In a recent TV interview, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, saying he didn’t know what was going on in Iraq. As proof of progress, McCain claimed, “General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed humvee.” Tonight in a 60 Minutes interview, McCain acknowledged that statement was a lie. He said “there is no unarmored humvees. Obviously, that’s the case.” He excused himself, saying, “I’m trying to make the point over and over and over again that we are making progress.”
McCain also previously claimed that there are neighborhoods that you can walk around freely, claiming his heavily-armed stroll through a Baghdad market was an example. Tonight, McCain said he can “understand why they would provide me with that security.”
“Of course I’m gonna misspeak,” McCain said. “I’ve done it on numerous occasions. And I probably will in the future. I regret that when I divert attention to something that I’ve said from my message. But that’s just life. And I’m happy, frankly, with the way I operate. Otherwise it’d be a lot less fun.” Watch the segment:
[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/04/mccain60minmisspke.320.240.flv]
60 Minutes host Scott Pelley noted that McCain had been a fierce critic of Donald Rumsfeld but seems to “give President Bush a pass.” McCain responded, “I say that he is responsible and I will continue to say that he is responsible. Should I look back in anger? Or should I look forward?”
McCain harbors no anger because he has been an early cheerleader of ill-conceived Iraq war and remains one today.
More from Carpetbagger, TPM, and Cliff Schecter.