PM)

I'm surprised that Chuck Todd & MSNBC would post anything remotely critical of Obama or Nunn. MSNBC normally saves its venom & dirt for anyone running against Obama (i.e. Clinton, McCain, whoever), and passes all of its kisses onto Obama their SAVIOR.

McCain 08/12!

Dirk, Brunswick, Georgia (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:05 PM)

Maggie, you probably can't even afford the ticket! And pray tell, where should we go? I'm an American in case you didn't realize it, and so were my ancestors all the way back to 1793 when they survived that long tortured journey here and survived centuries of abuse in hopes that I can be here today listening to all of my fellow Americans let you know just how ridiculous "your kind" are...how far back does your American bloodline go? You're a redneck hick and not good at it either, so you mean jack to me. I don't need you to do a thing for me, believe it child. Go to sleep, grown folks are talking.

To the point for you talking about the "57" states, I would venture to say he meant the more than 50 primary contests, you know those other places that aren't really states but get to vote in our primaries...ummm what's the word, ahh territories. He said that he and hillary had campaigned in 57 states and territories when mentioning the length of the primaries. I guess he should spell them out and name them for the "slow" kids. mccain and nunn are both too old to run for president.

OH-IO for Obama (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:12 PM)

Maggie,

That is a completely racist remark. I am embarassed for you. I am amazed that Mark, Chuck and Domenico really censor anything. The Red is showing on your neck. Better flip that collar up. I'm flipping something your way, don't worry.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:24 PM)

I can't believe you people at MSNBC. Whatever happened to objective journalism???? Can't you try to be fair? Guess the power agenda at NBC wants the status quo. Too bad - you used to be so great!!! And, I'm not alone with these thoughts.
P.S. Sam Nunn is not running for President, McCain is and he is confused most of the time.

andrea, bristol, PA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:32 PM)

I don't get it? What's the point ...that they both are OLD and from another generation. OK point made. Are they sure they want this point. We know McCain is OLD

Lyn (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:47 PM)

Did I miss where sam nunn was a candidate for anything? Just because some party hack or media moron speculates doesn't make it equivalent for mccain to say well sam nunn said it too..sheesh how desperate is msnbc to carry mccains water for him?

Rick, NC (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:55 PM)

Did Sam Nunn also say we were a bunch of whiners and that the economy is fine if you are trying hard...

Ralph (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:56 PM)

It is so sad when old people are old. McBush is not fit to be president.

rosie, crestview, fl (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:58 PM)

To Maggie White,DALLAS,TX: You represent the sick, racist trash that this country needs to purge itself of! I know you will be leaving the country when Obama wins and all that can be said is "good riddance to bad rubbish!"
margaret,baltimore,md.

--------------

Not a chance I'd leave. I'd pop some corn and get a front row seat to that circus. It will be fun to watch you Obama lovers go from elated, to confused, to actually wonder what you were thinking when you voted for that idiot. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

maggie white, dallas texas (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:05 PM)

57 states, 57 states--is that really all you people have? He meant to say 57 primaries (counting the territories) and misspoke...big whoop. I'm absolutely positive a guy who was president of the Harvard Law Review, graduated magna cum laude, and taught Constitutional Law is well aware that there are 50 states. What's more, I'm pretty sure you all know he knows that too--you just don't have any better material to use. Sad.

Michael Sheridan, Sacramento, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:08 PM)

Guess those old cold warriors just can't learn new tricks.

But the McCain campaign needs to realize that presidential candidate McCain not knowing the real name of a key country in Europe is a far cry from maybe, possible, on-the-list Veep hopeful Sam Nunn making that mistake.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:10 PM)

Whether they say Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia is not the issue.

Fore heavens sake don’t you realize what they are talking about? They are talking about installing missiles there, even though 80% of Czechs are against it? Poland wants more money and Russia is promising to bomb them if we install it.

Can't you do some real reporting MSNBC!!!

Puffin (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:16 PM)

I'm confused. Why would the McCain campaign want to point this out? Doesn't it just bring more attention to the fact that McCain doesn't know his geography?
Brett, Cerritos, CA
******

It's the "I know you are but what am I?" attitude that pretty much dominates the republican campaign.

DV, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:26 PM)

What's up with 'gotcha' so-called "journalism"? Journalists are morons.
Pepe Lopez
****

I love your tequila :)

DV, CA (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:27 PM)

i don;t think nunn is running for president?

toto, toronto, on (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:33 PM)

Why do I have this feeling that ALL the McSame camp does all day is have a spy follow Sen. Obama around trying to STEAL his Ideas and latch onto every single misspeak so as to email their attacks to the MSM ...

Hey McSame Camp, GET ORIGINAL. I know your candidate is old and most of his ideas are not fit for even the prehistoric era but come on I know there are a few advisers over there with at least half a brain not to call citizens in an economy of Distress "A Nation of Whiners" ...

HillaryClinton4BarackObama (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 8:34 PM)

It proves that some people are just too old to be speaking. Still stuck 15 or more years in the past. I'll get concerned if Nunn makes the same mistake more than once, you know kinda like McCain does over and over. Oh, but my favorite thing this week so far is how at McCain's marvelous speech yesterday in front of his "Jobs for America" sign he talked about how we needed 3 more bricades in Afganistan from Iraq, but I guess he realized that was Obama's position so while riding on his bumpy bus decided he was going to get them from Nato, maybe, well, maybe not, well maybe, you know I just don't know, maybe.

tina, ar (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 9:31 PM)

Nice try John McStain,

My friends,

"Here look Sam Nunn doesn't know that Czechoslovakia is no longer a country either. He is too old like me."

Idiots!!! Nunn is not running for POTUS. Dont worry Johnnie your up next for a nice long game of shuffleboard.

Ted HSV, AL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:43 PM)

(I'm sure MSNBC won't publish this nor do they have the decency to post a deadline but I'm an optimist).
WHAT! Why is MSNBC even reporting this. This is rich even for you. Your attempting to conflate McCain's misstatement with Nunn's and tie it to Obama and intimate what?
This is past partisan it's plain stupid. I think we need to start vetting the press.
PS Maggie, from Dallas (home of "I rather be head cheerleader than class valedictorian"), you are an idiot.

Stacey (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:46 PM)

McCain talked about the nonexistent country of Czechoslovakia more than twice. Even G. W. Bush complained in 2000 that McCain got away with talking about Czechoslovakia. It's not that terrible a mistake to make -- ONCE. McCain even visited the Czech Republic. It's great to visit foreign countries, but it doesn't do any good if you don't remember you've been there.

Houston (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:51 PM)

Since January 1993 the former Czechoslovakia has been divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Senators Nunn and McCain are geographically challenged. Senator McCain is intellectually challenged.

Panache, FL (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:51 PM)

Here we are in a country that elects people mostly in a profession that hides or manipultes the truth to increase their bank roll without respect to reality and ya'll freak out when you glimps their lack there of Wake up world!!!!!

Michael John Myer Cave City Ar. (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:07 PM)

Candidates travel and are on the campaign trail for long hours. In light of this, there will be times that Obama and McCain will make mistakes and mistatements such as saying 57 states or referring to a country that is no longer called Czechoslovakia.

The problem is when a candidate keeps repeating the same mistatements and mistakes and this is the situation here with McCain. His blunders are becoming very common as compared to Obama who rarely makes them. This defintely reflects on McCain's inability to be an effective Commander in Chief and lack of knowledge on national security. McCain making these blunders as the President, particularly in foreign countries, would be very embrassing to the U.S.

Additionally, just because McCain served in the armed forces and was a POW does not equip him to be the best Commander in Chief. The most important consideration is who has the best judgment and the ability to articulate his positions with clarity and knowledge of the subject matter. McCain is not doing this and as time advances he is going to get worse.

Wake up Americans! The above article is just a few of the many warning signs that McCain is not the best choice for president.

Obama08

LSMaryland (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:07 PM)

Well it's a good thing Sam Nunn isn't running for President. What's McCain's excuse?

Rich Y, Chicago, Il (Sent Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:07 PM)

Senator McCain supporters please note. In the 21st century it is possible to learn about Iraq and Afghanistan without actually going there: television, telephones, conversations with people who have been there without the massive security of congressional visits. Senator Obama is going on the SMALL chance that he will hear something different.

George, Tampa, FL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 12:53 AM)

Nunn did otherwise make a great point. How many billions of dollars have been spent on that boondoggle of a missile defense system?

Robert, Boulder CO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 1:39 AM)

so what so mccain and nunn got the czech republic wrong big whup.big deal that obama said 57 states instead of 50 states. the fact of the matter is this they are human and humans make mistakes.i think that it is sad that we expect a candidate to say and do everything perfectly when we dont. nobody have ever ran a perfect camapaign.only the better one. what should concern all americans is who you think is the better choice for you. and that should be based on the issues you want represented.

ew,nc (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 1:39 AM)

Idiots obviously Obama meant 47 for 57. He told the story many times before saying 46 or 47 or however many states he had been to. That a slip of the tongue. McCain on t he other hand as brain farts. He mixed up Sunni/Shia many times day after day and had to be corrected on camera about it. He mentions Czechoslovakia twice in two days! He doesnt learn! I guess thats what happens when you finish 894 out of 899 in your class. As for Nunn, cut him some slack, afterall hes almost as old as john McSame!

Sean (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:07 AM)

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