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McCain Lobs Criticism on Obama from the North

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June 20, 2008 4:54 PM

ABC News’s Bret Hovell reports: The presumptive Republican nominee for president traveled to Canada Friday, and tried to walk a delicate line, in criticizing his rival for the White House but not overdoing the intra-American fighting while on foreign soil.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., opened his remarks to the Economic Club of Canada here in Ottawa by noting that the U.S.’s northern neighbor has become a topic of conversation in the American presidential campaign. He cited the close economic and cultural ties between the two nations as one explanation, but also took the opportunity to reference his Democratic rival's position taken some months ago regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Earlier this year, during the Democratic primary battle, the Illinois Democrat said that the US should  re-examine and possibly renegotiate the trade pact.

McCain, who calls NAFTA a success, ttributes millions of new jobs in both the United States and Canada to the trade agreement's implementation.

“And even now, for all the successes of NAFTA, we have to defend it without equivocation in political debate, because it is critical to the future of so many Canadian and American workers and businesses,” McCain said in his speech, referring to Obama’s criticisms of the treaty. “Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls.”

Even while McCain was criticizing his rival in another country, he made sure not to utter Obama’s name, a caution he likely would not have taken here in the US.

When asked by reporters after his prepared remarks, whether the trip to Canada wasn’t just a staged opportunity for him to make his criticism of Obama's position on trade, McCain disagreed, contending that his trip north was not a political one.

“This has nothing to do with that, with that or the political campaign,” McCain said.

McCain has regularly said that politics should stop at the water’s edge, meaning that American politicians should not criticize each other from abroad.

But McCain seemed to try to have it both ways.

As McCain was completing his speech in Canada, his press office circulating to reporters a statement from the Republican senator that was a a harsh criticism of the position Obama took on  NAFTA during the Democratic primary, when he was competing for the votes of many blue collar workers who believe that NAFTA has cost them jobs.

“Barack Obama knew better,” the statement read, referring to Obama’s remarks that he would consider renegotiating the trade deal. “America has not had a protectionist president since Herbert Hoover, but Barack Obama held his position anyway to further his cynical political purposes in the primary campaign.”

McCain insisted that his trip to Canada was like ones he has taken in recent months to Europe and the Middle East – part of his responsibility as a Senator to travel the world.

But today’s trip to Canada was organized and paid for by McCain’s presidential campaign. His previous overseas trips during the campaign season were organized through his Senate office and paid for by the government.

“We didn’t feel it was appropriate for the taxpayers while I am the nominee of my party to pay for a trip that would have accrued to the cost of the taxpayers,” McCain said when asked why this trip was different.

June 20, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (69)

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When one runs as McBush, what else can one do?

Posted by: Thinking | Jun 20, 2008 5:22:29 PM

The only future, forget about the political phrase of energy independence, is nuclear energy, if you intend to allow your grandchildren enjoying the same standard of living as you have been given.

If you failed, as Obama does, to understand this simply and basic scientific fact, even it may be inconvenient for this political Jesus, you cannot possibly lead this country to prosperity.

Obama is a phony, who lacks an understanding of any key policies important to the well being of this country. This is not size-matters-in-terrorist-threat, it is an inconvenient political truth that Obama and supporters use to scare the people.

At least, McCain has taken the initiative, a tiny step of building 45 new nuclear power plants. There ought be 450 more before the middle of this century. It is essential, more so than "global warming", to invest and do the fundamental research to build better and safer nuclear facilities.

This is also why we still hope HRC will be the president - if not in 2008 election, we'll make certain Obama loses in 2008.

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For all you Clinton loyalists who say you will vote for McCain instead of voting for Obama (or any other Democrat other than Clinton)...I guess you want 45 new nuclear reactors,

Posted by: algwriter | Jun 20, 2008 4:54:33 PM

Posted by: fact check | Jun 20, 2008 5:23:17 PM

"But McCain seemed to try to have it both ways.".........Ole John does have a way of speaking out of both sides of his mouth on most any subject.

Posted by: JR | Jun 20, 2008 5:39:12 PM

melissa -

You are still buying BhO's garbage. Oh, yeah, he only changed his stand on Wright 5 times. He still has 95 times to go before you realize anything. How about you add up other "changes" - changes in his words, his politics, his promise - he has claimed.

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when bush changed the reason for war like 100 times.
i remember thinking is anyone that clueless to buy this garbage?

Posted by: melissa | Jun 20, 2008 5:54:38 PM

Posted by: Boneheaded, from Chicago | Jun 20, 2008 6:11:00 PM

loovill -

Short-sighted, a typical BhO.

Posted by: fact check | Jun 20, 2008 6:13:06 PM

Regina,

You just keep singing that song girl, loud and clear! Put that thought firmly in the minds of all the former Hillary supporters...

You are the best advertisement I have seen for Obama in some time on these blogs!!

Obama '08!!!!

Posted by: Davis | Jun 20, 2008 6:24:06 PM

loovill -

So as I said, short-sighted as BhO.

Half of the pilgrims died in the first year. Did that prevent your ancestors from coming to America?

Posted by: fact check | Jun 20, 2008 6:29:21 PM

Ridiculous logic, fact check. So it would be fine with you if your family members lived near a nuclear reactor? If so, contact the government and maybe they can put one in your backyard. You're not one of those "not in my backyard" kind of guys are you? But of course, I'm short-sighted, because there are no alternative ways to power this country besides one that destroy the planet, right?

Posted by: loovill | Jun 20, 2008 6:36:25 PM

Mack, Move-On is standing down their 527. McCain should encourage his folks to follow their lead, and maybe we can actually discuss issues instead of rumor and innuendo.

Posted by: loovill | Jun 20, 2008 6:37:50 PM

The problem is not CANADA. Canada has the same or higher wages, labour and environmental standards as the US. If we can't compete against Canada, who can we compete against lol. The problem is MEXICO. Low wages, labour and environmental standards in Mexico create an uneven playing field that creates a giant sucking sound as our jobs head south. Unfortunately none of the politicians are honest enough to state the truth.

Posted by: Terry | Jun 20, 2008 6:39:47 PM

fact check,

Barack Obama supports nuclear power you fool... That is one place where your old fool candidate and Obama agree!

Obama '08!!!!

Posted by: Davis | Jun 20, 2008 6:45:14 PM

"No Mack, it just shows Obama is in control of his party the way he should be"

Another joke right? He's not even in control of his own household. He's just going along for the ride.

Posted by: Mack | Jun 20, 2008 6:45:25 PM

Davis -

How many nuclear plants is Obama planning on building in the next 10 years, fool?

Posted by: fact check | Jun 20, 2008 6:47:16 PM

loovill,

True in that one can make ethanol from other resources, like grape or potato, but it is not to solve the energy problem, even with wind and solar converters. If you are so afraid of nuclear waste, perhaps it will be cheap enough to send it to the Sun.

Posted by: fact check | Jun 20, 2008 7:04:54 PM

Hope the Canadians vote for McCain. Do they have a Whitehouse he can move into?

Posted by: devilkev | Jun 20, 2008 7:15:19 PM

What in the world is he doing up in Canada, trying to sell his bag of Bull Pucky??? Did I miss some thing is Canada, now a state of the union?? I was almost ready to vote for him but not after today..This guy is a real NUT JOB..He is actually DUMBER than BUSH and I did not think that was humanly possible..

Posted by: louiedog | Jun 20, 2008 8:50:41 PM

mccain has decided to jump on with the same old tired broken down proved it dont work trikle down economics. reagan cursed this once great nation with that terrible voodoo economics. why wont he stand up and tell all the crazy wacko conservative republicans to shut up and stop spewing that crap that if we give the rich tax breaks they will create more jobs. if you giv ethe rich money they will invest it in another nation or they will buy a new vacation home or a new boat or new mercedes. but they will not go out and create new good paying jobs.

Posted by: tom | Jun 20, 2008 9:00:17 PM

Free trade with Canada is a good thing. Free trade with third world countries like China, Vietnam, Mexico is unfair and will hurt the standard of living in our country and Canada. We need to stand with Canada to improve our ecomomies and part ways with third world countries.

Posted by: Sue | Jun 20, 2008 9:08:16 PM

Canada is a ally and a valued trading partner. We need Canada, as they need us. Obama is the nut that upset the Canadian government. Obama can lose one of the best friends the US has in the world.

Posted by: Rachael Born | Jun 20, 2008 9:11:24 PM

Yet more spin from ABC. He wasn't even up there about the election. He was talking about NAFTA at an economic meeting. Wait, most of the children supporters of Obama probably don't even know what that is. I can't wait to see the dirtballs at ABC whine when their golden child loses. Did anybody see that pic of Obama with a halo around his head on here a couple weeks ago???

McCain '08!!!

Posted by: Ryan | Jun 20, 2008 9:11:29 PM

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