Fact Finding by John McCain

C.N.S. reports that the prolonged Democratic primary fight is helping John McCain. I'm not so sure.

Many Democrats believe it's helpful to have the focus on our prospective candidates, leaving  McCain to linger on the back pages. I'd rather have coverage of McCain on Page One, if the coverage were not so soft.  His "fact-finding" visits to Jordan and to Israel prompted some statements that would be worth examining, but the press cannot stop malingering when it comes to St John.

Wolf Blitzer led the way with exaggerating how quickly McCain corrected himself after saying that Iran was training members of Al Qaeda.  He did correct himself, after prompting from his assistant, Sen. Joe Lieberman, (I-Il). It's a gaffe he repeated more than once.

His correction:

"I’m sorry," Mr. McCain said, "the Iranians are training extremists, not Al Qaeda."

But like the President he admires so greatly did with Iraq and Al Qaeda, McCain wants to muddy the waters on Iran and Al Qaeda. While he was apologizing, his staff was saying that he had said nothing wrong and that A.Q. and Iran "collaborate."  Straight talk - from both sides of his mouth.

Also disturbing was his mistakenly calling Purim the equivalent of Halloween for Jewish kids. I accept the explanation of his aide, Sen. Lieberman, that he  had been the cause of the confusion. But why? Why does McCain, on a fact finding trip, need to be told a fairy tale? I'd kind of like the next President to actually be interested in the culture of countries  he visits.

His lack of intellectual curiosity, and his comfort with deceptive descriptions of our foes and allies is a little too similar to Mr. Bush for me.

(memeorandum)

Comments

[Rick]

McCain is on a diplomatic oddesy meeting with new Democracies in the Middle East and Kings in ancient counties and the new British Prime Minister and the new Pro American leader in France. Osama is defending his crazy old 'uncle' which will be played 10,000 times during the general and Hillary is desperately trying to steal votes in Michigan and Florida. (Have a familiar ring?) Dems always do this to themselves. I have said here a dozen times that they are fatally flawed and are not electable. Oh well, at least tome more terrorists are going to be sent to Cancun.

[bbbustard]

Thanks for the comment, and it's true that you have warned a dozen times that McCain will be the next warmongerer in chief. I fear that you are right - and understand that Bush & Co will bomb Iran if that is what's necessary to prolong their rule. Our Democracy is frequently flawed - on that we can agree.

[rick]

I know that you are anti war and that's fine. The country needs the balance.