McCain camp says Hamas wants Obama
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/18/art.mccainemail.cnn.jpg caption="The McCain campaign says he would be tougher on Hamas."] (CNN) - John McCain’s campaign sent supporters a fundraising e-mail Friday that claims Hamas approves of Democrat Barack Obama’s foreign policy vision, and is hoping for his victory this fall.
“Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders,” writes McCain deputy campaign manager Christian Ferry. “Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, ‘We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America.’”
The McCain fundraising e-mail says Obama’s stands have earned him “kind words” from Hamas. “John McCain's foreign policy provides a stark contrast to the policies of Barack Obama,” writes Ferry. “While Senator Obama would surrender in Iraq and hold talks with the Iranian regime, John McCain will never surrender in the struggle with Islamic extremists. Please join our campaign today by making a generous donation of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or $2,300.”
In response to earlier comments by McCain over Obama’s position on former President Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas – when the Arizona senator said that “Senator Obama does not have the experience to make the right judgment as to how to deal with terrorist organizations, obviously” and that he approved of the dialogue – the Obama campaign said that the Democratic presidential hopeful did not condone the former president’s decision.
“Proving once again that the Straight Talk Express has lost its wheels, John McCain is repeating tired and divisive attacks about Barack Obama that he knows are flat out untrue,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. “Barack Obama disagreed with President Carter's meeting with Hamas and has said so repeatedly, and we look forward to John McCain's clarification and apology for his latest false political attack.”
UPDATE: Obama supporter Rep. Robert Wexler responded to the McCain fundraising e-mail. "John McCain likes to talk about the civil campaign he plans to run, and yet today he has engaged in a shameful, divisive, and cynical kind of politics that he pretends to reject - all in reckless pursuit of campaign dollars," said Wexler, calling the message "empty tough talk and divisive fear mongering."
"We call on Senator McCain to reject this embarrassing and outrageous tone, and to join with Barack Obama in calling for an America that is united in its determination to isolate Hamas and support our ally Israel," he said.
(Updated 5 p.m. with Obama response; EDITED to reflect that the World Net Daily/WABC interview has since been widely distributed through other news outlets.)
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Hmmm, seems some of Clinton's desperation is rubbing off on McCain!
Looks to me like CNN is joining ABC for FOX NEWS ratings.
How low can you go? Losing respect for McCain now. And that's too bad, I've always liked him even though I disagree with him often.
Rove... is that you?
And McCain has the NERVE to call Obama as "recklessly dishonest"?
The politics of fear are OVER!
Period!
Obama '08
EVERY BODY LOVES OBAMA ....
They confirm ALL ... WORLD .....EVERY BOYD ......LOVES OBAMA
HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS BEST TO BRING THE WORLD COME TOGETHER>>>....
GO OBAMA 08
Dirty old man !
I think the legal voting age should be raised to 25.The immaturity of the obama supporters on here smacks of spoiled college brats.Talk to me about obama when youve been in the real world kiddies.
Well, Well Well, Grandpa McCain missed his afternoon nap. What a outrageous thing to say. That's the best he and his senior citizen campaign managers could come up with. He and his plastic stepford wife need to know it is over, nobody is going to listen to him. Let's talk about real issues Grampy McCain. Pathetic!!
Obama is going to get killed in the GE.
Am I the only one that sees this?
The conservatives in my community are all saying that if the nominee is Obama they will definently vote McCain. PA and Ohio are conservative and will not vote for him against McCain.
I am an independent (moderate) and probably the most liberal person in the community. He will not win !!!
He will lose key conservative states (PA, Ohio, Fl)
Looking at the supporters of Obama....I'll pull the lever for Hillary on Tuesday.
If anything Obama is like Bush with his arrogrance and stupidity
So????
For the very first time I am disgusted with Senator McCain. He said on the Hardball College Tour he would not use negative politics. This is right back to the Swiftboat nonsense that has American fed up with the right wing neo cons.
I thought he was running a ticket on being honorable. Amazing!
I dont think we needed a news clip to figure that out.
The McCain campaign has gone from economic desparation to the mundane. This recent jab shows what idleness can do. Was it not said that there is a link between the devil and an idle mind. It no longer surprises me that McCan lacks a grasp of the economy with the devious level they have degenerated to in an effort to get their campaign going. Well we are not the Morons they think we are. They can circumvent the issues to their peril.
As a republican im ashamed of these tactics from McCain.What I don't understand if McCain wants to see Obama lose the nomination what would he use against Hillary in NOV?
Crap you think Hamas is that dumb to say out straight who they want. If anything they want McCain. Why? Because he will keep us in Iraq in a frustrated war where they know we are not capable of fighting three wars at a time and get involve with Israel if they want us too.
hey Jim: yes 9/11 did happen on the GOP watch, but Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda had already declared their war on us during the 90's...
I am a registered Republican since 1992. I came to this Country in 1986 and for the first time in my Adult life I will be voting for a Democrat. Barack H. Obama
I am not thrilled about his middle name, but the Man's poliies make sense. We had been running this Country with the same old failed policies for awhile now.
If you keep doing things the same way over and over and again and expect different results. That equals MADNESS
We didn't talk to Cuba and Castro run the Country for over 40 yrs. What is wrong with our policies They lack COMMON SENSE.
Engage your enemies so reasonable people can see that you tried then Squash them when they don't comply.
Barack you have my support and many other Republicans supporting you. You will WIN
OBAMA 08
MCCAIN needs to retire to Florida. God's Waiting Room
Go OBAMA 08
This is such a wonderful example of a respectful discussion of the issues. Boy it's great when the candidate says one thing and the camp says another.
I hope "McCain deputy campaign manager" Christian Ferry gets a stern talking to when this gets around to enough people.
But hey, you can't call it "recklessly dishonest", can you? Let's all taste the hypocrisy in the air.
The Republican Party has become the PARTY OF HATE. They HATE anybody that does not think like their Klan. Give me the Liberals any day.
This is really funny. McCain is qouting a fringe lunatics group of a fringe lunatic. Shocking that people of other countries want a president that wont INDESCRIMINATLY kill them... shocking, appalling, barbaric, that they want a president that will give them a reason TO NOTE HATE this country
Really?!?!??!?!
How can these Republicans even go there?
Seriously.
They have played right into the hands of our worst enemies, when faced with threats. Bin Laden is quoted as saying his goal is to bankrupt the US.
Well, with our Republican leadership running off to fight wars in the wrong countries against ghost-enemies, we have really helped Bin Laden to achieve his goal.
We're now on shaky financial ground, our military is being pushed beyond capacity, and the world views us as morally disturbed.
Bush and Company have been the greatest allies to would-be terrorists and extremists. They have legitimized and grown what used to be a very small group of outlaws into a world power! Outrageous!