'Apologize McCain' Campaign Goes Viral

Should McCain say sorry to Ambassador Susan Rice?

Senator John McCain has found a new target for his ire over the Benghazi tragedy: the Director of National Intelligence, who was revealed yesterday as the culprit who removed references to terrorism from Susan Rice's Benghazi talking points. The revelation puts pay to McCain's suspicions that the cuts were made by a corrupt White House eager to cover its tracks - but now the senator is furious that the DNI denied responsibility during earlier hearings on the attack.

On Tuesday afternoon McCain released a statement explaining his frustrations. It's notable that in the statement McCain no longer blames Rice for garbling the talking points. That's a big turnaround, since in the past week McCain has repeatedly called Rice "incompetent" and alleged that she's "not very bright."

McCain's reversal on Rice has now inspired the hashtag campaign "#ApologizeMcCain," which had become the #1 Twitter trend at 10pm on Tuesday.

The AZ senator is also facing unwonted ridicule from the mainstream press on this topic, with headlines like "John McCain Was Too Busy Complaining About Benghazi to Attend a Senate Hearing on Benghazi."

Via John McCain's website.

Should McCain apologize?

[Mercury34]

While I'm skeptical of a Benghazi coverup(There isn't any solid proof), I also feel that McCain shouldn't have to apologize if he doesn't want to.

[stepped_in_it]

Well, John my boy, YOU did say "Rice "incompetent" and alleged that she's "not very bright.". Now even though "McCain no longer blames Rice for garbling the talking points", YOU did say the above! Now, be a big boy and say "I'm sorry, I'm an idiot who jumped to a conclusion and I admit it"!

[CanisCanemEdit]

Hmmm. I recall that Bush was declared a liar about WMD's even though his team received their Intel from Clinton, Blaire and MI6.

There are those that believe that Clinton was a hero (operating on "false" intel) and that Bush was a liar (operating on the same "false" intel from the same sources).

As for Benghazi, enough time has passed and enough people have spun the timeline and altered the facts that WE THE PEOPLE may never, ever know the truth.

[Zoe2012]

McCain is absolutely correct, she is incompetent but the majority of democrats are! Utilizing "not very bright" was actually being very nice.

[Quantummist]

@CanisCanemEdit ... She is Incompetent and not very bright...

[mimi57]

@Zoe2012 I've met John McCain, as I campaigned for him in Ohio. He is the nicest,
most humble man I've ever met. I think coming so close to death and being a POW for
six years has softened him, he appears to never want to say a bad word about anyone.
I can not imagine being beaten so badly, having so many bones broken, being in total
isolation and interrogated almost daily foe six years! I know I could never have survived,
he is a Hero and always will be to me, I have the utmost respect for him...and sadly, there
are no heroes left.

[PoliticalSpice]

@CanisCanemEdit
But Bush had intel from CIA that there were no nuclear weapons fuel and proceeded to discredit the and pubically identify the CIA agent who brought hin the proof because he wanted, for political reasons, to go to war. Also read Price Of Loyalty by O'neil, a solid republican who served in ford and nixon administrations before serving W. He makes clear war with Iraq was being discussed in white house meetings before 9/11 ever occurred...

[CanisCanemEdit]

Ms. Rice made comments based on information given to her.

Sen McCain made comments based on information given to him.

If you want to keep people from making stupid comments, quit puting out misinformation.

[woodtick57]

what info was McCain given that said Rice was not fit for her job? He would know that the UN ambassador does not make policy on her own. he's a big boy, he should man up.

[MRMacrum]

Seems to me that the information given him right after the attack was exactly the same information Susan Rice used. If so, then his over the top continuing attack on her was political or personal.

[ACTSmom]

Absolutely!! If the Director of National Intelligence lied in the beginning, he should be fired. And Obama should have straightened it out immediately. Of course this administration is not known for its honesty or taking responsibility.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[woodtick57]

@ACTSmom When did the DNI director lie? he was correct in that the connection to any roup was tenuous. no statesman worth his gov't pension would ever promulgate such an accusation with that little proof.

[ACTSmom]

@woodtick57 ...he changed the wording and apparently was not forthcoming about that in testimony he gave. "The statement released this evening by the DNI's spokesman regarding how the Intelligence Community's talking points were changed gives a new explanation that differs significantly from information provided in testimony to the Committee last week," said committee spokeswoman Susan Phalen. "Chairman Rogers looks forward to discussing this new explanation with Director Clapper as soon as possible to understand how the DNI reached this conclusion and why leaders of the Intelligence Community testified late last week that they were unaware of who changed the talking points."
http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/19/offi...

[MRMacrum]

McCain should apologize but he won't. What a sad little man.

[martydotcom]

McCain has thrashed his legacy, Formerly that of a war hero, now a pathetic sad bitter old man...well on his way to becoming one of history's more tragic figures. He should draw upon the Honor Code from days at Annapolis and do the right thing and apologize

[Bobolinsky]

Why are you prejudiced against men? I think you're just bitter at McCain because he's a "man"... a sad little "man." What does being a male have to do with anything. I think you owe McCain an apology for for your obvious sexist. And the racism in your comment? You owe an apology for that too. Why do you think that white men have small... uh... gentleman parts?

[MRMacrum]

@martydotcom - It is truly sad when one of the people I have respected and admired for so many years allows their own bitterness and anger to besmirch their own legacy.

[VCP]

Yes I agree with you he should apologize. Last I heard a person was presumed innocent until proven guilty. McCain is guilty of stepping over that procedural process with his mouth. Since he was dead wrong in his assumptions and way off base with his accusations, then he should tuck his tail and apologize. That would be the manly thing to do.

[IraqWarVeteran]

Obama administration should apologize for the lies to the American people.

[IraqWarVeteran]

Director of National Intelligence must be held accountable and his fellow Obama administration pals.

[woodtick57]

@IraqWarVeteran accountable for what, doing his job properly?

[Cool_voter]

@IraqWarVeteran I'm still waiting for bush to apologize.
We the people were told this war would be quick and painless, well all these years and trillions later we are nowhere...

[IraqWarVeteran]

@Cool_voter Bush left office with $10.626 trillion in debt. During his presidency, to the national debt were added $4.494 trillion. History shows the Obama administration had added $6.84 trillion for four years.

[IraqWarVeteran]

@Cool_voter A timeline of the national debt.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd...
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin...

[bizaroWorld]

He should simply clarify. "I'm sorry I called her incompetent when I should have said she is a tool."

[Grubby]

He is right. She is not very bright, and is a robot for her boss, the POS POTUS.

[woodtick57]

He can call it the "Apology Tour" and then there will finally have been one!

[IraqWarVeteran]

Obama will apologize in Cambodia for the bombings during the Vietnam War and will now to the King of Thailand.

[woodtick57]

@IraqWarVeteran In all the years and all the hundreds of people i've asked to provide just one quote where obama has apologized for the US, no-one has yet been up to the task...why is that?

[WMCOL]

This GOP attack on Rice will help Democrats win in 2014 and 2016. They should double-down on the unfounded attack on Rice. The Democrats can use the votes to take over Congress and retain the White House. It worked in 2012 just as predicted here many times and it will work again.

[LGRepublican]

If you're going to be the mouthpiece for a position or story, it's in one's best interest to make sure that what you're selling is true. If you don't want a target on your back, don't go into politics.

[MRMacrum]

"If you're going to be the mouthpiece for a position or story, it's in one's best interest to make sure that what you're selling is true."

.......... Yes, McCain would have been wise to heed those sentiments. Too bad for him and the GOP, he didn't.

[VCP]

Yes you are absolutely right but, one shouldn't throw stones in a glass house. McCain should do the right as well as manly thing and apologize when he is wrong. Just as he would demand if the situation were in reverse.

[ctc]

Why apologize??
At this point everyone knows....whatever comments coming out of John McCain's mouth are talking points put forth by his handlers.

[Jeff_Woehrle]

Apologize for what, wanting her to do her job? Oh, that's right! This isn't her job! That would be Hillary, and I guess she was getting her nails done and stuff.

[ir0nw0lfe]

Can anyone say scapegoat?

[GetAwake]

They just left out the 'to' between 'apologize' and 'McCain'. This whole Benghazi-mess REEKS, and THEY know it.

[PoliticalSpice]

When one publically questions the integrity, honesty, competence of a person, insults them in tv interveiws and at press conferences as he did to rice common decency says if it turns out you are wrong you must say your sorry, simple as that. Anyone who does not see that simply was not raised right. There is nothing partisan about this issue if pne has any decency as a human being.

[clindsey]

Yes McCain not only needs to apologize to Miss Rice ,McCain needs to ask for forgiveness ,he has said a lot of bad things about Miss Rice ,he has told lies on her ,and tryed to make her look bad ,and the only thing he did is make his self look more stupid then he already is,he needs to be put out of the white house,sick of republican that can't get their way they got to start lying on people ,and just going around making up lies on Obama and the people that work with him,it just goes to show that the republicans don't give two cents or one thought to the people of united states ,instead of working with Obama fixing our country ,all the republicans got on their minds is how they can fill their pockets more of our money,republicans has only shown us they don't care for people of united states ,it just goes to show we made the right vote.

[MBernard]

Tell them again...

[bsking]

apologize for what he was right she is incompetent. she either allowed herself to be used out of incompetence or out of corruption of her own in order to further her political career. nobody at her level should be that easily lead by the nose.
she has proven herself unqualified for the State Department job.

[ctc]

You realize you justed listed at least four of the basic qualifications for that job in your brief rant.

[bsking]

@ctc yeah what's that? being led around by the nose by a corrupt president? consistently lying to the American people to cover up the Presidents mistakes? do you really think those are prerequisites for the State Department job?

[martydotcom]

Loss of legacy #101 professor John McCain. Content
trace history of war hero, to presidential candidate, to bitter old man, failing to attend crucial meetings in favor of continuing to mutter " I can't believe I lost to the black guy"

[bsking]

@martydotcom I think you took the wrong pill this morning Marty

[Denizen_Kate]

@bsking, consider this possibility: the DNI, other intelligence services, and the military already knew who was responsible, but changed the wording of this report deliberately in order to lull the enemy into a false sense of security. If you're going to go after a group, you don't want to spook them into going to ground. Even if it means deliberately misleading the American public, wouldn't it be worth it if it increased our chances of catching the actual perpetrators? It's just a thought ...

[DerivePI]

I'd like to agree with McCain that Rice is an idiot for thinking that we are gullible enough to believe that a planned military strike against a US target could so easily be pawned off as a protest gone wrong on several morning talk shows. I am wrong. I apologize.

[ctc]

I'm glad that being on Politix, watching the Sunday talkies, and having John McCain as Senator enables me to have access to unfettered classified briefings from the DNI, DCI, FBI, State Dept., and Dept. Of Homeland Security.
Thanks John!!

[DerivePI]

@ctc - On September 12 I heard news reports that the attack in Libya included RPGs and coordinated mortar fire. For the following 2 weeks while in Europe, I heard every news agency bash the US for having freedom of speech and not controlling the production of the anti islamic movie (that no one had heard of or seen). Additionally, the coordinated strike on our Libya ambassador was constantly smeared in with the unrelated violent protests in Egypt.

[Ashstop]

We need leaders that think for themselves, not just throw themselves under the bus for their leader!! Is there any limit to what this people will say or do to protect Obama? 4 men are dead, no doubt tortured, and still the main focus is someone having an affair and saving face for the White House!! Terrorist are probably laughing all over the world!!

[ctc]

Nope, that's why we have allies.....Israel is trying to help us turn the page.

[DARSB]

Expecting a Senator who voted against making Martin Luther King Day a national holiday to apologize for insulting a black woman is probably unrealistic.

[CanisCanemEdit]

I really didn't expect you to be the one to bring race into the conversation.

[EquinsuOcha]

@CanisCanemEdit ....Took 'em longer than I expected..........

[MRMacrum]

Seems you have attracted some flies.

[DARSB]

@CanisCanemEdit Looks to me like the Senator is the one who brings a certain, shall we say, "racial awareness" to the table. This is much the same sort of code word tactic as Romney surrogate Gov Sununu calling the President "lazy."

[CanisCanemEdit]

@DARSB - Friend, there are lots of "code words" and innuendo on both sides of the aisles. Singling out one man and interjecting your perception of his statement as some sort of racist attack is disingenuous. IMHO.

[Dan_Tien]

McCain knew all along that Ms. Rice was not responsible for the edit. He lied to the American people. There should be an investigation into his perfidy.

[cardinal623]

Amen to that!!