(CNN) - John McCain's campaign is denying Democratic charges the presumptive Republican nominee flippantly dismissed a new book attacking Barack Obama that includes several documented falsehoods.
Asked by the Associated Press earlier Friday what he though of author Jerome Corsi's new book, "The Obama Nation," McCain said, "gotta keep your sense of humor."
Related: Book blasted for 'vicious innuendo'
Those comments were immediately slammed by the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee, which e-mailed its 3.4 million supporters declaring, "John McCain thinks smears and lies are funny."
"Despite pledging to run a respectful campaign, McCain is just standing by while Corsi and his publisher, former Dick Cheney aide Mary Matalin, poison this presidential race," read the e-mail from DNC Rapid Response Team.
Watch: Is Obama being swift-boated?
But McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said later Thursday the Arizona senator actually did not hear the question, and would not be commenting on the book.
The book, which is expected to debut No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, repeats many long-discredited falsehoods about the Illinois senator, including the claim that he is Muslim.
Corsi, who has said he's on a “mission” to take down Obama, also co-wrote "Unfit for Command" - the 2004 book that spawned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
From CNN Politics
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This is our future president?
Why is a man who wants to be President answering a question that he "didn't hear?"
There might be something in freedom of speech but it doesn't protect you for getting the pants sued off of you for making false statements. Those falsely attacked should bury this idiot.
The real problem is the millions of idiots in this country that want to believe anything negative about Obama. How can you look in the mirror?
What do you expect from a man who offers up his wife to a bunch of bikers for a "beauty" contest??
Google McCain – Sturgis – beauty – contest
"attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John McCain"
You may want to change that erroneous statement.
President Cheney knows how to shoot for the face.
NOTHING TO DO WITH MCSTUPID!!
NOT FOR BLOG.FOR YOUR EDITORS.
YOUR TITLE "DEATH OF NEW YEAR'S BABY
SHATTERS FAMILY", IS DISGUSTING & SOCIALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE. IT HAS AN INFERENCE THAT IT
WAS THE FAULT OF THE PRECIOUS LITTLE ANGEL
THAT GOT SLAIN. HE DID NOT ASK TO BE BEAT & KILLED.
Obama does not like it when people play dirty... unless it is HIS people playing dirty to trash and bash HIS opponent for him....
Obama pretends to be above it all and a new type of politician- but the way he ran a hating on Hillary vitriolic divisive campaign of hate against his better qualified opponent- tells a different story.
Obama is just propaganda and spin. His goal is to fast track himself to the white house and into the history book.
But attacking his fellow democrats is far worse than what the republicans can now dish out on Obama.
John McCain...what a vile, despicable person. As a life long Republican, I will NEVER vote for a GOP candidate for ANYTHING ever again!!!!
So long....you buncha PUKES!!!!
The hearing is the second thing to go. If he couldn't hear this question, can he hear the phone ringing at 3 a.m.? Bad cover-up from a bad candidate.
Are you sure it wasn't John Kerry and the swift boat story?
"...Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John [Kerry]"
You wrote John McCain, not Kerry. FYI
McCain says he didn't correctly hear the question from the AP reporter? Then why did he answer? One would hope that if the guy thinks he can be President of the most powerful country in the World he'd take the responsibility to not just listen, but to ask if he didn't hear the question in the first place. Once again, McCain's ego and lack of respect for those voters who may not support him rears its ugly head.
I think he means John Kerry (at the end)
He did not hear a question when the reported was close to him and McCain was not sleeping.
Question: How can John McCain hear when the phone rang at 3 a.m. when he is asleep. No chance, there no McCain in the White House. He has become such a fraud after 2000. This is the McCain that I new. I am taking into consideration his moral standing. He left his disfigured wife after an acident for babe. Shame on you, McCain.
Vote for Obama.
What a sad man.
McCain has shown he will stoop to the lowest level possible to try and win. He has no honor. If this is his idea of running a respectful campaign. Can you imagine what else he is lying about? He really makes me sick.
...against then-Democratic presidential nominee John McCain.
Uh...don't you mean John Kerry?
Keep your sense of humor ...?
McInSane is really on top of this one, eh?
Obama ... landslide 2008.
McCain is an old fool...who answers flippantly what he can't hear. He is disgusting,,,but why is media talking about this book and author. He should be shunned by decent people and instead is given air time to air hate,lies and hippocracy. The media today is the responsible party for even talking to him and about him. UGH,,to all of you.
Uh, you mean then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry? Do you guys even read this stuff after you write it?
I believe the article's author intended to write that the Swift Boat Veterans for truth attacked the Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, not John McCain.
Hmmmm.... "several documented falsehoods" ... how about a whole bunch of documented truthhoods? Please rebut specific points.
Eh, shonny, whadiya shay shonny..... eh?