Do McCain's comments about loving America put him in a glass house?
By ClarusVisum
@ClarusVisum (2163)
United States
June 21, 2008 11:16am CST
For months now, Michelle Obama's comments on being "really proud" (right-wingers like to ignore the word "really" when quoting her) of her country for the first time in her adult life (another tidbit typically ignored by the bashers) has been a primary avenue of attack from the anti-Obama people. In context, Michelle was referring to being very proud of the significant increases in voter turnout and participation.
But comments that John McCain made in March 2008, in which he says, "I didn't really love America until I was deprived of her company." have now surfaced. Considering that this statement is just as vulnerable to being taken out of context (the original context is basically McCain trying to say that he appreciated America more after being imprisoned overseas--in essence, "absence makes the heart grow fonder") as Michelle's words, doesn't this make the McCain campaign hypocritical, considering that McCain's words sound a lot worse out of context (and it's the candidate saying them, not the candidate's wife)?
Do you think the McCain campaign is throwing stones in a glass house?
2 people like this
6 responses
@TCampbell (180)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I don't think so, at least not in my opinion. I know that Mrs. Obama's comments were totally taken out of context and I'm sure Senator McCain's will be as well. But this is politics and with the Presidential race beginning to heat up, every word from both Senators will be put under a microscope and disected.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 Jul 08
As it turns out this was originally posted a month or so ago and McCain's comments have been completely forgotten by the media, or should I say the few members of the media that ever even mentioned them and Michelle's still being raked over the coals for hers. I don't get it!
Annie
@Gargoyle0134 (1257)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Different stroke for differetn folks? I believe McCain DOES love this country, but I wouldn't vote for him. But I won't take away the fact that his life has mostly been in service of the country.
Just because I am not voting from him, it does npt mean I do not believe that he loves the USA.(I just do not happen to believe in his thoughts on policy.)
2 people like this
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
21 Jun 08
You're missing the point. I don't doubt that McCain loves his country. But the fact is, out of context, McCain's words sound a lot worse than Michelle's also-innocent-in-context words. So isn't it hypocritical for the McCain campaign to be twisting Michelle Obama's words in light of this new information?
Before you answer, think about how the right-wingers would react if footage of Barack Obama were revealed with him saying those words McCain said. Wouldn't they attack him mercilessly for it?
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@anniepa (27955)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I agree with you completely and posted a discussion on this topic also. I think it's an issue that should lay to rest already. Of course McCain loves his country and so does Michelle Obama, as do Barack and Cindy. I sure do think it makes the McCain campaign and his wife in particular seem hypocritical since she's the one who has brought it up at least twice now.
Annie
1 person likes this
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Probably not - the quote is self explanatory. You don't really know what you have until it's gone. A lot of people take their country for granted until something happens to make them realize just how much better it is to be here rather than a select number of other countries.
Then again, I shouldn't underestimate quote miners and word twisters. If they want to smear his character, they will find a way - just a they do with every candidate.
1 person likes this
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
21 Jun 08
Maybe I wasn't clear.
I know very well it's self-explanatory. Both quotes are, and it takes blatant dishonesty to turn them against their speakers. But taken out of context, McCain's quote sounds worse, I think. Given that I'm sure McCain wouldn't appreciate having that quote turned against him the way his campaign has twisted Michelle Obama's words, don't you think it's hypocritical for his camp to make a big deal of what she said?
1 person likes this
@honeydew82174 (1720)
• United States
22 Jun 08
McCain should live in a glass house, because I would love to throw a rock at and brake the glass. How can he say he is better than any one person? After all he did allow himself to be captured in Vietnam. How does anybody know what he said behind closed doors? As tragic as it may be we could say we all live in a glass house, it is a matter if someone is going throw that rock or not.
@mscott (1923)
• United States
22 Jun 08
Two completely different people. McCain who served his country and gave of himself, even suffered more than most of us will ever. M. Obama, gave.....well she wasn't proud of her country until her husband got votes. Not when she went to a great college, not when her husband was elected (though it wasn't much of am election), not when America let her live her life style and raise a family, just now. I am not saying people didn't take her somewhat out of context, but to compare his record of service and sacrifice for his country to what she said...doesn't work well.
Now Mrs McCain, who knows. I never hear her say anything.
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
22 Jun 08
You represent exactly the problem I was talking about. Why must you lie about what Michelle said? She didn't say or mean she was never proud of her country before, anymore than John McCain said or meant that he never loved his country until he became a prisoner of war.
Even Laura Bush has defended this kind of nonsense (namely, saying things like "she wasn't proud of her country until her husband got votes"). Why do you insist on being part of the problem with politics today?
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 Jul 08
"I am not saying people didn't take her somewhat out of context, but to compare his record of service and sacrifice for his country to what she said...doesn't work well. Now Mrs McCain, who knows. I never hear her say anything."
Who's comparing his service to his country to what she said? That's not even applicable here. As for Cindy, you may not have heard her say it but she brought up Michelle's comment at least twice, once right after it happened and again right after Michelle appeared on "The View". Michelle never said she became proud because her husband had gotten votes, in fact she said it had nothing to do with her feelings. She said very clearly she was talking about how people, particularly young people, had finally gotten engaged in the political process.
Annie
