Posted on 07/08/2008 6:28:29 PM PDT by mdittmar
U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who once sang in jest about bombing Iran, on Tuesday reacted to a report of rising U.S. cigarette exports to the country by saying it may be "a way of killing 'em."
McCain, known for acerbic comments and for sometimes firing verbally from the hip, was responding to a report that U.S. exports to Iran rose tenfold during President George W. Bush's term in office despite hostility between the two states.
A rise in cigarette sales was a big part of that, according to an Associated Press analysis of seven years of U.S. trade figures.
"Maybe that's a way of killing 'em," McCain said to reporters during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh. "I meant that as a joke, as a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 28 years, 29 years," he added, laughing.
He declined further comment on the report.
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.reuters.com ...
It was stupid, pointless, and (as a joke) exceedingly weak, demonstrating lack of common sense and judgment in a public campaign.
Do you RNC apologists ever get a clue?
It’s not so much the political correctness of it. It’s just a terrible joke.
McCain certainly has a different and untimely sense of humor.
McCain won’t throw a punch at B’roke. Why should we. McNitwit is a disgrace. I predict a campaign of love between two Liberal losers.
Musharrafs cooperation with the United States in the war on terror, an alliance that was forged on Sept. 11, 2001. At the time, Pakistan was one of a few countries supporting the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which harbored Osama bin Laden. The U.S. made it clear that that relationship would have to end, and Musharraf says the message was delivered by then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in the most undiplomatic terms.
“The Director of Intelligence told me that he said, ‘Be prepared to be bombed.’ Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age,” Musharraf remembers.
The line was actually kind of funny and I can picture Jay Leno
delivering it during his monologue. But it’s just such a stupid thing to say during a campaign simply for the sake of a cheap laugh.
It's also rather amusing . . . where are those FReepers now? Lambasting McCain for his use of words, probably.
> Well, its a time proven idea that sometimes is necessary. Note: the Mullahs have no qualms about exterminating every last one of us until we submit to allah.
Per my comment #40 above, you'll see that I support the idea that sometimes you have to kill a civilian population because of its insane leaders. I have respect for Gen. LeMay's actions in WWII.
McCain's comment was not along that line. It was not, "Regrettably we are forced to kill a lot of civilians to force the enemy to surrender and avoid invading the enemy country." If this were necessary in Iran (and BTW I think it may be), it might be defensible.
It was, instead, an indication of bored hatred.
The Mullahs do indeed hate us and wish us dead if not converted. But they're not my model of how to act, either.
I think it’s probably more subtle than that. FR is becoming more and more “third party”, although there really isn’t a third party, and it’s also becoming fiercely anti-Republican.
A significant portion of long-term Freepers supported Rudy Giuliani early on, and they were shown the door. Many others left in either some show of support or disgust. The rest of the crowd here cheered.
The “Bushbots” are gone, too.
I think the majority of those remaining are not really Obama supporters as they are those who want the Republicans lose, no matter what the cost. It may be a distinction without a difference, but that’s how I’m reading it.
That certainly does not apply to everyone here. I made a broad generalization. But the utter lack of pro-RNC threads here, unlike in past elections, supports my contention.
It was merely an impolite joke. Who says we need to be polite to our enemies? Frankly, I'm relieved when I hear our leaders talk harshly, crudely, or even down right mean and vicious, even, about our enemies. It makes me think we may actually be in it to win it...unlike that vietnam fiasco 40 years ago.
PC crap is killing us. So slap yourself and snap out of it. Either get tough or get out of the way.
The best way to minimize casualties on our side is with overwhelming force. Overwhelming force starts with ATTITUDE. McCain has that attitude. And I am thanking the stars above he does. Frankly, it's about the only redeeming quality about him. And here you and other pansies sit criticizing him for his only positive trait.
bomb bomb bomb...bomb bomb iran. BOMB BOMB BOMB...BOMB BOMB IRAN. Bomb IRA-A-AN...I love that song.
Tom Hanks in “A League of Their Own”: “There’s no crying in Baseball!
Evidently there’s no humor in Politics, either.
What the heck are you ranting about ?
Louisiana Total: $117.6 million Top export: Corn
We're feeding them?
I’m talking about your post 19, you McCain pest. :)
Remember to tax them before shipping them to Iran.
For the children!
It’s still not a very bright thing to say when so many Americans have lost a loved one because of smoking.
Why irritate people needlessly?
He should measure his words A LITTLE BIT now that he’s in the spotlight.
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