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McCain Sarcastically Praises Obama for Doing Well Despite Inexperience

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May 22, 2008 10:31 PM

ABC News’s Bret Hovell reports: Sen. John McCain sarcastically complimented his likely rival for the White House Thursday at a rally in Stockdale, Calif., pointing up what he called Sen. Barack Obama’s “lack of experience.”

“I have the knowledge and the experience and the judgment to lead this nation," McCain said. "My opponent does not.”

He went on to praise facetiously praise Obama.

“I admire and respect Sen. Obama,” McCain said. “For a young man with very little experience, he’s done very well. I appreciate his very great lack of experience and knowledge of the issues. He’s been very successful.”

McCain has regularly said that he believes he has more experience than Obama, particularly on foreign affairs, but he has never before called him “young” or drawn such a sharp contrast on the issue of age. McCain is 71.

McCain continued, somewhat repetitively: “So don’t get me wrong, I admire and respect Sen. Obama. But he does not have the knowledge, background or judgment to lead this nation in these difficult and challenging times. And I do. And I will keep this nation prosperous and secure.”

McCain’s remarks were also notable as the first time the Arizona Republican referred to Obama as “my opponent” without at least mentioning Sen. Hillary Clinton, who, though unlikely to win the Democratic nomination, remains in the race.

The comments came at a boisterous rally in an airport hanger here in north central California. Twice, McCain was interrupted by anti-war protestors, and twice he had to stop when supporters did not settle down, chanting, “We want Mac.”

Earlier in the day, in a paper statement released by his campaign, McCain attacked Obama for not having served in the military, in response to comments Obama made on the floor of the Senate criticizing McCain for not voting on a bill designed to help veterans.

Speaking with reporters after the rally in California, McCain stood by his statement, but did not repeat it as explicitly as he had on paper.

“I don’t know if the American people will judge Sen. Obama as to whether he has military experience or not, but I think that they may judge him as to whether he has experience and knowledge to make the kind of judgment necessary to care for our veterans,” McCain said.

McCain and Obama have traded barbs all week about how to conduct diplomacy with regimes unfriendly to the United States. McCain has used those opportunities to criticize Obama for saying he would sit down with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He said the American people would take into account his judgment and compare it to Obama’s.

“I strongly believe that my experience and knowledge and judgment will be a deciding factor in this race in keeping this nation, returning it to prosperity and keeping it secure.”

May 22, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (79)

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No way will I ever vote for Senator Obama. He does not have the intergity, experience or judgement to lead. He needs to go back to his corrupt Chicago and fulfill the promises he made in 1996---That was 12 years ago and people are still waiting for action.

Posted by: Mary | May 22, 2008 10:42:54 PM

My pledge to DNC.
-----------------
I will not vote democrat if
Obama is on the ticket.

Posted by: Nicholas | May 22, 2008 11:10:43 PM

John MCain may want to continue Bush's third term, Obama would not let him. Obama is going to have a very prosperous first and second term as the President of the United States of America. We need new faces in Washington, they may be inexperience and untested, that is far better than the old brigade with poor agenda for the nation,like McCain.

Posted by: Ben Ohwovoriole | May 22, 2008 11:24:12 PM


Caucuses are fraud......
DNC:your rules are very un-democratic.
DNC:You're a loser every 4 years.
DNC:Are you ever learn?????????????

Posted by: Nicholas | May 22, 2008 11:25:20 PM

My son and daughter are voting for the first time this November. They would like to cast their vote for Hillary. If they are not able to, they have said that they will vote for McCain, just like my wife and I. Obama has done more to energize conservative democrats to vote republican this time than any other person in recent history. Way to go.

Posted by: mike roberts | May 22, 2008 11:47:10 PM

Maybe dozens of years in Washington is not what American needs right now in its president. Obama has the right KIND of experience and will win in November. I have no doubt about that. Just you wait... You'll see, naysayers.

Posted by: democrat in chicago | May 22, 2008 11:52:59 PM


Well, Nicholas, you seem to be a republican, so what do you care what kind of rules we have?

Posted by: Annoyed | May 22, 2008 11:30:13 PM
======================================

I'm an independent.
I voted for republicans and democrats
in the past.
This time i have NO CHOICE but to vote
republican.
DNC is very un-democratic.
DNC plays the wrong game everytime and
every 4 years the democrats lose.

Posted by: Nicholas | May 22, 2008 11:53:16 PM

McCain comes off as really condescending with those comments of his.

Posted by: Eleutheria | May 22, 2008 11:53:53 PM

It is hard to tell if McCain is senile or if it is more republican rhetoric.

Posted by: The Unshrub | May 22, 2008 11:56:08 PM

Did anyone see the Veteren smackdown that McCain gave Barack? It was a doosey! Barack would be wise to bow out now and come back in 8 years or maybe never. Americans are getting his number now in spite of the media's attempt to conceal his past. If the SD's pick Barack the Potted Plant, the Dems lose in November. If they pick Hillary, the Dems win in Novemeber. Even Barack said himself he wouldn't have the experience to run in 08'. And you know what? He was Wright!

Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | May 22, 2008 11:58:34 PM

Well let’s see, as far as I can tell Obama is relatively young, vigorous, and seems to have a positive future vision of the country which doesn’t involve another 100 year war. Gramps McCain on the other hand suggests that his advanced years give him an edge in experience. I guess that is why McCain has no problem contemplating another 100 year war. So, when McCain calls Obama a “young man,” is he suggesting that the choice is really about the candidates age? If so, perhaps he’s on to something.

Posted by: Character Counts | May 23, 2008 12:02:22 AM

McCain is full of hypocrisy, simply note his condemnation of "appeasement" while he made his earlier career out of pushing for "appeasement". He snarked, sneered and mocked his way through debates when he showed no understanding of the issue or the principles behind them. He is Bush with a greater tendency to pander to voters, the worst of both Bill Clinton and George Bush combined in one geriatric, bad tempered, politician.

Posted by: Randy Dixon | May 23, 2008 12:13:51 AM

Pet peeve..."The comments came at a boisterous rally in an airport hanger here in north central California"...that's hangar, as in airplane, not henger, as in, coat.

Posted by: John | May 23, 2008 12:14:23 AM

McCain proves that, "There's no fool like an ole fool" a really, really ole fool.

Posted by: JR | May 23, 2008 12:21:42 AM

All this cheerleader talk of change from Obama makes this democrat voting Mac. Support your country first not the radical extremists!

Posted by: Ron | May 23, 2008 12:49:14 AM

Why didn't the media report the crowds in Oregon were from a concert where Obama spoke at??????????????????

Posted by: Ron | May 23, 2008 12:53:16 AM

Anyone who says "I'll vote for McCain if Hillary doesn't get the nomination" is showing incredible lack of insight as a voter. Why do you vote? To get the person you like most into the Oval Office or to support a series of political choices you favor, based on careful, intelligent consideration? If it's the former, why do you bother to vote at all? For you it's a personality contest. If we're talking American Idol, fine. But President of the United States? Give me a break.

If Hillary doesn't get the nomination and you vote for McCain, instead of getting (more or less) Hillary's POLICIES of ending the war, supporting the middle class, helping to provide healthcare for all, and protecting our fragile environment, you'll get WAR on steroids, more tax breaks for the wealthy (that's really helped, eh?), virtually no change in our miserable healthcare system, and a gutless list of non-measures that will do next to nothing to slow global warming and keep mercury out of our waterways.

That's what stomping off in a huff will get you. Why not just take a hammer to your (child's) big toe and get it over with?

Posted by: dennis | May 23, 2008 12:54:06 AM

If Hillary's not the nominee, I will cross over for McCain too.

Posted by: voter in florida | May 23, 2008 12:55:30 AM

Vote mcCain if you love everything about Bush. He will do exactly what Bush has done. tell me one thing that he will do differently than Bush.

Obama or Hillary will rule.

Posted by: Al, San Francisco | May 23, 2008 12:55:56 AM

Bush is not McCain. HAHAHA. Get over it, lost 2 times! The dems gonna lose again with bama jama o wright o wrighty who like hamas.

Posted by: marley | May 23, 2008 1:01:11 AM

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