(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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I was for John McCain before I was against him.
I didn't hear the question? That's your lame excuse??? I'm glad to say that I'm backing Obama!!!
too funny. The obama campaigne knew these kind of books would be coming out, and rightly so, we have the right to know the truth about Obama. He's a dodgy character who has a questionable past and questionable friends. Nothing in this book is untrue, but i do love hearing all you obama fans trying to say its lie.
And please stop going on about the GOP as the smearers, you dems do your darn best to smear mccain and put down any republican. it goes both ways in this campaign.
McCain08
I'd like to see someone write a book about McCain and all this antics.
I'd really find that Humorous.
People continually say that the book has false information in it, and that is widely understood (I should hope). But is there anything in the book that is true that is worth noting, media?
How sad that we have individuals that have to lie and stir up hate to win an election. These people are afraid to compete for the votes of Americans by discussing issues. Hopefully, after the meeting with Rev. Rick and the debates that people can make an informed decision.
So, in addition to Alzheimer's, PTSD and various melanoma's, we also have selective hearing disorder...Isn't that kind of like an undocumented immigrant whose been in the country 20 years acting like they don't speak English?
Is his hearing going also ? Is someone reading him email since he does not know how to access the internet. ? Does he not know how to get to barnes and noble or borders? Now that is "Unfit for ommand"
Yeah he's so old that he didn't hear the question ...
By the way, he didn't hear either Americans' complains about the economy, Americans' opposition to the senseless war in Iraq
Actually he didn't hear anything going on in this country otherwise he wouldn't be so out-of-touch of people's needs
So Panamanian McCain is either going deaf or senile. Maybe both?
Uh, I think you mean John Kerry at the end there...
John McCain–I didn't see you "keeping your sense of humor" when Wesley Clark said your military experience didn't qualify you to be commander in chief, and that was 100 times more legitimate than the crap in this book.
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 McCain.
This was today's post. Shouldn't it end with John Kerry?? Ooops!
ehhh? Speak up, I can't hear you? (Someone go get me my hearing aid...)
Yeah right. I don't buy that excuse for a minute. He heard tthe question quite clearly and as always HE LIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's why when he answered the question, his aides quickly escorted him from the reporters because they knew the reporters will hammer and rip him on the response.
McCain is a LIAR and a FRAUD!!!!!!!!!
He didn't hear it?? Another "senior" excuse from the McCain camp.
Stupid, ignorant little man!
Okay, so either the man is so old he's going deaf or he knew exactly what is asked and does think its funny. Given the slime oozing from him I'm willing to beat he did hear the question and does think that Corsi–a skin head bigot who thinks 9/11 was a Jewish conspiracy–is funny.
McCain is a disgusting lier.
Senator MaCain shem on you .
you have it wrong in the last sentence. should be kerry not Mccain
The democratic nominee is wrongly listed as John McCain in the last sentence. Please fix.
Umm, that would be then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, not John McCain. Does anyone proof-read anymore???
Obama '08!
Mccain didn't hear the Question? WOW then why did he answer to it. His campaign has no idea how to control his senior moments.What a sorry excuse for a candidate.You die hard republicans get what you deserve. GO OBAMA
Did I hear that right? McCain's handlers are going to defend the old guy by saying his hearing is failing? Doesn't sound like the best strategy . . .
I'm very disturbed that the McCain camp actually thinks, "I didn't hear the question." is a valid response to this.
In all honesty, why would ANYONE actually respond instead of saying, "I couldn't hear your question?" I can understand a normal guy doing this at a party, but having someone who KNOWS their every word is being pored over care so little that they just throw out random responses to questions they can't hear? How irresponsible is that!?
"I didn't mean to sign that document that allowed oil companies to dig in national parks, I thought it was something else!"