(CNN) – Each of the two Democratic presidential contenders said this weekend they were best-suited to handle a foreign policy crisis should the phone ring in the White House at 3 a.m. On Monday, John McCain said they were both wrong.
"I would believe that my knowledge and experience and background clearly indicates that if the phone rang at 3 a.m. in the White House, and I was the one to answer it, I would be the one most qualified to exercise the kind of judgment necessary to address a national security crisis," McCain said at a campaign stop in Phoenix.
"I've been involved in every major national security challenge for the last 20 years that has faced this country," he added. "I look forward to having that debate as to who's most qualified in the event of a national crisis and the phone ringing at 3 a.m. in the White House."
McCain's comments follow dueling campaign ads from Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that pose the scenario of a foreign crisis in the early morning hours. Clinton's ad, which launched first, argues the New York senator is more experienced to handle such a situation. Hours later, the Obama campaign launched a spot in response that says his initial opposition to the Iraq war proves he has the better judgment to deal with 3 a.m. emergencies.
– CNN's Tasha Diakides contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Yes, his at his best sleep.
3AM
74 YEAR OLD MAN
THE PHONE RINGING
IT TOOK HILLARY 6 RINGS TO PICK IT UP, IT WOULD TAKE McCAIN 206 RINGS.
THATS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.
Why don't McCains people tell him when he sounds like a moron, he goes off script and sounds like exactly like a bumbling moron.
Kind of like saying Obama is the candidate of the past, this coming from an old pale white guy.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah
"I've been involved in every major national security challenge for the last 20 years that has faced this country"=======
Wouldn't a real "red phone moment" leader have found a way to keep us out of some of them? Iraq was one of those he might have helped us avoid, ya think?
JOHN MCCAIN SURE IS A JOHNNY COME LATELY WITH A STATEMENT LIKE;
"I AM THE BEST AT 3 A.M."
IT TOOK HIM TWO DAYS TO COME UP WITH THAT RESPONSE..........
GOD HELP AMERICA!
I love my country to, but when I get 71 I hope to be retired and enjoying my country. I know McCain feels 20 but no body can beat the time clock and everyones body goes throught the process of getting old there is nothing you can do to stop it, If McCain wins the election he will be 75 at the end of his first term. I admire McCain but I don't know any 71 year old that I think could run our country.
McCain's judgement is worse than Clinton's. Invasion of a country who doesn't want us there, 4000 dead soldiers, loss of credibility with the international community, wasting $12 million a month, for what? The answer is the for the love of war and oil. I only phone McCain should answer at 3am is Domino's Pizza.
Texans for Obama
This 3 Am thing is a joke. Hillary made a commerical about it, it was a dumb fear tactic and Obama and McCain follow up with these kind of things. I want politics to represent the potential and beauty I see in the world. Instead it represents Americans.
The republicans have destroyed the image of america, they have sqaundered millions in Iraq.They had no bid contracts for Katrina and Iraq were they ripped people off. They have used torture in abu gray in Iraq and the white house has been the most corrupt in history and you think another republican should be elected?i don't think so.
Billary would not have a sleeping chance against McCain.
And this comes from a Democrat who would never vote for Hil-Liar-y.
sorry McCain your EXACTLY what America does NOT want in 08
more of Bush, more fear tactics, etc etc
Everything that comes out of your mouth will come back to haunt you
bomb bomb Iran, wishing castro dead, insinuating Russia had illegal elections
dont you get it....Americans are sick and tired of War mongering and
finger pointing at your enemies!!!
why do you think they are coming out in the tens of thousands for Obama!
they want DIPLOMACY .you know trying to talk to your enemies for a change!!
down with McCain !!
Phone rings at 3am; President McCain, it's time...to change your Pampers!
why not, she's a mean evil woman – just like ann coulter and he is... spreading falsehoods and manipulative!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
This is his best work yet!
Obama claims to have good judgement on the Iraq issue from the start. He now says as far as the Rezko issue, he made an error in judgement. So I don't want him answering the phone. As Ann Richards said, "That dog won't hunt."
LOL!!!
When Hillary's phone rings at 3am, you know it's going to be someone asking if she knows where Billy Jeff is.
You young ones have no clue. Us Old timers are awake at 3:00 a.m.
going to the bathroom. So when the phone rings we are already awake. Plus we have the knowledge and wisdom that comes with age that allows us to make decisions and the foresight to know when we are over our head. The young ones make quick and rash decisions and later realize they made the worng ones. We were young too and many of us wish we could take back some of those bad choices. I'll take the old man over Obama or Clinton anytime.
At least I can count on him to make the decision on what is best for his Country. The United States of America.
For someone who wants the 100 years war w/ Iraq and sing – 'Bomb bomb Iran' for fun – no, I don't want him to make a decision on that 3:00AM call.
Another call that McCain might get in the middle of the night is one telling him of the death of one of the moderate/liberal Supreme Court justices.
If that happens, Roe vs. Wade is history, and women will die.
Vote Democrat in 11/'08. If your candidate doesn't win the nomination, hold your nose and do it anyway.
Why are Latinos voting for Hillary? She has never shown that she has their best interest at heart. She can't even articulate her ideas on immigration, for goodness sakes!
Obama is by far the best candidate, his policy ideas are much more realistic than hers.
Very funny.
John McCain wouldn't even hear the phone ringing. And, his support of the Iraq invasion ought to remove any question about his poor judgment.
The only call McCain will be getting after he gets blown out in the generals is the 3am phone call from his wife wondering why the hell he's still at the club drinking away his loss.
HILLARY IS THE SMARTEST AND STRONGEST OF THE 3 CANDIDATES.
I READ THIS HEADLINE AND HAD TO LAUGH. ELDERLY PEOPLE DO HAVE ERRATIC SLEEP PATTERNS. I KNOW...BAD JOKE.
Obama's answer to everything is the vote for the Iraq war, which he didn't even vote for b/c he wasn't in the senate at that time. This argument is getting old!!!
Most 3am calls that Hillary has taken so far allegedly involve Bill saying "don't believe what you read in tommorow's papers."
Most 3am calls that Obama has received allegedly involve Rezko saying that the check has cleared.
Clearly, Rush is still an idiot.
This is exactly the problem with the 3 a.m. thing. The Dems arn't going to win by nominating mini-McCain (Clinton) for her favorability on national security. Dems need to nominate Obama who can fight McCain on a whole different battlefield and make McCains "time-in-washington" argument meaningless.