McCain Brings "Neverland" to Virginia
John McCain is in Virginia today for a fundraiser after igniting a flurry of controversy by claiming on Bill Bennet's talk show that, "there are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today." [Bill Bennett's Morning in America, 3/26/07] Asked about McCain's blatant attempt to spin the facts on the ground, CNN's Baghdad correspondent, Michael Ware, responded with a quick "No" and said, "no way on earth can a westerner, particularly an American, stroll any street of this capital of more than five million people...You barely would last 20 minutes out there. I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad."
McCain refused to back down from his comments, however, telling NBC's Today Show that there are "many signs of success...neighborhoods in Baghdad that are largely certainly much more secure," and telling ABC's Good Morning America that "you look at facts on the ground...there are neighborhoods that are calm." McCain's sprinkling of pixie dust in response to ABC came on a question about whether he has "to be looking at Iraq through rose-colored glasses to see progress" when one hundred people have been killed in "just the last day, [in] the same town the president used last year as an example of freedom taking hold." [NBC Today, 3/28/07; ABC's Good Morning America, 3/28/07]
"John McCain seems to think that walking through Baghdad is as easy as his march away from campaign finance reform and his image as a so-called 'maverick,'" said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda. "With his rhetoric coming under fire, McCain had better hope the Double Talk Express got the armor that our troops have been forced to do without. Misrepresenting the facts on the ground in Iraq might be the latest tactic for McCain's do-anything-to-win campaign, but after hearing the same thing from the Bush Administration for four years, the American people would no doubt prefer a new direction."
After Missing Congress' Three Most Crucial Iraq War Votes, McCain Finally Showed Up for the Fourth. Despite missing first three most crucial Iraq war votes and several others this Congressional session, Senator McCain decided to be present on the Senate floor and cast a vote on what he considers to be the most important issue-Iraq. McCain has already missed 37 votes over all (31.9%) during the current Congress. [Chicago Tribune, 3/16/07; Washington Post, 3/26/07; Washington Post Congressional Database]
McCain: "You and I could walk through those neighborhoods today". On Bill Bennet's radio show on Monday, Bennet asked McCain if he could give "one single thing" that McCain finds "so encouraging" in Iraq. McCain responded, "There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today." [Bill Bennett's Morning in America, 3/26/07]
"What part of Neverland" is Senator McCain Talking About? CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked Baghdad Correspondent Michael Ware: "Michael, when Senator McCain says there are at least some areas of Baghdad where people can walk around and -- whether it's General Petraeus, the U.S. military commander, or others, are there at least some areas where you could emerge outside of the green zone, the international zone, where people can go out -- go to a coffee shop, go to a restaurant and simply take a stroll?" Ware's answer directly from Baghdad: "I can answer this very quickly, Wolf. No. No way on earth can a westerner, particularly an American, stroll any street of this capital of more than five million people. If al Qaeda doesn't get wind of you or if one of the Sunni insurgent groups doesnt descend upon you or if someone doesn't tip off a Shitte militia, then the nearest criminal gang is going to see dollar signs and scoop you up. You barely would last 20 minutes out there. I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad." [CNN, 3/27/07]
