Kerry supports McCain for Defense Secretary

[newsguyatl]

just crossed the wires.

BC-CAMPAIGN-KERRY 05-12 0632
BC-CAMPAIGN-KERRY
Decrying Iraq, Kerry cites McCain for defense chief
By Adam Entous
ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - Democratic challenger
John Kerry said Wednesday his first choice as defense
secretary would be Republican Sen. John McCain as he criticized
the Bush administration for failed policies in Iraq.
Kerry slammed President Bush and Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners,
their failure to build an international coalition and other
"miscalculations surrounding this war."
"This thing has been so extraordinarily mismanaged and
ineptly prosecuted," the Massachusetts senator told the "Imus
in the Morning" radio program one day after Army Maj. Gen.
Antonio Taguba, who investigated the mistreatment at the Abu
Ghraib prison, told Congress the abuse reflected a failure of
leadership in the U.S. armed forces.
Renewing his call for Bush to take full responsibility for
the prison scandal and Rumsfeld to resign despite his apology,
Kerry singled out McCain of Arizona, a fellow Vietnam War
veteran and frequent Bush critic, when pressed on who he would
want running the Pentagon.
"I have any number of people that I would make secretary of
Defense, beginning with our good friend John McCain," Kerry
said. McCain was not immediately available for comment.
Kerry listed several other possible candidates "who could
manage it (the Pentagon) very effectively," including
Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan and Republican Sen. John
Warner of Virginia, the top ranking senators on the Armed
Services Committee.
McCain's name has surfaced on the long lists of potential
running mates for Kerry but he has denied any interest. In
addition, Kerry used McCain's image in one of his campaign
ads.
McCain was defeated by Bush in the bitterly fought 2000
Republican Party primary. With a strong following among
independent voters, McCain has always had a reputation for
outspokenness, recently defending Kerry against Republicans
questioning his commitment to national security.

SAYS BUSH "DISMISSED" GENEVA CONVENTION
Kerry blamed Bush and Rumsfeld for the prisoner abuse
scandal in Iraq, saying they "dismissed" the Geneva Convention
after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks "so that the status of
prisoners, both legal and moral, becomes ambiguous at best, and
I think as we hear from Gen. Taguba, worse that ambiguous,
major failures in command."
"I think you're going to see a command failure here," Kerry
said. He predicted more "public backbiting" which he warned
would hurt the military.
Kerry said his goal was to bring other countries into Iraq
to "get rid of this American occupation, (to) get the target
off the American troops alone, (and to) get the war out of the
pocket of the American taxpayer exclusively."
Pressed on his characterization of atrocities committed by
U.S. troops in Vietnam, Kerry said many U.S. actions during the
war ran counter to the Geneva Convention.
"I used a pretty harsh word and I regret the harshness of
it," he said. "But the reality is that ... countless numbers of
books have been written that have chronicled how we went awry
over there."
Kerry brushes aside complaints from some Democrats that his
campaign was stagnating at a time when Bush's approval ratings
are falling to new lows.
"We're doing just terrific," Kerry said. "The fact is that
I am running stronger against an incumbent president than any
challenger in history, and we're going to win this race."
Kerry said those critics who "wrote me off" before the
primaries were wrong.
"Does it take time to sink in? Sure. Do people need to get
to know me over the next months? Yes. That's what a campaign's
about."
REUTERS

[soleft]

1. I thought that he meant McCain should be picked if Rumsfeld gets canned

not that he would be his appointment when he wins in Nov.

[Spazito]

2. My understanding is that he was saying that John McCain as...

a replacement for Rumsfeld to counter the repub argument that one cannot replace the Sec of Defense during two "wars". He was not saying that McCain was his choice for Sec of Defense in his administration. That's my take on it, anyway.

[Q]

5. Then read this:

""I have any number of people that I would make secretary of
Defense, beginning with our good friend John McCain," Kerry
said. McCain was not immediately available for comment.
Kerry listed several other possible candidates "who could
manage it (the Pentagon) very effectively," including
Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan and Republican Sen. John
Warner of Virginia, the top ranking senators on the Armed
Services Committee.
McCain's name has surfaced on the long lists of potential
running mates for Kerry but he has denied any interest. In
addition, Kerry used McCain's image in one of his campaign
ads."

[KittyWampus]

17. Put In Context Of Rumsfeld Resigning...

that is the context Kerry says, "I have any number of people...".

It's really that simple.

[w13rd0]

3. Oh lordy...

...that last bit, Kerry is speaking in Rummy-speak.

"Does it take time to sink in? Sure. Do people need to get
to know me over the next months? Yes. That's what a campaign's
about."

Don't do that John, it's REALLY annoying.

[cosmicdot]

14. you bet.

arghhhhhh!

[Q]

4. I remember watching McCain speak on the floor...

...saying that that attacking Iraq would be something similar to a 'cakewalk'. He was one of the main driving forces that took us into an illegal war.

- It shows the sad state of the Democratic party when they have to choose REPUBLICANS for important positions instead of someone in their own party. The DLCers won't be happy until this is a one-party state.

[Oddman]

6. Kerry was referring to McCain as a replacement for Rummy

not for his own administration . .


As President Bush put it, they are an exceptional "few bad apples"
whose actions "do not reflect the nature of our country."

[Frances]

8. Bush should appoint McCain or Levin or Sen. Warner NOW!

That's what Kerry said. In other words, Rummy should go. And I think every single person on DU would agree with this assessment.

I would really appreciate it if you DUers would read the post before going off half-cocked.

[lancdem]

12. Just a little perspective

It's not uncommon for presidents to cross the aisle to choose a defense secretary. Clinton picked a Republican, William Cohen, in his second term and Kennedy chose GOPer Robert McNamara.

[stewert]

7. Your headline is Misleading.......

He said if Rumsfeld was fired or quit McCain or Levin or Warner could replace him.

I heard him say it with my own ears on Imus this morning.

[newsguyatl]

10. calm down people

jesus.

i'll change the fucking headline. damn.

[madeuplikebowie]

11. Thats what I heard too

He didn't say Mccain was his choice, he said there were a number of choices to choose from to replace Rummy.

[maggrwaggr]

16. so is what's quoted above a misquote?

If it is, it's a pretty major misquote

[onehandle]

9. Replace Rumsfeld with McCain in the Bush Administration. nt

nt

[riverwalker]

13. wheeew! thanks for clarification n/t

[cosmicdot]

15. nothing like straight talk ... everyone's in agreement on what he meant

:eyes:

let's spend a few weeks sorting it out

:)