Rachael Maddow on John McCain
"Countdown"
8:03pm
TOPIC: McBush
TRANSCRIPT:
RACHAEL MADDOW: Part of the McCain campaign strategy for victory in November is making seem as if he never, not once, supported the Bush administration's failed strategy in Iraq . . .
JOHN MCCAIN: You know, over the last year Sen. Obama and I were part of a great debate about the war in Iraq. Both of us agreed that the Bush administration had pursued a failed policy there and we had to change course.
RACHAEL MADDOW: McCain might be learning how to use the internets but how the internets can be used against him must still be on his "to-figure-out-list." The wonders of the google and the blogosphere have provided a long list of examples where McCain and Bush have appeared to be one and McSame in the war in Iraq. Our list, by no means the definitive and complete edition, working backwards, we begin in March, when on Mike Gallagher's talk radio show where McCain said, quote, "No one has supported Bush on Iraq more than I have." Then in February, when he was endorsed by Bush 41 and asked by our correspondent, Kelly O'Donnell, about the backing of that other, less popular, President Bush, McCain claimed some policy differences with the current president, but decidedly, definitely not on Iraq.
JOHN MCCAIN: As any president that follows, one has different views on particularly specific issues but I am proud of the president's strategy in Iraq. It is succeeding.
MADDOW: In the summer of 2006, when Iraq was in the midst of a civil war, McCain still had every confidence in the president.
DAIVD GREGORY: Do you have confidence in the president and his national security team to lead the war at this stage?
JOHN MCCAIN: I do. I do. I have confidence in the president and I believe that he is well aware of the situation.
GREGORY: Despite all the misjudgments you think have been made?
MCCAIN: Yes.
MADDOW: In June of 2005, when Tim Russert tried to give McCain a chance to distance himself from president Bush and his war in Iraq, McCain wouldn't take that chance.
TIM RUSSERT: The fact is, you are different from George Bush?
MCCAIN: No, no. The fact is that I am different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I have been totally in agreement and support of President Bush. My support for President Bush has been active and very impassioned on issues that are important to the American people. And I am particularly talking about the war on terror, the war in Iraq, national security, national defense, support of men and women in the military, physical discipline, a number of other issues. So I strongly disagree with any assertion that I've been more at odds with the President of the United States than I have been in agreement with him.
MADDOW: At the Republican convention, four years ago this summer, McCain admired the president as much as every and believed in his mission in Iraq as strongly as ever.
MCCAIN: I believe as strongly today as ever the mission was necessary, achievable and noble. [applause] For his determination to undertake it and his unflagging resolve to see it through to a just end, President Bush deserves not only our support but our admiration. [applause]
MADDOW: At last, but certainly not least, in the conflict's early weeks, the same man who now cannot tell the difference between Sunni and Shia, believed they had a peaceful history of coexistence that would continue.
MCCAIN: There is not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias, so I think they can probably get along.
Clip Label: RM JM MSNBC 07-15-08 20.03 (EW#344) SUBb
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Olbermann makes David Frum worst personby bloggr1086,832 views
I'm sure that breaks not only Rachel and Keith's hearts, but also that of GE.
integral 2 years ago
I'm just glade McCain is not the president. having him in office means that Sara Palin would be the vice President. She is a bible thumping bimbo that really dosen't need to be running our army.
Leeroy002 3 years ago
Don't buy General Electric products! Seems like GE doesn't think they can be hurt by the general public because of their blatant,obvious McCain and Palin bashing. Programs like this Maddow garbage and Keith Overbite will come back to haunt them. I won't even buy a GE lightbulb any longer.
GGuy121 3 years ago