IRAN: McCain cigarette joke smolders in Tehran

U.S. Sen. John McCain made a wisecrack last week describing reports of increased American cigarette exports to Iran as a way of killing off Iranians. It was just a joke, the presumptive presidential candidate insisted immediately afterward.

Today, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini responded to the comment, and he was not smiling at all.

Mohammed Ali Hosseini said the Iranian government regarded the comment as ugly and immoral, "especially for someone who intends to lead a country claiming civilization," according to a report carried by the Fars News Agency:

"We condemn such jokes and believe them to be inappropriate for a U.S. presidential candidate. It is most evident that jokes about genocide will not be tolerated by Iranians or Americans."

On Wednesday, McCain responded to a question about American cigarette imports to Iran by saying, "That's one way of killing them."

He quickly insisted that he meant it as a joke, as someone who quit smoking 28 years ago.

Iran has no plans of discouraging smoking on the home front. According to the Fars News report, the country hopes to increase domestic cigarette production from 26% to 75% over the next two years.

— Borzou Daragahi in Tehran

Photo: A pack of Iranian-made Bahman cigarrettes. Credit: Cigarettespedia.com

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Comments

[BiBiJon]

A president of the US is expected to be credible when he explains how he has agonized over plans before ordering the massive bombing of Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, etc, etc, (take your pick). He needs to be credible when he says how he regrets the casualties caused, and all reasonable measures where taken to minimize unnecessary death & destruction.

The media needs to demand that credibility over matters of life and death continue to be a minimum requirement of a US president.

http://www.bibijon.org/iranimage/

[opeluboy]

Maybe McCain can get that other intellectual giant, Toby Keith, to write a song about killing Iranians. Should sell well in most trailer parks and will solidify his NASCAR vote.

[jeyi]

"JesusManiacs KKK nation built on the corps" [sic] of the natives, with no legitimate reason to continue existing.

Wow! I'm sure impressed by passionate intense brilliance of your commenters. Great business model also, LAT.

Oh, and isn't it the Obamatron who's the nicotine addict, not the Rethuglican candidate, I forget his name?

[luagha]

John McCain should politely inform the Iranians that, "Our Surgeon General has determined that smoking cigarettes is hazardous to your health."

With a big smile.

[Ali]

McCain jokes about killing Iranians with cigarettes which is of course better than bombs. Thanks Senator and hopefully if you become US president, you would be exportning cigarettes to kill us rather than bombing us. Iranian politicians also want death (martyrs) for ordinary Iranians and not their own sons. They want to have conflict with US to suppress Iranian people and such remarks makes them happy.

[Sergei Etonhurst]

Typical McCain. He's 70 years old, but has the mentality of a 7 year old.

It is even sadder that there are more than 4 people in the entire US that are willing to vote for this buffoon!

[Robert Lewis]

This is something that is not funny:

The required permits were not pulled when the Cindy McCain Family Trust
converted this $4,666,814 condo into one from two condos (1105 & 1106)
for the roof top zero edge pool, sun deck, spa, fire pit, gas barbeque, men’s
and ladies’ locker rooms, steam rooms, massage room.

http://webofdeception.com/#mccaincondo

[ICEICE]

This is a typical White KKKan jesusmaniacs mentality. This sick retrogate maniacal nation of looters and thieves is going down and when it will be wiped off not a single White KKKan should be alive

[Jacob]

A group of people gathered and called themselves as a nation. A civilization which is built on the corps of Native Americans is not a civilization. People who love to watch killings on TV are a people who commit murder in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. I was not shocked by McCain's remarks. Typical mentality of the "Great American Nation".

[M. Whitt]

Song of McCain to Iran:

"Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff until you smoke yourself to death.

Tell Moahmmed at the Golden Gate
You hate to make those virgins wait,
But you just gotta have another cigarette."

[Saint Michael Traveler]

Senator McCain said "...exports to Iran as a way of killing off Iranians."

American cigarette kills us too. We know about the health problem of cigarette. Many Americans along with government of many states have taken cigarette companies to court and have had success.

Iranian people rather than getting mad at Senator McCain, they should thank him for pointing the lethal effect of cigarette. They should also join us in our curt against the same companies that kill us and would kill Iranians too. But, in the mean time, Iranians must be smart and stop smoking irrespective who produces the poison.

Senator McCain will testify on your behalf, he can't lie now; he has indicated cigarette kills.

[Mark]

Shame on John McCain for such childish comments...He is stepping right in GW's shoes. What a shame!