McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

patty,sd,ca — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:29:51 GMT

Get used to saying President McCain.

If Obama is the Dems nominee McCain will be the next President.

ANYONE BUT OBAMA

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

AJ, IL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:30:51 GMT

Like I have said in many other websites before, people running for President should not be over the age of 67. The mental faculties start to break down.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Mike NY NY — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:30:51 GMT

Wow, this man is dangerous, he doesn'y even understand the dynamics between Shua ans Sunni muslams.....this man can't get the White house unless you want Bush's Third term.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Michael — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:30:51 GMT

senility setting in...

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:32:52 GMT

Hmmmm. That's sounding more like a slip of the tongue. Could it be that McCain really doesn't know so much about the situation in Iraq and Iran?

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Rev. John, Long Island — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:35:03 GMT

If Clinton or Obama made that mistake, your colleage at NBC would probably be making excuses for them.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Jon, Ohio — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:35:15 GMT

This is the kind of simple misspeaking - easily understandable considering the candidates' schedule and spotlight - that the media loves to inflate and attack. McCain obviously grasps the situation and just got a bit muddled for a moment. Who hasn't ever misspoke?

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Marie — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:38:24 GMT

He has a hard time...Sometimes he reminds me of Bush with his verbal missteps...These type things remind me of the David Letterman old person jokes...I hate to sound harsh...

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:42:01 GMT

An understandable mistake. It's difficult for most Americans that aren't educated about Islam to understand the difference between the Shiites, who make up 15% of Islam (most being in Iran and Iraq), and the Sunnies, who make up 80% of Islam. Let me finish by saying that Nader ensures that the Democrat will lose and we'll get a President McCain for sure, something only an incompetent extremist moron would deny.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:42:33 GMT

This is typical of the errors and mistakes that McCain will make during the general election against Obama. Many will occur during periods when someone makes McCain lose his temper. Such errors and mis-statements and apparent lack of good judgement will be his downfall agaionst Obama.

Note how I state above in McCain's race against Obama and nothing about Hillary. That is because this race for the dem nomination is over and there is really no point discussing Hillary any longer.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Pat, Boston, MA — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:43:01 GMT

Yeah but McCain has experience - right?

And we all know it's experience - not intelligence - that we're supposedly all looking for.

Right Karl Rove? You should know. Your Administration was loaded with experienced people.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Yiannis, Baltimore — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:43:51 GMT

Is Lieberman the next Dick Cheney?

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Time for a change — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:45:38 GMT

He's like Bush. Both know how to act tough (McCain actually is tough). However, neither is smart enough about the real dynamics of that region to make the right decisions.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

BL, Cincinnati OH — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:46:35 GMT

Jon, Ohio.

Misspoke is saying Shiite instead of Sunni, confusing the words. What he said was a comletely different thing than misspoke. He repeated it a few times. That's more than a slip of the tongue.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

HP Boston — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:47:01 GMT

Poor befuddled MCWAR! WE need some assigned to the Phone in the WH every NIGHT! What a nightmare.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Dave, Tn — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:47:35 GMT

Yeah Iran isn't training al-Qaeda they just have about 28 of their leaders under "house arrest". Well they did give one of UBL's sons some time off to go fight in Lebanon last summer.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

iowan — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:48:42 GMT

Okay, so he's going to assemble a geriatric unit of economic advisers (Phil Gramm? Wow.) and he's going to rely on people whispering in his ear on the subject he's supposedly an expert on---war. We've had enough of this. His Vietnam thing is heroic; but he's still a daft geezer.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

HP Boston — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:49:35 GMT

Poor befuddled MCWAR! WE need some assigned to the Phone in the WH every NIGHT! What a nightmare.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

TEC-Spring-Tx — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:50:46 GMT

McCain was having a Regan Momment.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

the real patty,sd,ca — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:52:51 GMT

patty,sd,ca

please, definition of no cred

Since HRC can't come up with anything on her own,coopting Anyone But Clinton ... ABC is the acronym, is telling

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Joe Walsh — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:54:00 GMT

It doesn't sound like it was just a misstatement--when asked to clarify, he got annoyed and declared that it was "common knowledge" that Iran trained al Qaeda.

McCain has taken many admirable positions in the Senate, but his foreign policy bona fides are overstated and he knows nothing about economics. His service is admirable, but McCain just isn't Presidential material.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

KJ, Dallas, TX — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:54:13 GMT

If campaigning is already affecting him (maybe he's tired- mentally and physically), what will he be like if he's elected President??? Scary thought, indeed.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

EJ, Florida — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:54:47 GMT

Not really a campaign changer. He had his mind in two places at once and mixed his thoughts, just like I sometimes type what I'm saying out loud if I'm speaking to someone while I write something unrelated.

Notable is that he surrounds himself with people listening to what he's saying and then takes responsibility for the error, rather than trying to defend the slip.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Amy Andersen, Eden Prairie, MN — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:54:53 GMT

The phone rings at 3 a.m. -- and President John McCain hasn't taken the time to study up ...

To Paul Miller -- yes, it IS possible. George Bush didn't know the difference either until just about the time the war in Iraq began ... I wonder if he really understands it now.

To Jon from Ohio -- what's your evidence that McCain "grasps the situation"? Until just recently, he acted as if he didn't even know Afghanistan existed. I wonder what he would say if you asked him whether there were weapons of mass desruction or links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda.

Change we can really believe in --

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Ian — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:54:54 GMT

patty,sd,ca:
In the past months, you have expressed your concerns about Obama's religion ("he's a muslim") and his skin color. Anyone who has read your posts on FirstRead know that you are pulling for Hillary purely out of ignorance and bigotry NOT due to any inspiration on her part. You give real HRC supporters a bad name. Get a job and give it a rest!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Lisa, New Britain, CT — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:55:23 GMT

Well, to answer your initial question...I suspect their campaigns would have been all over since they are trying to batter each other into the ground (I believe Clinton started first on this...but I digress LOL).

I think we just have to be watchful for patterns, truthfully. I can't see using one statement against campaign. However if it becomes a pattern...

Obama 08

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

JohnnyU, WA State — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:58:50 GMT

Shia...Sunni...heck just bomb anybody that looks different than us, right Senator?

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Tim, Mobile — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:58:57 GMT

He's younger than Reagan was when Reagan swept the nation. I wouldn't dismiss him solely because of age. That's pretty much as bad as pointing at Hillary's gender or Obama's race.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Rev. max Grubb, McAllen, Texas — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:59:04 GMT

Is it old age or just incompetence? Maybe he is not as well versed as he would like for all of us to think. He would make a BIG issue if Obama or Hillary made that mistake!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Don, Los Angeles, CA — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:01:20 GMT

I get the sense that Patty from San Diego (SD), CA is the Clinton campaign's version of Tokyo Rose. These comments by McCain are gaffes and could be used to undermine his core strength--leadership and experience in foreign policy.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

John, Morgan Hill, California — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:01:46 GMT

What is it with McCain that everywhere he goes either Joe Lieberman and/or Cindy McCain are always right behind him ready to whisper in his ear. Watch him in any news report he shows up in and one of those two is always right there next to him.

Weird.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Jan, Michigan — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:02:17 GMT

you've got to be kidding, this was not just a slip of the tongue, this was a blunder. Anyone in his position should be well versed in the "Who's who" and what positions/roles they play in government in the middle east. This was not a small error, it speaks volumes of his "experience" in foreign policy.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Joe Einloth — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:09:20 GMT

Once is a slip of the tongue. Repeating it and requiring correction by Lieberman (R-Tel Aviv)is confused incompetence.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Steve A Jonesboro IN — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:12:06 GMT

He did not "just misspeak" he is just plain IGNORANT! I hope the dems pick up on this and hammer him on it. Iraq and foriegn affairs are supposed to be his strong point?? How will he handle domestic affairs? The economy? Immigration? ANYBODY BUT MCCAIN!!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:14:13 GMT

This just goes to prove what I always say...the heroism demonstrated by John McCain in Viet Nam in no way qualifies him as an expert on foreign affairs. McCain's feel for the geo-political situation in Iraq is negligeable. When someone like McCain, simplifies the reason for the relative decrease in violence in Iraq as attributable to the surge, he ignores the Sunni rejection of Al Qaeda and the truce that Al Sadr has made with the Shiite government. In doing so, he demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the dynamics that contribute to the conflict in Iraq, dynamics of destablization that we set in motion. Today's mistake, confusing the interests of Iran with those of Al Qaeda, is no slip of the tongue; it merely reveals a complete lack of understanding of the different elements involved in this quagmire. That's all we need, another Republican with no comprehension of the politics of nations abroad.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

A of ILL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:18:46 GMT

First "I'm A Liberal Conservative Republican" and now this. Makes you wonder if he really is trying to be honest? Na!!! In this case he just doesn't know what he's talking about. The Republicans have been blaming all of their mistakes on Al Qaeda so it's easy to understand how he could get confused! Why did we go to war.............Al Qaeda! Why must we continue the wars..........Al Qaeda! Why does the economy suck...............we were forced to fight Al Qaeda!!! Do bad the whole premise was a lie that we're stuck paying for.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Charles, LA CA — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:20:59 GMT

You cannot be the war, national security candidate and make errors like that. He's gonna get a pass on this because of what's happening today with Obama, but he can never do t his again

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Lee Holmes — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:26:06 GMT

Heh. McCains gaffe[if such it was. The ''intelligence''community has been proven wrong about Iran and al Qaeda time and again],is more than mirrored by a man [Sylvetre Reyes[D-Tx],who sits as,of all things,chairman of the House Intelligence Committee,and he cannot tell the differance between a Shia and a Sunni.
Then too,the idea that Sunni and Shia have not heretofore worked together is MSM revisionism. HEZBOLLAHS leader,recently killed in Damascus,worked with the bin Laden organization and crafted the KHOBAR TOWERS bombing in Saudi Arabia. The 9/11 Commission [on pgs.240-241],acknowlaged such a linkage and as late as 2003 Iran[Washington Post Sept.9,2003],shielded al Qaeda chieftains including al-Zarqawi. US and NATO commanders[Gen.McNeill among these] in Afghanistan have been routinely complaining of munitions used by the Taliban/al Qaeda terrorist insurgency ''bearing Iranian markings''. Then too,found in Iraq by members of the US Army 3ID near al-Karma,[then al Qaeda territory and not Sadrs militias],where an American helicopter was brought down in Feb.2007,were portions of a QW-1.This shoulder-fired anti-air missle launcher is manufactured in Iran. How did it come to be in al Qaeda hands? Anti-terrorism experts,the US military,the Pentagon,show no evidence of a al Qaeda interdiction of arms shipments from Iran bound for the Iraqi South,where al Sadrs Shia militias have held sway. Indeed,up until 2007,al Qaeda largely depended upon SA-7s [themselves of Chinese manufacture that have crossed the Iraqi-Iranian border at Sulimayeh,which until Surge operations [of which there were two major offensives in late 2007],was the virtual Dodge City of Iranian arms shipments into Iraq]. This is how ''gaffes''turn into the region of a truth.[and why the MSM continously drops Iran off the hook for its contributions to the killing of our and other soldiers in Iraq,their arms shipments into Afghanistan,and their continued seeking of nuclear weapons remains a mystery].

Also see: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Feb.28,2008:''Triple Cross: Osama bin Ladens Spy In America'' DVD/VHS/Program rept.

The 9/11 Commission Report www.9-11commissison.gov [pp.240-241]

The Iraq Study Group www.isg.gov

JANES Weapons jiw.janes.com The JANES Information Group. The QW-1. Manufacture,Areas Used,By Whom.

Michael Yon[Iraq War Combat Correspondant] www.michaelyon.blogspot.com [archives:Iranian arms shipments w/photographs].

Bill Roggio[Iraq War Correspondant] www.billroggio.blogspot.com

AP/Agence France-Presse Sept.22,2007 ''Iranian,Chinese Weapons Seized In Afghanistan''

The New York Times Apr.13,2007:''US Suspects Iran Aids Both Sunni and Shia Militias''

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Colin Hicks, Chicago, IL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:27:39 GMT

That explains today, but what about what he said yesterday:

"As you know, there are al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they're moving back into Iraq. "

--John McCain, March 17, 2008 (on the Hugh Hewitt Show)

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Feed Up! in Va. — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:27:48 GMT

Everyone seems to be focused on which candidate is the most experienced to answer the White House phone at three in the morning.The majority would appear to proclaim McCain as that candidate.Look people if you are running for the President of the U.S. I would at least hope that individual has a Damn clue what they are talking about or at least prepare themselves before opening their mouth when speaking on any issue!So far McCain is clueless in all aspects! The others will simply say they have no choice,either way I hope you so called Republicans and converters do not have children, I petty them if you do!!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Food for thought, IL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:27:50 GMT

McCain just blindly goes where ever the fight is! He doesn't need to know where he is fighting or who he is fighting. If the democrats don't get their act together and support the nominee, we are in for a downhill ride!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Feed Up! in Va. — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:28:20 GMT

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Diane from Illinois — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:28:21 GMT

If he wants to spend the next 100 years there, he really should get it straight, don't you think? If ANYONE thinks this man will beat Obama in Nov, please don't bet your last dollar on it! It's a race I'm anxious to see!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Rick, NC — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:31:35 GMT

Have any of you flag waving faux patriots on the right seen the pictures of McSame in Iraq? He looks pasty faced and like he is on his last oxygen bottle...he'll be lucky to make it to November let alone 4 years...he just wants to start a war your little brats won't go fight in and then he'll kick the bucket.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Pat Huntington NY — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:32:07 GMT

I would expect more from someone who's a presidential nominee. I would expect McCain, as a Senetor, to know the difference between Sunnis and Shia, and whether Iran is aiding Iraqi Shiite Extremists or Al Qaeda. That he doesn't pass this simple test, makes it very scary that he could be president. He's an old senile angry little man, probably with E.D., like Doyle, who'll probably start WWIII in the first week of his presidency. God Help US All!

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Jason, Charleston SC — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:32:51 GMT

Just because most Americans don't know the difference doesn't mean the President should. I know the difference. Anyone directing our policy in Iraq needs to be able to keep the principle players staight.

It not a "slip of the tongue". It may be a slip of the mind...but that's not much better.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Another point of view other than the liberal leaning MSNBC — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:34:54 GMT

Mixing up words doesn't come close to trying to provide excuses for hate speach or one's failure in good judgement. This is another nice try to take the focus off Obama's failure to do either.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

StevO, Denver — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:38:34 GMT

He's just like Bush and he will continue to carry the torch for Bush & Co. He is too old, too befuddled and he even said a few weeks ago that he doesn't know anything about the economy. He doesn't even want to discuss health care, education or NAFTA. Wow, that's what we need at this time in our history.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Luanne — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:40:01 GMT

Now run the footage of this over and over again for seventy-two hours, have pundits deride the senator from Arizona as being out of touch with the circumstances on the ground in Iraq, and let's see how McCain's poll numbers fare next week.

I'm just saying...

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Jim Banks — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:41:10 GMT

The Washington Post, no doubt the same journalist who's on MSNBC all the time talking up Obama and talking down Clinton. I'm sure he's trying to change the subject since his favorite candidate is in a world of sh*t.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

OKDOKEY — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:41:17 GMT

Not the first time he has said this!

He said the same thing on Hugh Hewitt's radio show last night:

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/talkradio/transcripts/Transcript.aspx?ContentGuid=ae522a49-6c82-4791-a76e-44ebb718bf32

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

dan, St.L, MO — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:41:48 GMT

He continued talking in those terms... it wasn't just one sentence. People should start wondering.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

Not all Dems are Mindless — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:46:53 GMT

I'm sure if it was Obama who said it the media would be putting forth the excuse of jet lag or the inability of those present to hear the true spoken word. Only a GOP candidate, or Hillary would be quoted as making a faux pas on the Obama network (MSNBC).

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

nuanced — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:54:42 GMT

Stop the drivel and nonsense. McCain knew exactly what he was trying to say, he just didn't think he was wrong or that anyone would call him on it. He "knows" in his mind by following the Bush and Fox propaganda that Iran is supporting Al Qaeda and that Iran must be bombed, therefore he connected the dots (that weren't there) between Iran and Al Qaeda in the only way possibly which is by having the Shiite Iranians support the Sunni Al Qaeda. His mind was able to accept something so ridiculous on the face of it because it supported his pre-determined conclusion. You people need to stop crushing his vision with facts.

McCain's Sunni-Shiite faux pas

DW, Miami, FL — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:03:14 GMT

WOW