[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/30/art.mccain.email.gi.jpg caption=" A fundraising e-mail sent to McCain supporters Thursday."]
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (CNN) - John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for president, said he was wrong to use an image of Gen. David Petraeus in fundraising material, and it "will not happen again."
His admission came hours after the Barack Obama campaign criticized an e-mail showing McCain shaking hands with the general who has been commanding U.S forces in Iraq.
It was not the first time McCain had used the picture of himself with Petraeus; it appeared on the candidate's website for several days in April before being taken down.
McCain has been hammering Obama for days over the length of time been since the Democratic front-runner last visited Iraq, mentioning Friday it was "873 days."
"I have visited Iraq on many occasions because I think the most vital decision that any president of the United States can make has got to be about the security of this nation and the lives of the young Americans who are serving," McCain said in an e-mail to supporters sent Thursday afternoon.
Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently took the unusual step of admonishing all members of the military to stay out of politics as the presidential campaign heats up.
CNN PLEASE POST!
WHY HE WILL LOOSE AND CAN NOT BE PRESIDENT IN MY BOOK!
Bush, McCain, GOP and CLINTON voted to send 4100 troops to there death and for what? That is the real story here!
1. Is Iran stronger or weaker since Bush/McCain’s invasions of Iraq?
2. Has Osama bin Laden been killed or captured since Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
3. Are we paying more for gas now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
4. Is our economy better of now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
5. Is the White Houses creditability better now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
6. Is the budget deficit higher now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
7. Is the Middle East more peaceful now or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
8. Do we have more American Solders dead or before Bush/McCain’s invasion of Iraq?
This WAR has cost us so much; it is unbelievable that damage that Bush administration has done to this nation. The saddest thing about this WAR most of the American cannot comprehend what has happen during the last seven years of this administration. Further, McCain wants to go down the same road as well disgruntled Hillary supporters! Go figure the blood of these solders are on your hands!
McCain is the Manchurian Candidate.
LOL and it STARTS!! Breaking the rules and Publishing BS THEN the Half hearted appology and move on to the next trick!
Too Bad for McSame that Hillary has us all NUMB to that tactic so it won't work anymore.
I don't see how showing that McCain knows the guy who's gonna be running the whole Middle Eastern Theatre of Operations is a controversial topic. I would also not criticize Obama if he showed a picture of him with Petraeus. It might even show that he is actually listening to our military commanders.
This is not news. This just shows how stupid politicians really are, and we all knew that already.
McBush is a fraud!!! Using the general's image (without permission) with McBush's words is one of the worse kind of political fraud cases(outside the fradulent land deals of McBush).
People look for another "closed door" secret White House with this one!!!
The ad also says that the situation in Iraq is a lot better since last year. Oh Yeah! The death toll level is the same than 2004/2005. What a liar, an hypocrite and someone with no understanding of foreign policies. Can someone in his right mind can vote for that clown.
According to MSNBC news, Fox news and ABC news, Obama has received the endorsement of 2 super delegates, husband and wife from Texas.
why doesn't he McCain camp put a "ticker" on the web and count the days that Obama has not visited the troops? Obama/Axelrod are the democrats answer to Bush/Rove. The only difference is that Obama uses his being half black to great success by using the race card against any opponents. he and his team are brilliant because they allow Obama to stay above the freay while they hammer away.
Flying into the Green Zone so you can walk around with hundreds of soldiers guarding you so you can pretend that things are just peachy-keen in Iraq is not leadership.
It's a photo-op.
Obama knew this war was wrong before he ever visited Iraq. I trust his judgment more than Grandpa Simpson's.
Why should McCain apologize? Doesn't McCain have Decider-In-Chief Bush in his fundraising material, too? He and Petraeus and Bush are the main tap dance trio in the Stay-The-Course-I-Will-Never-Ever-Surrender-Victory-Is-The-Only-Option Iraq War Minstrel Show.
Speaks to judgment. McCain is fundamentally flawed on a variety of levels.
His self serving interests in supporting a useless and dumb war, extend Bush tax cuts, are but a few examples.
For all the touted experience, where are we now?
Being a POW is not a prerequisite for president , irregardless of where your support lies for either Obama or Clinton – a Democrat is needed in the White House!
It was hardly a mistake, policticans apologize more than any other professional, especially during elections.
Gimme a break!
McCain knows right from the start that using these photos is wrong.
He does it anyway, then says he's sorry, nope, won't do it again.
McCain or McSame is always using these sleazy tatics and then apologizing. Someone needs to call him out for it. McCain is a sleaze- ball and will definitely be the same as Bush. Remember Bush used and tricked the religious right.
Wow...I'm first!
Gee...John McCain is apologizing or retracting again! His judgement is just horrible, don't you think? If this is what experience gets us, then God help us if this confused, bitter, brain-addled old republican gets elected.
Man...can he feed himself?
(Okay...I've gone too far. No fair......but geez!!!)
to obama: do not go to Iraq because it is a criminal act for those who put our soldiers in harms way. bush and mccain need to view every casket coming home with our young soldiers. when there are no more caskets then we know the war is over for us. to deceive the american people and use 911 when the intelligent report shows Iraq had nothing to do with 911 means after november we need the Nuremberg trails against all who killed our soldiers FOR NO REASON. REPEAT: OBAMA DO NOT GO TO IRAQ. HAVE BUSH AND MCCAIN GO TO THE BASE WHERE THE CASKETS COME IN AND VIEW THEM EVERY DAY UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE. go to Iraq??? there is no reason, if we leave 1,000 years from now the religious wars in the middle east will still be going on with or without our help. DON'T GO TO THIS WAR CREATED BY BUSH AND NOW SUPPORTED MORE THAN EVER BY MCCAIN. NO REASON TO.
Why should it matter if a candidate has *ever* gone to Iraq? When a politician visits the troops "in the field" he's really just getting a cozy tour of a base, shaking a few hands, maybe having dinner in a mess hall or something. It's nothing more than a publicity stunt. It doesn't prove anything about his ability to be commander-in-chief.
Try walking down a Baghdad street now you backstabber. Do you think the troops are going to watch your back after the way you treated them. Figures an old puke sellout like yourself would turn your back on fellow veterans just like when you left your wife after she patiently waited for you to return from Hanoi.
Dispicable!
I don't know if it is just me, but McCain seems to be making to many mistakes lately in his campaign.....Ginko-Boloba is an herbal supplement design for improving memory capability......can't hurt..can it.
McCain and every other politician that has failed to provide support and the introduction of new bills to support veterans and todays military personnel should stand down.
It makes me sick to know the republican nominee has committed our nation to ruin by supporting a war none needed as like the war he was a p.o.w.
The last two republican presidents were flyers and our nation was grounded by lack of ability to lead, McCain is the same kind of pilot.
You served your nation, just walk away and retire.
May 30th, 2008 12:26 pm ET
Reasons why Veterans, active duty personell, and anyone who cares about them should not vote for McCain:
*AWOL for May 22nd vote on GI Bill. Expressed opposition to bill saying "it was too generous to Veterans".
*Voted against Bill in September that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.
*Voted No on $1.5-billion increase for Veteran Medical services (money would have come from closing corporate tax loophole).
*Voted No on establishing a trust fund to bolster underfunded Veteran Hospitals.
*Voted No in May 2006 against $20-billion allotment for expanding Veteran Medical Facilities.
*Voted No in April 2006 to increase Veteran Outpatient care.
*Voted No in March 2004 another $1.8-billion reserve for Veteran Medical care (again funded by closing corporate tax loopholes).
Bottomline, McCain is more interested in taking care of big business then the men and women he wrongly sent to fight in Iraq.
Fear tactics. surety of false proof. McCain thinks being with the general means the war in Iraq was right from the beginning. And it is even right to stay as long as needed. This is why McCain is possing of the general.
so, how much money is he returning?
watch out mc cain this is how obama plays politics DIRTY TRICKS
WHAT! McBush using the military to further his own political career? SHOCKING!