Campaign says McCain didn't hear question on attack book
(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.
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This is America and you can lie about whatever you want. The Republicans have been doing this for years.
the Obama campaign appearently doesn't have a sense of humor nor do they appear to have any sense at all. our nation faces many serious problems ones that will make the cuban missle crises seem like an SNL skit they better grow up or get out of the way. this country needs leaders not whiners!
Why would anyone in their right mind vote for McCain? People say they are afraid of Obama b/c they don't know him, or he's not one of us, he's too risky. The BIGGEST RISK to this country would be for McCain to get elected.
"But McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said later Thursday the Arizona senator actually did not hear the question"
Something tells me that will be a common theme if Senator McCain is elected president.
When Regan was president, it was "I don't recall".
I'm gonna run a clean and positive campaign. What? A book comes out slamming Obama with every lie and internet rumor ever created? Oh, come on.. doesn't Obama have a sense of humor?
McCain makes me sick.
Low Road McCain aka McBush. Washington definitely does need to be cleaned up.
It's time for REAL change in Washington, it's time to elect Barack Obama for president !
why is the media hard on John Edwards, what about John McCain he cheated on his wife and she was sick and left her for Cindy McCain.
Leave John alone, his private life is between God, his wife and him.
Everyone in the media bashing John Edwards, I am sure has done this or something worse.
My friends, I sense McCain's lying. Let me give you some straight talk... his response to the question was "you've gotta keep a sense of humor" later he said he never even heard the question but would not comment.
One of the supposedly false comments is that Obama belonged to a radical Christian church when in truth he belonged to Trinity United on the southside of Chicago.Excuse me, but how do you think the church of Rev. Wright might be described? I think radical militant describes it perfectly.
LOL , Obama cant defend himself so he jsut attacks mccain, wow,
contradictions you can believe in!
Hey Mel ,,, Cindy is not running for President.... Lots of people are addicted to prescription drugs... You candidate used illegal drugs...and nothing is made of this... by the media... How do we know he is not on drugs now? You Obamamites have selective hearing and knowledge. Blinded by Hope and Change I guess.
A few weeks ago they said that McCain does not speak for the McCain campaign on Social Security and now they are saying he didn't hear the question. Wow, there is a LOT Of covering up going on this year with the GOP. More than usual.
Obama and his staff are beginning to whine. The end is near. Maybe Hillary can save the election.l
Why should McCain disown a book he did not write? Why don't reporters understand when a candidate does not want to answer a silly question? Why does Obama take everything so personally? I shudder to think that this whiner and his campaign whiners might run the White House.
Hilarious comments, guys! Seriously. Good stuff. Keep 'em comin'.
Do you ever notice that there are still no answers coming from Obama and his people....only fingers of blame pointed at everyone else.
This turkey won't fly.
As the Convention are coming closer and closer by the day, McCain's tactics are becoming more and more vicious. He heard the clarion call of Obama's supporters; America is fed up with the same-ol presidents and now is time for something fresh! GO OBAMA!!
Isn't it time for this author to be prosecuted for slander? Or perhaps sued??And do people have any idea how easy it is to debut on the best seller list for this genre??
Mcain is the same man that payed no attention to the lies that got us in the war in Iraq. I hope the voters heard that.
CNN-why have you not reported on the conflict of interest with McCain, his campaign manager with lobbyist ties to Th country of Georgia? If you have time to report on Obama's swim in Hawaii, why not this GLARING truth?
This election is a sad indictment on our country's intelligence and level of political discourse. It hurts me to think what kind of country will be left for my children.
McCain didn't hear the question while he was awake. Will he hear the phone at 3am?
Get over it! Obama and his camp were warned that the Repubs would chew him up and spit him out in little pieces. All of you supporters said to bring it on so here it is. That's what Repubs do so quit your whining and "man" up!
Uhhhh.... let me get this straight: this would be the Mary Matalin who is James Carville's wife who is publishing this book? Nice. Team Clinton strikes again. What horrible bolt of cloth are the Clintons cut from, anyway?
Just another entry in the column that makes me never want to see her hold public office again.
I don't understand why there is a big issue if he is a Muslim, too me it seems that the media feeds the fear of religious intolerance which then is reflected elsewhere in todays society.