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McCain Backs Away From 'Timetable' Remark
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ShareJuly 27, 2008 2:50 PM
ABC News' Mary Bruce reports: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., distanced himself this weekend from previously saying that Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., 16-month timetable for withdrawal from Iraq would be "a pretty good timetable." In an exclusive "This Week" interview with George Stephanopoulos, McCain explained, "Look, it’s not a timetable, as I said. I was asked, ‘How does that sound?’ Anything sounds good to me ... Anything is a good timetable that is dictated by conditions on the ground."
McCain went on to question his rival's grasp of the situation in Iraq: “Now, look. Sen. Obama doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand what’s at stake here.
"Sen. Obama said that he would come out, no matter what. He said that he would be out -- according to his original plan, it would have been last March," McCain explained. "He says that the surge has not worked. He said it couldn’t work. He said it wasn’t working ... How could any rational person see the change on the ground in the last two years and say that the surge hasn’t succeeded?"
McCain also defended saying earlier in the week that Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." When asked if he was challenging Obama's honor and character, McCain explained, "I’m not questioning his patriotism. I’m questioning his actions."
McCain offered his view of Obama's motives. "He chose to take a political path that would have helped him get the nomination of his party. I took a path that I knew was unpopular, because I knew we had to win in Iraq," McCain said. "And we are winning in Iraq. And if we’d done what Sen. Obama wanted done, it would have been chaos, genocide, increased Iranian influence, perhaps al Qaeda establishing a base again. Now we have a stable ally in the region, and it is not based on any date.”
McCain also denied that Obama had been correct to initially oppose the war because it would inflame the Muslim world, opting to reiterate his initial claim that "we were greeted as liberators."
July 27, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (95)
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Mcain is flipping out again!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jul 27, 2008 3:08:36 PM
Keep talking John; it makes Obama look better!
Posted by: Thinking | Jul 27, 2008 3:14:44 PM
Surely everyone saw this coming. McCain just experienced a brief moment of his old maverick candor that he has now been trained to deny/suppress.
Now he's been yelled at by Schmidt, so it won't happen again, and he must deny, deny, deny about the timetable quip.
Posted by: matt | Jul 27, 2008 3:14:45 PM
More of a flop than a flip flop
Posted by: Cornfields | Jul 27, 2008 3:18:06 PM
This whole campaign by Obama is winning the White House at any cost and that include abondoning Iraq before complete security has been reached. He refuses to say the surge helped in Iraq but wants to promote a surge in Pakistan/Afgfhanistan. DOES THIS MAN KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT? Did he learn anything on this expensive trip paid partly by taxpayers?
Posted by: Mary | Jul 27, 2008 3:18:30 PM
Flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop..... "I know you have it on camera, but that wasn't me talking" McCain does the doublespeak again....flip-flop, flip-flop...
Posted by: algwriter | Jul 27, 2008 3:19:49 PM
MARY FACE IT MCAIN IS A MESS HIS CAMPAIGN IS A MESS AND QUITE FRANKLY MCAIN IS TOO OLD AND OUT OF TOUCH TO BE POTUS!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jul 27, 2008 3:20:57 PM
Once again McCain gets confused and forgets that he said the word "timetable".
Is McCain senile?
Posted by: Tamrya | Jul 27, 2008 3:22:28 PM
I think its risky McCain saying things like 'Obama doesn't understand.' Still seems that McCain is taking Obama a little too lightly. Needs to take him more seriously if he really wants to win!
Posted by: markymark | Jul 27, 2008 3:23:57 PM
mary
do you know what you are talking about listen i will use caps so you can read read slooowly
PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN ARE WHERE THE TALIBAN AND PROBABLY BIN LADEN ARE DO YOU REMEMBER 911 BIN LADEN IS THE MAN BEHIND THAT HE IS NOT I REPEAT NOT IN IRAQ, PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY MALAKI WANTS A TIME TABLE FOR IRAQ ITS TIME MARY ITS TIME TO GIVE THEM BACK THEIR COUNTRY AND FIGHT THE REAL TERRIOST IN PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN MARY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME???????????????
Posted by: angie | Jul 27, 2008 3:25:19 PM
Either McShame is dealing with hefty bout of Alzheimers or I am watching a rerun of an unethical Lying Mr Magoo!
By the way which wars has he one anyway?
Delusional!
Posted by: Elitist | Jul 27, 2008 3:29:00 PM
What is the old geezer's position today? I'm not sure it's a flip-flop as much as it is evidence that he's just having trouble keeping up. Clearly, not at all ready for "prime time." He McCain doesn't even remember he used the word "timetable" or he is a liar.
Posted by: jefferson | Jul 27, 2008 3:33:34 PM
McCain admitted today he's not really interested in nor well versed in cultural issues. He's said previously he doesn't understand the economy. His energy policy is based around drilling and gas tax holidays because it polls well and is pure political pandering as it won't help us in the short or long term. He's quickly adopting Obama's foreign policy on Iraq timetables, more troops in Afghanistan and negotiating with Iran. There is NO reason to elect this guy President.
Posted by: Jeremy | Jul 27, 2008 3:35:49 PM
"we were greeted as liberators."?????
This is a bare insult to all wounded and killed soldiers!!!!
This guy does not deserve to be our president!!!!
Posted by: Mark Webb | Jul 27, 2008 3:36:53 PM
Obama was against the war in Iraq when it wasn't politically popular to be against the war. What about that McCain.
Posted by: The Unshrub | Jul 27, 2008 3:37:43 PM
It's summer. So flip-flops are in I guess. McShame, please know that you don't have to visit Iraq to know it was a War in Error. And having been from the military doesn't give you a free pass to play politics with the troops. http://angryafrican.net/2008/07/27/views-on-the-weakly-news-xvi/
Posted by: Angry African | Jul 27, 2008 3:38:43 PM
Angie,
Take a chill pill. Please don't use all caps to scream at Mary...everyone on this blog is entitled to their opinion. You can disagree, but please try to refrain from your temper tantrums. Some of us find them as annoying as you do Mary's comments. Now take a deep breath and repeat ten times: Yes, we can. Obama is the King of the World! Feel better yet?
Posted by: Mac | Jul 27, 2008 3:39:44 PM
WOW, McCain isn't even making sense any longer. With 100 days to go it doesn't appear McCain is going to be able to hold up.
Remember Ross Perot? He seemed to go off the deep end during the last 100 days of that election. McCain is following suit.
Arizona voter for OBAMA!!!
Posted by: judesuper | Jul 27, 2008 3:40:38 PM
"we were greeted as liberators."?????
Maybe he was thinking about the downed Saddam Hussein statue and Iraqi citizens jumping up and down on it.
Now, I say never overstay your welcome. Time to skee-daddle. Of course, off to Afghanistan continues to put our troops in harms way.
Posted by: Just Sayin' | Jul 27, 2008 3:44:14 PM
someone get this guy a gin and tonic and let him retire in one of those homes he's got...
He should just be a consultant for Obama's administration ...
He should obviously not be calling the shots. His advice is a wash...
the "success of the surge" will be out for a long time to come...
but we can not (literally) afford to have an unsigned check with this war.
we have done that for years and our economy...our military and yes our security is crumbling as we lose grip on the rest fo our security issues.
Mccain just is an old man who thinks it is the cold war and is using the tactics that quelled the issues in afghanistan with Russia but in the end created al qaeda...
and on top of all of it...if we elect him we might as well shoot ourselves in the foot for trying to get NATO to put more money and troops on the line to take the weight off our economy and shoulders.
Granted they will put in troops but it will be touchy and tangential at best if we elect McCain.
because if we elect McCain ...like it or not...the world will think we ARE George Bush instead of the idea that we made a mistake electing George Bush.
Posted by: dl | Jul 27, 2008 3:45:31 PM
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