McCain: Al Qaeda May Try To Tip Election Against Him

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

McCain says al Qaeda might try to tip U.S. election
Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:11pm

SPRINGFIELD, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him.

McCain, at a town hall meeting in this Philadelphia suburb, was asked if he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him.

"Yes, I worry about it," McCain said. "And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications ... The hardest thing in warfare is to counter someone or a group of individuals who are willing to take their own lives in order to take others."

At his campaign event and subsequent news conference, McCain also criticized U.S. Senate Republicans for not joining him and 28 other senators in a one-year moratorium on controversial spending projects, known as earmarks that benefit specific cities or towns and that McCain considers wasteful.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1418633520080314?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true

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Think Progress: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/14/mccain-al-qaeda-may-tip-election-against-me

McCain’s fearmongering is a common right-wing tactic. Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Dick Cheney, John Bolton, and the White House all suggested al Qaeda was rooting for Democrats in 2006 and 2008.

[hatrack]

1. That's right, John - it's all about YOU!!!!!!!!!

Christ, the Bush-Morph speeds up with each passing day.

[Skinner]

2. Riiiiight.

If al Qaeda attacks in September or October it would be a boon for McCain and the Republicans. He knows that. But once again, we have the Republicans trying to paint al Qaeda as pro-Democrat.

[Richard D]

4. In a sane world . . .

. . . an "attack" by "al Qaeda" should be seen as a failure of the current administration to protect America and as further proof they need to be removed from ever holding office again.

Too bad Sanity is avoiding this country.

[LynzM]

11. I know! How basic is this!

Any terrorist attack = Failure of the current administration to protect us! NOT proof that they want to change the party in power, good grief.

[greyl]

12. To be more accurate, he's not talking about domestic terrorism.

He's talking about "spectacular attacks in Iraq".
If the war in Iraq were to get even worse, I do think that would hurt McCain.

I agree with you that a domestic attack would provide further proof that the Republicans aren't the American Protectors they market themselves to be.

[NanceGreggs]

3. Now, THAT'S confidence ...

... already coming up with "reasons" why he'll lose in November - and a ridiculous reason at that!

[Botany]

5. Ah, John you might want to read:

A total of 1,500 to 3,000 out of country al Qaeda in Iraq.
The vast majority of the attacks on Americans come from
Sunnis w/ Saudi backing and Shi brigades (who we are now
paying off not to attack us)

[Lasher]

6. And it's typical GOP Orwellian language.

Junior has done just about everything Al Qaida could have hoped for and I'm sure they would love to see McSame take his place. So he is their favorite candidate, not Obama or Hillary.

And any increased activity on their part would generate sympathy for Mr. '100 years in Iraq' McSame. Remember the timely bin Laden video from 2004?

Edit: On and on with the earmarks. The only reason Republicans are griping about them all of a sudden is because Democrats assumed majority control last year.

[global1]

7. That's Right - Better Get Your Excuses For Losing In November Set ......

right now.

[Supersedeas]

8. isn't the surge supposed to prevent such acts?

[Maine-i-acs]

9. Sounds like Cheney in 2004 ...

Remember when Deadeye Dick said that AQ may try to affect the US elections "like they did in Spain" ... nevermind that the Spain 2004 attacks were from homegrown extremists not directly affiliated with AQ.

But still ... John, like Dick, wants you to be afraid - very afraid. Because now with the Nomination and GW's endorsement, he's got Karl and the rest of the RW smear and fear machine running with him. So now it's time for John to read from Karl's playbook.

[LynzM]

10. Boy who cried Wolf, anyone?

:eyes:

[noel adamson]

13. Bush has been a great boon to Al Qaeda, motivating many to become recruits and McCain would ...

...certainly be their choice in this election.

[xxqqqzme]

23. Yep, he's their recruitment poster boy.

[Doctor_J]

14. Can't they come up with something new?

or are Americans as brain dead as Rove thinks they are?

[pinniped]

31. I have no doubt, Merkans are stupid.

Many of the dumbasses fell for this same crap a few years ago.

[Az_lefty]

15. getting us ready for the October surprise?

this shit never ends...

[krkaufman]

16. Look at the new boss...

... same as the old boss.

[fascisthunter]

17. What a Low-life!

[DuaneBidoux]

18. To be so far from reality that you can't imagine why they'd be for you McCain.

And trust me, they are.

[DuaneBidoux]

19. To be so far from reality that you can't imagine why they'd be for you McCain.

And trust me, they are.

[downindixie]

20. Does McCain know something that

we don't know and he's trying to cover himself? What did the bush whisper in McCain's ear? Is this why the bush is so positive that the repugs will win in November?

[Javaman]

21. massive ego much, john?

what a fucking stooge.

[underpants]

22. This is a Friday afternoon release to be focus group and get the message right n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

24. rofl

Poor John. So pathetic.

[McCamy Taylor]

25. If this gets MSM airplay, this will prove media bias for McCain.

It is too dumb for even Tweety to accept and he likes to lick the scum from between McCain's toes.

[L0oniX]

26. A vote for the Democratic party means you are helping al Qaeda....

...this is what's coming next.

[politicaholic]

27. Doesn't that make McCain the candidate that emboldens terrorists?

Why would he tell us that he is the cause of terrorists increasing their activity?

That's not very smart.

[Diane R]

28. Oh yeah. Because whenever bin laden appeared right before election, it always went to the democrats

[Megahurtz]

29. Booo AAAAAAAA!!!!

This guy is scary himself because he sits around and obsesses about War all the time. :nuke:

[beltanefauve]

30. But, but,

I thought The Surge was working??? What is he so worried about???

[Jennicut]

32. Newsflash Mr. Grumpypants, the attacks are already increasing

The violence is getting worse because you can't pay off two groups who detest each other and expect them to be hunky dory forever. Eventually the bribes are not enough. Just read the recent Rolling Stone article about the "surge". The sunnis and shiites are still going after each other except now its "allowed" because the U.S. allows it and gives money and weapons to the Awakening (the sunni militiaa) and to Iraq's army (the Shiites). Its a crock and its false advertisment. Nothing is being solved, its just being delayed until the day when everything explodes 10 timesfold and the counrty really does go to hell. Meanwhile, we (the U.S. taxpayers) are paying for this "war" so we can feel "safer" and so retired old (really old) vets like John Sidney McCain can claim that we have not lost another war like we did with Vietnam. Pathetic.

[IntravenousDemilo]

33. Terra terra terra, ho hum. One can cry wolf only so long. n/m

[Proud Liberal Dem]

34. So, McCain is worried that we the people will "cave" to terrorists by voting Democratic, is he?

Or is he perhaps worried about how the American people might react to having a THIRD terrorist attack succeed against our country on THEIR watch? I guess he is suggesting that maybe Bush et. al haven't done such a good job protecting our country since 9/11/01 and that we have avoided further attacks out of luck and by the good graces of Al Queda and other malcontents?
This kind of talk about "terrorists" favoring one party over another in OUR elections and that they are interested in "influencing" our elections (apparently by ensuring the defeat of Republicans, something they apparently don't really need any help with) through violent attacks desperately needs to be called out and shouted down. Not only is it patently absurd but it inappropriately maligns an entire group of people (in this case, Democrats) by implying (if not outright saying) either that "terrorists" support them or that they themselves support the terrorist's goals both of which come treacherously close IMHO to accusations of treason. Surely, they are not suggesting that Democrats are in Al-Queda's "pocket"?

:eyes:

I sincerly hope that rational minded people don't buy into this BS (I would say something worse but there ARE rules governing what I can say here) like they seemed to do in 2004. Thankfully, it didn't seem to work quite so well in 2006 and we can only hope that it is similarly unsuccessful this year. It seems like perpetual fear and perpetual war (continually fed by the perpetual fear) are the only things that modern day Republican party has to offer this country nowadays. Pretty sad but I guess it's par for the course with them.

:puke:

Oh, and I thought that we have severely demolished Al-Queda in Iraq and elsewhere..............RIGHT?????? So, why the fear? Maybe the terrorists have finally broken McCain?

OR maybe McCain and the rest of the GOP have simply become too cowardly to govern the country, especially with the amount of fear and hysteria that they have whipped up over the past 6-7 years.


:shrug:

[truthisfreedom]

35. Be afraid, John McChicken, be very afraid.

Your whole goddamned campaign is built on fear. What would FDR say, chicken little?

[olddad56]

36. There plan must be working, I already have been persuaded to not vote for McBush.

[KansDem]

37. This guy's delusional...Just what we need.

Another one in the White House...:eyes:

[Riddler]

38. Do these pieces of garbage ever quit? Just how stupid can anybody be to believe this garbage?

Just goes to show the mentality of the idiots who put scum like this and the Bushes in office.

[ryanmuegge]

39. Obama = Osama

That's the formula they're setting up.

[Supersedeas]

40. Puts his recent visit in perspective -- message to Generals in Iraq ('08 US Election needs further

news blackouts and images of success -- make it happen)