McCain Criticizes Boehner Line: "He Ought To Retract It"
Okay, we have our first Republican criticizing GOP House leader John Boehner for saying that troop deaths in Iraq are a "small price" to pay for defeating Al Qaeda.
Time magazine's Ana Marie Cox reports the following from McCain's bus:
On the bus, McCain responded to John Boehner's remark that American lives were a "small price" to pay for a victory in Iraq.Asked about it on the heels of his demanding that Democratic candidates "repudiate" the MoveOn.org Petreaus/Betray Us ad, he grimaced: "He misspoke. With all due respect, every American wounded or sacrificed is the greatest possible price to pay," and we should all be grateful, "particularly those of us who sit in relative safety while those young men and women are fighting."
McCain does go on to say that the Petraeus ad is worse than what Boehner said, but nonetheless, McCain's reference to "those of us who sit in relative safety" seems like a pretty harsh dig at Boehner -- criticism that it will be hard to ignore. What's more, Boehner's spokesman isn't conceding that he "misspoke" -- indeed, he's defending the remark. McCain, meanwhile, says he in fact "misspoke," and implied strongly that Boehner was minimizing the sacrifice our troops are making.
Okay, so now that the respected and serious John McCain has faulted Boehner's remark, can we call it a gaffe yet? Will the big news orgs step up and cover this story in a serious way?
Late Update: Ana Marie Cox emails me to say that McCain also said the following (which she didn't include in her initial report): "He ought to retract it."
I've updated headline to reflect this. So now respected veteran and Republican John McCain has called on Boehner to retract this remark.
Comments (13)
Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 14, 2007 11:58 AM:The MoveOn ad was 'worse' cuz it was an example of free speech and the Boner is a self-serving right-wing thug who should be defending the troops who are defending his right to bloviate . . .
Kinda Orwellian . . . ya think?
Dalloway wrote on September 14, 2007 12:03 PM:So why doesn't MoveOn put Mr. Boner in an ad? That'd serve him right. Instead of shooting the messenger, as they did with Petraeus, they'd be putting the blame where it belongs, on Bush's GOP enablers.
barry wrote on September 14, 2007 12:04 PM:Will the big news orgs step up and cover this story in a serious way?
No.
Richard wrote on September 14, 2007 12:08 PM:It is not a position of "relative safety" that Mr. Boehner sits in. It one of absolute, air conditioned, 4 star restaurant, Limousine safety that he enjoys. And, may I ask.....what the hell does Misspoke mean?
anonymous wrote on September 14, 2007 12:20 PM:It is of course not worse than the MoveOn add because the statement came from a government official not a private party.
BTW, although he criticized them, did McCain sponsor a congressional resolution to condemn the SwiftBoat ads?
Anonymous wrote on September 14, 2007 12:36 PM:"What the hell does Misspoke mean" ?
It's Republiscum for "he got caught in a lie"
Michael Caine wrote on September 14, 2007 12:42 PM:As I posted in Biden's call for an apology thread. House Democrats should put forth a resolution condemning Boehner for his statement. While doing so they should (semi-laughing so the sarcasm is apparent) openly announce it as a tit-for-tat motion. Then after they all vote it down, call on the Republicans to stop Politicizing the troops and actually address the necessity of how do we get our soldiers out of the crossfire in Iraq.
qarhane wrote on September 14, 2007 12:43 PM:Maybe Americans could come to adopt a convention that all the soldiers were brave, every one of them, on every side, in every stupid war. Then they could perhaps have an end to this witless crap about which soldiers were brave and what politician has failed to recognize it, in suitable terms, and all the rest of that absolutely sickening and fraudulent pretence that does not seem to reach as far as ensuring good medical care of the brave soldiers.
They might even get around to discussing who it was that told them they were entitled to rule the world and whether what they have done to date in Iraq is supposed to be a model of their style. If it is, they might retire after a lengthy record or pointless bloodshed and endless incompetence.
Norma wrote on September 14, 2007 12:47 PM:About the Moveon ad, they paid for it, unlike those Republicans in 2004 who marched around with those purple hearts pasted on their fat faces, did anyone in the media say what a gross attack that was on a real hero, they got tons of free advertisment for their stupidity. I am so really tired of our media and silly Republicans. Norma
Toney wrote on September 14, 2007 6:24 PM:If the democrats go on to loose the next election, the root cause will be the callous and stupid ad from moveon. Who the hell is the guy that made up such a stupid ad that all the canidates have to kiss his ass and not call it for what it was; a stupid ad.
Mark F wrote on September 14, 2007 6:38 PM:I saw McCain last night on Larry King. He was wearing this adorable little blue and white checked farmer shirt (I'll assume he was in some farm state). He looked EXACTLY like the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz.
db wrote on September 14, 2007 8:31 PM:He did not misspeak.
Sending thousands and thousands and thousands of other people's kids to their deaths in Iraq is indeed a small price to pay for the enormous profits this war has brought to the GOP donor-class. In fact, it did not cost them a dime. They made out like bandits.
With the three tax cuts in place for the rich and super rich, how could they ever complain?
db wrote on September 14, 2007 8:35 PM:"If the democrats go on to loose the next election, the root cause will be the callous and stupid ad from moveon. Who the hell is the guy that made up such a stupid ad that all the canidates have to kiss his ass and not call it for what it was; a stupid ad."
I thought it was a great ad. The asshole did betray us. The ad, including the headline, was entirely truthful.
How can you be so stupid that you think it is wrong to tell the truth? And the louder the wingnuts scream, the more truthful the source of their angst.
