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McCain Rewrites History on 'Rogue-State Rollback'

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April 15, 2008 6:30 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Talal Al-Khatib Report: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was less than forthcoming on Tuesday about "rogue-state rollback," a policy he championed during his 2000 presidential campaign.

"I wasn't saying that we should go around and declare war," said McCain. "I was saying that we nations of like values and principles and belief in democracy and freedom should make efforts to modify the behavior of other nations."

McCain's claim, which he made on Hardball's "College Tour," is directly at odds with the description of "rogue-state rollback" that the Arizona senator offered during his 2000 presidential campaign.

While participating in a Republican debate moderated by CNN's Larry King on Feb. 15, 2000, the candidates were asked: "What area of American international policy would you change immediately as president?"

"I'd institute a policy that I call 'rogue state rollback,'" said McCain. "I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically- elected governments."

"As long as Saddam Hussein is in power," he added, "I am convinced that he will pose a threat to our security."

April 15, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (36)

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McCain is the media's puppet. He was pushed up at the last moment and the ignorant public went and voted for him. He has Lieberman,Al Gore's VP, at his side to correct his "misspeaking". We are now going to be stuck with 3 of the same. Just like Bush is pushing the socialist agenda while fooling us with tax cuts. Your savings, pensions get confiscated by inflation and we get pushed into higher tax brackets. It makes no difference which one you vote for.

Posted by: Kris | Apr 16, 2008 5:07:18 AM

Obama is a bigger liar than Clinton .They are doing to just push a woman out of the presidential nomination .This is a bad image for America.America will be seen as a country that have no respect for the women fold and what even baffles me here is that some are even more agianst Clinton than men. Look at this Obama is wining over alomost 100% of the Blacks why????????????????????? Because they are just voting on racial lines and nothing they would have voted for Clinton if Obama was not black that is just the simple truth that the American media is downplaying. I otherwise think women also should desperately stand up and vote for Clinton but the women fold is failing here .This should have been a time for women to get out their voices and say we can do it better but just look at it they are failing. Obama to be truthful is in no way close to Clinton on how to run the economy healthcare etc but people are not just gettting it and I PRAY THAT THIS WILL NOT BE THE END OF THE SO CALLED WORLD POWER.

Posted by: A True black American | Apr 16, 2008 5:08:30 AM

Wow, actual journalism!

Next time, maybe someone could ask him to explain his flip-flopping, and why there is such a HUGE DOUBLE STANDARD about past comments from Sen. McCain (who is let off the hook every time) vs. Sen. Obama/Clinton (who take a beating in the press).

Maybe? Should I hold my breath?

Posted by: Bored of Bias | Apr 16, 2008 7:43:57 AM

flip flop flip flop MaCain has lost the plot!!

Did he misspeak this time as well, he is very lucky the democrats are under scrutiny right now!!

Posted by: Javan Dyer | Apr 16, 2008 8:04:19 AM

Interesting. Locally, Conservatives will not vote for McCain but will vote for Clinton if she is on the ballot. These same Conservatives will vote for McCain if Obama is on the ballot. If nothing else, it is an exciting race all the way around.

Posted by: Longtree | Apr 16, 2008 8:26:06 AM

John McCain needs to wake up. We can not afford his ideas of war.

The Iraq war has cost one trillion dollars. That means it's cost every American (man, women, child, baby) $30,000.

McCain needs to stop writing these checks. Americans need housing, food, and clothing.

Posted by: Iraq war cost each American $8000 a year | Apr 16, 2008 9:11:40 AM

Obama is throwing money at select pollsters to conivnce people Clinton is unelectable. Today's headline is a fraud. He is scared to death of a PA blowout by Hillary.

Posted by: geevill | Apr 16, 2008 9:12:07 AM

McCain impressed me yesterday on Hardball. I will actually consider supporting and voting for him if Obama ends up miraculously losing this nomination. I'm not saying this as an insult to Clinton. I just saw McCain in a different light yesterday. He seems honest, trustworthy, and nothing like Bush. I just don't see Clinton beating this guy.

Posted by: Kevin | Apr 16, 2008 9:35:41 AM

geevill, you cannot really believe that do you. Well if you do, you are delusional. Regardless of what happens in the primary next week, Clinton's days are numbered.

Posted by: Shawn | Apr 16, 2008 9:41:16 AM

No one needs to take McCain out of context, he does that constantly on his own.

He has changed almost every position that he has ever held just so that he can pander to the right-wingers.

He, as a former officer cannot remember how the chain of command works.

I think I see the beginings of dementia. We don't need another president whose wife runs the White House.

Posted by: Jim | Apr 16, 2008 9:58:52 AM

DCVoter, Hillary the Bosnian General is unelectable and you know that reality. The article has nothing to do with vote or delegates count in MI or FL, it is about McCain's mindset, a warmonger who thinks only about military solutions which do not exist. In the 21st century conventional war doesn't exist thus no straight military victory, terrorism is the enemy to fight against in a non conventional way. Jason, McCain loves war and now has accepted torture and he is promoting it. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 16, 2008 10:22:00 AM

Hey Paul,

that's not all. Wright went thtough the church to purchase the home and get a $10 million line of credit.

Posted by: geevill | Apr 16, 2008 11:22:11 AM

I bet you won't see the press say hardly a word about this on the 'nightly news', even while they have flaming headlines about trivia regarding the Democrats' race..in other words, the "liberal" press will cover McCain's tracks and sugar coat his record but will continue to try to whip up controversy with the Democratic candidates. The press is owned by right wing corporations who are openly biased in favor of the Republicans.
They don't report much on McCain's faults, only on the Dems' faults.

Posted by: Dr_Detroit | Apr 16, 2008 12:36:52 PM

Did you people watch the Hardball College Forum with McCain? See the faces on the students when Chris Mathews press McCain on IRAN...FEAR.
McCain will go to war on IRAN...same as Bush did IRAQ...when they pose NO THREAT to OUR SECURITY. FEAR in all those students faces, no one reached out to shake his hand as he left either, they just clapped politely out of respect. WAR MONGREL!

Posted by: lee from Treasure Island Fl | Apr 16, 2008 12:45:45 PM

It's really funny to see all the left wingers here calling McCain a flip flop when the king of flip flop and the queen of liars are Obama and Hillary.

Posted by: LLADNARC | Apr 16, 2008 1:37:41 PM

Until any of you folks speaking of McCain as someone who loves war spend seven years being tortured as a POW, you need to keep your mouth shut because you don't know what you are talking about.

Posted by: jreynolds | Apr 17, 2008 9:39:40 PM

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