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McCain: "I Don't Need Any On the Job Training"
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ShareJuly 21, 2008 5:43 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports: Sen. John McCain touted his judgment and experience to a small crowd in Maine as his opponent traveled to Iraq and met with top Iraqi leaders.
Speaking on Sen. Obama’s past judgment on the surge, McCain assured the crowd he has the qualifications needed to be president. "He said it would fail and he refuses to this day to acknowledge it’s succeeded. And my friends, that's what judgment is about. That’s why I’m qualified to lead and I don’t need any on the job training," McCain said to applause.
The crowd gathered at a picnic held at the Maine Military Museum. Both American and P.O.W. flags flanked a small platform where McCain stood. A sign reading "country first" on the podium tied into McCain’s theme.
"This is what my campaign is about. Putting country first," McCain told the crowd reiterating his constant backing of the surge since day one. "I'm proud that I was right. I'm proud that we could defeat this evil. I was proud that we can bring our troops home with honor and prevent a wider war. An increased Iranian influence and the risk of having to send our brave young Americans back."
Before the public event, the presumptive republican nominee met privately with Former President George H.W. Bush at his compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. At a press avail with both men, McCain was asked if comments made over the weekend from the Iraqi spokesman and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki undercut the McCain message against Obama.
"It doesn't in the slightest undercut that it is based on conditions on the ground," McCain responded. "And I also agree with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who said it would be very dangerous not --to do what Senator Obama has advocated. I hope we'll pay attention to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Particularly someone that has no military experience whatsoever."
The former president chose to stay away from the policy debate saying he was "very happy" sitting by the ocean watching the tide come in and out but added he was "so strongly supportive of him [McCain] and his background to be for the right positions on matters of nation security."
When pressed on troops being withdrawn fully in two years, McCain said, "Oh I think they could be largely withdrawn. As I have said we have succeeded. This strategy is not succeeding, we have succeeded. And of course as we all know it has to be based on conditions on the ground."
McCain added, "I am confident we have just removed the- or are moving the last of five brigades that were part of the surge and I am confident as long as we maintain the progress we have made and it's fragile but it's there but it has to be based on conditions on the ground. But whenever you win wars, and we are winning, then we will be able to come home."
With a lot of attention deflected to his opponent overseas, McCain was asked about "equal attention."
"I don’t know, but we continue to hard campaign, we’ll do the town hall meetings," McCain said. " You know, it is what it is. I’m confident we’ll do very well and we’ll succeed, so, but, it is what it is."
July 21, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (124)
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ask him to describe his economic policies then in detail with reasoning for those details.
and the reason he does not know that Iran would never back a Sunni organization and if he says he does ...then ask him why?
Posted by: dl | Jul 21, 2008 5:58:04 PM
Mr. Mccain our men and women in the armed services, have already served with honor, they defeated sadam Hussein and the iraqi army. Still you constantly say that if they come home they have will have "no honor". How can you equate their honor with the time they come back as if to say if they stay another 12 months and I say they can come back home, they will come back with honor. i think your the one that must be missing you honor. These brave men and women did their job, the mission has been accomplished. Iraq is an elected government. Mr. Mccain, i think it's you that doesnt have any honor. Please stop already. We want our soldiers home.
Posted by: Lovy | Jul 21, 2008 6:00:26 PM
Guess it depends on the job. How about experience on the economy John. As you have said, "The issue of economics is something that I’ve really never understood as well as I should".
Maybe a little on the job training would be helpful or will you just not worry about it as usual?
Posted by: JR | Jul 21, 2008 6:01:27 PM
McCain has become "WHINER IN CHIEF". All he has been doing is whine, whine, whine about Obama these past few days.
Posted by: Trixie | Jul 21, 2008 6:01:34 PM
Really? No on-the-job training? He doesn't know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite, and doesn't know that Iraq and Pakistan don't share a border.
At the very least, he needs a tutor.
Posted by: Jack | Jul 21, 2008 6:02:20 PM
Touting the surge is a lot like praising having a yummy dessert prepared after you've sent all your dinner guests to the hospital for food poisoning.
Posted by: R | Jul 21, 2008 6:06:51 PM
I don't trust anyone who thinks he knows it all and has nothing left to learn.
Posted by: Billy | Jul 21, 2008 6:11:44 PM
Jack-I agree and what is more troublesome is McCain's inability to remember key votes he has made as senator that are important issues to this campaign. I have asked at what point do the excessive number of McCain "gaffes" and inability to remember important legislation become a medical concern? He is fortunate he is not getting extreme press scrutiny as this is of great concern.
Posted by: Paige | Jul 21, 2008 6:13:22 PM
He may not need "training". But that man sure could use an Atlas, LOL!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 21, 2008 6:46:07 PM
Wow ,nice to know this man knows it all.We would be so lucky to have him as our leader.I don't like people who think the know it all in my book there is always room to listen ,read and learn.Things change all the time,That is one reason Obama is overseas for things have changed he IS willing to learn.
Posted by: indp voter | Jul 21, 2008 6:46:14 PM
Remember This
"I meant that as a joke"
It should get you a laugh.
And This
"I don't need any on the job training"
Another laugh.
Posted by: EJLima | Jul 21, 2008 6:48:40 PM
Nat you sound like a real positive person, do you have any of your own original thoughts?
Posted by: William | Jul 21, 2008 6:48:59 PM
Mr. McCain.
It is time for America to become a symbol
for world Peace. Not world domination.
The only reason you are fighting so hard to be heard, is that you know, that no one is listening.
I wish you well, but you are still reliving your POW years, and I am afraid your temper is too
dangerous in today's changing world.
As for Job Training. Are you unwilling to learn something New? Life is about change.
To not learn is to not grow.
We as a society must be willing to change.
Can you?
Posted by: Riverqueen | Jul 21, 2008 6:49:19 PM
According to the "Fact Sheet: The New Way Forward in Iraq " (aka The Surge) issued by the White House, Is Rooted In Six Fundamental Elements" as follow:
1. Let the Iraqis lead;
2. Help Iraqis protect the population;
3. Isolate extremists;
4. Create space for political progress;
5. Diversify political and economic efforts; and
6. Situate the strategy in a regional approach.
So John McCain is saying ALL these benchmarks have been successfully completed?
REally? When did this happen, LOL!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 21, 2008 6:51:04 PM
Both of these candidates suck, but the verdict is in, McCain sucks worse.
Posted by: a reader in ga | Jul 21, 2008 6:53:30 PM
McCain:
I won't start a pointless war with no way out, straining our military to the breaking point and rendering the country unable to act to protect itself.
OOPS!!! Too late!!!
Posted by: John's conscience | Jul 21, 2008 6:54:00 PM
"You know, it is what it is......................................................It is what it is"
???
You know, we know what you are.
Posted by: EJLima | Jul 21, 2008 6:57:30 PM
A reader in Georgia:
I'm glad you conclude that McCain sucks worst, but I wonder what could Obama do that would demonstrate that he doesn't suck as a candidate?
Posted by: John's conscience | Jul 21, 2008 7:03:46 PM
No on the job training? That's why his camp released a notice saying that he was working very hard to "get up to speed with the internet." Yeah.. this guy is still learning to use a computer. McCain... PLEASE take the time to get some training. Acting like you know it all is not what we need again. We need a pres that can learn new tricks. We don't need a McBush who feels they already know it all. That hasn't worked very well for us.
Posted by: BrBentley | Jul 21, 2008 7:04:26 PM
Mcain you have been in the senate for 25 years sir and you admit you know nothing about the economy, I will give you your credit on the military and respect for that but thats not the only thing required for presidency not to mention the last 7 years you have agreed with bush 95 percent of the time!! and just what is it we have won in iraq?? and just what war have you won???
Posted by: angie | Jul 21, 2008 7:07:42 PM
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