Wexler, Ellison Slam McCain’s Iraq Assessment: ‘That’s Ridiculous,’ ‘He’s Just Dead Wrong’
Wexler, Ellison Slam McCain’s Iraq Assessment: ‘That’s Ridiculous,’ ‘He’s Just Dead Wrong’
In an interview with Time magazine this week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared that Iraq “is a peaceful and stable country now.” ThinkProgress spoke with Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Robert Wexler (D-FL) at the Democratic National Convention today, and asked them their response to McCain’s assertion. Wexler was incredulous, declaring, “He’s just dead wrong”:
WEXLER: Sen McCain’s judgment unfortunately has become so mistaken on so many things, and this is yet another example of his apparently not understanding the facts on the ground whatsoever. There still is a totally unacceptable level of killing in Iraq. There has been in effect ethnic cleansing in Iraq where religious groups are totally separated from one another. How he can call Iraq — what did you say he called it?
TP: A peaceful and stable country.
WEXLER: It is the furthest thing from a peaceful and stable country. And I guess if in fact he’s right then why do we have 150,000 troops there? We ought to bring them all home as quickly as possible even under his logic. He’s just dead wrong.
Ellison agreed, calling McCain’s assessment “ridiculous.” He noted that “the people of Iraq probably would not agree with that”:
ELLISON: I’d say the people of Iraq probably would not agree with that. Besides the ongoing warfare, death, destruction, people dying every single day…there still is no system of clean sewage, water, electricity. People are still living in dire circumstances. People are still suffering every day. … That’s ridiculous. It just goes to prove that this guy does not get it.
McCain’s rosy view — which comes in the same week that suicide bombs killed at least 65 Iraqis — is dangerously inaccurate.
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54 Responses to “Wexler, Ellison Slam McCain’s Iraq Assessment: ‘That’s Ridiculous,’ ‘He’s Just Dead Wrong’”
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Well, Ellison's a Muslim so of course we can't believe anything he says about Iraq.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:06 pmDoes he know the difference between Shia and Sunni?
August 28th, 2008 at 6:11 pmCountdown to a troll dismissing Ellison because he's a Muslim in 3....2....1....
August 28th, 2008 at 6:11 pmHaven't seen much of the trolls today. I think most of their heads exploded at about 5:45 PM CST yesterday.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:15 pmI don't blame Wexler for being incredulous upon hearing McCain's quote. Claiming that Iraq is peaceful and stable is beyond believable even for McCain.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:17 pmDoes everyone ignore the bias of asking a dem?, give me a break.ask the gop then.....
August 28th, 2008 at 6:18 pmThe Iraqis are trying to tell us to get off of their lawn.
Surely McCain can relate, wouldn'tcha think?
August 28th, 2008 at 6:20 pmWell, given that Senator McCain's view is a reflection of his 'safe stroll' though a marketplace while accompanied by a company plus-sized security detail with armored vehicles and helicopter gunships…
When is he going to be called out by the mainstream media? A combat veteran—albeit a naval aviator—describing a war zone as 'peaceful and stable' nation? Give me a break!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:21 pmask the gop then…..
Because they've been proven right so often when it comes to Iraq...
August 28th, 2008 at 6:22 pmMcCain isn't to be taken seriously, just ask his own campaign.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pmhe will wind up sayin he didnt exactly say that because as we all know john mccain doesnt speak for john mccain.......that would be kkkarl rove
August 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pmMcCain KNOWS this is not true, but this administration has told the lie over and over hoping the american people will hear it in their sleep and accept it.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pmThe Iraqi's want us to go home and they will work out their own problems.
The majority of americans want the troops to come home, so WHERE IS THE PROBLEM????
Misshussein says:
Claiming that Iraq is peaceful and stable is beyond believable even for McCain
didn't this same fool "tour" Iraq and say how much the surge had worked, it had become a peaceful place?
August 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pmAt that time he had US helicopters in the air and guns on the ground protecting him. Not my idea of peaceful and safe.
users Says:
Does everyone ignore the bias of asking a dem?, give me a break.ask the gop then…..
August 28th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
They asked McCAIN, dipshit.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:36 pmshoeless says:
Does he know the difference between Shia and Sunni?
Sure he does, shia is what hits the fan when he screws up again and sunni is what it is every day in Arizona.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pmZooey Says:
countering mccain with 2 dems doesn't mean anything...
August 28th, 2008 at 6:41 pmFINE - if it's peaceful and stable, we can bring everyone home tomorrow!!! Including the 170,000 warprofiteering independant contractors who are sucking in our tax dollars hand over fist!
TO: #1. BADMOODMAN - YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:42 pmusers Says:
countering mccain with 2 dems doesn’t mean anything…
August 28th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Well, you could be right, since anything McCain says is worthless.
Wouldn't want to gild the lily, eh?
August 28th, 2008 at 6:44 pmshoeless Says:
Haven’t seen much of the trolls today. I think most of their heads exploded at about 5:45 PM CST yesterday.
Shoeless, I think TP finally started banning by IP address, because the standard GOP water carriers have all been gone today.
But just like weeding a garden, there's a new crop popping up all the time.
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 6:44 pmSlightly O/T: how about a three-way split-screen on television news next week: part a. showing Bush celebrating McCain's birthday with a cake, served up while New Orleans was flooding from hurricane Katrina back in 2005, part b. the blathering at the GOP convention, stashed safely up in Minnesota, out of harm's way (Gustav down river 1,500 miles or so) and part c. Hurricane Gustav coming ashore, tearing up the Louisiana/Texas coasts. Sounds like a win, win, win situation to me...
August 28th, 2008 at 6:46 pmsouthrnbelle Says:
TO: #1. BADMOODMAN - YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Just settle down now, little Missy.
IT'S SARCASM.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:46 pmZooey, McStain doesn't speak for the McStain campaign or the GOP, apparently. We do know that he has nothing to do with drafting their party platform this year.
How appropriate that this new troll has self-named "users".
Run along, troll, and claim your McStain Points!
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 6:47 pmusers Says:
Does everyone ignore the bias of asking a dem?, give me a break.ask the gop then…..
Tell you what, users, go find members of your own party who are running for re-election and see how many of them will go on the record saying that they absolutely agree with McStain's assessment of Iraq.
20% of the GOP senators are not even coming to their own convention next week! Even Norm Coleman said he wouldn't be attending were in not for the fact that it's being held in his state.
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 6:49 pmusers Says:
Zooey Says:
countering mccain with 2 dems doesn’t mean anything…
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Neither did quoting McMoron saying something patently absurd in the first place. REALITY refutes McCain. If you dont think so why dont you go VACATION in Iraq
August 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pmHey users, try looking at the facts of the situation in Iraq and match reality with either McSame's position or the dems.
Which do you think matches up the best?
Dumbfck.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pmnanlichi Says:
what are the dems position, based on they're actions.....hmmmm.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pmusers Says:
what are the dems position, based on they’re actions…..hmmmm.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Jeebus Christ, home schooled?
Where's my red pen....?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:03 pmYes, Zooey, I read it three times and still can't figure out what it's trying to say.
Easily flustered troll. Won't last long here.
Hope all is well with you, Z!
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 7:07 pmusers sounds like rogerse, both equally illiterate.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:07 pmI can't find a single quote of a plan, platform statement or a stated vision for America by John McCain. He just doesn't want you to vote for Obama. McCain seems to lack vision, but he does a great job of tearing down the vision of others.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:08 pmAmerica has yet to meet it's full potential and yet we would propose to elect those who would make you afraid of rising to that challenge.
DARE taught me that 'users are losers' but it couldn't prepare me for this level of willful ignorance and self-destructive behavior... tsk, tsk, tsk. I guess you never really believe it 'til ya sees it with yer own eyes...
August 28th, 2008 at 7:08 pmusers, this thread's subject is the comparison of two statements that are polar opposites. One, McShitforbrains said that Iraq was a stable and peaceful country, and two, Wexler and Ellison said that it is not peaceful and stable.
Which of those two statements best fits the reality of Iraq today?
It's not that hard, unless you are an obsequious sycophant, in which case you will ALWAYS go with the Repugnicunt position.
When you have a moment Google non-falsifiable statement.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pmDoes everyone ignore the bias of Larry King asking Reps what they they think about the Democratic National Convention? Give me a break. Ask a Democrat then.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pmspencer's mom,
Things are great! School is underway, and TheZoo is one year old today. :)
August 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pmSpencers Ugly Mom Says:
Lame...
August 28th, 2008 at 7:14 pmDead on. Best way to address that in my opinion.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pmnanlichi Says:
users, this thread’s subject is the comparison of two statements that are polar opposites. One, McShitforbrains said that Iraq was a stable and peaceful country, and two, Wexler and Ellison said that it is not peaceful and stable.
Which of those two statements best fits the reality of Iraq today?
So they're polar opposites, the truth is simply in the middle....
August 28th, 2008 at 7:20 pmI just hope McCain chooses someone like Dick Cheney for VP. Ya know, someone who will start a war to really increase the profits of his former investment, while winning the contract by default.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:21 pmthe truth is simply in the middle….
Very Zen users... sadly wrong and logically flawed but very Zen nonetheless...
August 28th, 2008 at 7:26 pmusers Says:
So they’re polar opposites, the truth is simply in the middle….
I say the United States is in the Northern hemisphere.
Someone else says the United States is in the Southern hemisphere.
You conclude the United States is on the equator.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:31 pmMcCain's rose view of Iraq = A noun, a verb, and POW. Very out of touch of reality. By the way, at the age of 19, Rep. Ellison converted from Catholicism to Islam. So, Mr. Ellison was not born a Muslim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ellison_(politician)
But, I agree with Wexler and Ellison: McCain is just plain out of touch on his assessment of Iraq.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:33 pmSchröd-user's cat
August 28th, 2008 at 7:38 pmTheory that states that if McCain describes a country as a 'Happy, Fun place to be and live and completly safe!' and another politician of the opposite party say 'That statement has no basis in objective reality.'
Then the country exists in a middle-state until a McCain camp operative clarifies the original statement.
Whew! I am so glad traditional media outlets, in which millions of voters rely on to get needed information about the candidates, will never get a hold of this story.
How far do his misrepresentations have to go before some one actually calls him on it, reports this mess. He doesn't understand the most basic facts about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; or worse, he no longer has the mental acuity to articulate his understanding.
Will they excuse what you know are going to be awful debate performances?
August 28th, 2008 at 7:40 pmHappy Birthday to the Zoo! Congrats Zooey!
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 7:41 pmOOOOOOO a new troll here has taken my name and added "ugly" to it. How very creative!
I'm so hurt... NOT! But I am flattered that lil troll thinks my posts get attention, and it wants the same!
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 7:46 pmusers Says
August 28th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Does everyone ignore the bias of asking a dem?, give me a break.ask the gop then…..
______________________________________________________
Um...I think that TP asked a couple of Democrats because 1) they are at the Democratic National Convention, and 2) there are no Republicans there.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pmTravel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information is current as of today, Thu Aug 28 17:14:09 2008.
IRAQ
June 13, 2008
This Travel Warning updates the current security situation and reiterates the dangers of the use of civilian aircraft and of road travel within Iraq. This supersedes the Travel Warning of July 23, 2007.
The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq, which remains very dangerous.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:23 pmDespite recent improvements in the security environment, Iraq remains dangerous, volatile and unpredictable. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue, including in the International (or “Green”) Zone.
users is the dumbest troll. ever. this one is so dumb that it might come out on the other side of the universe and become the smartest troll ever!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:24 pmThese guys are correct- McCain is dead wrong & ridiculous on almost every issue, but his statements on Iraq are so delusional, how can anyone think this man can run a country? McCain is either an arrogant, pathological liar, or so out to lunch that he actually believes what he says. In either case, totally unfit, and anything but a leader. How he dares to criticize anyone else is beyond me.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:32 pmIn kindergarten maybe. The new trolls are even dumber than the old trolls. Pathetic.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:23 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Um…I think that TP asked a couple of Democrats because 1) they are at the Democratic National Convention, and 2) there are no Republicans there.
_______________
Could you break that down into smaller bits??? We don't want to overwhelm the wee trollie now, do we? I mean, that's 2 (TWO!!!) facts to comprehend in one sentence...
August 28th, 2008 at 9:29 pmMcCain gets it--he's just willing to lie through his straight-talk-express teeth to get to the top of a stinking, repugnant pile.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pmSenile -
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of old age.
2. Relating to or exhibiting memory loss or mental impairment associated with aging.
3. Geology. Worn away nearly to the base level, as at the end of an erosion cycle.
Yep, that's McCain!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:18 amWell, gee whiz since McCain says Iraq is now a "stable and peaceful country" our troops can go ahead and leave. No need to wait until 2011. Right, McCain?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:56 pm