Vieira to McCain About War Opponents: 'What Are We Missing?'

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From the moment she participated in an anti-war march in NYC at the time of the 2004 GOP convention, there's been little doubt as to where Meredith Vieira stands on Iraq. Even so, it was something of a shock to hear the "Today" co-host express her opposition in the first person plural this morning.

Discussing the war with Sen. John McCain [R-AZ] at about 7:05 AM ET this morning, she said:

"Six out of ten Americans don't agree [with you]. They want a pull-out from Iraq. So what are we missing? When you say we are succeeding, based on what?"

"We?" Give Meredith credit for candor; but one more reason for NBC to stop pretending it doesn't lean left.

View video here.

Credit McCain for hitting a Dem nail on the head a bit earlier in the exchange. In the set-up piece, a clip was played of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-NV] saying on the Senate floor: "This war is not worth the spilling of another drop of American blood."

MCCAIN: If that's true, that why doesn't Senator Reid and the Democrats propose cutting off funding and bring them home tomorrow? Why wait 18 months?

EARLY SHOW BONUS COVERAGE: Interviewing McCain over on CBS, co-host Hannah Storm demonstrated how hard it is for members of the MSM to understand Republican politics, it being so foreign to them.

STORM: Senator, turning to the presidential race, in many polls you've fallen behind Rudy Giuliani among Republican voters. Are you concerned that your position on this war, and your support of sending more troops in, might cost you your dream of becoming president?

MCCAIN: It may but I can't worry about it, Hannah. . This is too important. This is far more important than any political ambition I might have. I'd much rather lose a campaign than lose a war.

Nicely said, but surely McCain understands what Storm doesn't. First, that McCain's support for the surge and opposition to setting a date for withdrawal is indistinguishable from Giuliani's and Romney's. Second, it is precisely McCain's support for the war that is keeping him in the Republican primary race.

There's a perfect illustration of what happens to otherwise-conservative Republicans like Chuck Hagel [R-NE] who oppose the war. They hold press conferences announcing that they might announce in a year, meaning they realize they have no chance in a Republican primary. McCain has faltered not because he has been too staunch a war supporter but because of his insufficient conservatism on tax cuts, campaign finance reform and immigration

But how could you expect an MSMer to understand that?

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net