Posted on 03/17/2007 6:57:55 PM PDT by blam
Straight-talking McCain vows to fix world's view of the 'ugly American'
By Philip Sherwell in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:04am GMT 18/03/2007
John McCain, formerly the leading Republican presidential contender, has told The Sunday Telegraph that restoring America's sullied reputation abroad will be "a top priority" if he wins the White House.
Sen McCain has criticised the handling of the war by the Bush administration
The Arizona senator, an Iraq war hawk, was talking aboard the revived Straight Talk Express - the vehicle that made his name during the 2000 presidential election and that he hopes will revive his faltering fortunes this time round.
The bus ferried the senator, his aides, and journalists, to a series of public meetings throughout the flat, snow-covered farmland of rural Iowa, where voters will be the first to express their preferences for the party nominations next January.
Of America's poor image abroad, even with long-time allies, Sen McCain acknowledged candidly: "It is a very dispiriting situation and I know we will have to work hard to improve it."
Sen McCain is a strong supporter of the "surge" of US troop numbers in Iraq and his backing for the war has undercut his standing. In recent weeks, Rudolph Giuliani, 62, the former mayor of New York, has overtaken Sen McCain in the polls.
But Sen McCain has also consistently criticised the handling of the war by the Bush administration, and has led efforts in the Senate to end torture and extrajudicial treatment of terror suspects.
In a sign that he wants to distance himself from the president - to whom he lost in an ugly campaign in 2000 - Sen McCain outlined a series of measures to roll back Bush policies and counter the "ugly American" image.
"I would immediately close Guantanamo Bay, move all the prisoners to Fort Leavenworth (an army base in Kansas) and truly expedite the judicial proceedings in their cases," he said. "I would reaffirm my commitment to address the issue of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. I know how important this is in Europe in particular."
John Weaver, Sen McCain's chief strategist, confirmed his plans for a markedly more conciliatory foreign policy. "The next president will have to work extra hard to unite our friends and divide our foes. Sadly the opposite has occurred in recent years," he said, as Sen McCain addressed a crowded hall in the farming community of Cedar Falls.
"John believes that you can accomplish a lot more in this world by sticking to your principles, while adopting a much more humble tone with your partners."
Sen McCain demonstrated just such an approach when asked about David Cameron's Conservatives, who have struck a sceptical tone on US foreign policy and the "surge" strategy - prompting some critics to accuse them of riding on the current wave of anti-American sentiment for populist gain.
Sen McCain, who was one of the star turns at the last Tory conference, insisted that he would remain close friends with the Tories, despite policy differences. "I hope that as their foreign policy matures, they will keep examining the issue," he said.
He was predictably full of praise for Tony Blair, but said that he also looked forward to working with Gordon Brown if he is confirmed as prime minister. "We have a uniquely special relationship that will survive any bumps in the road, so it really doesn't matter too much who the British prime minister is."
He said that the scale of the "titanic struggle" against Islamist extremism was brought home to him when Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, the head of MI5, briefed him on Britain's home-grown terrorists. "I'm not sure that we're succeeding right now," he added, "but I'm confident we can."
Sen McCain has a reputation for occasional flashes of temper and his age is a constant focus of attention. He will be 72 during the election and, if successful, will be the oldest person elected to the office. But last week, he was in good humour and clearly enjoying the fray as he took questions from his audiences. "My age? I just ask people to judge by my actions," he said.
The main change from his last presidential run is that eight years ago he was the insurgent candidate, while to many he is now the insider. By revving up the Straight Talk Express, he is trying to evoke the heady days of early 2000 when he beat Mr Bush in New Hampshire and seemed to be en route to a surprise nomination victory.
He raised some laughs at the public meetings with his self-deprecating style, highlighting his loss to Mr Bush in 2000 and remarking that he achieved war hero status, after he was shot down over North Vietnam as a navy pilot and held prisoner for five brutal years, by "intercepting a missile with an aeroplane".
There are, of course, dangers with so much straight talk in front of journalists. On the bus, the senator was stumped when asked whether he supported government subsidies for contraception to prevent sexual diseases if abstinence were not being practised.
"I'm sure I have a policy on that. I just need to check what it is," he replied, before seeking illumination from his aides.
Then, when asked at a public meeting about the rights of divorced fathers, he said it was a matter for the courts and he was not going to become involved in such a "tar baby". Although once widely used to mean a sticky situation, the phrase has been condemned as racist by some black leaders.
"I don't think I should have used that word and it was wrong to do so," Sen McCain said later - too late to prevent a flurry of coverage by the reporters accompanying him.
McCain couldn't talk straight if he had a map to guide him.
I think McCain's alligator mouth is going to continue to get his candy a$$ in trouble. How does someone who can't fix his own reputation plan to fix the reputation of America in other countries??
So he is going to do what the rest of the world wants and not what is best for the USA? Thats the rat mantra.
The Ugly AmeriCain.
Does this mean I have to give up my SUV, big screen TV and house if McCain wins?
I want a Pres. who does not agonize about people who never have, don't and are
never going to like us. How about the ugly French. ..the ugly Germans, the ugly Arabs,the ugly N. Koreans, the ugly Chinese? Like the left, McCain't can only see the ugly American.
McCain has done and said so many things to put us down that his support of the war can never fix it. I know he was in Vietnam....but then so was Jean Karreee, ze French connection.
If McCain had ANY brains at all, he would know that you cannot sponsor legislation with Feingold and Kennedy, two of the fartherest left of the Dems,
and still claim to be conservative.
vaudine
He should know. He's the poster boy.
What's he gonna do...stop looking in the mirror..?
>> that restoring America's sullied reputation abroad will be "a top priority" if he wins the White House.
McCain, no matter what you do, people are still going to hate your guts.
Straight-Talking McCain Vows To Fix World's View Of The 'Ugly American'
Maybe he should think about fixing his (rapidly) failing campaign, then fix how the world views us.
Stop torturing US, McCain!
How about changing our view of the ugly RINO?
DITTO.
McCain out to fix ugly American image? More likely he'll set it in concrete.
Save your money McCain. You're toast, and you have no chance.
Ah yes....the principles of compromise and back-stabbing the conservative base.
BTW...who exactly are the 'ugly Americans'? The God-fearing, flag waving, loyal patriots McCain't? Is it we the Freepers? If so, it's our badge of honor!
The only "ugly American" abroad is in the minds of the moonbats. Unless we're talking about the moonbats themselves. Everywhere I go, Americans are welcomed and fawned over.
Close Guantanamo??
I worked at Club Gitmo's combat franchise, Club Bagram. We've taken over the new influx of jihadists from GTMO since 2004, and if John McCain really wants to close GTMO down then I won't vote for him under any circumstances. I spent a year of my life in Afghanistan, toe to toe, fighting and dealing with these cats on a daily basis. I saw the inside info on not just Bagram detainees, but GTMO detainees as well through the magic of JDIMS.
Any presidential candidates who would close GTMO down does not have America's best interest in mind, and won't get my vote or money.
Hey John, go back to Arizona and play golf and wait to die you old fool.
He can start by not putting his RINO back-stabbing face in front of every camera he sees.
What is he going to do, put a bag over his head?
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