DNC Hammering McCain on “Not Too Important” Comments
EmailDNC Chair Howard Dean is now getting into the act of jumping on McCain’s "not too important" comment from this morning, though he’s avoiding the "confused" language and sticking with the more safe "stubborn."
"Senator McCain is wrong," Dean said in a statement. "One of the most important questions in this campaign is when and how Senator McCain would bring our troops home from Iraq. Senator McCain stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that the American people do not want our brave troops in Iraq for 100 years under any circumstances. They want a president who will end the war responsibly."
And of course the DNC has released a web video called "Not Too Important," which combines the new comment with McCain’s "100 years" remark.
You can watch the new DNC ad HERE.
In both instances, McCain says that what’s important to him is not whether or not US troops are physically in Iraq but whether or not they’re being harmed.
And in both instances the DNC somehow clips off the last part of that sentence.
- jpt
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
ANYBODY BUT OBAMA!
NO OBAMA — HE HAS BASED HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON LIES. THE DNC AND BIASED MEDIA HID THE TRUTH FROM AMERICANS UNTIL AFTER OVER HALF OF AMERICANS HAD VOTED.
BARACK AND MICHELLE ARE RACIST ANTI-AMERICANS. READ HIS BOOK. READ HER COLLEGE THESIS.
I BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS AND THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES HAVE FORCED OBAMA DOWN OUR THROATS. MOST OF MY FRIENDS FEEL THE SAME WAY.
AMERICANS NEED TO REPLACE ALL THE DEMOCRATICS IN CONGRESS WHO DID NOT LISTEN TO US — THEY STOLE THIS ELECTION.
HOW MUCH MONEY DID OBAMA PAY DELEGATES? WE NEED AN ACCOUNTING.
THE PEOPLE DEMAND “ELECTED” — NOT “SELECTED”!
Posted by: kerry | June 11, 2008, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
I can’t imagine 5 more months of this. I’m sick of it already.
Posted by: Kris | June 11, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
McCain has to be careful of what he says. He sent our kids to the heated desert and now he is saying its not important they come back home!!
Count out my vote Republicans!
Posted by: Peace | June 11, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Since when was having an EXIT-STRATEGY not too important?
Posted by: Colin | June 11, 2008, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
MCCAIN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT OUR TROOPS HE DOESNT EVEN WANT TO SUPPORT THEM I DONT TRUST HIM HE IS A LYING FLIP FLOPPER I FEEL HE WOULD BE VERY BAD FOR THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH JUST LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY WE HAVE LOST RESPECT FROM ALL OTHER COUNTRIES OUR HOMES HAVE NO VALUE ANYMORE I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU PEOPLE BUT ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE AND NOT THE MCCAIN CHANGE!!!!
Posted by: angie | June 11, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
The question I have is why did all the troops VOLUNTEER to go into the national guard to go to Iraq?
Obama goofs make it sound like they were drafted.
If you dont want to go to Iraq, dont sighn up to go.
Posted by: tomdavie | June 11, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Jake,
Democrats do, in fact, use the “not being harmed” part on other occasions. But this is EXACTLY the point McCain seems not to understand.
We are stuck in the middle of a 1400 yr old civil war. Bin Laden himself used the Saudis permission for US bases as a reason to attack us. The very fact we are in their lands is what allows the propaganda to continue.
Posted by: Henry in NYC | June 11, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
tomdavie…
What do you call a “volunteer?”
Have you not heard of the stop loss program? Have you not heard of the military retirements that have been denied in record numbers?
Have you heard the State Dept is forcing their employees to serve in Iraq?
Please read a newspaper.
Posted by: Henry in NYC | June 11, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm
What a ridiculous comment by McCain. Trust me, it may not matter to him when they come home, but thousands of American families care when the soldiers come home.
How can one man disrespect the soldiers and families with a comment like that, unintentional or not?
Posted by: Politivine | June 11, 2008, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Dean must resign.
Posted by: Bridget | June 11, 2008, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
Obama does not even have a clear withdrawal date for Iraq.
First it was 6 months. Then he wouldn’t commit to a year. Now he is saying 18 months.
This same Susan Rice also stated in an interview, “He (Obama) cannot be held to a specific withdrawal date”. His own adviser.
Obama has not even been to Iraq. Go figure.
Obama had not even met with Generals in Iraq.
Posted by: The Oracle in MD | June 11, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
What a dumb comment by McCain but I actually think that he is stating his TRUE feelings. He doesn’t care if we are in Iraq for 100 years as long as their are no casualties.
The problem with this is that we are spending BILLIONS of dollars to keep our troops there and it is making us LESS safe. Also, we don’t have the troop force to stay in Iraq indefinitely. Our military is overburdened right now.
Posted by: stacey | June 11, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
What a dumb comment by McCain but I actually think that he is stating his TRUE feelings. He doesn’t care if we are in Iraq for 100 years as long as their are no casualties.
The problem with this is that we are spending BILLIONS of dollars to keep our troops there and it is making us LESS safe. Also, we don’t have the troop force to stay in Iraq indefinitely. Our military is overburdened right now.
Posted by: stacey | June 11, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
THE ORCALE IN MD YOU REALLY DONT FOLLOW NEWS DO YOU WELL IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN MCCAIN WANTED OBAMA TO GO TO IRAQ WITH HIM IT WAS POINTED OUT BY THE MEDIA AS WELL AS MCCAIN OBAMA DID GO TO IRAQ IN 2006 SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR INPUT!!!
Posted by: angie | June 11, 2008, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Just keep the camera on McCain and he will defeat himself.
Posted by: patriot | June 11, 2008, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Obama hajacked DNC continuously misled Americans by twisting out of text….
DNC and Onams, please don’t embarrass yourself again on national security…You have no clue how to deal with War and defend our country… Talk something else you are really good at!!!
Posted by: True Truth | June 11, 2008, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
McCain’s 19 year old son just came back from Iraq. No one cares about the troops as much as McCain.
Once again he is being taken out of context.
McCain was saying it was the casualties that matter.
McCain has visited walter reed dozens of times that gets no press.
McCain used to take Imus there all the time.
McCain has dozes of times had lunch with his son at the navy academy and his friends in annapolis.
The media never talks how his 19 year old son just came back from Iraq.
Posted by: david | June 11, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
Seems to me that anyone serving in Iraq is in grave danger of being harmed or killed. Our military hospitals and cemeteries of full of wounded and dead soldiers. How could they be there and not be in harm’s way?
Posted by: louielouie | June 11, 2008, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
stacey McCain said he will turn over the ares to the iraqis and bring our troops home and let the iraqis deal with the insurgency.
McCain hates war.
He voted against troops staying in Lebanon.
Obama lies about war. He says he will end the war in 16 months. Then he says end of 2009 is 16 months when it isn’t.
Obama then lies and says he will end the war.
Then he says he will keep troops at the embassy and going after al queda.
Obama is a liar.
Obama brags about war with pakistan.
Obama never served our country.
McCain served our country.
Posted by: david | June 11, 2008, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
Warmonger John McCain: “Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran”.
Posted by: True Blue Dem | June 11, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
The DNC are really on top of things! That is what I like to see!
Posted by: Politivine | June 11, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
The DNC is not taking the comments out of context as the last sentence here seems to suggest, and as the McCain campaign would like us all to believe. Just as they cowed the media into believing that “100 years” was taken out of context, they are in overdrive doing the same here.
The fact is McCain’s complete comments, here and elsewhere, represent what most Americans view as a failed and dangerous military policy, a wildly inaccurate historical equation with Germany and Japan, and a callous indifference to the struggles of our working military families. No surprise coming from a multi-millionaire Admiral’s son.
Posted by: wtm | June 11, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
McCain supports the imperaial occupation of a country that was no threat to the United States. A preposterous position to take. 2/3rds of the country want our troops home and John McCain states uneqivocally more than once that bringing our troops home is not important. What’s important is we occupy the country without sustaing casualities. Pathetic Anti-American position. No wonder the world despises us. And McCain wants to attack and occupy Iran next.
Posted by: True Blue Dem | June 11, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Do you want to put another confused warmonger in the White House? Neither do I.
Posted by: Jim | June 11, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
How interesting that the only one who has a personal vested interest in getting the troops out is being assailed by those who have interest in nothing except themselves. Can anyone tell me why these people are not bakc at work in Congress?
Think my boss would mind if I spent my time and his money in front of microphones. What a bunch of hypocrites and they dare to call over government workers to task for their work.
Posted by: Robert | June 11, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Jim Johnson has resigned from the Obama camapign.
And another corrupt crony of Obama bites the dust.
Obama: “Jim Johnson is not the Jim Johnson I knew.”
LOL!
Posted by: USVet | June 11, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Before the election is over expect to hear
That is not the Pastor Meeks I know.
That is not the Michelle Obama I know.
That is not the me I know.
Posted by: geevill | June 11, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
As long as the camera stays on McCain, he will surely defeat himself in this election.
Posted by: Politivine | June 11, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Obama can just sit back and watch his entire campaign implode.
Then he can say that none of them actually worked for him, and its not the same campaign he used to know.
Posted by: tomdavie | June 11, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
McCain is spot on. He is merely saying, let’s get the job done and go home…casualties are what matters, not presence. Even the French have admitted a lot of progress with regard to security in Iraq-we are close to stability, why quit now and risk a victory for the insurgents?
Obama has stated that he would leave some presence in Iraq, and would likely be informed on winning the presidency that it would be insanity to abandon the fledgling nation altogether. So what’s the damage?
Obamanauts, Obama has already backpedaled on withdrawal, remember? I was at the dem caucus and Obama “yes we canners” were saying that Obama was out of there in 120 days after taking office. Now that’s change…of position. McCain is consistent, sorry.
Posted by: Wade | June 11, 2008, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Senator Obama claims he is running a new kind of campaign and condemns the politics of personal destruction. Sadly, it is just rhetoric. He and the other Democrats intentionally misinterpret what Senator McCain says in order to launch unjustified political attacks.
Obama claims to be a new kind of political leader, but he is just an old-style politician with good writing.
Posted by: Hugh | June 11, 2008, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
The U.S. should leave Iraq in one year and begin pulling out immediately. Iraqis have tons money that they are not investing in their own infrastructure and cannot even agree on how to run their government. This is why the U.S. stayed away from nation building in the past. Now we are immersed in it. Enough is enough! No more dollars to Iraq and certainly no more lives…America has invested enough. This is not about winning/losing as some try to frame this. This should be about ending the absurdity of this war and the drain on America. It’s more past the time for Iraqis to invest in their country and for their government to take its lumps without our propping them up….And McCain wants to continue a presence indefinitely? Give me a break!
Posted by: indy_voter | June 11, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
I wouldn’t worry too much about another Dean “SCREAM.” Most Americans consider Howard Dean a nut case. His deceitful attempt at smearing an American hero is disgusting. It is sickening!
Posted by: bebe | June 11, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Dean is correct in his assertion. McCain needs to listen to the Ron Paul base of his party to understand where an overwhelming majority of Americans now stand. The troops have given the most money to the Paul campaign as well. McCain, listen to the civilian populace and the troops. If you and Bush want to invade Iran do it by yourselves. Many Americans would gladly buy your tickets!
Posted by: Huh | June 11, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
My friends, (creepy smile), my opponent doesn’t deserve your vote, (creepy smile), because blah, blah, blah, my friends, (creepy smile).
You couldn’t find a Hollywood actor that is creepy and old enough to play McCain in a made for TV movie. He’s frightening and boring. As a TV pundit described, he delivers his speeches like Frankenstein on barbiturates.
Posted by: Tim | June 11, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
Huh – I am laughing at your comment. It is awesome. I would love to see McCain and Bush storming the Iranian beaches.
Posted by: Ben Straub | June 11, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
This is gutter politics at its worst. The truth of what McCain said is easily proven. The Republicans won’t let them get away with this – plus it will help fire up the Rep base who isn’t crazy about McCain but will want to stop Obama, Dean, and the Dems at all costs.
Posted by: HoosierSue | June 11, 2008, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
For McCain, evidently the lives of American troops as well as the lives of innocent civilians in Iraq are not too important to you.
John, just try to tell their families that the lives of those whom you and your predecessor are sacrificing every day are not important.
Yes, we know your name, John. We read about you often enough. But you know what, John, your comment shows that you are not very important at all. No, not important indeed.
So, people should not vote for you.
Why?
With that attitude, you are not really important enough to be President of the United States.
: – (
Posted by: Robert Campbell | June 11, 2008, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
Jelly Bean Dean can have a tantrum, that what he’s good at. John McCain will take care of the troops.
Posted by: Anders Scooper | June 11, 2008, 7:31 pm 7:31 pm
It will be many years before Obama pulls all the troops out of Iraq, if then, but Obama will not tell the people that.
Posted by: Anders Scooper | June 11, 2008, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
John McCain is just being honest about Iraq.
Posted by: Anders Scooper | June 11, 2008, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
Best quote of the day from 236dotcom: “Lie to them, John. Tell them you agree that they should one day be allowed to reside in the country they’re fighting for again.”
I guess his 5 years in Vietnam felt like 100 so who cares? As long as the troops don’t die.
Posted by: cincyr | June 11, 2008, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
McCain’s reality construct is worse than Bush’s, at least Bush can claim that he couldn’t have predicted the outcome.
Posted by: nmben | June 12, 2008, 12:17 am 12:17 am
What Middle Eastern Fairyland where American forces would not take casualties are McCain and Lieberman talking about?
Would some one ask the honorable Senators Lieberman and McCain what their end-game in Iraq is?
The point about the surge was to give a security space in which the Iraqis can reach a political settlement. NOTHING has happened in that front. The ONLY political settlement in the horizon is the ascendancy of Mukta al Sadr, the Shia cleric. If the current Administration venture into Iraq was ignorant, its continuations is pure stupidity.
Mr. McCain saying that “it does not matter how long our troops stay there” and then trying to qualify it by saying that as long as they don’t take causalities is trying to create a parallel universe that will never exist. Our soldiers are dying and will never occupy any part of the Middle East without taking causalities – they will never look at the United States as a friendly occupier. The Middle East is not Japan or Germany. McCain’s reality construct is worse than Bush’s, at least Bush can claim that he couldn’t have predicted the outcome.
Why can’t the so called journalist ask the guy a simple follow up question: shouldn’t we start with the reality of the situation? We are an occupying force in Iraq. We are not an occupying force in Korea, Japan or Germany.
Posted by: nmben | June 12, 2008, 12:21 am 12:21 am
Now DNC start to come out and work very hard , they are afraid the candidate they selected would lose in the GE.
Posted by: catleya | June 12, 2008, 12:35 am 12:35 am
”
My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join with me as we try to change it.” (Obamas speech)
Posted by: questioner | June 12, 2008, 12:47 am 12:47 am
So Queen Obama – let them eat cake!!!
Posted by: spock | June 12, 2008, 10:36 am 10:36 am
THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS IN YEARS: THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAS DECIDED THAT THE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO TEST THEIR CONFINEMENT BY FILING A PETITION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. ONE STEP TO RESTORE THE CONSTITUTION.
Posted by: rhbate | June 12, 2008, 10:42 am 10:42 am
McCain hates war.
Posted by: david | Jun 11, 2008 3:00:40 PM
_____________________
Yeah, right. His grandfather, his father were both in the military, he was in the military, his sons are in the military. I think he loves war.
Posted by: rhbate | June 12, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am
IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY,
IF YOULIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR,
IF LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES,
IF LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH,
IF YOU CAN’T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN,
IF YOU LIKE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT,
IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF ROE V. WADE.
IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT SEND JOBS AND TECHNOLOGY OVERSEAS,
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT PRACTICES TORTURE,
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPIES ON ITS OWN CITIZEN,
IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU’LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.
Posted by: rhbate | June 12, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Why yes, McCain, it *is* important when those troops come home even if nobody is being killed! The occupation is costing America $10 billion a month in raw expenses, not counting all the costly veteren care that needs to be provided when the troops come home.
Posted by: Falcon | June 12, 2008, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
I think even if you accept your premise Jake, of what Mccain is saying, it still reflects an attitude that says Mccain is more concerned with preserving the legacy of the Republican party by making the occupation work than he is with the costs of said occupation. I think most Americans have concluded that the price tag, in blood and treasure, is too high.
Mccain IS being stubborn. Four years ago he said a permanent occupation in Iraq wouldn’t work. He’s taking this stance now because he doesn’t want the country and his party to be seen as losing.
Not to mention the fact that the neocons want permanent bases not to encourage stability but to encourage INSTABILITY. They want the war to spread.
Posted by: Brad | June 13, 2008, 4:50 am 4:50 am