McCain: Kerry's Criticism of Bush Unfair

[Nambe]

Presidential Elections - AP

ROSWELL, N.M. - John McCain tried Saturday to play peacemaker again, saying John Kerry was "unfair" in criticizing the Republican ticket as unfit to lead the nation.

"John Kerry's characterization that the president is unfit for duty is unfair," said McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona who was a prisoner of war for more than five years while serving in Vietnam.

"I categorically reject that just as I categorically reject allegations that Senator Kerry didn't serve honorably," said McCain, who came to Kerry's defense earlier, calling on Bush to condemn ads by the Swift Boat Veterans. ..

"The Vietnam War was over 30 years ago. We have a war in Iraq to fight," McCain said. "President Bush served honorably. John Kerry served honorably. End of story." ..
Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[stray cat]

1. Didn't the GOP just spend 4 days preaching the unfitness of Kerry/Edwards?

nt

[Liberal Veteran]

4. No...apparently we all just imagined that.

[stray cat]

13. Boy our imagination is vivid, Kerry thought he served in Vietnam too.

nt

[waywest]

7. To senator McCain: Bullshit!

Yes I am satisfied that Kerry served honorably. I am NOT convinced about the chimp having done so. Where was Bush REALLY, when he was supposed to be on duty?

The tough questions aren't really that tough. But the truthful answers are a bitch!

[volosong]

48. Tell Sen. Capon McCain He Hasn't Seen Anything Yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kierkegaard]

88. McCain wouldn't know what's fair

How could anyone take part in that vile, swill-spewing hate festival (RNC) and have the intestinal fortitude to object to ANYTHING Kerry has to say? God, how could anyone ever take this spineless pecker-head seriously again?

[acmavm]

2. No John, bush* didn't serve 'honorable', he didnt serve his time even

after he got one of the cushiest passes the military has to offer. And no, he' not fit to lead, look at Iraq.

McCain is worthless.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. John, Bush did NOT serve honorably.

Also, let's talk about those innocent Vietnamese babies you killed Mr. McCain.

:puke:

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lancdem]

21. Where's your proof?

[EST]

39. John McCain was a fighter/bomber pilot.

And bombs were not so smart, those days.

[Gman]

24. I'll be damned

no tombstone yet @ 5:33 pm CDT.

[liberalnurse]

28. It must be the Holidays????

:shrug:

[DeaconBlues]

5. STFU McCain

Where were you with your holier-than-thou attitude when Zell Miller looked liked he was going to have a stroke from all his hate? Piss off, dickhead.

[stray cat]

15. McCain said his impression was that Kerry must have shot Zell's dog.

Quote from Daily Show

[In Truth We Trust]

6. F**K McCain and any other person who supports Douchebag

McLame has demonstrated that he is an unprincipled politico. I thank him for his service to our country but perhaps * was right about the VC doing permanent damage to his ability to think rationally.

[DenaliDemocrat]

11. McCain

can fuck off. Anyone who would stand with a man who attacked their child is a worthless piece of shit. I have no more respect for him, and if I were John Kerry, I would tell him that any man who cannot stand up for their child because of their career aspirations can just shut up and go away. I would have no use for him.

[niceypoo]

70. I used to semi respect McCaine but..........

....I'm coming to the rapid conclusion that the N. Vietnamese didnt torture that idiot enough

[Cheswick2.0]

84. I am not McCain fan but that is an ugly statement

disgusting

[Jazzgirl]

8. Kerry better not apologize!

After the RNC spent 4 days pounding him and dems into the ground he better keep on saying *shrub is unfit because he is unfit! :mad:

[Piperay]

9. "served honorably" ???..

NO he had a cushy position in the National Guard and he couldn't even show up for, that is NOT serving "honorably"... :-(

[wryter2000]

10. McCain's unfair

to anyone with a functioning brain.

Go away, McCain. Really. How can I miss you if you won't go away?

[GOPAgainstGW]

12. WARNING!!! - GIANT SUCKING SOUND HEARD IN BACK OF AIRFORCE ONE

DURING BUSH-MCCAIN CAMPAIGN LOVE FEST

[drdtroit]

14. McCain like Colin Powell

has eliminated any evidence of credibility from his character.

[EST]

38. Hear, hear!

Throw 'em both into the same nasty dungeon. Such perfidy cannot be ignored.

[Lizzie Borden]

42. well said!

n/t

[tandot]

16. I hope he uses mouthwash after kissing Bush & Cheney's ass

How low can you get. Get some balls, McCain. Sometimes you gotta stand up to your own guys if you know that they are heading in the wrong direction.

[KitSileya]

78. Exactly.

Neville Longbottom had more courage than McCain had in this instance.


KitSileya

<edited to fix grammar.>

[Snellius]

18. McCain is not a maverick. He's an enabler.

I'm sick of McCain's phony maverick act and his attempt to leave the phony impression that there's still a moderate wing of the Republiban party. He only provides cover for the real fanatics like DeLay and Frist and Cheney and Bush. If McCain was a real maverick, he would have followed Jeffords out the door.

[agingdem]

19. Wait a minute...

Georgie and Company can dish it out but they can't take it? What are they...girlie men?

[UpInArms]

54. maybe

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/story_images/081304b7_hug-1

President George Bush hugs U.S. Sen. John McCain after McCain introduced him at a rally in Phoenix Wednesday.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=national&story_id=081304b7_hug

[wurzel]

20. Who Is McCain? There used to be an Arizona Senator of that name

But I understand he got Bushwhacked in North Carolina. Apparently he let the vets down. Never recovered.

[6000eliot]

22. The true aim

of all this swift boat stuff to begin with has been to neutralize Kerry's claims to have served honorably, rendering questions about the chimp's lack of service moot. All of these chickehawks in the chimpy administration should be exposed in this election cycle. They are sending our children off to die, and their service, or lack thereof, is very much an issue. Forgive my soapbox talk.

[Gman]

23. OK so now McCain is neutralizing his self

He's starting to sound like the GOP's Lieberman.

[Darth_Kitten]

25. I hate sell-outs, McCain is a wimp.

Weak. Conniving. Weasel. :mad:

[0007]

82. I hope Arizona votes this turd out of office.

[Libby2]

26. Nope not the end of the story

Too bad McCain,your boy is unfit.

[liberalnurse]

27. Hey Johnny McCain.....

Soak your head in a bucket.

[Democat]

29. McCain set us all up - he is a lot smarter than we give him credit for!

He is now going to say things like: "I reject every criticism of Bush just as I once rejected that one time that someone called Kerry a baby killer."

He is going to equate being critical of Bush's record on job creation or security failures with saying Kerry didn't earn his medals.

McCain has played the Democrats, and specifically Kerry, brilliantly.

[The_Casual_Observer]

30. If you watch McCain you find out that he does a real shitty

deal on Kerry and then turns around the next day and goes neutral. He Never swings over to Kerry's side, but he stays neutral for a day or two and the whop, goes shitty again.

[bluedonkey]

31. McCain has no honor

no spine and I'm afraid no brain.McCain knows firsthand what slime Bushcos are and for him to support this administration is just ....
Well I have no words.
He's a joke!

[madaboutharry]

32. I truly hope that all the democrats

in Arizona who have in the past voted for this ass have a change of heart on election day. John McCain should be refered to as the Stepford Senator.

[rocktivity]

33. Kerry's exact words

"I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq...

"Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without healthcare makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting the Saudi Royal Family control our energy costs makes you unfit. Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll makes you unfit."

And Kerry is being "unfair" because....?

link

:headbang:
rocknation

[leQ]

34. while i may not agree with why, i do agree with the point

vietnam is not the war we need to focus on.

but they're dead wrong if they think it's the democrats who are perpetuating nam.

[Catt03]

35. Maybe it is time to bring up McCain's past

Didn't he give information to North Vietnam?

Wasn't he involved in the Keating fiasco?


I know...disgusting...but I have crossed the line and I have come to believe it is absolutely necessary. John Kerry can keep inserting McCain into Democrat politics and have him look like a Republican hero but Kerry has to know that this is not his election, it's ours...he is the candidate for 50% of the voters in this country.

McCain ...get out.

[Robert Oak]

36. Jesus it's not that bad

If anything helps get the discussion out of vietnam and into
the real issues today it just can't hurt the dems...

on the issues if anyone noticed, Bush basically stole the democratic
platform in the rhetoric...

not that he intends on actually doing anything, but in rhetoric
he stole it to make it appear like he's actually going to do something.

Digging into that hot air blast versus this open wound from 35 years
ago can only help.

[MaineDem]

37. The GOP are exploiting McCain like they exploit 9/11

It's a shame that McCain is going along with it so easily. They must have offered him something really good - like Jeb not challenging him in '08.

I have truly come to despise this man. I used to have respect for him.

[Dogmudgeon]

40. A backhanded compliment from Sen. McCain

Before anyone goes ballistic over Sen. McCain's statement, read it carefully.

This is a major back-handed compliment to Kerry.

I'd also like to restate my own opinion before I get flamed: I believe that John McCain is a fundamentally decent (though flawed) guy, and I respect him for his honesty. He is a conservative Republican, so he is my adversary, but unlike the neo-Con scum who have corrupted his party, I do not consider him to be my enemy.

McCain has walked a fine line this week, expressing his loyalty to a party which has marginalized him, AND working to keep a basic level of decency in the debates over who was a better soldier.

Yes, I believe John Kerry has every right to fight back in kind against the smears. But taking a second look at Sen. McCain's statement, it's easy to see that he's taken a strong stand against the betrayal of our soldiers and veterans that the Republicans have pulled for a few polling points and partisan yucks.

We have seen many reports in the last two weeks from GOP insiders who feel that a major internal "realignment" is coming to their party. John McCain's conscience is reflecting the dawn of that change. Although they will remain my adversaries, I hope that tomorrow's Republican Party is guided by conscience -- such as John McCain's -- ather than hatred -- such as Team Bush's.

--bkl

[EST]

43. While I agree with your sentiment,

John McCain cannot further his stature as the conscience of the thug party by perpetuating a direct lie! His candidate for president DID NOT serve honorably! The most important thing that can come out of this awful fiasco is a new respect for the truth. This is a bad start for him.

[Dogmudgeon]

63. What McCain has (and hasn't) done

The big catch is that Kerry has never impugned Bush's service record -- nor did any of his surrogates. Neither has Bush. However, many people officially connected to the Bush campaign have impugned Kerry's record.

This isn't a matter of letting McCain off the hook, it's a tacit (and "plausibly deniable") admission of guilt -- "We did it, you did it, let's stop it." It's a major break with the Team Bush campaign handbook. It's a signal that the party has lost control where they wanted to keep it. Whether it makes McCain an actual good guy is debatable.

McCain himself faces some heavy examination of conscience. That time will come soon after the election, win or lose.

--bkl

[saracat]

59. Blah! Blah! McCain Has no concience!

[Dogmudgeon]

64. Blah blah yourself

Read the post again.

McCain broke ranks and failed to parrot the Official Story.

In the words of half the small newspapers in America, this is "News You Can Use."

--bkl

[TahitiNut]

67. I think you may be missing one important point.

John McCain seems to have forgotten (if he ever knew, as the son of an Admiral) that his first allegiance is to this nation. This nation is not a bunch of dirt; it's the people. All the people. It's the shared values and principles of integrity, justice, and honor without which no nation can rightfully exist.

It's not to party. It's not to a political "leader" of any stripe. It's not to a piece of cloth. It's not to a piece of paper. It's to the people, first of this nation and then to all of humanity. (God help us when those are in conflict.)

When any other 'allegiance' compromises this first allegiance, then honor, justice, and integrity are abandoned. What makes it a bit more tragic in McCain's case is that the "line" he pretends to hew indicates at least some consciousness that he's sold his soul. (It's not unique nor is it exclusively a failing of the right.)

This is the corruption of deaf, dumb, and blind partisanship. That kind of partisanship is traitorous both to the nation and the world.

[Dogmudgeon]

71. Excellent point!

Hence, the prediction that John McCain will have a lot of heavy thinking to do real soon.

But I did overlook pointing that out, that one's allegiance should be to one's nation, not one's party.

People like McCain are serving two masters, and they will be getting religion about the issue very soon. But the fact that they are starting to ignore the memos from Rove is a telling development.

"Is this for Me, for my Party, or for America?" -- thanks for bringing that back into view.

--bkl

[saracat]

73. Read it. He is just equalizing the playing field

and that in itself is a lie. This isn't equal.They lied .We didn't. I think he is running a test balloon for the WH. If he can make us look equally culpable, they look better. He isn't betraying his current master and hasn't ,IMHO, broken ranks. McCain is actually a two faced bastard who can't be loyal to anyone,including himself or his wife and child! BTW, the Blah! Blah! was to McCain not you! Cheers.

[Gregorian]

41. Now hear this- McCain, you're serving the wrong god

You will be judged much more harshly than little John Kerry.

Oh, I'm a Christian. I'm a Christian, says Bush. BULLSHIT! You and all the rest of your clan will go to hell in flames. Christian my ass. Anyone who gleefully puts humans to death; Starts wars; Greedily hoards wealth. And so on and so forth, should be much much more affraid than the criticism of those who know better.

Shame on you. Shame on all of you who whore for Bush.

Today's a new day for me. I have discovered that the "terminal" life pshycology of the American, is one of greed and lust. It is one where man is pitted against man. It is an isolation of self. Kamakazi, if you will. But that is not how the universe works. All things are part of a whole. Something you know nothing about- cutting forests, stealing oil, amassing riches. You think there's nothing, after your eyes close for the last time. You are all sinners of the highest. Prepare for hell.

Edit- :) Hey, that wasn't too bad.

[tabasco]

53. Not bad at all.

:yourock:

[sendero]

44. I wish McCain would just start drooling...

... so his appearance would match his thought processes.

[Malva Zebrina]

45. I'm sick of this guy

who is he to define this campaign? Nothing but a self serving bloviator. Bush destroys his wife and his child and he abandons them in favor of kissing Bush's ass for his own selfish promotion . Now he fancies himself the great "unsticker" that is going to fix Kerry? Bull--he is one of the most bizarre players in Bush's campaign. He is a Bushie three times over. If he can abandon his own family, for the sake of maintaining his relationship with Bush, how can anyone in their right mind think his motivations are to smooth things over between two candidates? He is filthy trash.

[daa]

46. Did this asshole McCain hear Zell Miller?

You repukes want to play rough McCain, get ready because we are coming after your ass. Bush did NOT serve honorably and is UNFIT to lead.

[lucca]

47. Unbelievable!

Let me see if I have this correct...

..After 4 days of the RNC totally bashing Kerry, and clearly crossing the line with their character assassination of Kerry; McCain is now complaining about Kerry !

Unbelievable!!!

:argh:

[SayitAintSo]

49. I'm ready for McCain to just shut the fu*k up. Period.

He just needs to stay out of it and quit being the little dog in the big dogs fight. He is such a*&^%$#@ media hog it's pathetic.

:puke:

[skooooo]

50. yup...STFU McCain

You freakin' loser.

[azmesa207]

51. MC Cain

MC Cain Is no friend of Kerry never was and never will be How do all the Democrat's that wanted him as VP Feel now.Being from AZ I alway new he was a ASS HOLE.

[SayitAintSo]

61. Fool me once ....

..... cant get fooled again ....

[ima_sinnic]

52. e-mail McCain and tell him what you really think

... I finally just did and I feel a lot better.

http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home

[Thor_MN]

55. John, it's not the Iraq war, It's George Bush's war.

The clusterfuck in the Mideast is the GOP's production. We (and our children) all will be financing if for years, but it's is totally George's war. You can't get off saying that this war was necessary and the right decision - none of the rationals for the war have held the test of time - little georgie went and invaded a soveriegn nation with no cause. Was Saddam a nice guy, Hell No!! He was an ass, but he didn't and, couldn't have attacked the US.

History is going to record these as one of the darkest periods of the United States - we still have issues with the land grabs that were made when the nation was built 150 and more years ago. The people of the Middle East are still pissed at the Crusades - How long do you think it will take for them to get over George's Cheney-up????

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. Is he a judge or a Senator?

When he wears a black and white striped shirt into the Senate I'll be a little more receptive.

[Disturbed]

57. Honorable?

Please don't beat me or my family any more, W.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

58. Christ, his arms are short!

[0007]

83. Like a dog coming back to his master after a severe beating!

An element in humanity I'll never understand. Maybe McCain was happy that junior never exposed his terrible flying record?

[da_chimperor]

60. And to think I used to believe that McCain was an okay guy

Geeze, was I off by a few million miles.

[dazzlerazzle]

62. McCain remarks

The fact alone that the Bush family has four decades of dealings with
the Saudi royals that are questionable, and Cheney with Haliburton
helping Saddam get his oil flowing, Bushes texas governor records
safely tucked away at his fathers library for some reason, the
connections to Enron and the abuses at Abu Gahrid, the Valerie Plame
outing...should we go on?

[Berserker]

65. If the Chimp stopped fast

McCain's nose would turn brown.

[goclark]

66. Who died and crowned Casper King?

He ain't Kerry's daddy and he can't tell him what to do!

I am so sick of Casper telling Kerry how to behave. He acts like he is the judge and the jury.

Why didn't he kick BushCrooks to the ground when they spoke of his Black baby? He has no guts and he is a BushHugger. He really showed his true colors that day.

Why do people like this slimeball?!

[tuvor]

68. Just when you thought McCain's nose couldn't be further up bush's ass. n/t

[Zomby Woof]

69. McCain should shut the fuck up

I have a nice tiger cage waiting for him in my back room... Here, Johnny boy!

Useless turd for the GOP.

[goclark]

72. Casper McCain - Nixon's Sammy Davis

[Kimber Scott]

74. I hope McCain doesn't bust his balls straddling that fence like that.

[madmax]

75. Hell, I hope he does.

He's on my last nerve already. Be a fucking man and stand up for what's right. Or just STFU!

[Kimber Scott]

76. Problem is, he thinks he is. He's trying to be objective.

But, this is politics, not Judge Judy.

[roguevalley]

77. John McCain is unhinged by this Viet Nam stuff. It was bound to happen

after all he suffered.

[sleepyhead]

90. Wow, I hadn't considered that.

Now that I think of it, that makes sense. References to Viet Nam must set off all kinds of unpleasantness in McCain's psyche. So he loses his composure and all sense of logic, and is just wishing for it all to go away. Kind of makes you feel sorry for the guy.

[Orion82]

McCain is a bitch

.

[Orion82]

79. McCain is a bitch

.

[yorgatron]

80. bitch? more like WHORE!!!

[Skidmore]

81. If McCain had any honor or self-respect, he would have told

* to stick it. The only reason he and * are running around hugging each other is that * is trying to triangulate a personal friendship between McCain and Kerry. Well, Kerry is better served by other friends. McCain will screw over a friend and a military buddy and allow his family to be savaged. What kind of honor is this?

[Catfight]

85. McCain is not an honorable, credible person, end of story. n/t

[iceman_419]

86. As I said before

He must have gotten his balls cut off in N. Vietnam. Even if he is playing politics, he is still acting like an idiot, since he is sticking up for the same man who blasted him back in 200 with false accusations. Guess party means more than respect.

[FlyByNight]

87. Does Mr. McCain know...

it's an election year? What is it with Mr. McCain lately? Publicly defending the man who smeared him in South Carolina during the '00 primaries? And characterizing Bush's* service as "honorable"? My head hurts.

I imagine he was offered some kind of deal. Sell out.

[Skittles]

89. BOO F***ING HOO

with all due respect to Mr. McCain, I'm truly beginning to despise him.

[sharkey377]

91. Didn't Kerry

Want him (McCain) as his VP running mate????:shrug:

[Seabiscuit]

92. McCain is senile

That's the impression I got of him on Jon Stewart's "Daily Show" appearance.

Fuck him.

And fuck the people around the Pope that Bushco is bribing to get that poor senile old man to utter Bush's crapola appeals to the fundies.

[sundog]

93. McCain is spineless & without character. It becomes more obvious...

with each passing day. He has abandoned his comrade in arms for a man who never served in combat.

McCain has no backbone.