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Report: McCain Rips Bush in Woodward Book

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September 04, 2008 10:07 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports:

Presidential candidates don't usually welcome stories that quote them using profanity while talking about an incumbent president of their own party.

But the McCain campaign is not complaining about a Fox News report which quotes him voicing his frustration with President Bush on the Iraq war.

"Everything is f---ing spin," McCain is quoted as saying of Bush in a new book by Bob Woodward, according to the Fox report which appeared on its website Thursday. 

The story - which was published on the same night that McCain was set to address the Republican National Convention - could help the Arizona senator remind voters of some of his past disagreements with Bush on U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

According to "The War Within," Woodward's forthcoming book, McCain slams Bush's "spin" on the Iraq war while clenching his fist in the West Wing. Woodward, the Washington Post's assistant managing editor who broke the Watergate scandal as a young reporter in the 1970s, claims that McCain made the comment directly to him.

Barack Obama has sought to contrast himself on foreign policy from McCain by touting a speech he gave in 2002 as a state senator in which he came out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
"I don’t oppose all wars," Obama said at the time. "What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

McCain has countered by focusing not on the authorization of force in 2002 (which he voted for and Obama opposed) but rather on the long-time pressure he placed on President Bush to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq. 

Woodward's book, which runs 487 pages, is his fourth on the Bush administration. Woodward wrote two books praising Bush and a third which sharply criticized him. His most recent book "renders a mixed verdict" according to Bill Sammon, the Fox reporter who obtained an early copy of it.

The book lauds Bush's surge of U.S. troops into Iraq, but criticizes him by saying that "too often he failed to lead."

September 4, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (68)

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Dear concerned citizens of America and mass media of the U.S.A.

As a concerned disabled American Veteran and American citizen, I consider it my duty and responsibility to address the following critical issues facing the voters of our Greatgrand nation, the United States of America [USA].

The citizens of the United States of America [USA] have the ultimate power and responsibility to elect the Right Ticket with the right joint "temperament, judgment, and statesmanship" to lead our nation as well as change our nation's present and future moral, political, economic, educational, health care, energy, military, and foundational soul.
In my firm professional, personal, and political opinion, the media should help the common voter to explore and discuss the following attributes of the present Republican and Democratic presidential slates:
1. Does the joint ticket have a calm, cool, and collected " temper and impulse" [Presidential Temperament]?
2. Does each ticket have sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber"?
3. Does each ticket have a "presidential depth and degree" in regard to their purpose, policies, and positions?
4. Does each ticket have adequate, "understanding and knowledge" of workings around Washington"?
5. Does each ticket have enough "vigor, wisdom and Vision" for the future of our beloved Great-grand Nation?
6. Does each ticket possess enough joint foreign policy experience and ex-poser based on "American Values, Virtues, Vastness, and strong soul"?
7. Are their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsivity? [Danger to country and countries mission[s].


As a Independent registered voter I have decided to vote for Obama-Biden ticket. I am sure they will protect our national security, Strong's, stamina and strong soul. Rebuild our nation from bottom up in all areas of need, OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will once again restore and rebuild our global standing with the use of maximum international firm diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated.


Yours sincerely,

COL. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., Forensic psychiatrist, Colonel, US-AR / MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Iraq Freedom team.

PS: This nation will not buy into kitchen sink strategy. We are getting deeper into internal and external holes thru these attack and world is laughing on us and enjoying our partisan Pitt Bull wounds. I am sure GOP.RC, FOX, RUSH, ROVE.And McCain's his surrogates will fail to dupe, deceive, and deprive USA its deserved leadership.

Posted by: COl. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] | Sep 4, 2008 10:16:24 PM

Sorry Colonel, you have no idea what it is you are talking about.

A company commander is more qualified to run for President than Barack Obama.

Obama is a corrupt part of the Chicago Democrat machine and he did everything possible to force a humiliating retreat under fire in Iraq.

Obama will never be my Commander in Chief. I'll drop my retirement papers if he wins.

Commander Schafer - US Navy

Posted by: Brian | Sep 4, 2008 10:36:03 PM

"McCain has countered by focusing not on the authorization of force in 2002 (which he voted for and Obama opposed)"

Funny how it was only McCain's vote of the two which mattered, since Obama wasn't in Congress when that vote was taken.

Posted by: Pete | Sep 4, 2008 10:36:06 PM

Obama sucks! Chicago polotics sucks!

With all due respect Col. you're wrong.
Voting for an unproven man against a war hero makes you look silly.

Posted by: J.F. | Sep 4, 2008 10:38:21 PM

Colonel,

You seem marginally literate and full of delusional ideas about what political leadership means, but more than anything else, you sound like an idiot liberal.

Temperament, my ass. Learn some grammar and spare us your unsupported opinions about a couple of liberals, one of whom you apparently know nothing about.

Posted by: Jaibones | Sep 4, 2008 10:40:02 PM

What do you expect from a man who was one second away from going over to the DNC after Bush beat him in '00, and who's best friends are a socalist/ murderer named Ted Kennedy and the quintessental liberal war hawk who allegiance is more to a foreign country than the one in which he currently resides named Joe Lieberman. McCain wanted to put a Democrat on the ticket but had to settle for a woman who pawns herself off as a conservative (Palin) to promote and co-opt the worthless "change" slogan of, wait for it... ANOTHER Democrat! And this is supposed to be a Republican... PLEASE!!! Between the four canidates we have THREE Democrats and one who goes back and forth from either side. This election is an absolute freakin' joke!

Posted by: argh! | Sep 4, 2008 10:46:02 PM

To the forensic psychiatrist: The Republican National Convention focused heavily on one issue: If you're not from a military family, you're not a true American. So what's the psychology behind this worldview? Clerical fascism and the religious right? Does someone who longs to share a thirty-year war trauma with America need a shrink?

Posted by: BlackRaiser | Sep 4, 2008 10:51:49 PM

I agree totally with the Colonel. Obama is the way to go. McCain is one bad heartbeat away from kicking the bucket. Do you really want Sarah Palin to be YOUR president? I don't want her to be mine. That's for sure. OBAMA 08!

Posted by: Atheist 1 | Sep 4, 2008 11:03:55 PM

Re: "To the forensic psychiatrist:"

WTF?

Damn you lefties have truly lost. Fear the Palen.

Posted by: J | Sep 4, 2008 11:04:15 PM

For months now McCain has been telling the media, "I know how to win wars. I know how to get bin Laden." If he knows how to get bin Laden, why doesn't he share is knowledge with General Patraeus?

What war has McCain won? In an Oct 2007 interview with the Military Times, he acknowledged not having access to secret level military documents.

Go to You Tube and view videos of McCain supporting Bush throughout the war. McCain contradicts McCain.

Search for:

Straight Talk War Was Easy Not

John McCain's Never Ending War

Republicans Military Weapons Mass Destructions John McCain

Former POW says McCain is "not cut out to be President"

McCain was pushing the war the day after 9/11. He was on many TV and radio shows promoting the Iraq war. He also wanted to invade Iran, even if we caught bin Laden.

Response to 9/11 Offers Outline of McCain Doctrine - NY Times August 17, 2008

Posted by: Jim | Sep 4, 2008 11:06:30 PM

COL.A.M. KHAJAWWALL (RET.)..IN ALL FAIRNESS THIS IS A CANNED PAID MESSAGE SENT TO SEVERAL BLOG SITES.....GOOGLE FOR THE TRUE INTENT

Posted by: Curious Indep | Sep 4, 2008 11:12:26 PM

Well, I'm voting for Obama, and that's not some 'canned' Internet message.

Posted by: Eric | Sep 4, 2008 11:18:14 PM

Re: Damn you lefties have truly lost. Fear the Palen.


Like six and a half billion others, I don't even live in America. Get a grip on the world, and spare us the narrow minded nationalism.

Posted by: BlackRaiser | Sep 4, 2008 11:22:21 PM

BlackRaiser--If you don't live in America, then you don't have a dog in the fight. Go blog in your own country.

Posted by: S Adams | Sep 4, 2008 11:29:37 PM

McCain has a backbone, unlike the jellyfish Obama. After learning more about McCain, he is a hands-down winner.
McCain picked Gov. Palin and she's HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT !!!

Posted by: martha S. | Sep 4, 2008 11:29:48 PM

I am a Democrat, and I will surely vote for OBAMA/BIDEN, as will all inteligent, rational citizens.

I will not insult or denigrate my fellow Americans that do not share my beliefs, nor will I try to convince them to change their minds or insist that they are wrong in their difference of opinions or choices or that they need to agree with mine.

Can any Republican here show the same self-respect?

Finally, I would like to emphasize that Sarah Palin has one fine set of headlights and a well rounded rear end that I'd love to put my bumper sticker on! Droooool!!!

Posted by: Peter | Sep 4, 2008 11:34:05 PM

Thankfully the conventions are now over.

Having listened to both speeches now, Obama is the better choice. I'm a little concerned with McCain's health after watching him tonight and I certainly would not want Palin as the Pres. She delivered a speech written by George W. Bush's speech writer and when I listened to it I could just imagine George W. Bush saying those same things and then reading today after facts were checked that most of it was farce.

With all of the negativity from the McCain campaign just reminds me too much of the Bush campaigns. Contributed to Obamas' campaign today for the first time.

Obama/Biden '08

Posted by: Kitty Litter | Sep 4, 2008 11:36:10 PM

Gov. and soon-to-be Vice President Palin, said it correctly, Obama has never had a responsible job in his life. A community organizer, don't get it. A govenor, like Sarah Palin, has had 13 years of executive responsible leadership. Obma does talk a lot !

Posted by: Susie in FL. | Sep 4, 2008 11:37:35 PM

Commander Schafer - US Navy Drop your retirement papers-or stop trying to pass yourself off as military.

Posted by: Mark | Sep 4, 2008 11:39:28 PM

War hero?

ANYONE can get caught and put in a cell!

The thing he did was serve his country. Every soldier does that! It is their duty. I applaud all soldiers...and McCain is ONE of MANY. If McCain is a War Hero then EVERY soldier is a WAR HERO as well!

I'm sick of hearing this old goat blab about his war hero and "stand up and fight" mentality. If this man is elected, it is the same as BUSH still in the White House. Will America ever learn? McCain is always slandering and jabbing Obama and distorting facts and he put Palin on the ticket to further divide the people of this country into reds and blues. This man is a fighter... all he knows is how to start a fight. America needs a leader with a BRAIN....not the playground BULLY.

American slap happy war mongering needs to stop. We need a leader who will unite us and quit dividing us based upon what is going on inside a woman's womb. Let's start caring about people who are actually ALIVE!!!

America is in SERIOUS economic TROUBLE and this trillion dollar debt problem and housing fallout is just the first of more troubles coming. McCain should be honored for serving his country and think about retiring. His ideas are policies of the past that have gotten our country to the place of destruction. We need a man who can THINK, UNITE, and LEAD us out of this horrible MESS!! Republicans, your party was taken hostage by the ultra rich and financial mismanagement of BUSH AND MCCAIN TOGETHER!! Let's work together for the love of our country and our children of the future who will ultimately be paying dearly for the debts incurred today. Let's work together to rebuild America. I know Obama will unite us into the RED WHITE AND BLUE instead of the American hate war of divided poltics based upon womens' wombs!! Aren't you tired of Red. vs. Blue? This has to stop and McCain just wants to "stand up and fight". We need Obama...strength in ideas, judgement, the ability to unite and inspire all groups of people based upon MUTUAL RESPECT!!!

Posted by: tina | Sep 4, 2008 11:41:40 PM

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