CINCINNATI - Republican candidate John McCain on Tuesday disavowed comments by a local talk-radio host who called Democrat Barack Obama a “hack Chicago-style Daley politician” at a campaign stop here.
Conservative radio host Bill Cunningham warmed up the crowd of several hundred by referring repeatedly to the Democratic presidential front-runner as “Barack Hussein Obama” and slamming national media for what he described as sympathetic coverage of Democrats.
Cunningham also said former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, who served under Democratic President Bill Clinton, “looks like death warmed over.”
Cunningham’s “Daley politician” remark was a reference to former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, the last of the big-city political bosses, who ran Chicago for more than 20 years until his death in 1976. His son, Richard M. Daley, is the city’s current mayor.
At a press conference after the rally, McCain immediately distanced himself from Cunningham’s comments.
“I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals, who are honorable Americans,” McCain said, referring to Obama and Hillary Clinton, the other remaining Democratic candidate.
“I have never met Mr. Cunningham but I will certainly make sure that nothing like that ever happens again,” the visibly annoyed Arizona senator said.
McCain has not shied away from criticizing Obama and Clinton, especially for their support of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, but he prides himself on limiting his attacks to their political positions.
McCain’s had plenty of practice disavowing comments this week. He spent much of the day Monday disavowing a statement that he would lose the election if he did not convince Americans that they are winning the war in Iraq.
Local Republicans usually determine who appears on stage with McCain, but the campaign may have to play a larger role to avoid such mishaps in the future, a campaign aide said.
Photo credit: Reuters/John Sommers II (McCain at Ohio rally)
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Hello, I am a Christian and I really think Obama is bad for the United States…I believe with all my heart that he was raised a radical Islamic and by someone who doesn’t belive in my God…Everyone should read the bible and they would see how dangereous Obama really is…How is the best way to cause a country to fall? from within and how easy would that be if he were to be the leader of that country….They keep saying that Obama will bring change and that change i’m afraid it will not be the change that people think it will…How can people of a smart country really believe him, just read about him and it’s clear what he really is…Please DO Not vote for him….It’s plain to see that he wasn’t raised as an American beliefs and he sure isn’t God fearing…He wouldn’t even place his hand on our Bible and he has a picture of the communist leader on his wall in his Houston Office..Please for all our sakes kick him to the curb.Thank You
- Posted by Brenda Evans