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McCain: 'We're Not Sending Any Negative Message'
August 12, 2008 7:43 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Rigel Anderson Report: In an interview with National Public Radio which is set to run Wednesday on "Morning Edition," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., argued that he is not sending "any negative message" in his White House run.
"We’re not sending any negative message in our campaign," said McCain. "We’re drawing differences in positions between myself and Senator Obama, which are significant. He wants to raise taxes; I want to keep them low. He doesn’t want to drill offshore or have nuclear power; I want both. I’ve never heard Steve Schmidt say we need a negative message in the campaign. …I’ve run many, many campaigns and I have never believed that we need a strong negative message."
McCain defended the tenor of his campaign when asked about a story in The Wall Street Journal that credited recently elevated advisor Steve Schmidt with the philosophy that campaigns need one positive message about the candidate and one negative message about the opponent.
The Arizona senator argued that he is not sending any negative message even though he is running a series of ads portraying Obama as a lightweight whose fame is undeserving.
When asked if his ad blaming Obama for high gas prices is a negative message, McCain pointed to Obama's vote for the 2005 Bush energy bill which McCain described as having "all kinds of tax breaks and giveaways . . . to the oil companies."
"I believe strongly that if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem," said McCain.
Asked if he is comfortable with ads comparing his opponent to Paris Hilton, McCain said, "I’m very comfortable with my campaign and I strongly recommend that people who don’t find humor in that: relax, turn off the computer, and go on out and get some fresh air . . ."
McCain also spoke with NPR about the future of U.S. Russia relations.
"I don’t think that there’s going to be a re-ignition of the Cold War; don’t get me wrong," said McCain.
"I don’t think there’s going to be nuclear-weapons build-ups, etc., but I think that Russian behavior is not acceptable and we will do what we can to maintain our alliances and our friends and make the Russians understand that this kind of behavior is not a part of what we view as the 21st century."
The audio will be posted at approximately 10:00 am ET on Wednesday at www.NPR.org.
August 12, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (143)
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McCain will make by far the superior President.
Obama is in the same bed as Bush on appeasing Russia.
McCain/Palin 08
http://mccainpalinforprez.blogspot.com
www.palinforamerica.com
Posted by: Paul007ex | Aug 12, 2008 7:59:11 PM
Johnny "the Songbird" McCain is scarier than Bush even though they are basically being advised by the SAME people-- this will be born out with the increasingly bellicose rhetoric the "bald wrinkly OLD man" is broadcasting towards Moscow. God help us all if gets elected.
Posted by: pax vobiscum | Aug 12, 2008 8:06:04 PM
McCain saying that he's not sending any negative messages is as believable as saying the sun sets in the east.
Posted by: kat | Aug 12, 2008 8:10:49 PM
Oh Paul007ex
You have got to be kidding me. grandstand, belittle Georgia, and saber-rattle is right out of the Bush playbook.
I was waiting for him to start singing Georgia on My Mind. What a joke of a candidate McCain is.
When you say something derrogatory against your opponent in over half the ad ummmm that's a negative ad. I would say in almost EVERY ad McSame has released is NEGATIVE. How about McBush giving us some positiv information about himself (roll out that old tired video of him on in the hospital 40+ years ago).
To pull britner spears, paris hilton, waynes world, and taco bell into your ads are just plaing asinine stupid and childish. The country is struggling coupled with making a SERIOUS decision to pick the next president and he takes this low road. Oh please. How can someone sooooo old be soooo childish.
Grow up McCain.
Posted by: Omentum | Aug 12, 2008 8:13:11 PM
The Pew poll says that Americans think that McCain is far more negative than Obama so John McCain, America does NOT agree with you.
Posted by: Sandy | Aug 12, 2008 8:19:15 PM
What is Obama's qualifications to be President? He is far less qualified than the jack... thats in office now. This democrats tired of every time someone questions Obama's experience, or the kooks he surrounded himself with, the media screams racism! How is Obama different other than his extreme lack of experience than any other politician! I'm a democrat but I'm not going to be forced into voting for him because I'm a Democrat and the republicans are attacking the black candidate, after hearing The Clinton's were attacking the "black" candidate! In this democrats mind he is weak and grossly under qualified and has made poor personal decisions since graduating college!
Posted by: John in Cape May | Aug 12, 2008 8:20:57 PM
What an insult McCain has been. This geezer is scary to say the least. DONT FREAKING LIE TO ME AND DONT FREAKING INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE.
MCCAIN YOU ARE A JOKE, AN EMBARASSMENT, A LOSER, A CARD IN THE ROVIAN DECK, A WATER CARRIER FOR BIG OIL, A LACKEY FOR THE WELL CONNECTED AND THE LOBBYIST.
wake up america. Refuse this garbage REFUSE IT NOW.
Elect Obama as President so we can rise again to prosperity hope and respect in the world.
Posted by: Omentum | Aug 12, 2008 8:25:36 PM
If John McCain cannot be trusted to tell the truth on such a simple and obvious matter as this, he cannot be trusted to lead. He is a deceptive politician of the old school politics of personal destruction. He is not commander and chief material. Only Barack Obama has the good judgement and and integrity to lead our country.
Posted by: robby10001 | Aug 12, 2008 8:26:33 PM
This is what the world is waiting for with the community organizer OBAMA: China is waiting to invade taiwain and continue to arm Iran with no US troops in Iraq, Russia is waiting to arm itself and Iran and any other western-hating nation, The Palestinians are waitng to tape dynamite to themselves and blowup a school, restaurant or synagogue, Chavez and casto's brother a waiting to drink tea with Obama and then they can post pictures of themselves with Obama and their fellow countryman will laugh...Obama = Carter. Some in the world may hate us and some may laugh at our President BUT WITH OBAMA THEY WILL LAUGH AT US!
Posted by: John in Cape May | Aug 12, 2008 8:32:39 PM
War = Viagra for McWar....McCain is a freak and I pray this country is not stupid enough to let this man get his fingers on the button....
Posted by: jen | Aug 12, 2008 8:33:45 PM
Old school politics? How much do you koolaide drinkers know about how Obama ran his campaigns for State Senate and US Senate? But I forgot he is St. Obama and he will speak and the world will follow! I cant wait to Mccain brings up Obama's support for infanticide when he was in the Illinois state Senate. See how that goes over with Catholics - Kiss Pennsylvania and Ohio and probably Michigan Good-BYE!
Posted by: John in Cape May | Aug 12, 2008 8:39:25 PM
John in Cape Fear
You are a fearmongering lunatic. You got it wrong. Most of the world hates us and laughing at us and most of them are our allies.
This kooky picture you have painted no country can combat alone. Obama urges other nations unite to tackle the problems you suggested. If we as McSame suggest began to rattle our sabers and start blasting ultimatums even when it is known by all that we are stretched to the threads already fighting two wars (one ill-advised) is Russia calls ups us on our ante, where do we go from there. Russia invading Georgia is almost a carbon copy of how the US invaded Iraq. How high does the hypocrisy rise.
Posted by: Omentum | Aug 12, 2008 8:42:03 PM
If America isn't ready for a woman president..they certainly aren't ready for a black president...
Posted by: SouthFlorida | Aug 12, 2008 8:44:26 PM
Pretty funny that the semi-literate Omentum wants to criticize someone else for being childish.
The Obamans cry whenever people do not bow down in amazement. Sure, McCain is making fun of Obama's lack of even one single accomplishment (other than figuring out how the Democratic primary voter's mind works) and his total lack of a platform other than "change". Seems like asking whether someone who has come from nowhere is who he says he is (this week), and asking whether that person is qualified to lead, is a pretty legitimate issue.
Besides, how can you have a "positive" campaign when Obama doesn't have any issues of his own, other than to change his position every 4 months when the facts on the ground prove that his empty rhetoric is simply wrong.
McCain has actually been pretty easy on Obama.
Posted by: gottabesomeonebetter | Aug 12, 2008 8:44:44 PM
Cape Fear
You know enough about Obama to know that if you continue this tired argument that America don't know Obama may continue to prevent folks people from voting for Obama. You don't know anything about Obama is because you CHOOSE not to. Obama is the most tech-savvy candidate ever in politics. Everything you need to know about him his policies are on his website. He also wrote TWO books. He has MORE experience that the Decider when he was running for president. I didn't hear you casting aspersions then. And if you did know anything about the Decider you would know he had the CLOSEST ties to the mastermind of 9/11 than ANYONE period. So much so is that he took specific care to fly his family out on that terrible day. Now McSame is basically in bed with Bush and his cronies and you call Obama a risk. Laughable.
I would agree that McCain hasbeen in the public eye for nearly 60 years and what I know of him make me run to vote for OBAMA.
Posted by: Omentum | Aug 12, 2008 8:51:50 PM
Omentum: "There is an organization called The United Nations, The world doesn't need the elitist Obama to tell them to unite on issues where their is agreement. Who has he ever brought together? No Russia invading Georgia is purely to establish territorial redominance in a region and to prevent a country from being excepted in NATO. Who do you think Vladamir Putin wants as President? Obama The Mars attacks I come in Peace character! This Democrat is voting Republican for the first time in my life and bringing allot of democrats with me!
Posted by: John in Cape May | Aug 12, 2008 8:52:24 PM
baloney. mccain is flat out lying about Obama's position and record on taxes.
McCain released three new ads with multiple false and misleading claims about Obama's tax proposals.
A TV spot claims Obama once voted for a tax increase "on people making just $42,000 a year." That's true for a single taxpayer, who would have seen a tax increase of $15 for the year – if the measure had been enacted. But the ad shows a woman with two children, and as a single mother, she would not have been affected unless she made more than $62,150. The increase that Obama once supported as part of a Democratic budget bill is not part of his current tax plan anyway.
A Spanish-language radio ad claims the measure Obama supported would have raised taxes on "families" making $42,000, which is simply false. Even a single mother with one child would have been able to make $58,650 without being affected. A family of four with income up to $90,000 would not have been affected.
The TV ad claims in a graphic that Obama would "raise taxes on middle class." In fact, Obama's plan promises cuts for middle-income taxpayers and would increase rates only for persons with family incomes above $250,000 or with individual incomes above $200,000.
The radio ad claims Obama would increase taxes "on the sale of your home." In fact, home-sale profits of up to $500,000 per couple would continue to be exempt from capital gains taxes. Very few sales would see an increase under Obama's proposal to raise the capital gains rate.
A second radio ad, in English, says, "Obama has a history of raising taxes" on middle-class Americans. But that's false. It refers to a vote that did not actually result in a tax increase and could not have done so.
Posted by: cturple | Aug 12, 2008 8:58:57 PM
What does it say about a candidate that has to lie about his opponent? That his hero is george bush, and he's going to continue a policy of lying to americans. If you think George Bush is the greatest - you'll love McCain.
Posted by: cturple | Aug 12, 2008 9:01:58 PM
gottabesomeoneworser
Your post was complete garbage. I am not defending Obama nor the way he runs his campaign. What i am ticked about is that we now face a serious issue. Folks need to see less of McCains negative attacks (ie paris waynes world brittney taco bell) an more of his policies. I am sick and you also should be fed up with the low road ads mcluny is running. Interesting that these type ads didn't start until the Rove minion started running his campaign.
Dont you realize they know the BIG SECRET. Republican vote based on fear and numskull wedge issues. They also dont have the mental capacity or ability to think for themselves. If you say something enough time it
1) keep the true issues off the table
2) creates this cloud of confusion. Once republicans are confused ... which is often... they resort to the status quo.
3) people will buy into the lie.
So please continue keep passing the koolaid .... i truly believe american will not be drinking this time
Posted by: Omentum | Aug 12, 2008 9:02:43 PM
Negative ads? How about negative verbal blunders? I'm surprised that John McCain hasn't done what his fellow party candidates did during the primaries like calling Barack 'Obama Bin Laden' when they try to call attention to Osama Bin Laden, but are really intentionally putting it out there that Obama was a terrorist.
Or how about the other Republican UNTRUTH of saying, 'Obama is a Muslim' when Obama is really a Christian.
Not that religion should ever be a factor, but in the minds of many Americans religion does, but we all pretend that it does not.
Or how about the Old Republican sneaky tricky trick of calling Obama 'Flip flop Obama',
when in fact it is John McCain who holds the title for more than 8 years of being called 'Double Talk' by his own Republican party.
With any campaign can we ever expect there to be NO negative campaign ads? Wouldn't it just be lovely? Maybe we should put it up there with 'CAN WE JUST ALL BE FRIENDS?'
Posted by: lovinggrandma53 | Aug 12, 2008 9:22:29 PM
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