Everyone already know that John McCain "strenuously disagree[s]" with Charlie Black's comments, but new evidence suggests that McCain has flip-flopped on his latest denial. Proving what? Terrorism can be politically expedient, of course. Speaking about terrorism as a tool in George W. Bush's reelection in 2004, McCain said:
U.S. Sen. John McCain, campaigning in southwestern Connecticut on Saturday, said Osama bin Laden’s video message to Americans will likely energize President Bush’s re-election campaign.
"I think it’s very helpful to President Bush," said McCain, R-Ariz., while stumping in Stamford for U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays. "It focuses America’s attention on the war on terrorism. I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but I think it does have an effect." [AP, 10/30/04]
Obviously this isn't very surprising, considering that Republicans have been playing the fear card since 9/11. But it does show the depths of which McCain will go in order to achieve his presidential ambition.
And as though this isn't enough, CNN's Dana Bash reports that McCain insinuated the same thing after the death of Pakistani Benazir Bhutto. Accoring to Bash:
I was actually with Sen. McCain the very day that Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. ... He really did understand from that moment that this was something that he thought could help him in the race at that point to be the Republican nominee. In fact, at that event that very day I asked Sen. McCain if he thought it would help his political campaign and he said pretty much "Yes." ... So it’s not a secret that back then that Sen. McCain and his campaign thought it would help.
Here's the video:
So will this stay in the narrative for John McCain, at least for the next few days? Time will tell. However, if you're outrage matches mine you can contact the McCain campaign or call them at (703) 418-2008 and tell them that Charlie Black has no business peddling the politics of death in this election year.