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McCain Hits Obama on Iran...Again

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May 19, 2008 12:38 PM

ABC's Bret Hovell reports:  Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., continued to hammer at Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, Monday with the same line of attack that he took last week, criticizing  Obama’s willingness to meet diplomatically as president with isolated world leaders, like Iranian President  Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Below are some excerpts from McCain’s remarks, delivered in Obama’s hometown of Chicago before the National Restaurant Association.

"I want to respond briefly to a comment Senator Obama made yesterday about the threat posed to the United States by the government of Iran.  Senator Obama claimed that the threat Iran poses to our security is tiny compared to the threat once posed by the former Soviet Union.  Obviously, Iran isn't a superpower, doesn't possess the military power the Soviet Union had.  But that does not mean, by any stretch of the imagination that the threat posed by Iran is insignificant.  On the contrary, right now Iran provides some of the deadliest explosive devices used in Iraq to kill our soldiers.  They are the chief sponsor of Shia extremists in Iraq, and terrorist organizations in the Middle East.  And their President, who has called Israel a stinking corpse, has repeatedly made clear his government's commitment, commitment, to Israel's destruction.  Most worrying, Iran is intent on acquiring nuclear weapons…”

McCain continued: "This is not to suggest that the United States should not communicate with Iran our concerns about their behavior.  Those communications have already occurred at an appropriate level, which the Iranians recently suspended.  But a summit meeting with the President of the United States, which is what Senator Obama proposes, is the most prestigious card we have to play in international diplomacy.  It is not a card to be played lightly.”

The remarks about Iran and Obama topped the speech, which focused primarily on trade and economic policy and often mentioned Obama by name. McCain pledged that if elected president he would veto a farm bill loaded with farm subsidies and support NAFTA and other international trade agreements.

McCain’s remarks were briefly interrupted by protesters wearing pink aprons and chanting “McCain is in the kitchen with George Bush.” Security removed the protesters, who were loudly booed by the crowd. McCain got a standing ovation from the National Restaurant Association crowd when the protesters were gone.

May 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (38)

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From Bush's mouth to McCain's lips. Same ole, same ole, fear and smear.

Posted by: JR | May 19, 2008 2:06:56 PM

fat cat

obama wants to end the war and loss of life, where as bush and mccain are for more killing, so

i guess you need to come up with a better argument

Posted by: bhrandon | May 19, 2008 2:08:49 PM

How many soldiers died from the threat of the former Soviet Union, Mr. BHO?

Posted by: fat cat | May 19, 2008 2:10:14 PM

fat cat, Iraq was NO threat to us and IS no threat to us. The 4000 dead were killed by Bush and company to further THEIR agenda.

Posted by: JR | May 19, 2008 2:11:12 PM

The Reps go on and on about who we should be afraid of, yet they neveer point to the main source of funding and personel for the terrorist movements in the region, the Saudi's Nearly every major terrorist leader is a saudi or has significant ties to saudi families. Why is that? The 9/11 rap is over and done. The republicans blew 9/11. They failed to do ANYTHING significant in response to 9/11. The person who was the mastermind behind it is still free. The Organization that executed it is stronger than ever. We are not safer.

Posted by: Louis | May 19, 2008 2:12:01 PM

I know Obama and his supporter keep trying to tie Foreign Policy (National Security/Terrorism) to Iraq (much like Bush did but with different justifications).

McCain polls up to 40 points above Obama on Foreign Policy.

Obama polls above McCain on Iraq.

For some reason, the American public differentiates between the two.

Posted by: nickberry | May 19, 2008 2:14:40 PM

fat Cat,

Allow me to provide you with a little perspective...

War with Iraq has been fought for five years and over 4000 American Soldiers were killed.

World War 2 was fought for 3 years (by America) and over 400,000 American soldiers were killed. Vietnam was saw over 58,000 American lives lost, most of it during its escalated fighting, which lasted about 7 years.

So, No, Iraq is insignificant compared to other threats like the old Soviet Union which had the power to wipe the US off the map.

Posted by: DemocratsUnited | May 19, 2008 2:16:41 PM

bhrandon,

It is BHO's lack of understanding of national security that matters - not who started a war or who is to end a war.

A threat is not measured by the size of a country, or the power of wiping you out, completely. The power of wiping you out is in fact a less threat because they understood they will be wiped out too.

Americans lost most lives in countries that "don't pose a serious threat to us" according to the un-experienced phony.

Osama bin Ladin is even smaller in size than anything BHO would considered big enough to pose a threat the US or the world. So, he will think and take them lightly.

How dangerous is this phony going to get???


Perhaps, he will explain again, what he really meant is that size does not matter.

Posted by: fat cat | May 19, 2008 2:17:26 PM

Nickberry,


Ok, The reason that Obama mentioned the Soviet Union, as you probably already know, is because he wanted to point out that The leaders in the United States MUST "Talk" (read: Not appease) with the tyrants of the World.

Iran's leader is a antisemetic tyrant, But there is a difference between talking to him and stating your positions well, face to face, than appeasing them.

Furthermore, I am willing to fully admit that after reading through the History Books that Kennedy "appeased" the Soviet Union, but only after they "appeased" the United States first. It's called a negotion and it was one that was necessary to prevent the unimaginable. If they hadn't done that and used Bush/McCain style cowboy diplomacy, You and I would not still be here discussing it.

Posted by: DemocratsUnited | May 19, 2008 2:24:32 PM

Do you BHO national security advisers really believe that the former Soviet Union was more likely to push the "Nuke-button" than Iran does today, if Iran had nuclear weapons?

Is this your phony hypocrite's understanding of level of threat to the National Security?

On the contrary, HRC will obliterate them, which is a policy happened to be supported by Joe Biden.

Posted by: fat cat | May 19, 2008 2:31:24 PM

fat cat,

This argument is even more ridiculous. First of all, if Iran had Nuclear weapons, we'd be more willing to talk to them, like we were doing with North Korea when they gained Nuclear Technology. That is what they are fighting for... Respect.

Secondly, Even IF Iran gained nuclear power, they would be just as scared to use them against the US as The Soviet Union was. Their missle would probable be intercepted (assuming they had the tech to launch a trans-atlantic attack) and we would be bombing them back to the stone age.

Posted by: DemocratsUnited | May 19, 2008 2:38:45 PM

DemocratsUnited -

Are you serious?

Iran declared that they want Israel wiped out of the map. It is Obama's lack understanding of the basic, fundamental issues concerning national and world security that scares me.

This level of threat measured by size of a country is purely unacceptable, completely disqualified as a president, or even a US senator.

How can a phony like this get to this stage!?

Posted by: fat cat | May 19, 2008 2:57:12 PM

We do and have talked with Iran and worse under Bush. This is an idiot line of talk. McCain must be worried that they will take him hostage and put him in a Tiger Cage.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | May 19, 2008 3:03:28 PM

What is cry-baby-obama crying about this time? Let's see, is it because someone played a tape of the hateful things his wife said and somehow it is someone else's fault? He really should have some wine with his brie.

Posted by: carol | May 19, 2008 3:26:47 PM

The hatemonger from Iran was allowed to come here and spew his nonsense to NYU, one of the Obama-loving liberal colleges. and he still threatens to blow Israel off the map. peacenik fanatsies are a FAILURE

Posted by: geevill | May 19, 2008 4:25:25 PM

Under a pres Clinton, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Under Obama, he would talk with them and beg them not to use nuclear weapons as if they will listen to him if he sits down around a table.

He might be able to fool some people by his feeling-good speeches; it's scary he really thinks he could fool with dictators.

Posted by: Olbermnn3 | May 19, 2008 6:20:27 PM

pt - maybe you are also favoring no votes for women?? Is this the best you can do to defeat McCain? by disqualifying him because of his age? Perhaps, you want to exclude anyone from voting, or not counting their votes as BHO favors already in MI and FL, if they do not vote for BHO.

It sounds like a typical BHO philosophy.

Posted by: Olbermnn3 | May 19, 2008 6:26:00 PM

Do people not realize that every time Obama speaks he really doesn't say anything substantial? He is already acting like he has won the nomination? Also that he lacks the political experience to handle foreign leaders? There is something fishy about this whole election this year. I would much rather have Hillary as President and I can't stand her.

Posted by: AF daughter | May 20, 2008 2:11:01 PM

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