McCain Speech Blasts Clinton on Iraq

ABC News ^ | 7/13/07

[bnelson44]

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Republican White House contender Senator John McCain, will blast Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., a Democratic presidential candidate, for her views on the war in Iraq as he campaigns in Concord, New Hampshire on Friday.

McCain plans to call the war against radical Islamist extremists the "national security challenge of our time," according to excerpts of his speech released by the campaign.

McCain will also talk about al Qaeda's role in the war in Iraq, and will name names when claiming that Democrats are ignoring that threat.

"They ignore the consequences of a US defeat at the hands of al Qaeda -- and some ignore al Qaeda altogether," McCain's speech reads. "Just this week, Senators Clinton and Byrd wrote an op-ed about the war in Iraq and never once mentioned al Qaeda or the terrorist presence in Iraq."

McCain will accuse Democratic presidential candidates of "defeatism" on the issue of Iraq.

"Democratic candidates for President will argue for the course of cutting our losses and withdrawing from the threat in the vain hope it will not follow us here." says McCain's speech. "I cannot join them in such wishful and very dangerous thinking."

McCain will again concede that mistakes were made in the way the war in Iraq was handled, but his speech says, "they must not cause us self doubt. We must learn from them, as Americans have always learned from our mistakes, and fight smarter and harder."

McCain will also accuse the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki of "not functioning as it must."

"We see little evidence of reconciliation and little progress toward meeting the benchmarks laid out by the President ... Iraqi political leaders must seize this opportunity. It will not come around again," reads the speech.

He will say that as president he would increase the size of an "overstretched and under-resourced" American military. And he will call for the creation of an "Army Advisor Corps," which he'll describe as 20,000 soldiers that would work with friendly militaries abroad to teach the "right kind of skills to fight a global counterinsurgency."

McCain will hold a news conference Friday where he will face questions about his current campaign woes –- his campaign's financial troubles and the recent major staff shake-ups.

[AU72]

McCain is finally directing his fire at the right target but it’s too late in the game for him now.

[HoustonTech]

I don’t think McCain ever had a realistic chance. His maverick style would never garner a majority in the Republican party. He will, however, be a helpful friend to any Republican nominee who has his head on straight.

I hope that will be Fred Thompson.

[goldstategop]

John McCain is NOT acceptable as our party's nominee. I would NEVER vote for him no matter who is his opponent. He does take a courageous stand on Iraq. But we remember how he screwed the base on campaign finance reform and amnesty and courted the favor of a media that has now discarded him as their favorite Republican. He would do the country a service by bowing out of the presidential race and concentrating on backing the War for the rest of his term as Senator. So while I appreciate his attack on Hillary Clinton and defeatist Democrats the fact remains he is too flawed a candidate to represent our party for President Of The United States.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[TexasCajun]

Big Media will do whatever it can to promote the democrat-friendly maverick.

They know he unelectable, thus a candidate that can not hurt the chances of a democrat presidency.

[AnAmericanMother]

I hope McCain will be a gentleman, and not take his marbles and go home.

He is really not suitable for president, but as a point man in the Senate he could be a big help.

[AU72]

I’t not too late for McCain to recover some honor by standing up the Senate Surrendercrats and Surrendercans.

[conservativehusker]

I understand he and other politicians have to watch the words they use..but once I’d like plain talk..like “The dems are for defeat..Oh they will say they want to fight terrorists but when the going is a little tough they run like scarred little rabbits.”

[Scythian]

Wow, that’ll get em’ back in the race, not, goodbye McAmnesty ....

[AnAmericanMother]

I agree. He could really redeem himself from all that Keating/McCain-Feingold/POW-MIA stuff, not to mention his bad temper and liberal tendencies, if he would just stand up to the Defeatists in Congress. I would seriously be willing to overlook an awful lot of bad conduct on his part if he stands pat here. I feel the same way about Lieberman.

[vietvet67]

He will never redeem himself with me on the POW-MIA issue.

Unforgivable..

[ClancyJ]

Trouble is he is not a point man in the senate - he is a traitor to us on major issues.

Any time you need McCain to stand with you - he turns on you. He loves the adulation of the media and the dems more than he cares about the conservatives.

[AnAmericanMother]

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's why I mentioned that issue -- it bothers me more than anything else he's ever done, just because it's so treacherous. Betraying your brothers in arms may not be the Sin Against the Holy Ghost, but it's getting there.

I would always keep one eye on him.

But if he'll stand up for what's right now, and not fold at an inopportune time, it would HELP make up for his hideous behavior in the past.

[AnAmericanMother]

I agree. See previous post. But I’d rather try to enlist his help — if his buffle-headed constituents refuse to throw him out.

[jveritas]

Great for McCain.

[enough_idiocy]

At least someone in the GOP is taking the Dems to task! Freepers should drop McCain a line of support for his hard work on this issue.

[gulfcoast6]

He would be bitter than all get out to do that.

[teddyballgame]

Down on all referees scorecards and entering the 15th round, Senator McCain, bleeding and beaten, swings wildly hoping for a knockout.

[lovecraft]

I would NEVER vote for him no matter who is his opponent.

Normally, I would agree with you on principle. But I gotta tell you, if Mickey Mouse was the only one running against Hillary then I'd be whistlin' "It's a small world after all..." on the way to the voting booth.

I hope to get a good choice and not have to hold my nose voting, but I'll be voting for pretty much anybody but Hillary. The pubbies got me by the short hairs on this one. LOL

[Zack Nguyen]

When it comes to the War on Terror, I listen to McCain.