Hamas Says They're For Obama, CNN Says 'McCain Says Hamas Wants Obama'

Photo of Warner Todd Huston.
By Warner Todd Huston | April 19, 2008 - 22:47 ET

In a head spinning effort to make McCain the bad guy of a story, CNN has taken the voiced support for Barack Obama by the terrorist organization Hamas and turned it into a finger pointing at Republican John McCain for being mean to Obama. Talk about spin, CNN has really done a doosie here. Taking the words of the terrorists in Hamas and placing them in McCain's mouth is simply unbelievable. But that's exactly what they've done.

CNN's Political Ticker Blog showed us some gymnastics worthy of the Olympics -- or more correctly a contortionist -- to turn the words of a terrorist into those of John McCain in their ridiculously titled post, "McCain camp says Hamas wants Obama."

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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.

Oh, CNN is all aghast over the nasty McCain camp. There's high dudgeon galore.

“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.”

In an update, they even got some more reaction from the Obama camp in the person of "Obama supporter Rep. Robert Wexler."

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.

But, here is one tiny bit of the story that CNN seems to have overlooked. On April 16th, Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Prime Minister of Hamas, did indeed endorse Barack Obama in an interview on WABC radio.

Our friends over at Powerline posted the audio of the interview where the Hamas operative expressed his admiration for Obama and his hopes that Obama wins the upcoming election.

On Sunday, Aaron Klein and John Batchelor interviewed Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Prime Minister of Hamas, on WABC radio. The interview produced a scoop which, for some reason, has not been widely publicized: Hamas has endorsed Barack Obama for President. Yousef said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election." Why? "He has a vision to change America." Maybe Yousef has some insight into what Obama means by all these vague references to "change."

Now, this audio had been out there for three days before CNN wrote their story tsk tsking John McCain for being a meanie. One wonders why they did not note that McCain isn't the one that said Hamas supports Barack Obama? If one were to read only the CNN piece, one would think that McCain is the one who made the allegation.

CNN did try later on the 18th to update the piece to reflect that they were made aware of the WABC interview. However, they didn't make much effort to correct their erroneous take on the story.

It was a pretty cynical attempt to attack McCain when all McCain was doing was highlighting the truth!

(h/t Newsbuster reader Allen)

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Wow...

...there's a ringing endorsement! Next you'll be telling me Hitler was pulling for Chamberlain to win another term...

This is the biggest campaign news of the week, and nobody (besides NB) seems to be on it - that, at a time when the United States is fighting a global war against terrorism, a major terrorist organization has come out in support of the leading Dem candidate.

Isn't that the sort of thing people should know before the pull that lever in the remaining primaries? If a candidate is considered "good for terrorists", I'd kinda think he'd be considered "bad for America"...

~~~

I admire FDR for not insisting on getting the approval of France and Germany before going to war.
--Anne Coulter

Tom, other outlets are

Tom, other outlets are ignoring it. But IMO CNN, by covering it they way they are, are doing worse. They are distorting the story by putting it in McCain's mouth: "McCain says..."

This not only puts the endorsement in the shadowy realm of merely a "claim" by Sen. McCain, but it sets Sen. Obama up as the victim of a dirty trick, and paves the way for outrage from Obama's campaign and a demand for an apology from McCain for a scurrilous attack.

 

MB...... and NB !!!!!

Yes, it's thoroughly and deliberately misleading, how they're framing it... Hamas SAID it, and the McCain camp, wisely, is letting it's constituents know what Hamas SAID. Disgusting.

Btw, want to be disgusted a little more? Oh, just an overt GOP/Bush smear job -- an "investigative journalistic" report of the Pentagon and the military -- by the NYT, at the top of the FRONT PAGE, no less !!!!

http://www.nytimes.c...

The vile MSM, led by the NYTimes, has their guns out already.

And scan the comments. It's a riot (but it's not so funny) how it's predictably whipping up all the liberal lemmings into yet another frenzy.

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

 

Well I can certainly

Well I can certainly understand their outrage. How DARE the Bush administration put people out there present their view!!

<sarc off>

Just as "true patriotism" means bashing one's country, everyone knows that an "honest" administration would send out people who disagree with them and will trash them at every turn. It's only right!

They make it sound like these spokesmen have been victimized. IF these adults have sold their souls, so to speak, in order to maintain "access" to an administration that they claim expects them to lie, what does that say about them?

mb


Just as "true patriotism" means bashing one's country, everyone knows
that an "honest" administration would send out people who disagree with
them and will trash them at every turn. It's only right!

And they imply that these people sell their souls for "access." For
access to what? An administration that supposedly expects them to lie?
Why would they want that?????

To both: absolutely! It's unreal.

They want a Bush administration who will admit "my decision to overthrow Saddam was wrong", to admit "I don't care about the 'climate crisis', and I'm sorry and I will start to care more with legistlation YOU want", to admit... on and on....

"Just be honest, Mr. President, about these clear and factual (in our lib eyes) wrongdoings, and we will love you and make sure history does not look back on your presidency as "the worst ever".

Okay, okay, of course we won't. We hate you no matter what, and regardless of how much you bend to our liberal whimsy.

You're a Republican, and so is McCain. We, the NYT, want a Democrat in office, and we'll do everything in our power (as an unbiased beacon of real news journalism, of course) to advance this cause.

<sarc off.... too> :p 

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

 

And they imply that these

And they imply that these people sell their souls for "access." For
access to what? An administration that supposedly expects them to lie? Why would they want that?????

Just looking at this again, you're totally right. What's in it for them? They are, sure, more right-leaning Pentagon/military men because they were serving their president! What ruffles the NYT's feathers is how the administration dared to roll out people who offered a counter-opinion to the nonstop MSM criticism of their war tacitcs (trumpeted at every single turn) and all the "torture" going on at Guantanamo, etc..

Laughable.

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

 

MrShy, I'm sure some folks

MrShy, I'm sure some folks are really confused at you quoting something that's not in my post.

For clarification: it was there originally, then I edited my comment and reworded the "access" part.  Apparently you had your reply ready to go and hit the button right after I posted my re-worded comment. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been allowed to edit.

Come on Warner

Hamas is hardly the only people in the world that want Obama to win

You have put much emphasize on why we shoud not listen to the world and just pay attention to American's. Why the contrary opinion regarding Hamas

C'mon Shawn

Huh? Oh, I see: an international terrorist organization has endorsed a candidate for our President, and we shouldn't let it give us pause? Of course not, as long as we have this hang-up about only Americans having a say in who ends up as our President.

Yeah, I remember how FDR was so happy to get that Hitler/Hirohito endorsement in '44.

Hamas

Does not like the Bush administration or the GOP party, They would endorse whoever is the opposite party.

Just like i'm sure the KKK would endorse McCain over Obama, should we give paus as well?

Your "assurances" of what

Your "assurances" of what the KKK would do are meaningless. The FACT is, Hamas supports Obama. THAT we can say for sure without resorting to a wistful imagination.

But, that's alright. We understand the pretzel logic folks of your ilk have to employ to keep looking at yourselves in the mirror.

We understand.

lol Ok Warner

Well I would say that I am correct because the last time I checked, the KKK does not like a black person on gulf courses, let alone the President of the United States.

Pretzel logic of folks of or ilk huh? Once again you prove that your standards do not match up to Noel, Matt or Tom Blumer. They try to set examples and have decent debate instead of smearing.

Oh i'm sorry, am I not allowed to critisize you? I guess anyone that disagrees with you, is a leftist stalker huh?

 

Man, you DO whine a lot!

Man, you DO whine a lot!

Oh please warner

Instead of addressing the issue, you complain about me whining. Kind of sad Warner. Well at least you are not posting and running as much as you usually do. Usually your the whiner. Oh poor me. I'm WTH, I'm much too busy to answer questions because I post on other sites as well. lol.

We need a better class of editorial contributor here.

Hey shawn!

You must attribute that paraphrase, there, fella! 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

LOL blonde

Yes, that was total plagiarsm on my part. I'm sorry. I am so busted :-) I will have to pay you royalties someday.

I'll have to buy you one of those kitten size lobsters for dinner.

You are so busted, Shawn

I had to laugh.....

Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery...or so my mum says.

And it's "kitten-sized" shrimp, fella.

Lobsters can be the size of dobermans! 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

dolberman lobsters?

Wow, that sounds like a big a$$ lobster. lol, It is late at night and your line"a little altered" seemed so fitting for the quality of journalism from this particular contributor. I have not seen any other writer respond to criticisms by calling them stalkers.

 

Yeah, Shawn...you need to

Yeah, Shawn...you need to polish your plagiarism.  You're gonna give it a bad name.

Jer

Jer

Isn't that a song by Bon Jovi? I have a cold or it is allerigeis so I popped a couple Nyquils a little while ago. Too tired to come up with my own material tonight :-)

Actually, he DID address the

Actually, he DID address the issue.  YOU were the one who has to point and go - Look, look they're endorsing Obama, too!  See, see?  As if that somehow legitimizes Hamas.  Hamas... wrap your brain around that, and reach deep down for your latent patriotism.

Down, Pesky!

Just kidding....great to see you here.

But, I must echo your basic sentiment...reach down and wrap your mind around latent patriotism....um, Pesky....were you addressing Osama, Obama....or Chelsea's momma? 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

uhhh pesky dane

I suggest you look back at the comments. I said Warners standards were not as good as others here and he came back and said that I whine a lot.

Interesting how you can come up with that conclusion.

Shawn,

A word to the wise...don't mess with PeskytheDane.

He'll hand you your hat in two words. 

Watch and learn. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Shucks Blonde, I'm just a

Shucks Blonde, I'm just a pajama clad busy-body who knows how to use a search engine... ;-)

Pesky

That was waaaay more than two words.

Warner...are you paying attention?

 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Hee, hee...

Hee, hee...

2 Words

Excellent, PD.

LOL.   :D

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

oky doky blonde

I will try to stay in this debate for a while, but the sleepiness is taking over

I don't think I have debated pesky before. Is he more of a Noel style debater or Sports Politics?

I suggest you just review

I suggest you just review yours. 

Did you or did you not post the following link?

Hamas is hardly the only people in the world that want Obama to win

 

Yes I did pesky

I also told Warner that he insults posters instead of debating them. His comeback was, that I whined alot.

And given your inability to

And given your inability to stay on topic (pointing out that the p-- oops, I mean the Europeans  - want Obama to win just like the terrorists do) I maintain that you had no moral authority to point out any departures from the main topic on his part.

Curiously enough, right

Curiously enough, right after I posted that you whine alot, you whined some more.

Points for consistency. Yaaaa for you.

Sleep well.

I'm dy'n over here!

I'm dy'n over here!

I knew that was you!

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

warner

Thx for the sarcasm. I am too tired and drowsy from the Niquel to debate you now, but we will do it again soon. You sleep well also.

Good night all.

Dane...

By the way, I'd answer the headline with a "yes." Since the international so-called "community" does not now and absolutely never has before had America's interests at heart, I'd say that the international community endorsement of Obama should make of him the anti-American candidate.

Any candidate that has the rubber stamp of the UN or Europe would be our worst choice. Of course, Europe would love it because the REASON they like Obama is because he will damage the USA. And they WANT to damage the USA.

Folks who don't see that are fooling themselves.

Yeah, but Michelle is kinda

Yeah, but Michelle is kinda hot.

Compared...

Compared to what?

Hey, I'll be 45 this year. 

Hey, I'll be 45 this year.  That pool just keeps expanding.

Just like our waistlines,

Just like our waistlines, sadly!

You're killing me... :-)

You're killing me... :-)

shawn, a question...

What part of these two facts do you not understand?:

1) The KKK scenerio is simply hypothetical... it did not happen.

2) Hamas is not just a collection/group of people, or a country, from outside America with no relevence to the goings on of our political process. They. Are. A. Terrorist. Organization. Playing a pivitol role in the stability of the Middle East and looking to eliminate Isreal from the map. Hence (uh duh) who they are hoping will occupy the Oval Office carries a lot of weight and means everything with regards to who we ultimately elect for POTUS.

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

 

Mrshy

Obviously I am not getting anywhere with the KKK simile, so I am going to drop it.

Yes Hamas supports Obama, just like many other parts of the world. I do not see how this is relevant.

This is too easy...

Hamas is well aware its endorsement of Obama will cost him votes in November.  Obviously, they are hoping for a McCain presidency.

Jer

Nonsense...

... But it is interesting how you can read people's minds. I mean, gosh. People don't even have to say anything and YOU can tell what they really mean! Hmmm, maybe you can tell me what the definition of "is" is?

It depends.

It depends.

Jer

You give them waaaay too

You give them waaaay too much credit.  These folks can be Machiavellian up to a point, but let's not get carried away here.  Remember, we are talking about a mind set whose default position is to riot when someone publicly accuses them of being violent.  Somehow, I find myself reluctant to allow for that kind of subtlety on their part. 

Actually, I give Hamas very

Actually, I give Hamas very little credit, and consider their views on American politics virtually worthless.

Jer

OK, so then your earlier

OK, so then your earlier post could have been worded a little better.

Or, I could have included

Or, I could have included one of those "just kidding around" symbols.

Jer

Yeah, I don't think anyone

Yeah, I don't think anyone is going to mistake these sophisticated souls with Han dynasty mandarins engaged in palace intrigue.

You didn't realize those

You didn't realize those are actually Mossad agents in that photo? >:)

Jer

Jer - OK, that was good.

Jer - OK, that was good.

jer

You may be on to something there... either way, how Shawn does "not see how this is relevant" is, well, is beyond me.

But then, for all I know, with his logic any/all things that call into question Obama's qualifcations for president are irrelevent. His CLOSE association with Rev. Wright, shawn? Ayers association? His perception/stereotyping of working class middle Americans?

All of it, not relevent? Let's not "dwell" and just continue to swoon over this person who emerged out of nowhere?

 

* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change

 

Exactly Mr. Shy - it's the cummulative effect of radical

enforcements that is especially troubling. Hammas, Farrakhan, Wright, Ayers, and Chavez. The Europeans also support him because just like the radicals they are thinking about what is best for their agendas, not what is best for America.

s228

so would  you concur that Robert "KKK" Byrd, a U.S. senator should be included in the bunch???

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

gffrman

Not sure, I just know bits and pieces about his affiliation with the KKK. Don't know all the details to make a informed decision.

s228, sounds like

you know a lot about everyboby else's business but those that have ties to our country.  Hamas yes, sure about, but Robert "KKK" Byrd.....NOT sure....hmmmmmmmmmmmm???

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

I keep betting that an

I keep betting that an entire week will pass without someone at NewsBusters mentioning that, once upon a time, Byrd was a member of the Klan.  And I keep losing.

Jer

Jer

or a day that goes by without someone mentioning the a certain somebodys blue dress.

Has anyone...

... mentioned lately that Obama has this racist, anti-American pastor...?

You're kidding! 

You're kidding!  Who?

Jer

It's just you this week,

It's just you this week, pal.

Crap...

Crap! And I thought we had the meme-machine on high this week!

Well, there's always that whole sniper business.

Snipper to you, WTH

With all due respect, of course. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

We should...

We should be careful how we talk about rifle fire lest our pal Shawn imagines that we are shootin' at him! Just imagine the carping if he thought we had the shootin' irons out fer 'im!?

Warner

I have no problem whatsoever with Blonde. I respect her alot. I have not had much interaction with Pesky Dane, so I cannot say about him. I also like Dee Bunk. I have had a few small problems with freestinker and Mr. Shy, but nothing major. They should really kiss and make up

I have asked you respectfully in the past, why you call people stalkers, if they do not agree with your opinion. Maybe your in the wrong business, if you cannot accept constructive criticism.

Haven't done this in a

Haven't done this in a while, Blonde.  Good to check in every every now and then.

Lata, Pesky.

Shades of....um....someone! 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

s228 said:


"I would say that I am correct because the last time I checked, the KKK does not like a black person on gulf courses..."

Mind you, they don't have a problem with African Americans on courses further inland... ;-)

~~~

I admire FDR for not insisting on getting the approval of France and Germany before going to war.
--Anne Coulter

What opposite party shawn? It's between Hillary and Obama

right now and they didn't endorce Hillary, they endorced Obama.

Dee, Liberals can't help

Dee,

Liberals can't help it. They start with the premise of The Vast Right Wing Conspiricy and apply their belief to everything.

 

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

Hi Free - and oops I meant endorsed

I have to clarify that embarrassing error. I don't know how I do that sometimes - especially twice! Oh well.

Yeah the VRWC is alive and well in the minds of liberals and not one of them here has even addressed WTH's point that CNN is not only acting as if McCain doesn't have a right to let people know that Hammas supports Obama, they act as if he's making it up.

No worries Dee! :-)

No worries Dee! :-)

No grade for spelling here at NB. In fact the only grade or score around here is this . . .

Dee: 1

Shawn: 0

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

I'm sorry Shawn - but this cracks me up.

You are so funny Free. I guess this means you saw mine and Shawn's argument.

That one ended in a tie privately. I have a lot of respect for Shawn even though he can be very misguided. Some day he will appreciate your humor, but today I think maybe not.

No problem Dee

If you feel his scoreboard is funny, you have a right to your POV. Also maybe I have been too hard on freestinker lately, if that is what gets him through the day, then by golly I will try my best to not complain about it.

wash, rinse, spin, repeat

This is similar to the spin where a Democrat attacks another Democrat, then says that it's nothing compared to what the Republican attack machine will do in the general election.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944

Traitorous Wretches

So now CNN is covering for the terrorist group Hamas, after bowing to the communists in China? Yes, this is news.

Wolf and the pack have some explaining to do.

 

 

Geez, Warner

Can't you possibly find a press release that quotes a sane person?

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."

Rob Wexler is a whackjob.  He is in the forefront of an "impeach Bush" initiative.  (Visit his website) He's a lunatic from South Florida....how do I know that?  Well....he's right up the road.

Sorry Warner...I was being, um, ironical.

Rob Wexler....another South Florida embarassment.

Woe is me!

P.S.  If you really want a laugh...google the political landscape here in So.Fla.  Hillary's national co-chair is Debbie Wasserman Shultz....and Bambi's Florida Chair is Nob (whoops, Rob) Wexler.

There are no end to the loonies here.  Serially.

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Well at least the obnoxious

Well at least the obnoxious Presidents of Iran and Venezuela haven't endorsed Senator Obama, yet! Or have they?

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

Says, Needs, Shows

This is very typical of MSM tactics. Here's another one. A NYT opinion piece today states: "McCain needs to show how he would govern..." The key here is that the MSM requires proof from Republicans. And then, the MSM gets to decide (and report) on how the Republican didn't meet the MSM's standard of proof.

This almost never happens to a Dim. How many times has a front-page article or opinion piece demanded proof from a Dim? Instead, it's almost always sweetness and honey as the MSM touts the wonderful Dim accomplishments; or at the very least, the "effort" put forth by the MSM's favorites Dims.

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

Too good to check?

I wonder... in the original post, did CNN's writer ("reporter" may be a bit of a stretch here) bother to check and see if the quote was valid?

If a revered ex-POTUS (among Dems) is cozying up with Hamas, and Hamas is rooting for the man who will most likely be the Dem nominee, what does that say about the Donkey party?

In MSM world, it's hate to point out Democrat failings, shortcomings, and missteps. 

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Oh-my?

Does this mean that I should stop watching CNN now?

/sarc

I suppose they'll need to get a new acronym now too, because they seem to be so onboard with cousin Barry.