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

[raseveready]

I am appalled that some people here will jump from supporting Hillary who is a liberal democrat, to supporting McCain the hawkish conservative. What gives? I see that the two of them have something in common- they are both very ANGRY!!! Doesnt seem very presidential to me. Obama is showing his strenght as the days go on. I am very proud of him!!

[Rom M]

I think that the Bush-McCain argument goes like this. Because we have mismanaged the war we are not able to recruit well to many men the war has been a losing slog. The troops have been kept in Iraq for such lengthy periods that re-enlistments are less than desired. So what we have is the troops commander-in-chief and his imitator McCain who do not appreciate the service of these men are trying to trap them into service which they no longer are motivated to give. It has never dawned on either man that their braggadocio in the face of a deteriorating condition in Iraq could be the cause of the recruiting failure. Acknowledging their service in a concrete manner can certainly not hurt re-enlistment. So the troops who have been taken advantage of should be further abused by not giving them education when they get out. It takes a warped self-centered mind to think this way but this is how the Republican party views our current situation. Save face and don't admit failures, pretend things are under control and when the troops stop believing the lies punish them by withholding benefits.

[Randall Sanchez]

This is another sad issue of ignore everything but the honeypot issue. While the bill was helpful to veterens it was also packed full of alot of junk that had nothing to do with veterens or anything close to it. The media of course is going to look for something sensational and poof its a McCain hit. And yet the excessive spending by Congress has been one of McCains big points which this bill demonstrates. Yeah, extra money for vets..which should have been its own bill along, but filled with alot of other pork. The other sore point was the military funding with stipulations about Iraq which the president outright said he would veto. Ah throw in some vet benefits and suddenly it becomes bulletproof with an upcoming election year. To vote or not. Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

I still don't understand why we have to have a few dozen earmarks packed into a single bill that have nothing to do with each other. This kind of underhanded trickery is not helpful to the Nation. It does prove to be great strategy when someone wants to keep their Congress job though and thats all that matters to them.

[Benjamin]

Ethan - You use an interview with Karl Rove to determine that nobody on the other side of the party line respects him? Were you aware that just recently one of McCain's own campaign staffers stepped down because he had too much respect for Obama to want to be involved in running against him? How often does that happen?

Rove is a blowhard like Clinton. The only people who like either of them are the hardliners in their own parties. Neither of them is relevant to any serious discussion of working across party lines.

[JSG]

Bush/Cheney/McCain show us how conservatives support our troops- disposable heroes, to be dispensed and discarded at whim.

Republican is just another word for traitor.

[that1guy]

Judy...consider spell-checking your posts prior to posting?

Very illustrative, actually. The definition of the word "patriot" is fairly fluid these days. I could claim it because I am a combat vet, but I think I am more so because I feel that I'm participating in the democratic process by carefully considering issues and the character and past performance of candidates as objectively as possible.

Another definition seems to be having served in the military in any capacity whatsoever (pure political gold on the right, apparently, based on Bush)--nah.

Yet another would be to wear a flag pin, presumably even in the shower, to show your solidarity with the troops because you were too busy/connected/ambitious/scared? to serve yourself. Oh, and by the way, you're also too wealthy and important for any of your children to even consider serving a millisecond in uniform, after all....

I cannot describe the level of nausea I feel every time one of these chickenhawks expresses their patriotism. Surely the Founding Fathers are spinning in their graves at the fact that such transparent chicanery is swallowed whole like fishbait by such a gullible population in what was formerly the most prosperous and successful nation in the history of the world.
.

[Aaron]

"McCain attacks Obama for not understanding the issue but what part of the issue? Why didn't McCain vote for this bill? I want substance from the media and the politicians but I guess thats too much to ask."

Exactly. Why did McCain not vote for the bill, why DID Obama vote for it. What exactly is this measure they are arguing over? None of this is referenced in the quotes, and certainly not in the article. This reads more like the latest installment in a soap opera than a piece of news.

[Eugene]

Maybe if the posters here were more civil, it could encourage more civil level of debate among all the candidates.

[Mark]

I love reading the almost unintelligable comments made against Obama. Here you have a situation where McCain says one thing and does another. Obama calls him on it and McCain has NO CHOICE but to attack Obama. Not explain why he would BETRAY his fellow veterans.

He betrays them because he is a REPUBLICAN and this new generation of Republicans have bankrupted our country fiscally, mentally, and emotionally. OUr dollar has fallen, we are in an endless war, and who helped him? Hillary CLinton. She voted for the wat. Or do you McCain voting CLintonites forget that?

Whatever, go vote for McCain and sit in your house proud your children will not be able to afford college, or eat, or put gas in your tanks because most likely theyll be dying in Iran.

[Ernie]

McCain is not a bad man - probably the best of the Republican possibilities. I'd vote for him if the Democrats didn't have anything better to offer. But he's not even in Obama's league. And I don't think he knows it.

[Don]

hmmm McCain, Obama or Clinton?

I would rather have Clinton as the Democrat Candidate than Obama, and If Obama gets the ticket, I am definatly giving my vote to McCain.

Both Clinton and McCain have experience.
McCain has greater experience concerning the military (much more than Bush) And lets face it, THE U.S.A is a war machine. ANd frankly if there's going to be a president, that president has to have experience with the military.

Remember, the purpose of any standing military is to Kill, Break, Destroy. both on the Offensive and the Defensive. And that include giving aid to our allies.

Our president cannot and must not hesitate to
push the button" if the situation calls for it. remember as Americans we are fighters by birth and by right. both as individuals and as a nation.

Now why will I not give Obama my vote?

It's because he said he's "African American" . lets face it. he has a "white" mother and a "black" father. And he calls himself and "African American" . Now if he had made a statement as simple as "I am neither black or white, I am AMERICAN" Then I and many others would have beleived him when he said he wasn't going to play the race card.

People all over the country sit there and say "I am black, white, german, irish etc etc" when the fact of the matter is we are all mutts. the United States has been and will always be a melting pot of cultures. And above all that we are all Americans.

If you want to claim something, Claim that and claim it with pride.
Now chew on that.

[PAUL HERNANDEZ JR SFC US ARMY]

I am a Vietnam veteran and my son just returned from his second tour in Iraq. It turns my stomach that John McCain my vietnam colleague does not support Jim Webbs GI Bill legislation. His reasons that it might not help us keep our troops on to their second and third reenlistment and that we cannot afford it are immoral. My family supports Barack Obama proudly and we are joined by a very large amount of veterans as well. If you doubt that our troops deserve Jim Webbs GI Bill please visit a local veterans hospital and see first hand what their sacrifice looks like. If you agree with my family then please contact your congressmen and let them know to join the rest of the majority and vote it in. If George W. vetoes this bill it will be overturned and it will make his decision against our veterans another reason we need to turn the page and bring in the CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN.

VOTE BARACK OBAMA AMERICA IT IS FOR OUR OWN GOOD!!

AIRBORNE

[Richard P. McDonough]

McCain married for money, is not terribly bright, did suffer ...as did many others whom he would prefer not to help...in the war, has primitive views on foreign policy and world power, has to many bad connections to the old republican financial community, fibs about his connections to lobbyists, and has a short fuse.
Given that intellect and judgement and choice making of the candidates are the concerns that one should give highest standing to in choosing a person to lead a country, I just ca't imagine McCain being elected in 2008. But then we are the same country that elected the shrub twice.

[Sheldon]

McCain saeems to be as flabergasted by the Obama phenomenon as was Hillary Clinton, his Senate pal. Barack Obama will continue to get on McCain's nerves as the general election campaign accelerates. I think Senator McCain will be no more effective than Hillary Clinton in competing with the Obama mystique.

[Jean]

I believe Hillary Clinton should be the next Commander in Chief. Hillary is smart, has a plan to get the troops out and has a sure medical plan for all americans. Hillary is the better candidate of the Three. If she does not get the nominee for the Democratic Nomination, I will not vote for Obama, who is the devil himself, any Man who has a Pastor that has been with him for as many years as Rev. Wright was with The Obama Family and he denounces him is a coward and can not be trusted to run this Country. He will sell us out alo. To all the Black people voting for Obama, you are being brainwashed as usual, just because he is Black does not say that he has your back, remember this Man has belief that are anti-God and the true him will come shining through once he becomes President if you allow that to happen, I sure am not. If not Hillary, Then McCain, Obama should not be on the ticket.

[Andrew]

I just want to say that Obama is being a sneak now. McCain probably should have voted for the bill. Asides from that, I would like to say that the person who responded to

"The bias press and sexisit America won't tolerate a
woman throwing verbal punches, even to a black man."

by saying :
Even to a black man? The person that said this is clearly racist and thinks that black people don't belong at the table with whites. God forbid Obama is elected President of the US by the people.

I would just like to say to him that that is really not racist what he/she said. People call things racist way too much in this country and it's time to stop. People can criticize white people for everything and no race cards are pulled but if you start criticizing black people people say "OMG That's racist!".

I think it's time to change that.

[John from NC]

For a pipsqueak novice, Obama sure has our old soldier McCain against the ropes. Kinda makes you wonder if McCain really has it in him. If McCain opposes the measure, let him explain why. "It's too complicated for me to explain" is no way for a presidential-wannabe to get my vote.

[EARL]

WOW, LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION!!! I ENJOYED READING THE COMMENTS. THANKS

[Bubba_Bob]

Valerie: "The bias press and sexisit America won't tolerate a woman throwing verbal punches, even to a black man."

Wow! That is amazing!

Valerie, I think it is obvious that you are a sick and bitterly twisted racist. You are an example of the very lowest, most ignorant, and least human elements of our species. The tragedy here is that you are likely too stupid to understand what I am talking about.

Just reexamine that sentence of yours, particularly this part -->even to a black man<--.

You are correct that overt bigotry is no longer tolerated in public discourse. You may not approve, but it is a sign that our species is becoming more intellectually mature. Unfortunately, not all portions of the human race will intellectually grow up at the same time. Ignorant, bigoted white trash like you, Valerie, are holding the human race back. Please kill yourself (or vote for John McCain...the two gestures are identical).

[smarterthanyou]

Mctool. thats all I have to say.

[John Quimby]

Why is it wrong to ask senator McCain to explain himself?

Furthermore, why can't he explain himself?

Senator McCain: A flag pin and your former service will not exempt you from answering families (like mine) who sent our sons to Iraq. Those of us who oppose Senator Clinton for approving this Gilbert and Sullivan production will not be mollified. Your honorable service is no better than the honorable service of my son in law.

[Brent]

Finally... a charged American public leaning forward off its collective GMO duff. Interesting (and typical) - that the hottest wind blowing (5/22 - 7:51pm) in these recent blogs really DOES parallel the republican party. Do we want that kind of breeze... again? Obama has the integrity to speak his mind. McCain has his history of riding coattails. Follower, or leader. Which...?

[Bubba_Bob]

Josh said :"What I don't like about Obama is that anything that is said against him that he has no response to he just says, "The American people don't care about this" or "these statements divide us" or something along those lines. How can you be a "uniter" if all you do is dodge topics. Obama is good at dodging things."

Josh, you're an idiot. Obama is in an election campaign. If he brushes off an issue that you think is important, then don't vote for him...it is really as simple as that. The fact is, however, that people ARE voting for him, and in the millions. If Obama refuses to address some "issue" raised by Rush Limburger or BillO and then Obama claims that people don't care about that issue, then watch the voters. If millions of people still vote for him, then maybe Obama was correct and no one except sock-puppets and ditto-heads thought the point was worth discussing.

Face it, Josh; just because a few ignorant clowns like you dance on cue when the talking heads screech about lapel pins does NOT make lapel pins an issue. Obama is perfectly justified in treating "issues" like that with disdain.

[An Observer]

Its unbelievable how shallow some voters have become. Stating that if they don't have it their way, they shall support their enemy, geesh, they have no spine and no integrity.

Where did honesty and integrity end up. Well I guess they follow their leader, the one that makes up information to fit a goal, changes the rules when they life goes astray from the set goals. Their candidate has clearly shown that the White House is too big of a chair contrary to statements made early in the campaign. Prepared is not a quality shown by this candidate even though it was a theme in that campaign. Finally, economics, millions in the red, and continues to press on. What do these people see in that particular candidate boggles anyone with a bit of common sense, cause its absurd.

I agree the new comer is unknown, and many have rightful issue of fear of the unknown. Though in the past year, the new comer has shown integrity, stood by his word and knows how to manage his campaign both in results and economics. Shows that he has what it takes to lead people and obtain results being profitable at it.

The hero is worried, cause not even with the 50% of people who decided on their emotions and not on whats best for them will he be able to pull this out. The past month he made so many blunders and he is tainted with all the wrong choices of the recent past. His economic plan is just worthless. Get him in a room with either of the other candidates and our hero will need a lot more than a glass of water.

The next presidential term, will see us face the worst economic stress the country had to face in its history, and yet those with sunglasses in their eyes will make the wrong choice, if they get their way. I hope they don't complain, like those who did nothing the past couple of terms. You get what you choose for.

May all voters make wise choices, all our future depends on it.

One advice.

WATCH ACTIONS NOT WORDS SAID BY THEM OR OTHERS. ACTIONS SHOW A CANDIDATES COLORS.

If the recent past hasn't taught you as much, as a voter you will be disillusioned by your choices and you will have to lay in the bed you made. Unfortunately we all will, this is the reason for my post.

[mary smith]

It is very sad to see what this country had chosen Obama and McCain. Can't we find better candidates?. Where have they gone hiding under?.
Obama what? Don't pick a liar. He will tell you anything to please your ears. Don't be stupid about it. I cann't see him in the Oval office. I will get sick in my stomach if that happens. And, his wife, remember?. She hasn't been proud as an American until she though she might has a chance to be a first "Bitch".
McCain, he is just like Bush. No feeling, He used his power to get ahead, and doesn't care if millions are killed.
We need Clinton in the office to work for us. She has experience to do the job well.