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McCain Calls Obama Reckless in Ongoing Spat

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May 16, 2008 5:33 PM

ABC News'  Bret Hovell Reports: Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D-Ill, sparred in separate speeches Friday, perhaps a foreshadowing of the tone of the general election race to come.

At the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association in Louisville, Ky., the presumptive Republican nominee hit hard at Obama, calling him reckless and saying that the American people have a right to question his leadership abilities.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

McCain was responding to Obama's remarks earlier in the day that challenged both McCain and President George Bush for suggesting that he is soft on terrorists. Obama challenged McCain to a debate "any time, anywhere" on how best to protect America.

"Earlier today, Senator Obama made some remarks I'd like to respond to. I welcome a debate about protecting America. No issue is more important," McCain said.

"Senator Obama claimed all I had to offer was the quote 'naïve and irresponsible' belief that tough talk would cause Iran to give up its nuclear program.  He should have known better," McCain told the pro-gun rights crowd.

McCain went on to echo the tone of the Bush speech, which criticized Obama's remarks in a primary season debate that he would be willing to meet with world leadersr, including some with whom the US does not currently have diplomatic relations, like Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

"I have some news for Senator Obama," McCain began, "Talking, not even with soaring rhetoric, in unconditional meetings with the man who calls Israel a stinking corpse, and arms terrorists who kill Americans will not convince Iran to give up its nuclear program."

"It is reckless to suggest that unconditional meetings will advance our interests," McCain said, to a round of applause at the NRA conference. "You know it would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don't have enemies. But that's not the world we live in.  And until senator Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment and determination to keep us safe."

May 16, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (75)

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McSame is FULL OF CRAP.

He is the biggest FLIP FLOPPER AROUND.

Posted by: Stacey | May 16, 2008 6:11:50 PM

Mr. Coffee--

The statement is accurate.

Posted by: Nothing | May 16, 2008 6:12:08 PM

I don't know why idiot Republicans don't appreciate Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad--he seems like their Rush Limbaugh. I'm not saying he isn't ignorant but a lot of what he says is to get a rise out of people and kick sand in Israel's face.

If they are trying to get nuclear weapons it is because their two biggest real enemies --Iraq under Saddam-- and Pakistan ruled by Sunnis (with great Sunni presence of Sunni-based Al Qaeda) have or really tried to get them. Remember Saddam attacked them/used WMD on them/put electrocuted their troops in swamps. He was a very real threat.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | May 16, 2008 6:20:36 PM

The man who was singing bomb, bomb Iran and then giggling like a little girl is not reckless?

Posted by: Jason | May 16, 2008 6:33:06 PM

Obama is a wimp LOL
All promises and big words but he doesn't even know what language is spoken in Afghanistan.

He is learning as we go. He needs more time, the rockie needs more time LOL

Posted by: Tere-Chgo | May 16, 2008 6:44:21 PM

Tere-Chgo

John McCain-- "I don't know too much about the economy."

Now, who needs more time???

Posted by: ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID | May 16, 2008 6:46:37 PM

Poor John, just trying to stay relivant... It's nice to see both he and his pal Hilliary BOTH drowning at the same time. Reagan pulled troops out of Lebanon saying at the time that he didn't understand the irrationality of middle eastern politics, McCain wants to put YOUR KIDS through the meat grinder for the next 100 years. And he doesn't even know who the real enemy is that were fighting over there, (Shia=Iran, Al-quaeda=SUNNI folks! There are NO Iranian al-Quaeda, they're sworn enemies on OPPOSITE SIDES, WHY ARE WE INVADING IRAN call your congressman and STOP THIS WAR!!! NOW!) unless Joe Lieberman tells him so. I don't care if it's Obama or Hilliary, or the Easter bunny; But it sure as hell better not be McCain in the White House, he doesn't have a clue, and won't make it to a full term with his cancer diagnosis, anyway.

Posted by: blog | May 16, 2008 6:53:56 PM

Generals Odom, Scales and McCaffrey in their testimony before Congrees April 2008, stated that we should make a timely withdrawal from Iraq and talk with Iran, Syria and other nations in the Middle East
to aim for regional stability. Per Genral Odom: "The only sensible strategy is to withdraw rapidly but in good order.
Only that step can break the paralysis now gripping US
strategy in the region. The next step is to choose a new aim, regional
stability, not a meaningless victory in Iraq. And progress toward that
goal requires revising our policy toward Iran. If the president merely
renounced his threat of regime change by force, that could prompt
Iran to lessen its support to Taliban groups in Afghanistan. Iran
detests the Taliban and supports them only because they will kill more Americans in Afghanistan as retaliation in event of a US attack on Iran. Iran's policy toward Iraq would also have to change radically as we withdraw. It cannot want instability there. Iraqi
Shiites are Arabs, and they know that Persians look down on them.
Cooperation between them has its limits.
No quick reconciliation between the US and Iran is likely, but
US steps to make Iran feel more secure make it far more conceivable
than a policy calculated to increase its insecurity. The president's policy has reinforced Iran's determination to acquire nuclear weapons, the very thing he purports to be trying to prevent.
Withdrawal from Iraq does not mean withdrawal from the
region. It must include a realignment and reassertion of US forces
and diplomacy that give us a better chance to achieve our aim.
Still think Obama's naive and inexperienced?

Posted by: Laura | May 16, 2008 7:52:55 PM

For anyone who easily use the word "crap" to trash McCain, I'd say Obama is a true authentic crap that the media and stupid dem party created. That is why so many of Clinton supporters will never vote for him, period! Nothing would change our minds!

Posted by: tiger | May 16, 2008 8:01:16 PM

Old man yells at cloud...

but if it had a chance to get nuclear weapons he gives it the cold shoulder.

That'll teach 'em.

It has for the past 8 years hasn't it.

Somebody should lean in Mccain's ear and tell him.."pssst...senator...uhm...while we weren't talking to ahmadenijad he's become the most powerful person in the middle east... ...we might want to talk to him to let him know at the least that our silence isn't that we are afraid of him."

duh.

Posted by: dl | May 16, 2008 8:03:24 PM

barack obama is a weak, inexperienced 2 yr senator. What has he ever led? What has he accomplished? We all know about some of the people he associates with. We all know his wife is proud of her country for the first time in her life because he husband has delusions of being president. Sorry mrs obama. He will never be president. Go Hillary! Go Mccain!

Posted by: andrea | May 16, 2008 8:15:56 PM

Obama thinks a Coke and Smile fixes everything. After all he thinks our National Anthem should be, "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"

Of course Obama is NOT presidential material..anyone with a thinking mind (educated fools notwithstanding) can see that..and color or race has nothing to do with it.

Posted by: Vickie | May 16, 2008 8:27:19 PM

Mr. Obama will never get my vote and Mr McCain might not either. What a CHOICE we have in America today---- What has happened people??? It's a sad mess but I cannot think we might even think about a Muslim in any shape or form especially pretending to be American to get our vote and the really violent people will take over---What then???

Posted by: Wafer 2008 | May 16, 2008 8:27:56 PM

Mr. Obama will never get my vote and Mr McCain might not either. What a CHOICE we have in America today---- What has happened people??? It's a sad mess but I cannot think we might even think about a Muslim in any shape or form especially pretending to be American to get our vote and the really violent people will take over---What then???

Posted by: Wafer 2008 | May 16, 2008 8:28:01 PM

i agree with wafer 2008

Posted by: dj jones | May 16, 2008 8:39:10 PM

Its sure interesting to note that many here will not let facts get in the way of their diatribes! It is readily apparent that you can steer a blogger to water but you can't make them thimk. lol

Posted by: Laura | May 16, 2008 8:43:00 PM

Its sure interesting to note that many here will not let facts get in the way of their diatribes! It is readily apparent that you can steer a blogger to water but you can't make them think. lol

Posted by: Laura | May 16, 2008 8:43:37 PM

Wafer 2008

Obama is not a Muslim. He did attend a racist (Black Empowerment) church for 20 years, but he is not a Muslim...there really is a difference between Farrakan/Wright's version of religion and Islam.

Posted by: Jackie | May 16, 2008 8:45:37 PM

WOW! I would love to know what McCain thinks of Ghandi...a strong man who never raised a gun or blew up a bomb to defeat his enemy.

Posted by: trisha | May 16, 2008 8:55:44 PM

Jackie:

Get the facts! FARRAKHAN IS A SELF PROCLAIMED ISLAMIC PASTOR. Both Farrakhan and Wright support the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, and the eradication of Israel.

Posted by: Emily | May 16, 2008 9:01:29 PM

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