August 5, 2007
Posted: August 5th, 2007 02:15 PM ET

McCain criticized Obama's comments on U.S. involvement in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON(CNN) - In a statement echoing the recent foreign policy quarrel between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, Republican Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain accused Obama of "naivete" in a newspaper interview posted online Sunday.

McCain made the comments to The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Arizona Senator was asked about Obama's speech last week in which he said he would possibly send U.S. troops into Pakistan to pursue terrorists, even without the approval of the Pakistani government.

"It’s kind of typical of his naivete," McCain told the newspaper. "If we go in, and maybe we should depending on the assessment, we would want to do it covertly and we would want to do it in coordination with Pakistanis covertly as well. It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we’re attacking another country."

–CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain • Race to '08 • South Carolina


Large Sarge   February 4th, 2008 2:32 pm ET

I personally don't approve of people who haven't given anything back to their country. Of all of you that commented on Sen. McCain how many of you have served your country? You are willing to reap the benefits of this nation but unwilling to give anything back. As far as Sen. Obama, serving your country as a "voted in", public offical is not considered giving back. In fact it's taking from the citizens that elected him. Wise up people when was the last time anyone from the senate or the house took a pay cut? How many Americans need jobs? Do the math!

E. Caldwell philadelphia, Pa   August 7th, 2007 7:08 pm ET

"Wouldn't be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world that we are attacking another country".....sort of like what we did when we invaded Iraq? Sort of like what we did when we invaded Afghanistan?

AA   August 7th, 2007 3:10 am ET

MR. McCAIN'S COMMENT ARE JUST THAT 'COMMENTS'. IF HE THINKS MR. OBAMA IS NAIVE, THEN I THINK IT'S A MR. McCAIN'S ATTEMPT TO TAKE AWAY VOTES FROM MR. OBAMA. HIS STATEMENTS, AT THIS STAGE OF THE PRESIDENTAIL CAMPAIGE, ARE INSIGNIFANT. WHY? BECAUSE HIS (MR. McCAIN'S), HOPE OF BECOMING PRESIDENT, AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME, IS NONE. HE CAN'T WIN. SO, WHY NOT MAKE PROBLEMS FOR SOME OTHER CANDIDATE. OH, LET ME SEE, I'LL CHOOSE-THE BLACK ONE. I SEE HE'S MADE NO COMMENTS CONCERNING THE RIDICULOUS COMMENTS MR, TANCREDO MADE ABOUT BOMBING THE HOLY, RELIGIOUS, SITES OF OUR ALLY, SAUDI ARABIA. SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT.

Morshed, Houston, Texas   August 6th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

Some people may like Mr. Obama's Comments on foreign policy...Thats ok. But as an prospective presidential candidate Mr. Obama made an irresponsible statement to get votes in his favor. This may be jeopardise his popularity. This kind of statements usually made by the third world politicians to get on their state power. I think Obama needs to be spend more time on his political career to be eligible for US Presidency. We need to resolve any problem very carefully and unitedly because United States is the greatest country. We need to be achive our goal definitely. But we should not create more enemies from our irresponsible act. I think Hillary and MacCain both has capability to run the next presidential election. Time will talk and we will elect the right person to be our next President.

Jason, Newburgh, New York   August 6th, 2007 6:50 pm ET

would you rather have

a) A president who is afraid to meet with other nations because he or she is afraid of ruining/tainting his or her reputation in that nation (Hillary)

2) A president who would do nothing but preach peace and basically make the United States a sitting duck (Kucinich)

3) A president who would prolong the current mistake of a war (or start a new one) because 1) to get more oil and 2)to prove that america is too powerful of a country to lose a war in a middle eastern country (any republican)

4) A President who is not afraid and willing to do what America SHOULD have done after 9/11, and occupy those ungoverned regions in pakistan (and probably afghanistan)...(Obama)

Many are critizing Obama for not having enough experience. However, we elected a president for two terms who [we] thought had enough experience for the job. Look at what has progressed since.

Experience does not imply good judgment.

brenda m., Poway, CA   August 6th, 2007 5:58 pm ET

McCain,

Just... go... away...!!!

Lance, Monrovia, CA   August 6th, 2007 4:20 pm ET

Here is the difference between Barry Obama and every other candidate republican or democrat. He's telling it like it is. He's not mincing words. He's TELLING THE TRUTH and they're all telling either half-truths or lies. Obama says things that are so blatantly obvious and correct that you think anyone would be a fool to disagree. Instead they all play pin the tail on the donkey when they dont even realize the THEY'RE the DONKEY!

The truth hurts, but at least there's one candidate that is willing to tell it, and with the power and charisma and hope to actually not only make us believe it but, but actually force a change, blessed, fresh, real air into the debate...glorious, wonderful courage, what a rare and beautiful thing to see in politics. I get the chills just thinking about all the good this man Barry Obama is going to do for this country. Hell, for what he's done already by exposing the sheer amount of donkeys out there in this race already.

Lance, Monrovia, CA   August 6th, 2007 4:13 pm ET

How dare you call Barrack Obama niave! McCain is niave if he thinks he has a chance at being elected. He's going so far in the wrong direction he's about to fall off the map. Barrack Obama is speaking in plain language and saying that he'd make it his top priority to get THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ATTACKED US. John McCain is living in Vietnam, still unable to get over our failure there and in turn doing THE EXACT same thing the suits did back then. OBAMA IS NOT A SUIT. HE DOESN'T REPRESENT STATUS QUO and that scares these republicans.Obama is hitting them in the only thing they have, the war on terror, and he's right and they're wrong. Of course we should go after them in Pakistan if we have no choice.

Every way you look at it, Obama is the big winner here. The more they try and twist his words and underrate him, the more he's climbing in the polls and these fools like McCain, Rudolf and Romney the dog hanger are falling behind.

I am so disgusted and angry at every one of these repubican candidates as well as with the administration currently. I've never been political before and my family are all republicans. Not me, not anymore. No way. Obama is the future, these guys are the past.

Doug, Indianapolis, Indiana   August 6th, 2007 3:17 pm ET

When this many old pols all start saying the same thing about inexperience, Obama must be making his point. What they should be saying is that their tactics have failed and they hate to admit that the new guy might be right. Their comments only make Senator Obama look better.

Arlington, Atl. Ga.   August 6th, 2007 3:09 pm ET

"naive?". Obama has been the only one to speak to the truth. The one glaring mistake we have made, was not taking out Osama Bin Laden. Barack is suggesting we finish what we started, and take out the 9-11 terrorist, and stop chasing oil and corperate interest.

PT   August 6th, 2007 1:08 pm ET

Did Bush ask the Taliban if it was OK for us (the U.S.) come in and get Bin Laden and Al-Qa'ida after 9/11? At the time, we knew he and his cohorts were in that country, gave the Taliban warning to turn them in or else we'd attack. We told Sadaam Hussein we knew he had WMD and to turn them over over else we'd attack. These actions are no different than what Obama said he would do if he were in the same situation.

Wayne, Shelby NC   August 6th, 2007 1:05 pm ET

Senator McCain has lost his political capital.... and is no longer in touch with the American public

ELc0cHIn0, San Antonio, TX   August 6th, 2007 1:02 pm ET

FEAR is the ultimate political aphrodisiac. They use it to control the masses.

Lou, Mississippi   August 6th, 2007 12:35 pm ET

The more both Republicans and Democrats bash Senator Obama for telling the truth, the better he looks to those who actually have the power to pick our next President.

I love Senator McCain but wrong on this issues just like those who seek to earn "political" points from bashing Senator Obama are too.

Josh   August 6th, 2007 12:33 pm ET

I've never heard the word naive so much in my life. Who was naive in 2002 when the Iraq war was being "debated"? Was it Obama, who opposed the war? Or was it people like McCain and Clinton who voted for the war without even reading the National Intelligence Estimate?

There is no way to bring all of the troops out of the Middle East. At least Obama has a plan to redeploy them to where they should be, fighting the terrorists who attacked us.

And to those who continue to say that Obama is obviously "naive" and "inexperienced" because he wants to "bomb our ally, Pakistan", please get a life and educate yourself because you are the ones who are bringing down our country with you ignorance. If you actually take 5 minutes to read his speech instead of listening to spun headlines and soundbites, you would know that he never ONCE said he would bomb Pakistan.

Craig, Lake Orion, MI   August 6th, 2007 12:22 pm ET

The fact that both McCain and Clinton find reason to disagree with Obama makes me feel even more confident in my decision to vote for Obama in the 2008 election. McCain and Clinton are both business as usual politicians and it is clear to me that "business as usual" isn't working. Obamas views are a breath of fresh air in a political climate that has been sucking wind for quite some time. Go Obama!

Bill, Bloomington IL   August 6th, 2007 11:11 am ET

The Obama campaign is stalling and this idea may sink the ship. Iraq or Pakistan? What is the difference? U.S. soldiers will still pay the price. I guess the Obama people are the new war mongers.

Bernard Rathmell Lockbourne, Ohio   August 6th, 2007 10:42 am ET

"Tell the Pakistani", why not just send an e-mail to Osama Ben Laden? Maybe, MCain has his own brand of naivete, naive is voting for an Iraqi War Resolution that re-directed our military resources to Iraq, "Calling all insurgents"!, Al Qaeda sends recruits to Iraq and allows the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan to rebuild and take refuge in pakistan where they have more allies than Musharraf. We left before the job was done, even Bush has used that logic.

Austin, Chicago   August 6th, 2007 10:38 am ET

"It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we’re attacking another country." – Hey John, isn't that exactly what Bush did, telling Iraq "we're coming!" for 3 months? And they wonder why we never found the weapons... sheesh.

Sam, Col, Ohio   August 6th, 2007 10:33 am ET

Mr. McCain...throw in your towel because you will never be President. Maybe it's time for the good citzens of Arizona to consider someone to replace Senator McCain.

Keep the pressure on the rest of the candidates Obama, maybe they will get a spine and tell us what they really think...not what they think we want to hear.

The citizens of the United States are smarter than the politicans think. When we hear stupid comments from them, it only helps us to turn from that nut and look serious at another candidate.

GO BARACK...you will make a great President!!!

Greg, Maryland   August 6th, 2007 10:13 am ET

"It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we’re attacking another country."

Didn't Bush go ahead and announce his plans before he sent our troops to Iraq?

J.B. Oak Lawn IL   August 6th, 2007 10:03 am ET

It's interesting that Republicans are going out of their way to take on Barack Obama.

They rarely say anything about Dennis Kucinich or Bill Richardson, despite some hot positions taken by those two.

That is because they konw that Senator Obama is well-positioned to win the nomination and general election.

Anonymous   August 6th, 2007 9:54 am ET

Obama may not have the same length of experience, but maybe his living abroad in many different places and his background would help him excel at international relations? John Mccain is just grabbing at straws since he knows he wont win.

joe smith, des moines, ia   August 6th, 2007 9:50 am ET

LOL. It's kind of sad to watch McCain's career circle the toilet. He was once such a rising star.

Ryan, Boston MA   August 6th, 2007 9:47 am ET

Does McCain have anything useful to say or any unique critism? Oh, and how is his campaign doing? And finally, why is this a news story, CNN?

...talk about spin... geez... but judging from the comments here it seems that the American public can see through the media's beautifully boring frame of Obama.

Obama '08

Loma Linda, California   August 6th, 2007 9:28 am ET

So, one more evidence that American politics is nothing but the pigpen of the world where money is now like the tail wagging the dog. Who in the hell wants this kind of Democracy, my Dear Mr. George W.as you thresten the whole whole world your guns? Of course, this swinnery was predicted by none other than John Adams with these words: "Remenmber democracy never lasts long. It soone wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide". Letter to John Taylor 15 Apirl 1814. Do I miss something George W.?

Paul, Philadelphia PA   August 6th, 2007 9:26 am ET

The more all the other "traditional" candidates rail on Obama the more I know he is the right man for the job.

D. Nelson Seattle, Washington   August 6th, 2007 9:19 am ET

Boy....There is a case of the pot calling the kettle black!! No pun intended. John McCain calling anyone naive or out of touch is laughable. He is the king of out of touch. He is old and needs to go take a nap.

DF in FL   August 6th, 2007 8:58 am ET

“If we go in, and maybe we should depending on the assessment, we would want to do it covertly and we would want to do it in coordination with Pakistanis covertly as well. It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we’re attacking another country.” – John McCain

Unless, of course, the GOP is doing the attacking. What a disgusting blatant hypocrite.

Walter Poe, westerville, ohio   August 6th, 2007 8:50 am ET

Poor Guy. Everytime he opens his mouth he drops in Polls. You would think this man would learn his lesson after Bush slapped him around in 2000. POOr, Poor, guy.......McCain is flaming out.....Thank God

Winston   August 6th, 2007 8:44 am ET

My only goal is to understand what the hell happened to us after a few generations. You guys and gals are all brainwashed to pick from a pre determined line up of "front" runner candidates.

None of them have anything brilliant other than the same philosophy. You all need to quit being influenced by TV and think about truth and whats right. You are going to send us straight to hell arguing about "1st" runner candidates. You all are already forcing many of us to move our business and families to other countries. Unless you Americans can reverse your trends, you WILL live in poverty as the INFORMED ones will be gone with their money and jobs.

Chris, Locust Grove VA   August 6th, 2007 8:36 am ET

When are you dropping out of the race McCain? As for the candidates I agree that none of them have really stood out to me at this point. I tend to be more of a Democrat but honestly politics is really getting to be a bunch of kids fighting on the playground on whether the person is safe or out. When will we go back to honesty and truth. I guess the expression holds true... "Crooked as a politician."

WDRussell, East Liverpool, Ohio   August 6th, 2007 8:32 am ET

Maybe our politicians should take the same drug tests as the ballplayers.

Bubba, Swainsboro GA   August 6th, 2007 8:28 am ET

Naive? Obama thinks he's a viable candidate, and is; McCain thinks he's a viable candidate, and isn't. Glass houses, Sen. McCain. Rock throwing not indicated.

Marci Topeka, KS   August 6th, 2007 8:22 am ET

Maybe Senator Obama is inexperienced in war and having the US be the agressor against sovereign nations. Good. More of the same is definitely not what we need. Senator McCain is just preaching the same old things that keep us hated and at a useless war.

Ben, Olathe KS   August 6th, 2007 8:15 am ET

The only man with a foreign policy that makes sense is Ron Paul! America needs a Doctor!

Darrell, Foxboro, MA   August 6th, 2007 7:48 am ET

I think Obama is definitely inexperienced in terms of global politics, but maybe that is what we need? The McCains and Clintons of the world certainly haven't helped much lately. And I wish the neocons would stop pretending Pakistan is an ally. Man, good thing we've never unilaterally "attacked another country" without a good reason like McCain is worried about. Well, other than Spanish Florida, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Korea, Vietnam, Granada, Panama, Hawaii (technically we just started a revolution there), the Philippines, and Iraq. Oh...I guess we did.

Paul Dear, Grand Rapids, Michigan   August 6th, 2007 7:41 am ET

I agree with McCain but support Hilary Clinton. GW Bush is as naive and a big fool when he announce he was going into Iraq, and w/o a cause nor the evidence. Now we as a country are in very deep trouble because of Bush, and oil prices will go over $200 a barrel. We need alternative energy to replace oil.

Scott C, Blountville, TN   August 6th, 2007 7:26 am ET

I voted for Bush in the past 2 elections and have been registered as a Republican since I turned 18. However, Obama will be getting my vote this time when he makes it as the Democrat's nominee.

His approach to situations is fresh, not naive. When you have most of the other canidates, both Democrats and Republicans, agreeing on topics and going after Obama then it should show the American public who has the fresh perspective on things.

We need someone in the White House who is thinking outside the "Beltway Box". We need someone who will tackle things in new and exciting ways because what we have cultivated over the past 15-20 years is a group of policies that have us viewed as one of the most hated, most isolated nations on the planet.

It is time for some change and Obama is the man!

Cal, Honolulu Hawaii   August 6th, 2007 6:54 am ET

"It wouldn't be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we're attacking another country".
Oh, the irony and the double standard! Would it be smarter if we could just do it quickly and just call it "Mission Accomplished"?

Al, San Francisco, CA   August 6th, 2007 6:26 am ET

Obama sounds like Bush to me: (a) Fighting in another country (Pakistan for Obama & Iraq for Bush)) without the blessing of the domestic regime, and (b) being naive in international politics. Does american need another 4 years of pseudo-Bush administration in foreign affairs?

SS   August 6th, 2007 5:33 am ET

These are the kind of statements that are unnecessary in our war against terror. Come election time every candidate is touting his/her foreign policy experience .
Mr McCain, it would be wise for you to think about making intelligent statements if you want to be the republican candidate.

And Mr Obama, you need to think befoe issuing statements like these which only elicit comments like Mr McCain's.

Anonymous   August 6th, 2007 5:15 am ET

John are you nuts? If you tried to do anything covertly with any arab country it would be like putting an ad in the newspaper telling them your plans.the intelligence communities over there are hand in hand with the bad guys.

Gary, Niagara Falls, NY   August 6th, 2007 5:03 am ET

With all the stupid things that are coming out of Obama's mouth as of late, all I can say is "Thank you Oprah Winfrey for inflicting us with this idiot." This man would not have probably not had his popularity boosted to the level it is with out the help of Oprah's easily led and equally naive, dough-headded fan base. I suspect Obama is also getting his policy advice from Oprah. Think about it - to the thugish dictators of the world, "Can't we just talk?" Where do you think such naivete came frome? Smooth-talking Obama is proving to be a con just like "A million little pieces" and "The Secret," two recent Oprah favorites.

John Wilson Racine, WI   August 6th, 2007 3:32 am ET

This entire discussion is, well, rather silly at best and a total waste of time at the worst. It really doesn’t matter what Mr. Obama said or says nor does it matter how much money he raises. And, it certainly doesn’t matter what Mr. McCain says…

Given the rampant and all pervasive state of racial prejudice in THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET, Mr. Obama’s chances of being elected to the presidency are slim and none. And, as we all know, Slim has left town. So, at the end of the ’08 election, Mr. Obama will have collected your money, raised your idealism, embolden the Jesus people, and pressed the flesh – only this and nothing more…

Mr. McCain is nothing more than an irrelevant, war-mongering, conservative and Bush sycophant. I’m sorry, that’s redundant: war-mongering and conservative is the same thing. The conservatives enjoy the same modus operandi as the Mafia: If you don’t understand it and can’t control it, kill it! Mr. McCain will soon simply fade away, as well he should.

What we as a nation should be doing is dissecting to the nth degree all of the viable candidates in this race. That, however, is probably too rational an approach for Americans who always are driven by emotion/religion to vote against their own self interests…

Nathan, Augusta, Maine   August 6th, 2007 3:10 am ET

Seriously, Obama just rolled himself. He wants to have a friendly chat to a bunch of thugs and nutjobs who hate the USA, but he wants to bomb and invade Pakistan, an ally. I'm gunning for a Democrat, but it seems that for every vapid, amateur, scary Republican that the Confederacy nominates,it is bested by a more ridiculous, out of touch, Democrat.

Ken White, Sonoma County, Calif.   August 6th, 2007 3:07 am ET

McCain's time has passed. He has bumbled himself into irrelevancy. There was a time when I would be troubled by this, but that time is long gone!

R. Rossi, Boca Raton, Florida   August 6th, 2007 2:55 am ET

I think it would be wiser for JM to not cast stones at BO. The scripture makes it clear. Also, I find BO's recent statements strong with honest opinion rather than political strategem irrespective of soundness. We seek this...honest positions expressing the integrity of the candidate even if intellectually wrong. JM should talk JM like BO talks BO even if just because JM has his own faults (campaign over spending and poor choice of friends given resignations) to address (....seek to remove the beam of wood in your eye before trying to remove the splinter in your brothers eye.....).

JGR   August 6th, 2007 2:07 am ET

I don't think anybody pays too much attention to him anymore. He was good for Arizona though.
http://www.hermosillosuntimes.com

Phil, Atlanta Georgia   August 6th, 2007 1:56 am ET

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE BARACK HUSSAIN OBAAMA HAS ANYONE EVERY HEARD OF THE TERM WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. YOU MIGHT AS WELL ELECT OSAMA BIN LADEN AS OUR PRESIDENT. BARACK IS OF MUSLIM DECENT AND HE WILL LEAD THIS COUNTRY INTO A MUSLIM RAN DICTATORSHIP!!!! MARK MY WORDS IF THIS MAN IS ELECTED IT WILL HAPPEN.

Leroidavid, Nukethem, Killthem   August 6th, 2007 1:42 am ET

Michael, woodland hills, ca (August 5, 2007 5:48 pm)

"McCain has no credibility. He was wrong about Iraq and wrong about the surge, whereas Obama was right in both cases."

I dont support Mc Cain, but going to Irak was right (how can someone who loves life and liberty oppose the overthrowing of one of the bloodiest dictator of all human history ?), and the surge is working (even the New York Times had to acknowledge that).

Skihills, Madison, WI   August 6th, 2007 12:46 am ET

Seems to me this question is asking, of the two candidates with the worse foreign policies...choose your preference of poison!

Charles, MA   August 5th, 2007 11:29 pm ET

While McCain has a point in not revealing military strategies, it is an inevitable outcome of the fact that the US is at war. Because Bush has started a war that he clearly could not and cannot finish, our military actions are subject to the scrutiny of the public in order for us to make an informed choice to select a leader for the next four years. We need to know what we are in for, and cannot remain in the dark about what the next step is. Blame this one on the Bush administration and their failure to finish what they started.

Invading Iraq was the first mistake, and now the US is weaker for it.

Ryan, Provo, UT   August 5th, 2007 11:26 pm ET

I say keep the criticism coming! As evidenced from these comments its only strengthening Obama's bid for the presidency. Whether it comes from the republicans or from Hillary, it just helps highlight the fresh, fundamental change that an Obama presidency offers.

Evan Esteves, Boca Raton, FL   August 5th, 2007 11:24 pm ET

CNN is really on a tear to bring down Obama...too bad it won't work...McCain is way past his prime. Time to give it up buddy. Oh and Romney? Don't even get me started on that hypocrite political opportunist.

Rob, Charlotte, NC   August 5th, 2007 11:19 pm ET

Desperate words from a desperate man. I guess Hillary and McCain applaud Bush's bang up job thus far.

Gloria, Napa, California   August 5th, 2007 11:17 pm ET

Ummm, didn't we announce to the world that we were attacking (rather, invading)
Iraq???

This guy needs to throw in the towel, he can't even manage his campaign budget and he wants to be president. He kisses Bush's butt after Bush demoralized him...yeah, I want him as president...woohooo.

Prasanna Padmanabhan, Tiruchirapalli, India   August 5th, 2007 11:16 pm ET

"It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we’re attacking another country.”

Didn't Bush say that back in 2003? So McCain now admits Bush is not very smart. I think McCain is not very smart either, Osama bin Laden is hiding in Musharaff's backyard.

Robert M. Reidy, Tillson, N.Y.   August 5th, 2007 11:06 pm ET

Wow1 The audacity of hope is welling up
and exciting to see that whenever Obama
frames the debate with the truth and the fearful detractors rant – the people rise up to defend this new intelligent,charismatic,energetic communicator Barak Obama 3 to one or
more. Now even I am becoming hopeful -
THANK YOU AMERICA! Blog on!!

Barrock the vote!!!

Valerie, Concord, CA   August 5th, 2007 10:59 pm ET

Obama will have all the best advisors to assist him to make the best decisions as President of the US - but he is a strong leader and his views and his vision will bring us all to a better America and a better world. McCain is "naive" to think a few negative soundbites will turn the tide of public opinion against Obama. Happy Birthday, Obama.

j, ne york   August 5th, 2007 10:52 pm ET

how is it that cnn posts immediately obama smear comments and doesn't even MENTION the obama campaign's letter that further bolsters his comments on foreign policy??

clearly this organization has it in for senator obama and i hope the american people are smart enough not to buy into this unprofessional journalism.

Josh Maloney, Oakland, Ca   August 5th, 2007 10:38 pm ET

Senator McCain needs to get a clue. Obama represents a new vision and isn't afraid of trying something different. People seem to brush right by the fact that Obama said that we would use military action against Pakistan IF NECESSARY. Stop reading between the lines Senator.

nabeel,rawalpindi,pakistan   August 5th, 2007 10:18 pm ET

gentlemen plz pakistan does not have any conflict with usa and israel.our enemy is nuclear india.Pakistan has second strike nuclear capability submarines nuclear plotonium warhead missiles.these submarines agosta 90B are far far away from india and patrolling in the pacific and atlantic oceans , so india cannot destroy them. they stay underwater for two months and 12 days and no way to be detected because they use ethanol liquid oxygen as fuel.
so i guess PAKISTAN has to protect itself against indian nuclear attack.
and MECCA and MEDINA will be protected by ALLAH.

Timbaktoo , Amherst , NY   August 5th, 2007 10:05 pm ET

I strongly feel senator obama is right it is next month that we would have the sixth anniversary of 9/11 & yet no sign of osama & all the taleban. The most dreaded terrorist main culprit of bombay blast Dawood Ibrahim who is drug kingpin & finencier of all jehadi activities & terrorist training is in pakisthan living comfortably & pakisthani ruler always have same reply that these persons are not in their country.What sort of government is this which has no control over its land.General is a total failure. President Bill clinton made an effort to kill osama & took permission from pakisthani government to launch cruise missile attack & that attack narrowly missed osama as he was informed from ISI chief's Hamid Gul's office of the attack & he ran away to safety.I feel Senator obama has the guts to say that he very well by now understands who is freind & who is enemy & has moral courage to say that enough of general Musharraf we must act on our own the way we did in serbia.I feel Governer Romney should take some lessons as to who is our freind & who is enemy , we are not here to listen sweet talk from from pakisthani government but to see decisive action from them. The time for carrot is over & now is the time for stick.My vote would go to the candidate who is ready to make decisive action to get osama & taliban & hang them the way saddam got hanged.

Wallace, Philly PA   August 5th, 2007 9:55 pm ET

Hey McCain, your old politics is tired. You look like a walking zombie. Please bury your campaign while you still have a few strands of hair. You are insignificant at this point, so stop trying.

Kal   August 5th, 2007 9:42 pm ET

CNN liberal trolls are out in droves.
Obama is clueless. I don't think he even knows the difference between army and navy, let alone trying to come up military strategy. Let's get real, at least amongst the dems, Hillary is smart enough not say such stupid comments.

Richard, NY NY   August 5th, 2007 9:02 pm ET

you guys dont get it... the repubs are going after obama because they want hillary to run. they figure its their best shot at winning!

if edwards or obama gets the nomination, they'll have to contend with a candidate that people may actually like. thats what they're hoping for... help ensure hillary is the demo candidate and use her polarizing image to mobilize the conservative religious base.

they probably believe its the only shot they have.

lipper AMERICAN   August 5th, 2007 8:39 pm ET

'It wouldn't be the smartest thing to do to announce to the world we are attacking another country' NOW you believe that McCain? Let's see....that's the thing to do if a republican proposes it but stupid and naive if a democrat does. Where do these people come from and why won'y God save us from them?

Christian, Palmetto FL   August 5th, 2007 8:30 pm ET

Yes, heaven forbid a presidential candidate be frank and honest to the American people about his foreign policy ideas...

I'm with Obama in this debate.

Scott Flynn, Detroit, MI   August 5th, 2007 8:00 pm ET

What a sad country we live in when someone with as little experience can be so popular for President. Let Obama actually accomplish something big in his life – then run with the big boys. The naive are truly the Obama supporters.

DS   August 5th, 2007 7:56 pm ET

What does it say about Hillary when people like Mitt Romney and John McCain agree with her talking points?

Peter, Richland, WA   August 5th, 2007 7:46 pm ET

He's right. Obama is very young and naive. He would be another Jimmy Carter IMHO (when he was president...now he's got some stones..).

John, Minneapolis, mN   August 5th, 2007 7:39 pm ET

I'm proud to see that most of us aren't falling for the GOP's negative politics as usual. I vehemently disagree with the person who said we only have candidates to vote against again. That's negative thinking we don't need. I think either Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John Edwards would make a fine president. Certainly 50 times better than our current chump-in-chief. Whoever wins must be prepared to work WITH other governments and not just do whatever the heck he/she wants in foreign affairs. For anyone who actually read this far, how about instead of a presidential library for GW Bush, we erect a presidential outhouse instead? It would be much more appropriate.

fedupwithourgov't   August 5th, 2007 7:38 pm ET

ONCE AND FOR ALL, GO AWAY MCCAIN!

Matt, Chicago, IL   August 5th, 2007 7:28 pm ET

McCain is absolutely right. Obama is naive. First of all, the remarks about meeting with everyone from Castro to Chavez were simply rock-headed. This comment about invading Pakistan is even stupider. A potential President of the United States shooting his mouth, casually and theoretically, about the invasion of another country? This isn't a high school election. Everything these candidates say is heard by the entire world, a fact which Obama doesn't seem to realize. Say what you will about President Bush, at least when he makes his inflammatory comments they're spoken deliberately. Obama seems to be making it up as he goes along.

Gail Ellis, Washington, D.C.   August 5th, 2007 7:08 pm ET

How does America look now? Though I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., this election makes me sick!!! Everyone acting like children when we have our nation to think about! Concentrate on the issues and stop the bull!!! It is not about image. It is about the people! PLEASE bring our country back to what we promised it should be. PLEASE!

Thomas, New Orleans, LA   August 5th, 2007 6:49 pm ET

Americans slam Bush for "STUPIDITE'"

George, Seattle, Wa   August 5th, 2007 6:38 pm ET

Wow, so much for protecting the American people from terrorists. What was his reason for invading Iraq?

Why is it supposed to be a bad idea to let people who may think of harboring terrorists know that we will act against them?

Caren   August 5th, 2007 6:28 pm ET

Say Sonya from Atlanta, put the kool-aid down and detox. Obama has NEVER had any real campaign against the Repugs. They literally handed him his election on a silver platter. Actress Jeri Ryan,his first opponents ex-wife aired family dirty secrets and that made Obama the next Senator. No way could he stand up under what the Repugs have put Hillary thru and come out the winner. He HAS NOT been tested in anyway.
Hillary is the only one running who has beat the Repugs in every election she's been in. What the heck are you Obama people smoking. He was right in 2002 so we should make him king in 2008? PLEASE people, detox before you hurt yourselves.

Hawaii Bob   August 5th, 2007 6:17 pm ET

Mr. McBush....er, McCain, you should really spend more time managing your campaign staff....oh, wait, you don't have one anymore, they all ran like rabbits.

Please stop. In your desperation, you are really embarrassing yourself and the state you represent.

delta   August 5th, 2007 6:03 pm ET

McCain is dead broke with his campaign – that he's not a candidate anymore. McCain foreign relation experience is based on North Carolina – he never saw the world.

sonya, atlanta, ga   August 5th, 2007 5:57 pm ET

Republicans fear more an Obama nomination than HRC. They want HRC to be nominated so they can take her and bill down with all the stuff he has supposedly done while she been in the Senate. HRC is Bush-Cheny light- she is more one of them than with the Democrats.

lipper AMERICAN   August 5th, 2007 5:52 pm ET

I can see the pattern develope already.......in 2000 the 'left leaning media' sold the story that Gore was an exaggerator and now their mission is to sell Obama as naive. Well it'll probably work too.

michael, woodland hills, ca   August 5th, 2007 5:48 pm ET

McCain has no credibility. He was wrong about Iraq and wrong about the surge, whereas Obama was right in both cases. I'll gladly take Obama's "naivete" over McCain's wrong-headed war mongering any day.

Vic, Ann Arbor, Michigan   August 5th, 2007 5:44 pm ET

I guess not subscribing to business as usual is considered naivete these days. Isn't it obvious that business as usual is not working... who is naive senior Senator? Hey, weren't you the guy walking through the Iraqi market with a bullet-proof jacket and a huge contingent of military and stating that things were getting better over there. Naivete... really?

Afroz, Northern California   August 5th, 2007 5:42 pm ET

First the comment about the Minneapolis bridge collapse, and now this. McCain needs to accept reality, his bid for presidency is going nowhere, and irrational comments aren’t exactly helping his cause.

Bryan Moyer, Sarasota, FL   August 5th, 2007 5:20 pm ET

Maybe what we need right now is naivete, Mr. McCain. The pompous and arrogant nature of people like you are what is keeping us bogged down from cutting to the heart of these matters and getting these matters resolved.

I find it offensive that people with high moral values and goals are continuously being smacked down by the establishment. The reality is that the establishment doesn't want anyone else to come in and solve the world's problems and show how worthless and obsolete they themselves are.

Maybe McCain isn't Naive but he sure is useless. We need people with new ideas to solve the problems that the McCain's and Bush's of the world have gotten us into.

Dan Bocchino, Somerset, NJ   August 5th, 2007 5:18 pm ET

How can it be naive to try something new politically? What the current administration is doing now isn't working. Following the same path of inaction and fear is what's naive.

Cheryl Ohio   August 5th, 2007 5:16 pm ET

Uh–Hello... McCain! Obama has much higher ratings than you have, so your critcism means absolutely nothing.

Your campaign is done. Go home already.

Lynn, Reno NV   August 5th, 2007 5:11 pm ET

The WP just had a story how taking a tough stance on Pakistan is what is needed. Mushariff is unwilling to do anything but drag his feet on many different issues in his country, including Al Qaeda. He needs a kick in the butt to force him to act. That is why he is in trouble in Pakistan and his government is shak. It is Mushariff's own failings that cause the trouble, and Obama would try to force him to act with both carrots and sticks. If people would just look at the speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center website, they would see how distorted all these other candidates and the media are portraying Obama's ideas. It is a smear job that is for sure. Will the American public fall for it. I'm rooting for Obama. He is playing it straight. All the others are dancing around and being coy.

Mike Brooks, Eugene, Oregon   August 5th, 2007 5:10 pm ET

“naivete” ? Mr. McGoo...er, McCain, this is why you have lost! Naive, is thinking we can allow a safe zone for comabtants that can kill our soldiers. We tried that in another war – Vietnam. Frankly, the only candate that shows an ounce of common sense with regards to Iraq right now is Barak Obama, Democrat or Republican.

Joe, San Antonio, Texas   August 5th, 2007 5:09 pm ET

This guy, McCain, is irrelevant now. Senator Obama shouldn't even respond.

Gopal Saraswat, New York, NY   August 5th, 2007 5:05 pm ET

I don’t who’s being naïve here. If we suspect that the Pakistanis are shielding Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, then a covert operation in coordination with them is not exactly brilliant. I know Senator McCain is smarter than that.

Maybe naïve is not the word. Disingenuous?

Carl, OH   August 5th, 2007 4:58 pm ET

I think all the GOP presidential candidates got the memo to go negative at Obama,the strongest democrat they are likely to face. It's funny how they all agree with Barrack's position but disagree that he shouldn't have said it aloud.

JMP, Chicago, Illinois   August 5th, 2007 4:58 pm ET

"I mean in one week he (Obama) went from saying he’s going to sit down, you know, for tea, with our enemies, but then he’s going to bomb our allies. I mean he’s gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week.” Romney.

This sums it all.

James , Collegeville, Pa   August 5th, 2007 4:53 pm ET

Obama is right; McCain should get a spine. Pakistan is no friend of ours.

It is very well known that pakistan is where the taliban were trained in the pakistani religous schools It is well known that the pakistani ISI has always had very heavy involvement supporting the taliban.

It is the pakistani army that stood back and did nothing to stop Bin Laden and his cohorts from entering their country to escape our forces.

It is the pakistani army that allows the taliban to rebuild in their country.

The pashtun tribal areas inside of pakistan are very well known to harbor al queda members including men close to Bin Laden and probably Bin Laden.

Musharaff has done little or nothing beyond token attempts to control the extremist with in the boundaries of his own country.

The US must take action against the resurgent Taliban and Al Queda in pakistan if Musharaff will not.

The confluence of extremists and pakistani nuclear technology are too much to ignore.

Ernie, North Truro, MA   August 5th, 2007 4:44 pm ET

He should talk of being naive, the guy who tried to tell us how safe it was in Bagdad.

P.D. Iowa City IA   August 5th, 2007 4:34 pm ET

Way to go, maverick. You just handed Pakistani radicals the conspiracy theory to delegitimize anything the Pakistani government does to help us in the war on terror. Naivete, indeed. There is a reason those things are covert, John.

And are anti-Obama forces so naive that they do not understand the value the Pakistani government gains by being able to publicly voice its opposition to us?

As each day goes by, my decision to support Obama gets easier and easier to defend.

ST from JC   August 5th, 2007 4:27 pm ET

We're supposed to value the words of John McCain as wisdom? I guess going into Iraq wasn't naive.

Mac, Severn, Md   August 5th, 2007 3:57 pm ET

Barack Obama is naive about World affairs.

Independent Voter, TN   August 5th, 2007 3:55 pm ET

Too many Obama apologists out there.

Truth is, he has raised a lot of questions about his political savvy and if you're an Obama follower, you have to man up and deal with it.

Contrary to waht many of you think, I do not see any compelling candidates on either side. Once again I'm afraid many of us will be forced into voting AGAINST a candidate rather than FOR a candidate.

Zack, Boston, MA   August 5th, 2007 3:42 pm ET

Those who employ the use of "spin" inherently practice injustice toward all readers and listeners. It shows a complete lack of respect and a contempt for the intended audience. Using spin is a tactic used by those who have no respectable arguments with which they can make headway otherwise. So not only is it despicable, it is also desperate. After McCain loses the primary, perhaps he should apply to Faux News to engage in commentary in their spin room.

Juanito, Washington, DC   August 5th, 2007 3:41 pm ET

CNN....why is this a news story? I guess your agenda to continue smearing Obama as "naive" is really in full gear, eh? Obama never said anything about sending troops into Pakistan, and I guess since Hillary Clinton agrees with Obama, she's also "naive"?

McCain calling someone else naive? That's funny...this from the guy who went into Iraq's streets with armed Humvees and air support and full Kevlar armor, and then told us Iraq was a vertiable utopia? Get real...

I just watched Obama's speech again on CSPAN, and the more I watch this man speak, the more convinced I am that he's the right guy.
He has proposed fundamental change, and these old establishment people do not like the change.

Willie Rockledge, Florida   August 5th, 2007 3:40 pm ET

Isn't that what bush did in Iraq? Announce our intentions with McCains' enthusiastic support?

Jerry, oakdale mn   August 5th, 2007 3:39 pm ET

Hello McCain, It will be better for you to drop out of the race because you cannot even handle your campaingn team. How are you going to lead a nation of 300 million? America do not need your goverment of the few experience. we need to turn over a new page and Obama is the best candidate

KebD   August 5th, 2007 2:56 pm ET

McCain?? Who? Is he still even running for office?

The fact that OBAMA wants to actually practice diplomacy and not continue the "usual course" that Bush/Clinton prefer - reinforces my support and vote for Obama 08!

Ali A. Akbar, Fort Worth, Texas   August 5th, 2007 2:55 pm ET

Bernard: You show the ignorance of the following.

"At least OBAMA isn’t naive or arrogant enough to blow millions of dollars on a campaign trail" < What does that have to do with Foreign Policy. Oh thats right, politics as usual.

This isn't an act of desperation. It's a Presidential hopeful commenting on a rival. That's the name of the game.

You should read history: responsive statements and actions are how we know what a person will do in office.

Senator Obama's Pakistan comments where out of line! It was a hype statement to rally people into believing he's the guy to get Osama. Who knows, nonetheless, it showed a lack of maturity.

JimmieFromDayton   August 5th, 2007 2:53 pm ET

Know I'm kinda more like this. "After thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars spent, many Americans may be tempted to turn inward and cede our leadership in world affairs. But this is a mistake we must not make. America cannot meet the threats of this century alone, and the world cannot meet them without America. We can neither retreat from the world nor try to bully it into submission. We must lead the world, by deed and by example." Sen Barack Obama

Linda, Chandler AZ   August 5th, 2007 2:32 pm ET

Again, McCain shoots his mouth off without getting his facts straight. Obama never said he would "announce to the world" that we were attacking anybody. The more these so-called "experienced" politicans try to make Obama look bad – the better he looks.

Joe, York, VA   August 5th, 2007 2:30 pm ET

The absolute disgust that I feel at McCain and Romney's comments towards Obama is overwhelming. They say things implying that Obama wants to go out and bomb the *government* of Pakistan, as if he's ready to send warplanes into the heart of Islamabad. Politicians like McCain and Romney are scum for twisting the truth to rally their base and we all see it. Obama is proclaiming we do EXACTLY what we did after 9/11 to capture and kill Al-Qaeda but failed to do because the U.S. managed to mess it up. As an American you probably are like me and want to wipe this small faction of religious slime from the map and Obama is saying we do just that.

Bernard, Scotch Plains, NJ   August 5th, 2007 2:19 pm ET

At least OBAMA isn't naive or arrogant enough to blow millions of dollars on a campaign trail, come on CNN this is not news but more like an act of desperation on behalf of McCain to keep his name in the press...Seriously McCain can you please help me stop YAWNING every time I hear your name or a comment from you.

JimmieFromDayton   August 5th, 2007 2:17 pm ET

Wow! You know Senator McCain was my guy until he lost his audacity to hope.

Drive on Senator Obama!!!!!!!!

Adrian, NYC, NY   August 5th, 2007 2:15 pm ET

Is this from the same guy who sang "Bomb, Bomb Iran"?

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