Barack Obama gets under John McCain's skin

Election Day is still more than five months away, and Barack Obama has yet to obtain the "presumptive nominee" tag in the Democratic presidential race. But if the verbal brickbats John McCain hurled at him today are any indication, a prospective general election matchup between the two will bear little resemblance to the reasoned, civil campaign both have said they will strive for.

It's been fairly obvious for some time that McCain not only has less respect for Obama than Hillary Clinton, but that it's easier for the senator from Illinois to get his goat. McCain's reaction today to a barb Obama directed at him removed all doubts on those fronts.

Obama, taking to the Senate floor in the morning before returning to the campaign trail later in the afternoon, personalized an impending vote on a veterans benefits bill by noting McCain was against it. After making a nod -- as he almost always does when mentioning him -- to McCain's military record, Obama said, "I can't understand why he would line up behind" President Bush in opposing the measure.

A release from McCain, who was campaigning in California, followed quickly, notable for the unconcealed contempt expressed toward Obama.

It begins with a bold-faced quote from McCain:

"Perhaps, if Senator Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully. But, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions. If that is how he would behave as President, the country would regret his election."

So much for the Senate's tradition of collegiality.

Then, in the longer statement that follows, McCain has this to say about his potential White House rival:

"And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."

In the past...

... McCain has been loath to play the "I wore the uniform, you didn't" card. After all, he could have laid it on the table during his often bitter battle with Bush for the GOP's 2000 presidential nomination. And it was available again -- to be directed at both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney -- during McCain's intense strategic disagreements with the administration over the Iraq war.

It was telling, in terms of his attitude toward Obama, that he set aside that resistance in his statement (all of which can be read here).

Obama, in a response statement, referred to McCain's comments as "schoolyard taunts" that "do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people.”

The dispute over the veterans bill -- sure to continue to figure in the presidential campaign -- also will figure in some congressional races.

A liberal activist group, Americans United for Change, has produced an ad that will target four Republicans who opposed the measure in the House -- Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Steve Chabot of Ohio, Tom Feeney of Florida and Randy Kuhl of New York.

According to a release from the group, the ad, entitled Lip Service, will air over Congress' weeklong Memorial Day recess in their districts.

The spot can be previewed here.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Steve Rhodes]

The strange thing about the statement is he attacks Obama, but praises his friend Jim Webb for taking the exact same position.

Why does he say Obama have "less than zero understanding of" the issue while saying he would "never suggest that [Webb] has anything other than the best of intentions to honor the service of deserving veterans."

McCain can't have it both ways. He seems to be so over the top in his (or whoever drafted it for him) attack. If Obama has zero understanding, then it seems Webb would. And if Webb has the best of intentions, than it would seem Obama does.

[Elizabeth]

The reason why Obama gets under his skin is he knows he's a formidable opponent and he's worried. He knows that Obama has a point on this issue that makes him (McCain) look bad.

[Chris]

Maybe McCain should take time out his schedule to show up for a vote that benefits veterans. Maybe McCain should do that instead of raging at someone asking a legitimate question.

John McCain: There for Veterans....Unless He's Busy Campaigning

[AJ]

the straight-talk express is :

NEVER .......

straight and: mighty "slow" !

[Cranky_Old_Batt]

Me thinks McCain doth protest too much.
If the barb was made by one who's views are without merit, then why dignify it with a response? This makes McCain sound very insecure (not to mention immature).

[AB]

Clinton Asks For VP Spot, Obama Says No
Posted by Ashish on 05.22.2008

Report says that Clinton's new aggressive attitude is because Obama turned her down for VP...

Al Giordano reports that Hillary Clinton has now directly asked to be Barack Obama's running mate, and that Obama has told her no. This would explain her behavior yesterday and today where she raised the topic of Florida and Michigan again and framed it as a civil rights issue, demanding all delegates be awarded in full based on the January elections (keep in mind that Clinton and her supporters in the DNC are largely responsible for FL and MI being stripped of their delegates in the first place).

The Field can now confirm, based on multiple sources, something that both campaigns publicly deny: that Senator Clinton has directly told Senator Obama that she wants to be his vice presidential nominee, and that Senator Obama politely but straightforwardly and irrevocably said "no." Obama is going to pick his own running mate based on his own criteria and vetting process.
Al also backs up what TIME Magazine is reporting, that being that it is Bill Clinton who is pushing Hillary for the VP spot, not Hillary herself. With Obama not bringing them on the ticket, we should see the final desparate attempts at relevancy from the Clintons in the next few weeks.

http://www.411mania.com/politics/columns/76190/Clinton-Asks-For-VP-Spot,-Obama-Says-No.htm

[Arlo]

McCain's tone has grown ever more strident over the past week or so. Obama makes him see red. And I think it is more than a matter of personalities or philosophical differences.

I believe McCain really doesn't understand Obama's positions - that Obama is genuinely smarter and better equipped for the debate than McCain. So, too, McCain's staff is baffled by Obama's statements and quite simply knows not how to respond.

Add to this the fact that folks in the McCain camp are already noting that the standard Republican strategies are backfiring according to ALL internal polling. In other words, Rovian attacks DO NOT stick to Obama.

This is a first. And it's VERY scary to Republicans.

One McCain staffer said recently, "Senator Obama is in a different league - different than all the candidates this year. And that's got everyone running a little scared."

So, the rage in camp McCain is born of fear and a complete inability to grapple with the issues at the same level as Senator Obama and his team.

[foo]

McCain is a war profiteer, and his wife is a coward not to release her financial records to prove it. McCain is just like her, and should not be president. Period.

[mampang]

I dont know Mc Cain well. Had he been tortured when he was captured by the viet? Like waterboarding?

[Jan E]

This man (Obama) has certainly earned my respect in the last few weeks since he started campaigning against McCain. I did not think he had it in him fighting the republicans machine .. I now stand corrected!!

[Valerie]

I am one of the millions of Clinton voters who will vote McCain in the fall. Obama is the sneakiest of characters in this drama. He is appalled and offended when he is attacked and begs for "change" in the tone of campaigns, and yet he often thows the first of many mean-spiritted jabs himself. Obama is a con artist and I hope that McCain and the republican unleash hell on him. The bias press and sexisit America won't tolerate a woman throwing verbal punches, even to a black man. It is culturally acceptable for a man to go on attack though. John McCain is an honerable and decent man. He has crossed the line many times in his own party. One third of his own party can't satnd him because he is too liberal. I believe the Republicans will tow the line for the most part and McCain will pick up Independants and Clinton supporters who can not stomach the novice. John McCain IS the "change in politics"that Obama always rambles about. I hope McCains fire and passion come out in during the next few months. He is hilarious and might say anything during press clips and debates. Experience and wisdom over arrogance and immaturity.

If not Clinton.....McCain 08

[Benjamin]

Damn McCain, how could he have been more respectful? Does he need to get down on all fours and kiss your arse?

McCain should try leading by example and give the respect he wants to receive. The reply seems way over the top to what was said. Reminds me exactly of how Clinton responds to things. Play the victim. Hey McCain, victims don't make good leaders. Quit acting like a victim and start acting like a leader or you're not going to be residing in the whitehouse.

[mary smith]

They both are losers. McCain is too old to remember. Obama doesn't know what he doesn't know. Go figure!

[DoTheMath]

"After making a nod -- as he almost always does when mentioning him -- to McCain's military record, Obama said, 'I can't understand why he would line up behind' President Bush in opposing the measure."

So that's "impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions?"

Wow. Since McCain is so thoughtful about this difference of opinion, why didn't he just explain what the difference was instead of attacking Obama's motives for wondering about it?

[Ron]

He wore the uniform....He only took it off when he met Cindy while his first wife was a paraplegic waiting for him to return from Vietnam. I know a lot of people who served. I have never heard any of them brag the way McCain does.
He basically followed in the family business......... What McCain failed to mention is that during the War in Vietnam there was a draft and Obama was not old enough to serve.
How does being a prisoner in a POW camp give you the ability to lead ?

[Bob]

I like McCain's response. The Obama Kool-Aid is not going to taste so good to these people when they see how he will turn us into the United Socialist Republic of America. Then again, maybe they will enjoy the lessons that the socialist governments in Europe learned over the last 20-30 years.

[Mike]

Whoever criticized McCain for missing the vote (which passed easily anyway) must have forgotten that Obama voted "present" about a 100 times in the IL senate and wasn't voting in the U.S. Senate for most of the past 16 months.

Everyone knows that the new GI bill is just a veiled attempt to tie the pentagon's hands regarding Iraq. McCain voted against the new GI deal because he believes at this particular time, it threatens are national security by creating an incentive for folks to leave the military (and the ONLY reason the Dems are voting for the bill is to gain credibility with veterans and to make it even harder on our nation to WIN in Iraq since it benefits them if we are forced to leave).

Obama's comments were classless and his "new kind of politics" claim is complete BS. What a hypocrite.

[Top B.]

I am amazed that anyone still continues to imply that President Bush's service in the Guard was not an honorable thing to do. It is a slander on all reservists and guardsmen perpetuating the old myth that the "weekend warriors" are somehow not as brave or dedicated or patriotic as their fulltime active duty counterparts. I served 21 yrs active duty in the USMC, my last 5 with a reserve KC-130 unit and can attest to the fact that the reservists are every bit the dedicated professional warriors as their active duty brothers and sisters.
President Bush was a fully qualified fighter pilot flying a single seat aircraft and apparently performed exceptionally well. Are we to believe that all reservists and guradsmen from that time were not serving honorably or was it just him? John Kerry was also a reservist whose unit just happened to get activated. One never hears the same charges leveled against him. Oh no, on the contrary he was a "hero" for his brief stint in theater, regardless of his despicable actions upon his return. What if his unit had never been activated?
Our nation depends on the many warriors in the Guard and Reserves and we have to stop maligning their service with these false attacks on the President.

[that1guy]

Speaking as a vet myself, McCain's lack of advocacy for a bill to help veterans only tells me that he has no real compassion for his comrades. He's using his status now with cold pragmatism, focused only on winning--perfectly in accordance with the ruthless strategies favored by the Republicans.

I used to admire him, but this behavior truly reveals who he really is. Let's also not forget the prevailing attitude of senior career military officers: kiss up, kick down. We enlisted men adhered to a somewhat higher standard in this professional aspect.

[max]

"If that is how he would behave as President, the country would regret his election."

Is McPain for real? He should apply this statement to his own party and uhmm the President himself, what a phony, ambitious, hypocrit.

[James Pearson]

McCain can remember, or changes his mind all the time. He would want the GI Bill if he was still a member of the armed services. If something is to his advantage at that time it's good, if not he's again it

[Richard Garcia]

John Mccain, Is the man who should be in the White House
its all about MORALS FOLKS, John McCain has the moral backround OBAMA WILL LEAD OUR COUNTRY STRAIGHT TO HELL with the way he thinks, all the tatooed white trash are going to vote for him and others whos moral compass
is bad bad bad wake up people and start doing the right thing
before its to late and GOD PASSES JUDGEMENT ON US ALL
AND WE ALL WIND UP WITH NO HOMES NO JOBS

[Dan the Man]

"If not Clinton....... McCain 2008" Pretty sad that your doing what the republicans want. What is so sneaky about Obama? What isn't sneaky about Clinton? Freedom is something idiots shouldn't have.

[Billw]

Someone saiid re Obama:

He often thows the first of many mean-spiritted jabs himself. Obama is a con artist and I hope that McCain and the republican unleash hell on him.

Obama has met his match with McCain.

[Julie in Burbank]

Bob, how can you like McCain's response when others in uniform -- not just Jim Webb -- are lining up to help our ailing military guys be able to afford school and benefits that will help with armed forces retention?

Our guys and girls are being sent on 3rd and 4th tours and not getting the same sort of help benefits as my veteran grandfather and father did when they returned from the Korean War, Vietnam and so forth.

McCain should be standing with Webb and these GI Bill drafters for the good of the servicemen, not standing with Bush and his cronies.

If he wants to criticize folks for not wearing uniforms -- especially those who were able at specific times of war, he can start with some of those draft-dodging GOPs.

There are plenty of Americans who respect his service to the country but are losing respect for McCain beyond that because he's showing himself to be more like Bush everyday and less like the upstanding independent thinker he used to be before he joined the cult of Bush and flipped on the Bush tax cuts, which have helped ruin our economy.