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Posted on 03/18/2004 9:20:56 AM PST by 11th Earl of Mar
WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday he did not believe Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), a friend and Senate colleague, was weak on defense or would compromise national security if elected president.
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"This kind of rhetoric, I think, is not helpful in educating and helping the American people make a choice," McCain said on "The Early Show" on CBS. "You know, it's the most bitter and partisan campaign that I've ever observed. I think it's because both parties are going to their bases rather than going to the middle. I regret it."
Republicans, including President Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites), have sharply criticized Kerry on a range of defense and security issues, including not supporting the war in Iraq (news - web sites), voting against a measure to provide the war effort $87 billion, and voting against weapons systems critical to waging war.
"The senator from Massachusetts has given us ample doubts about his judgment and the attitude he brings to bear on vital issues of national security," Cheney said in a speech Wednesday.
Asked on NBC's "Today" if he thought Kerry was weak on defense, McCain said: "No, I do not believe that he is, quote, weak on defense. He's responsible for his voting record, as we are all responsible for our records, and he'll have to explain it. But, no, I do not believe that he is necessarily weak on defense. I don't agree with him on some issues, clearly. But I decry this negativism that's going on on both sides. The American people don't need it."
When asked on "The Early Show" if Kerry's election would compromise national security, McCain responded: "I don't think that — I think that John Kerry is a good and decent man. I think he has served his country."
McCain, Bush's rival for the Republican nomination in 2000, said he believes Bush has led the nation with clarity since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and that he supports Bush's re-election. "But I would certainly hope that we could raise the level of this debate. Otherwise, we're going to have very low voter turnouts in November," he told CBS.
McCain and Kerry, both decorated Navy veterans of the Vietnam War, have worked together on veterans issues in the Senate. Although McCain said last week he would consider an offer from Kerry to be his running mate, McCain's office later issued a statement saying he would not run with Kerry.
"I don't want to be vice president of the United States. I do not want to leave the Republican Party. I would not be vice president of the United States on either ticket," McCain told CBS on Thursday.
Very good advice for McCain. And to think, the Bush people named him as head of the Arizona campaign for them -- better get some other people out there or McCain might try to shift Arizona to Kerry the way things are going. McCain is just lying on Kerry's stance on defense -- Kerry is weak by the voting record which is all anyone needs to know. McCain can stuff it!
You and me both!
We were disgusted with McCain in 2000 and his supporters on here and I detest him more now then I did in 2000! Going to be a long seven plus months until the election.
What does the word "necessarily" mean, in this context?
Could it mean that McLame is again equivicating?
This SOB is one sick puppy.
It says that the GOP is more diversified and tolerant of opposing viewpoints. The other way to say it is that there's one wacko in every bunch.
Perhaps McCain doesn't know that Kerry's voted against every major weapons system for the last 20 years. Perhaps McCain's a lair and narcissistic twit.
Some are probably even worse.
I noticed on the last "assault weapons" vote, there were around a dozen Republicans voting against us. There was a smaller number of Democratic Senators who voted for us.
Typically on votes where the issue is real conservatism, there will be about 10 republicans who cannot be counted on. Yes the Repubs are better than the Dems but that is not saying a lot.
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