The MSM is sure to have a field day with McCain advisor Charlie Black's statement that a terror attack on U.S. soil "would be a big advantage" to the Republican candidate. McCain has been quick to dissociate himself from the remark, and surely Black would have been well-advised not to make it. Predictably, CNN's Jack Cafferty has been leading the charge against Black. In his "Cafferty File" question this afternoon, the CNN commentator called Black's remark "breathtaking in its stupidity" and asked viewers whether Black should be fired.View video here.
But does Cafferty, in all his outrage, realize that Hillary Clinton made a remark almost identical to Black's? Here's Hillary, in a report from . . . CNN entitled "Clinton: Terrorist attack would help GOP" [emphasis added]:
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She says she is the Democrat best equipped to fight terrorists, but White House hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton told New Hampshire voters Thursday that another attack on the United States would likely help Republican candidates at the polls..So, will Cafferty also be accusing Hillary of "breathtaking stupidity," and calling on Obama to exclude her from his campaign? Not holding breath . . .
"It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself, 'What if? What if?' " Clinton, a New York Democrat, told a house party in Concord, according to the New York Post and The Associated Press and confirmed by her campaign.
"But, if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world."
Clinton added that if such a scenario occurred, she is the best Democratic presidential candidate "to deal with that."
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Cafferty reminds me of the
June 23, 2008 - 16:50 ET by marpelCafferty reminds me of the Alan Combes type. You wonder if they really do believe themselves and what they are saying. It's usually so lame or stupid, you can't help wondering if they really mean it, or they're saying it because they get paid to be divisive.
Cafferty and Colmes almost
June 23, 2008 - 17:17 ET by Chris NormanCafferty and Colmes almost act like a conservative satirizing them. They speak in such knee jerk liberal boiler plate. If a liberal politician was convicted of murder, Colmes would defend the crime of murder.
Still Stupid
June 23, 2008 - 16:51 ET by MeanderingEven though she said a similar thing, its still a stupid thing to say. Plus, I would think it would be a devistating blow as the War should be decreasing the violent acts of terrorists, not causing them to attack us again. I'm not familiar with Black, but McCain should think about cutting him lose, or something.
The terrorist aren't
June 23, 2008 - 17:07 ET by danboThe terrorist aren't stupid. They know who to vote for. The terrorist vote through their actions.
"There is a clear attempt to establish truth not by scientific methods but by perpetual repetition."
- Richard S. Lindzen, Ph.D. Professor of Meteorology, MIT
Obama's latest endorsement
June 24, 2008 - 09:32 ET by pbanks7Obama's latest endorsement is from none other than Kim Jong (mentally) Il. I have a nice picture of him, courtesy of Michelle Malkin.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe.
It was a stupid thing to
June 23, 2008 - 17:22 ET by Chris NormanIt was a stupid thing to say. These people are supposed to be professionals and are paid a great deal of money not to say such stupid things that only harm their own campaign. What is it that makes supposed professionals blurt out crap like this every once and awhile?
similar to her RFK comment
June 23, 2008 - 18:54 ET by mom_roxWhen I heard this, I immediately thought of Hillary's RFK assassination comment. A true statement, but shouldn't be stated in a campaign. Yes, they should know better, but I put more onus on the politician rather than a campaign representative.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
What Makes 'Em Do It?
June 23, 2008 - 20:12 ET by geoff.galeChris, here's the recipe: take multiple TV networks with 168 hours of programming to fill each week and an editorial policy akin to that of a New York newspaper of the 1890's. Fold in a pack of drooling reporters following people around or luring them onto their set with promises of "publicity." Mix in a group of greedy, self-centered self-promoters who think they can "capitalise" on the media presence to get their message out to the public, but who fail to recognise their shortcomings as effective communicators. Throw in a dash of jet lag fatigue and perhaps a dollop of psycho-active medications of one sort or another. Et, voilá, a foot in the mouth moment. It's a recipe for stupidity.
Think about the things you say during the course of an average day, things that upon reflection you might have said differently, or refrained from saying at all. Now imagine that happening under questionning from Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
www.conservativeboot...
demons?
June 23, 2008 - 17:10 ET by ort777Jack came out with a book a little while ago and I guess he said he was a recovering alcoholic. Friday, he thought it would be funny to put a comment up about someone saying beer is cheaper than gas and that was a good thing. I find it amazing that a recovering alcoholic would, out of the dozens of comments, pick this one to show. He also kept showing comments that had people saying they'd watch nothing but CNN this year and of course, vote Obama. Jack needs a real job on a real network. I wonder if he's bitter about playing second fiddle so Wolf all the time.
Well of course Cafferty is
June 23, 2008 - 17:35 ET by bigtimerWell of course Cafferty is going to have a forgetful memory when it comes to the same side of the aisle as he saying basically the same thing...he works for CNN..it's his job, it's what he does.
Agenda...agenda...agenda.
Btw...it my be a stupid thing to say according to some...but it's true in my opinion...
Of course we can't have that word truth in politics...now can we...it's not PC.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
confused
June 23, 2008 - 18:57 ET by Ran56I agree BT, what part of Black's statement was wrong?
GOP plot?
June 23, 2008 - 19:53 ET by nkviking75If (God forbid) a terrorist attack happened before the election, Cafferty would probably accuse the Republicans of having something to do with it.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Of course he would...along
June 23, 2008 - 20:01 ET by bigtimerOf course he would...along with the rest of the majority of the msm...nothing new.
What makes me angry is Black stated facts...simple as that...
I have heard/watched Black for years..once again if McCain had said I don't like the way he may have phrased this but I understand his sentiments or some-such...instead of immediately throwing him under the bus....
Oh well..in my dreams..
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Cafferty also thinks "terror" or threats give Reps an advantage
June 23, 2008 - 20:20 ET by Jack BauerSo I was wondering out loud, has Cafferty ever reached a similar conclusion? That terror, or the threat of terror, was used to give the Republicans a political "advantage."
I mean, it is a foundation of Leftist talking points that Bush orchestrates terror threats to give the Republicans a political advantage. A BIG advantage, if you will. They really believe it. That's undeniable, right?
So I dug this up from Jan 20, 2006.
http://www.mrc.org/p...
Great catch, JB. Which
June 23, 2008 - 20:32 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGreat catch, JB. Which reminds me, when will '24' return to the air, or do we care now that Garafolo will be part of the cast?
thanks Mark -- it is almost
June 23, 2008 - 20:40 ET by Jack Bauerthanks Mark -- it is almost too good to be true. But it is!
24 returns Jan 2009. When Jack will be ahem -- 52 years old, as it will be 4 years in TV time since his last adventure. And 17 years in TV time since the first series when Jack was the same age as Keifer Sutherland!
Chloe will now have a four year old toddler. I had no idea that would be played by the tantrum throwing Geraldo.
Let's hope Jack asks for a hacksaw again.
Actually what would
June 23, 2008 - 20:37 ET by MidAmericaActually what would happen if an attack were successful before the election there would be an explosion in the media excoriating Bush for not doing his job to protect us. There would be hearings and calls for impeachment. Editorials and columns would spew forth like overdue volcanoes. All the talk shows would babble incessantly about connecting dots. All this noise would be produced to distract the public from the real issue which is that we have real enemies and we have to be vigilant. So the emphasis would be on the 'failure' of George Bush and the need for a 'new direction'.