John McCain's Friends

Even though the Republican Party is going to great lengths to not appear racist or sexist, it is very hard to suppress your true feelings and core values...

...as you will see over the flip!

http://blog.cleveland.com/...

On the day the Democrats are set to slug it out in Cleveland, a conservative radio host fired some haymakers before an appearance by Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain.

In the GOP stronghold of Cincinnati, right-wing radio host Bill Cunningham whipped up a crowd of more than 300 supporters by using Barack Obama's middle name often, ripping Hillary Clinton as a first lady and referring to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as an "ugly, old woman."

Some people cheered, while others sat shocked.

Well, now!!!  John McCain sure has some passionate friends!

Every time John McCain repeatedly says, "My friends", let's make sure we let the world know exactly what kind of friends John McCain keeps!

Maybe John McCain should find some new friends!!!

•  McCain once told a terribly offensive joke

  to a Republican fundraiser in Arizona in the 1990's. It insulted the appearance of both (then teenaged) Chelsea Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno. After the Arizona Republic reported on it, McCain apologized. Still, any politician who would even consider publicly mocking the appearance of a teenaged girl must have some real issues.

  by Marinesquire on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 11:50:56 AM PDT

•  Now Saint McCain is denying any

  foreknowledge of approval of his "Barack Hussein Obama" chant.

  I think we all better get ready for the steady use of this theme on the fringes all year long.  I think Obama should turn it into a laugh line and use it in every speech, to defuse the issue.

  by Kevvboy on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 11:52:46 AM PDT

  •  Riiiiiiiiiiight!

    I have this bridge...

    by JeffW on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:52:59 PM PDT

•  McCain apologized for this: good for him

  New York Times is reporting that McCain apologized for this in a presser immediately after his appearance.  He said he hadn't heard Cunningham's use of Obama's middle name, but considers it inappropriate:

  "Whatever suggestion that was made that was any way disparaging to the integrity, character, honesty of either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton was wrong," he said, "I condemn it, and if I have any responsibility, I will take the responsibility, and I apologize for it."

  He called Mr. Obama a "man of integrity" and said he was someone he had come to know "pretty well and I admire."

  He also said that it was not appropriate to invoke Mr. Obama’s middle name in the course of the campaign.

  "I absolutely repudiate such comments," he said. "It will never happen again."

  You know, maybe I'm naive, but I believe McCain here.  I think he's perfectly willing to say that Obama's going to surrender in Iraq, but I am willing to believe that Muslim smears and questioning his honor will be off limits for McCain.  But this incident shows that some of his "allies" won't be so careful.  I hope McCain continues to distance himself from that stuff.

  by John R on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 11:54:22 AM PDT

  •  Yeah, McCain has some sense and some class

    That's why he's not a true conservative!

    by QuestionableSanity on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:04:30 PM PDT

  •  If mccain truly stands by...

    ...that statement there will probably be some serious discord between him and "his friends".
    A more likely scenario is, his surrogates use every foul trick in the book and the next day the straight shooter will do a press conference saying what bad boys they are, and he would NEVER endorse such tactics. Rinse and repeat.

    by carver on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:16:28 PM PDT

•  I saw the clip

  I thought many in the audience looked uncomfortable. That Cunningham guy was so far out of line, he's nothing less than a hatemonger.

  by OrdinaryGal on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 11:55:50 AM PDT

  •  Yes he is...

    ...but so are many Republicans... many of whom are John McCain's friends!

    by LordMike on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:03:57 PM PDT

•  Cunningham is an ass

  It's all about self-promotion with him. Whoever in the McCain camp didn't know that he was going to carry on like that ought to be fired.

  But Cunningham is correct about one thing: He needs to speak out against Obama and do whatever he can to stop him, because if Obama succeeds, he's the worst nightmare possible for the career prospects of media hate-mongerers on the far right.

  by QuestionableSanity on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:08:28 PM PDT

•  ABC News has posted video of rant and apology

  bill cunningham hate filled rant, here. (doesn't include the part where he trashed former Secretary of State Madeline Albright)

  McCain's apology, here.

  by aj4runner on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:15:22 PM PDT

•  You're only HIS friend if you appear before his

  committee and donate money to him.

  by polecat on Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:24:02 PM PDT