McCain: Clinton Caving to 'Fringe' Elements

RINDGE, N.H., Nov. 19, 2007 — -- Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain harshly criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton on the war in Iraq and U.S. policy toward Iran, and said she was caving in on both issues to "fringe" elements in her party.

In a speech Sunday night to about 150 students at Franklin Pierce College, McCain accused the Democratic front-runner of yielding to anti-war sentiment by backing a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and ignoring signs that the military troop surge is working.

"Sen. Clinton told Gen. [David] Petraeus that his confidence in his new strategy and in the ability of the troops he has the honor to command required 'a willing suspension of disbelief," McCain said, referencing a September exchange between Clinton and Petraeus.

"Now, it becomes clear that Gen. Petraeus was right. For the time being, Sen. Clinton has suspended her belief in the abundant evidence of success as her rivals and the fringe of her party pull her toward a position she knows is irresponsible."

He also criticized Clinton for proposing talks with Iranian officials about its nuclear program.

"We can make it very clear to Iran's leaders that we will not allow them to obtain weapons that would destabilize the entire Middle East and threaten America's most vital security interests," McCain said. "Sen. Clinton would start with unconditional negotiations, despite Iran's clear record of using negotiations to forestall sanctions and growing international opposition while they accelerate their nuclear program."

At the same time, the Arizona senator said Republican candidates should be more respectful when criticizing the New York senator. He said it was wrong to "degrade or ridicule" someone seeking national office. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has lately imitated Clinton in a mocking tone. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney frequently invokes her name on the stump, referring derisively to her health-care proposal as "Hillary Care" and sometimes facetiously likening her to Karl Marx.