Posted on 02/26/2008 11:37:45 AM PST by indcons
CINCINNATI (AP) — Republican John McCain quickly denounced the comments of a radio talk show host who while warming up a campaign crowd referred repeatedly to Barack Hussein Obama and called the Democrat a "hack, Chicago-style" politician.
Hussein is Obama's middle name, but talk show host Bill Cunningham used it three times as he addressed the crowd before the likely Republican nominee's appearance.
"Now we have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you're going to have in your pocket is change," Cunningham said as the audience roared.
The time will come, Cunningham added, when the media will "peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama" and tell the truth about his relationship with indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko and how Obama got "sweetheart deals" in Chicago.
McCain wasn't on stage nor in the building when Cunningham made the comments, but he quickly distanced himself from them and the talk show host after finishing his speech. McCain spoke to a couple hundred people at Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati.
"I apologize for it," McCain told reporters, addressing the issue before they had a chance to ask the Arizona senator about Cunningham's comments.
"I did not know about these remarks but I take responsibility for them. I repudiate them," he said. "My entire campaign I have treated Senator Obama and Senator (Hillary Rodham) Clinton with respect. I will continue to do that throughout this campaign.
McCain called both Democrats "honorable Americans" and said "I want to dissociate myself with any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them."
Asked whether the use of Obama's middle name — the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — is proper, McCain said: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."
McCain said he didn't know who decided to allow Cunningham to speak but said he was sure it was in coordination with his campaign. He said he didn't hear the comments and has never met Cunningham, but "I will certainly make sure that nothing like that happens again.
So let me understand this...McCain acts like a Gentleman...and you add a “barf alert”....nice........
From the article: “Now we have a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you’re going to have in your pocket is change,” Cunningham said as the audience roared.”
“[McCain] said he didn’t hear the comments and has never met Cunningham, but ‘I will certainly make sure that nothing like that happens again.’”
When McCain doesn’t even want people to refer to Obama’s socialist policies, I wonder what chance the RINO senator has in the General.
He has class, Cunningham does not.
Clever!
Now we know what a tough campaign McPain is going to wage. By October, he'll be apologizing for being white, and for having gone to Vietnam.
That Club of 100 really is a club.
Fer crying out loud it IS his middle name. How can it possibly be disparaging??
Isn't that his middle name???
Isn't he PROUD of his name???
Isn't he proud of his muslim heritage??
Why doesn't he FLAUNT that picture?
Why doesn't he FLAUNT his middle name???
McCain's apologist comments were pathetic on this one.
Exactly - what chance does McCain have when he doesn’t even want to address the truth about Hussein Obama. Looks like the senator is “reaching across the aisle again.”
Playing the "gentleman" never got Bush anywhere. That is the problem with the repubs, they want it both ways! Can't happen.
To defeat the Dems, we have to be as dirty as they are, the nicey, nice does not work!
Very bad move, McCain.
this is quite genius...by disavowing the fact Cunningham continually used his middle name...he’s calling attention to the fact of his name.
Sadly, this is probably all too close to the truth. And it does not bode well for November.....
Bullseye. If you want to take the high road you don't invite Bill Cunningham. He's not quite Michael Savage, but Bill will still find the edge of good taste and then run right past it. (even more so when he had the 9pm-midnight show.)
THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?
It is kind of smarmy of him.. he does not have to apologize for everyone else...
“If you want to take the high road you don’t invite Bill Cunningham.”
I don’t understand this comment. Cunningham called B Hussein Obama by his middle name and spoke about his socialist policies. What’s wrong with either?
Gentleman? I suppose we must have interpreted this differently. To me it read like some centrist sycophant kissing a Neo-Marxists a$$ and making a conservative feel foolish in the process.
I suppose the tirades and f-bombs are reserved for Conservative and Republicans.
No thanks, I like my President to have a spine.
I just called his campaign office to express my disgust with McCain not forcing Hussein to defend his Muslim name. Here is the number, let’s get it going.
703-418-2008
Thank you
B
U
M
P
It is ridiculous to claim that using a persons own legal middle name is disparaging. McCain is right to back away from lies, wrong to call a truth disparaging. Truth is truth. We should never run from it. Negative statements that are true also should not be repudiated. You can debate the truth or error of the statements, but to say nothing negative should be said is to very often make yourself truth’s enemy.
“Asked whether the use of Obama’s middle name — the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — is proper, McCain said: “No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate.””
So the name “Hussein” is disparaging?
Okay. While you're apologizing, how about one for Feingold-McCain too?
How about apologizing for being a memeber of the 'Gang of 14' and blocking Bush's appointees?
How about apologizing for Kennedy-McCain Bill?
The barf-alert is appropriate.
Cunningham does not need to apologize
However, C-ham needs to show some stones and start blasting McCain on his show. Real conservatives do not pander to McCain. Sunday nite should be interesting
Except for the few McCainiacs....John SIDNEY McCain made a freakin fool out of himself. He has no intention of bringing in conservatives.....
I am not going to let my strong dislike of McCain lead me to do something (not voting for him) that will quite possibly get me and my family killed (having Obama-nation as C-in-C).
My new tagline.....
Bill Cunningham has a face for radio.
McCain is an honorable man- I wish he weren’t so much in love with illegal aliens, but I agree with him that the name that a candidate’s parents gave him at birth should not be part of the political discourse. Apparently, most here disagree, but class and honor are not determined by a majority vote.
McCain is a sissified Democrat, soon he will be begging for a VP slot with his messiah Hussein.
Not at all, you are free to do whatever you please
Probably not a great idea. What would you like McCain to do? If Obama is the candidate, there will be plenty of that going around anyway.
In the meantime we can let the Hildebeast throw all the mud she can for us.
“Playing the “gentleman” never got Bush anywhere. “
I have to disagree as GWB was elected to the Office of President twice. Should McCain seem like like he’s snarking Obama it just looks petty. There are real issues to hit Obama with. That said I hope the blogs continue to give Obama as much hell as they can, since they’re not running for public office or bound by Queensbury type rules.
Aw gee, no more “W?” ;)
GWB
Why avoid mentioning Obama’s middle name? And McCain apologized? McCain is a walking time bomb.
MCCain should have said nothing at all. If Obama is ashamed of his name that’s his problem, but our candidate should not tell everyone that it’s insulting to Obama for his opponents to use his middle name.
Maybe we can get NPR to open up for McCain at his stops from now on. They are more his speed.
I just think politically, it was a bad idea for Barack Obama to keep his surname and middle name. After all his father abandoned the family at 2. If Obama used his mother’s maiden name DUNHAM, he would not be getting this kid of criticism as a Barry Dunham.
Even Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV. He changed his name even though his stepfather, Roger Clinton Sr., was a drunk. Clinton never knew his natural father, and neither did Obama, so why would Obama keep a name that could cause repercussions if he wanted to go into politics?
He’s just saying that because his middle name is “Tinkerbelle,” and he’s a bit sensitive.
BTW... it’s ungentlemanly to use Obama’s middle name? Is that like Hillary making him wear that little Somali costume?
Poor little victim.
Willie is good for a rant. His might even be the proper tactic when dealing with the Clintons, but going after Obama requires different tactics.
Barak didn't name himself. If he had changed his name to it, then it might be a valid point. Now pointing out his socialist policies is more than fair game and should have been the focus instead of repeating Barak Hussein Obama. Even pointing out his connections to the Daley Crimo-political family I think is fair game. If Obama has had close relations to Saudi money I would go after that. But he had no control over what he was named. Going after than will just get the press to jump on McCain to the exclusion of anything relevant he had to say.
Come on John, you brought the brass knuckles out for Mitt, why not for Hussein.
No need for it. Just beat him on his Marxist policies. If that doesn't do it...nothing will.
Gives an idea of the pathetic kind of campaign McCain is planning to run. Looks like he has his marching orders from Soros et.al. - Don’t make waves, go through the motions, but don’t REALLY campaign since Obama will be the next President.
Like I said in other posts, Obama, when he wanted to go into politics, should have changed his name to his mother’s more “American sounding” name DUNHAM. People tend to be weary of non European sounding names in the voting booth. It is wrong, but it is something people do subconsciously. Nobody would be bothering a Barry Dunham about his Muslim past.
Lame Street Republican Juan McCain apologizing for the truth again. I can’t wait until some leftist is offended that McCain finds Obama’s middle name “disparaging” when uttered in public and then demands an apology for the apology.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.