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PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Sen. John McCain reached out to veterans in New Hampshire on Monday, delivering a scathing critique of President Barack Obama's foreign policy while attempting to portray Republicans as the only party willing to compromise over the contentious issue of defense sequestration cuts.
McCain - the 2008 GOP presidential nominee - visited the Granite State to campaign for Mitt Romney and held town halls at three Veterans of Foreign War posts in the state he got to know well during his previous bids for the White House. A veteran himself, McCain said support from the men and women who served in the military will be vital for Romney to win here.
In each of the town halls, the Arizona Republican gave a harsh rebuttal to the foreign policy decisions made by the current administration. His most passionate argument centered around the recent attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya which took the lives of four Americans, including Libyan Ambassador Chris Stevens. U.S. officials such as Susan Rice, ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the attack as "a spontaneous reaction" to a video mocking the prophet Muhammad.
It's a characterization McCain called "disgraceful."
"This was a well-orchestrated attack. They had indirect fire, direct fire. And somehow there were reports that they knew where our ambassador was. That is not a spontaneous demonstration," McCain told a crowd gathered at the VFW post in Portsmouth. "That is wrong to tell the American people that it was. It's disgraceful to tell the American people that it was a spontaneous demonstration."
McCain was joined for part of the day by New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. The two have been part of a group of Republicans who have toured the country to warn about the dangers of automatic spending cuts to the defense budget, known as "sequestration." The cuts, which were agreed to by Congress and the White House last year as part of deficit-reduction plan, will take place unless Washington can agree to an alternative way to slash spending.
During a stop in Nashua, McCain called on the president to "invite us to the White House. We'll compromise. We'll prevent a devastating effect on our ability to defend this nation."
Later in the day McCain said Republicans are "willing to put everything on the table for the sake of our national security." But he said the president has been unwilling to negotiate and cited it as an example of Obama's failed leadership.
Much of McCain's energy on Monday was also aimed at defending Romney's foreign policy credentials, which have come under new scrutiny since the GOP nominee criticized the president's handling of attacks on American outposts in the Middle East. The former Massachusetts governor was viewed by some as trying to politicize an event which took U.S. lives. McCain defended Romney's statements, likening his world view to that of former President Ronald Reagan.
"When Ronald Reagan came out of governor of California, he wasn't the most versed in national security issues," McCain told a VFW crowd. "He had been a movie actor and governor of California. But he had the instincts. He spoke up for the oppressed ... Mitt Romney has those same instincts."
But it was not just Romney's foreign policy experience that McCain found himself defending. Throughout the day, he faced questions from conservatives worried about their prospects come November.
One voter asked -- given the country's bleak economic outlook -- why Romney isn’t leading in the polls. Another asked why the former Bain Capital CEO will not be more specific about his plans for the country.
McCain cited the contentious Republican primary where the Romney campaign had to endure an onslaught of negative attacks as part of the reason why the candidate is having such difficulty winning over voters. "I've never seen in modern times such vicious attacks," McCain said. "Bain Capital, allegations that he was quote, lying; even one person said he had committed a crime. There was a saturation. And so, it's regrettable."
When a woman said she worries Republicans will not be able to spread their message far enough to garner electoral success, McCain said, "I do, too."
The concern on display from voters today came in the wake of a Politico article citing in-fighting in the Romney campaign for recent blunders and missed opportunities at the Republican National Convention. It's a narrative McCain knows well; his unsuccessful 2008 run was plagued by similar stories.
"There's always some disagreements amongst campaigns, but you know, political folks need to write a story every day," McCain told NBC News after his Portsmouth town hall. "But look, these things are always there. We saw about dissension in the Obama campaign between Chicago and Washington. There's always those stories. Most Americans are not too concerned about it."
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Whenever I think of McCain on Foreign Policy, besides appreciating his military experience as a pilot and POW surival in Vietnam, I keep having this memory of him singing a song a few years ago which was either a Beach Boys or Jan and Dean early rock and roll tune with his own version something like "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran...bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran..." which replaced the strange words in the song I think were "bob bob bob, bob bob a ran.." or something. Sure all you 60's beach song lovers remember that. Sometimes I wonder if aging in the repub party brings on that quest for testosterone through tough guy BS shouting, or if they really want to see the Rapture/Armageddon/Apocolypse before they go.
I think the lyrics were "Bar, bar, bar - bar, Barbara Ann" from a Beach Boys song of the same title.
After choosing palin the worst blunder of his campaign you have no credibility just go away any advice from you is worthless.
correctomundo!! Choosing Palin/Mama Sow Grizzly (bear moms are sows like in pig terminology) was the ultimate Brain Fart.
Taking foreign policy advice from "Bomb, bomb Iran" McCain is like taking seamanship advice from the captain of the Titanic.
Who helped him buy those 7 or whatever number of homes he lives in (don't think they were rentals) but forgot how many since he could not keep track - the miltary industrial complex?
Another loser speaks! The only thing McCain is for is war!
You reminded me of a warning to all democrats and advesaries of the GOP - they are like a wounded animal, have been since 2006 Bush/Cheney years....nothing is more dangerous than a wounded animal. If you read a lot of Outdoor Life or other hunting magazines growing up, you know this already.
ALL, of the republicans remarks, about Obama, is based on soooooo many lies, it unbelievable. The republican do nothing congress, stopped any and all pregrams, that would have pulled this country ouy of this depression, Yes depression of 90% of america. We wasted billions of dollars fighting, two wars, and at the same time reconstructing, these country, by GW Bush. While all this was going on, american cities were being neglected. Now that the war is over, the republicans, still! want to neglect america! The jobs bill(which is still on the desk of all republicans) has never been even brought up for hearings, or vote! WHY?!!!!!! With the stock market so hi, and the republicans saying the economy is so bad, Why?!!!!!. When romney will dismiss 47% of americans, and work only for the rich, which is only 1%, means that he will not work for 99% of americans. Why?!!!!!
Why are thay(republicans) anti america?!!!!! To be for just 1%, of the population, and not for 99%, means that the republicans are turning this country, in to communist views like Hitler did!!!!!!!! The shame of what this party IS doing, will go down in history, as the attempt to make america FALL!!! In their attempts to divide this nation, should be, the most worst, history ever!!!!!!!!!
Senator McCain, as an Arizona voter I watch closely the antics of our politicians. Much of the time you are reasonable (for a Republican), but this election cycle has you acting strangely. As you and everyone else knows (whether they admit it or not), Mitt Romney is close to zero in foreign policy knowledge and savoir faire. There is no defense of Romney on this quarter and the tired old hawkish position that is pulled out of the drawer every time there is a foreign intrigue is getting really worn out.
Yes, we know Republicans/conservatives are ready to take on the world with guns, rockets and bombs. That's really a creative way to solve problems, isn't it? Maybe it plays well with the bible and gun clutching crowd, but it really is un-Christian and self-defeating. Tough talk isn't foreign policy. Averting war and keeping people safe is a combination of diplomacy, cool heads, reasonable compromise and an absence of sabre rattling. Every foreign intervention trades off lives of soldiers for a guesstimate of civilian lives that might otherwise be lost. Why do Republicans/conservatives rush to war so fast? Is it because their "kind" aren't the cannon fodder that gets to face hostilities?
Sir Nikon, Would you be kind enough to send your post to every Republican member of Congress? And while you are at it, please copy the entire brain trust, such as it is, of the Romney campaign. Thinking Americans will thank you.
I think McCain, was brain washed while he was a pow in nam! looking at his statments over the past few years, McCain, must hold a grudge, that america did'nt try to save him.
Romney's money has more foreign policy experience than he does.
Ah, today's winning comment!!
The demented senator from AZ is giving advice to the demented former Gov from Massachusetts on foreign policy, what a joke. In the 2008 campaign McCain's foreign policy consisted of bomb-bomb-bomb Iran and to kiss the fanatical Zionists butt in total appeasement, in the 2012 campaign Mittens foreign policy consists of bomb-bomb-bomb Iran and to kiss the fanatical Zionist butt in total appeasement. Sound familiar?
Romney has no foreign policy credentials- he could not even make it through his first visit to Europe without making a fool out of himself. All you need to do is look at him - he has that constant smirk on his face that says don't trust me.
Mitt Romney, how dare you categorize people who will vote for Obama as dependent on the government for assistance and who don't pay their fair share of taxes!!! You are so out of touch with the american people and you have the nerve to be running for president. You don't even keep your own money in this country, but you have the audacity to throw stones. Look in your own eye and remove that log so that you can see the truth. Hypocrite!!!
I'm not impressed with Romney's foreign policy instincts. He has none.
They will not improve with
PAINE McCAIN's Advice
Except how to break an oath to your god to get a rich little bitch and dump your wife.
I lived in a real life communist country (The USSR) long enough to tell signs of communism/socialism when I see them. Socialism is all about government taking good care of people with average and below average abilities and/or motivation at the expense of the other half. That is exactly the trend under Obama. Under Obama America is sliding towards socialism right before our eyes. The 2012 question is - will the other half take the stand or give up and America will become an outsized Greece. I still am hopeful it will not happen but I am not sure. The "rainbow coalition" of free-loaders, public sector workers and trade-unions may not have the numbers but they are better organized than the silent and passive majority. The members of this "rainbow coalition" coalition know dead well that the large government is their ticket to good life. Of course at the end of this journey their living standards will also fall as always happen under socialism (e.g. Greece, Cuba, North Korea) but it will be some times in the future, so they don't worry about it. With 90% of the media on their side they have a huge advantage against the other half even when their numbers are small. Just look at the public sector workers and Chicago teachers.
Speaking of the public sector workers. They now number some 25 mil (20 local + 5 state + 3 federal, military excluded) and are paid on average about 14% more compared to EQUALLY QUALIFIED private sector worker.* Is it fair? Do 120 million private workers know about that?
Another great example of how passive people are in the face of aggressive free-loading is the teachers strike in Chicago. There you have some 25 thousand teachers doing a lousy job but paid on average $75K. Their pay is out of taxes on average Chicago worker of $49K. They want more with no performance review. And yet we don't see "one million march" of angry parents that would stop this absurdity.
Conclusion: Romney is 100% right about the 47%. He will do this country a great service if he opens up a real debate along these lines. America still has a fighting chance of surviving as a great nation.
*See:Congressional Budget Office (CBO). (2012). Comparing the Compensation of Federal and Private Sector Employees. Congressional Budget Office. Washington. DC.Gittleman, Maury, and Brooks Pierce. "Compensation for State and Local Government Workers." Journal of Economic Perspectives 26.1 (2011): 217-42.
Since you think this country is moving towards socialism, which I looked up and got a real idea of what it means, where were your comments during the Reagan and both Bush administrations? You believe that the government takes care of people who have below or average abilities. Where is that coming from? What is your reasoning for this assumption? If this is your theory, why didn't you run for president? Just because Romney has several degrees and rich, does not make him qualified to be president. The reason private sector workers are paid less is not because of the government it is because of the private sector employers. So put the blame where it belongs and stop placing the blame on the wrong person.
I don't put too much credibility in what McCain says after hearing him say many times what a great president Palin would make.
McCain is a crazy old man that should be tried for treason for his egomaniacle selection of a totally unqualifed dolt for VP during his futile run for President of the US. He had no qualms putting that idiot up as 2nd in the chain of command for the presidency! No one should care what he has to say, and he should be charged for his careless disregard for our country.
ADVICE for Paine McCain
Make Willard (Light In The Loafers) "MINT" Romney
Understand that his father was born in Mexico of citizens of Mexico
And they are all Mexicans
Not Latino but still Mexicans.
He snubs all Mexicans with his statements about his ancestry.
Paine McCain :
One does not learn Foreign Policy sitting in a POW Cell for years
Nor do your skills as a fighter for Freedom improve by sitting there.
They offered to release you so you could fight some more but no I will just sit here .It is so much safer.
Give him advice on how to dump a wife (who staid by you) for a younger one with millions and it has no affect on your integrity, honesty, loyal to oaths before your god etc.
So, the GOP is "willing to put everything on the table for the sake of our national security"? As I recall, the GOP was unwilling to ignore the pledge of its members to Norquist not to raise taxes by agreeing to permit the Bush tax cuts for the millionaires/billionaires expire! The GOP would BORROW from China the sums needed to cover those tax cuts (increasing our debt to cover lost revenue) and further deplete the scant funds expended for the most vulnerable, i.e., long-term unemployed (federal unemployment benefits), the poor (food stamps, Medicaid), the elderly (Medicaid funds necessary to pay for long-term care in nursing homes), for the sake of preserving the 3% tax on income over $250,000 annually for the wealthiest amongst us! The GOP won't discuss discontinuing the tax incentives paid to Big Oil and/or Corporate America as both enjoy the highest profits in decades! What GOP is McCain talking about?
Wow - this must really gall McCain to have to stump on behalf of Romney on foreign policy. Just one more reason not to be an 'Also-Ran' candidate for the American Presidency - you find yourself amongst 'strange' friends.
At least John had honor when it counted during his candidacy! For that he earned respect.
McCain, stop your BULL$HIT! Your too old and you've been living off the military corporates money for years! Do something for the 99% American People, they deserve far much better than what exlax ETCH-A-SKETCH & his corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY has given them & on top of it all, MADE SLAVES of them IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY! This is not Democracy by any stretch of the imagination, it is nothing but CRIMINAL HYPOCRISY!! exlax ETCH-A-SKETCH wouldn't know a foreigner from an American Indian, HE'S SO FAR OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY!!
23% of the wealth IS NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE ON! While exlax ETCH-A-SKETCH, his ONE-PERCENTERS & their VACATIONING CEO'S are living in LUXURY on the rest of the American People's 77% wealth!
Do something right, before you go to NEVER, NEVER LAND!
I don't understand some of you. You want all these freeloaders to pull themselves up and get off the government dole. Great, so do I. But instead of just spouting the same old mantra, ask yourselves how they are supposed to do it? The US currently has a published unemployment rate of 8.1%. We all know that this number is light, by how much, no one knows. That means that SOME people must be unemployed. A certain percentage of Americans can not have a job. If every citizen of this country was a clone of Steve Jobs, many of his clones would still be unemployed in this market. If you work your butt off, become educated, become employable and do all the right things, you go further to the front of the line in finding a job. BUT, there still must be people who can't have a job because there AREN'T enough jobs to go around.
So you are looking at it all wrong. You should be looking at how many people are on the dole when we are at FULL employment. Then it is more clear who the lazy dogs are. What difference does it make now? Someone has to be unemployed by definition of 8.1% unemployment. If you don't like paying to keep some of them alive, that is another argument altogether. Wanting to work does not create jobs, it just makes it easier for you to compete in finding available jobs. Should our unemployment rate approach that of Spain's (~24%) my points would be much more clear
McCain has no credibility, you all see why don't you? He's the same guy that picked that dumb B!tch Palin for a running mate. He's just your typical republican that goes with the party lines no matter what the consequences are and will buy his own rope when he gets hanged. Go figure!
O&Joe 2012
If McCain took more than 5 seconds to spell out what Mittens take is on foreign policy, it took too long.
This Old War Horse threw a shoe long ago. Americans hate a poor loser and he still can't believe African Americans are no longer serving coffee in a navy wardroom to him and his father. John, you have had your day and it was in 2000. For your sake and the country's sake please stand down and take Lindsey/Lieberman with you. As to Iran, even Israel's own intelligence services see no eminent threat and regard Netanyahu a loose cannon with a martyr's complex. A failed politician dangerous to his own country.
Well, somebody has to talk about his foreign policy because Mittens has no idea what it is!!! LOL
Hey Senator McCain . . . . . Governor Romney does not have a foriegn policy,
so you are just babbling on with whatever comes to mind.
You know what that makes you....