McCain On Obama: "Clear Who Hamas Wants to be the Next President"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/25/mccain-on-obama-clear-who_n_98614.html

From The Weekly Standard's Michael Goldfarb:

McCain spoke with bloggers this morning on a number of issues ranging from William Ayers to Rev. Wright to Tony Rezko. Jennifer Rubin noted that Hamas had endorsed Senator Obama and asked McCain whether Obama might have given "an unhelpful signal" to the terrorist group. McCain's response:

All I can tell you Jennifer is that I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare....If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly.

Huffington Post's Will Thomas breaks down the truth behind McCain's fear mongering claims that Hamas supports Obama:

John McCain has repeatedly insisted in public that he wants to run a respectful campaign, but a recent fundraising email from his campaign suggests there will be nothing revolutionary about the Republican nominee's tactics this year.

McCain's deputy campaign manager, Christian Ferry, sent an email to donors today with the subject line: "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election." The email, which attacks Obama over his foreign policy stances, includes these paragraphs:

Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders. Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America."

We need change in America, but not the kind of change that wins kind words from Hamas, surrenders in Iraq and will hold unconditional talks with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

The letter comes in response to this report of a Hamas leader speaking favorably about Barack Obama. The article -- though not the McCain campaign -- notes that Obama has condemned Hamas, repeatedly said that he would not meet with the terrorist organization, and also condemned former President Carter's decision to meet with Hamas leaders.

Contrast the fundraising letter to the praise McCain has won for statements about running a respectful campaign:

Sen. John McCain called Saturday for a presidential campaign that is more like a respectful argument among friends than a bitter clash of enemies, and said he is better able than either of his Democratic rivals to govern across party lines....


"It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis, we fight among ourselves for the things we believe in," McCain said. "It is not just our right, but our civic and moral obligation."

"Let us exercise our responsibilities as free people. But let us remember we are not enemies," he added.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Could've been worse. He could've said Al-Quaeda.

:sarcasm:

[Eurobabe]

17. or Obama Bin Laden like that tool Stapleton from the AP

:eyes:

[JRicks_GA]

22. Unfortunately, Al-Queda endorsed...

John Kerry in 2004 and they're still heart-broken that he didn't win, so they're staying on the sidelines this year. Hamas is the Republican-anointed boogeyman this year, so they're the best faux-endorsement from a terrorist organization that Democrats can expect to be foisted on them by Republicans.

:sarcasm:

[jackson_dem]

26. an Al-Qaeda affiliate endorsed Bush in 2004

[JRicks_GA]

29. There's no doubt in my mind that...

George W. Bush is the best thing to happen to global terrorism and the worst thing to happen to the United States of America. Unfortunately, the Republican spin in 2004 was that electing John Kerry would
signal a defeat to terrorists and we'd all be speaking Farsi by the end of 2004. It was in the Republican's best interests to portray terrorists as supportive of Kerry, when in reality that couldn't be further from the truth. We can't let this shit happen again.

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/66/23537">Al-Qaeda Wants Republicans to Win

[jackson_dem]

30. I agree we should fight this but the fact Hamas has said they want O to win is very damaging

If he is the nominee all we can do to mitigate it is to point to his strong record against Hamas but the damage is done. All they have to do is run an ad with the quote "we hope he will win". This is just another reason Clinton is a stronger general election candidate than Obama. First, no one doubts her on terrorism (let's face it many swing voters will have doubts about Obama's toughness and even his patriotism) and second she doesn't have the Hamas albatross over her head.

[JRicks_GA]

31. Hamas can say whatever the hell they want...

but in reality they want someone nominated that is a hawk and will spew anti-Muslim or anti-Hamas rhetoric so they can fire up their "Hate America" base, the people that keep Hamas in power. They need a real American villain, they need their "Two Minutes Hate". If the people that support Hamas didn't have someone to hate, they'd stop and think if their life is really any better with Hamas. Hamas may say they support Obama, but they do so only because they know Americans have the propensity to vote against anyone that's alleged to be supported by a terrorist group. They want a hawk elected, plain and simple.

[movonne]

25. No bush took care of Al-Quaeda and mc cain wants to take care

of hamas...More war mc cain...bomb, bomb, bomb Iran mc cain...

[niyad]

2. let's see--wasn't it just a couple of days ago people on this board were praising

mclame for his ethics and integrity regarding obama?

[anonymous171]

4. I wasn't. He was only doing that to give the ad play on national television

[woolldog]

5. I just don't understand why groups like Hamas

or people like Farakahhn don't realize how much they are hurting the candidate they supposedly support with these "endorsements." Why do they do it?

I mean, when is the KKK going to endorse McCain to even things up?

[mcctatas]

8. I think that the logic could be turned back on the pukes...

following your line of thinking, and assuming that Hamas isn't stupid (which I do), perhaps they know it hurts and that is precisely why they do it! Farakhan is a different story, he just doesn't care, he speaks his mind good or bad...

[niyad]

11. where, exactly, does it show that hamas endorsed anybody?

[redqueen]

6. No... he was praised for his political savvy... something Hillary needs to learn.

Nobody believes he honestly has a problem with the ad... he's just not fucking stupid enough to talk the shit himself... unlike some other, less politically-skilled candidates.

[MadBadger]

14. There were also threads a couple days ago saying exactly what McCain is saying.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. I think people were just saying he had more ethics and integrity than Clinton.

That's hardly praise.

[flakey_foont]

3. Hamas?

I think it's clear who the rest of the world, not just Hamas, wants to be President, and it ain't chu, McCain, you dipshit.

[ErinBerin84]

7. Didn't McCain once say, in order to justify why

the "surge!" wasn't working, that they were deliberately upping the violence as to not get him (McCain) elected president,because they fear him? So....if the surge works...he should be elected president. But if the surge is not working...don't fall for it, they are just trying to take McCain down! Haha. I'm sure "they" will also be thrilled, my friend, to find out that you accepted the endorsement of a Rev Parsley, who called Islam a fake religion.

[redqueen]

9. Is he suffering from Alzheimer's? WTF is he talking about?

Someone get him a chair and a glass of water... maybe he's having a spell...

[panAmerican]

10. In 2004 it was, we know who Al-Qaeda wants to win. AARRGHH!!!!!!!!

:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:
:spank:McCain:spank:

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Neah neah-neah neah neah. . .booga booga booga. . .

Like I've said, McCain thinks with his cock instead of his brain.

:evilfrown:

[Dyllyn]

13. Farrakhan Hamas Al Queada and the WHOLE FUCKING WORLD want OBAMA because they know he WONT NUKE it

JEEZ I am so sick of Repukes going on about terrorist groups supporting OBAMA . In Ireland the IRA wanted Clinton for President and guess what we got . YES P E A C E What do we get when we vote for MCCain FOUR MORE WARS

[anonymous171]

15. McCain: Clearly who Bush wants to be president.

[Straight Shooter]

16. "people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare...."

You're everyone's worst nightmare, Johnny "Get Your Gun" McCain.

[2rth2pwr]

18. Hamas endorsed Obama, McCain said decide for yourself. What's negative?

[zam]

20. So you are defending McCain. Really ? eom.

[2rth2pwr]

21. Truth is truth, fuck propaganda.

[zam]

23. Sometimes truth is propaganda.

When you phrase it in a certain way.

[jackson_dem]

27. "we hope he will win"--Hamas. That is a pretty clear statement

[truebrit71]

19. Um...excuse me Mr. McLame? Obama just chastised President Carter for meeting Hamas....

...just how fucking out of touch are you, you crusty old bastige?

[ej510]

28. And McCain will get a bigger terrorist organization in our

own country. The KKK