McCain backer's comments anger Muslims

[babylonsister]

McCain backer's comments anger Muslims
By Marc Caputo and Beth Reinhard | The Miami Herald


Riling Muslim leaders, one of John McCain's fellow Vietnam POWs defended the Iraq War Friday by saying, "The Muslims have said either we kneel or they're going to kill us.''

''I don't intend to kneel and I don't advocate to anybody that we kneel. And John doesn't advocate to anybody that we kneel,'' Col. Bud Day added in a conference call with reporters arranged by the Republican Party of Florida on behalf on McCain.

Muslims and Arab-American groups quickly denounced what they described as the ''bigoted'' comments from Day, a Pensacola resident, Medal of Honor recipient and member of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attack machine from 2004.

''This is as close to racist as it gets. These are cheap street tactics,'' said Khaled Saffuri, who helped organize Arab outreach for President Bush's 2000 campaign but is now a Libertarian. "Even if this is called a mistake or a slip of the tongue, it shows a bigger problem with racism. McCain and the Republican party should denounce this.''

A Republican party spokeswoman said later that Day acknowledged he misspoke. She said he ''made an unfortunate mistake'' that could offend. The McCain campaign did not respond to repeated requests for comment. (Except that the McCain campaign refused to disavow what May said, unless they've had second thoughts: )

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[panader0]

1. It's neither a mistake or a slip of the tongue

Bud Day is an ass. I'll bet Khaled Saffuri is ashamed of organizing for bush........

[IndianaGreen]

4. Getting the Medal of Honor does not bestow wisdom or ethics on a person

Herman Goering won the Iron Cross during World War I. Bud Day is another Goering!

[Youphemism]

2. Yeah, right as McCain is in Michigan...

...where there is a very high population of Middle-Eastern immigrants. Let's home the Democrats in that area are doing their duty and making sure this gets heard.

McCain is being sandwiched by all kinds of bad news from "buds."

[rasputin1952]

3. I have to wonder if McCain has any idea how those who are...

apparently "on his side" are completely destroying that last bit of credibility might possess?

Here is another POW that brings out the worst of the lot. I read his MOH Citation, and it is quite the story; w/an arm broken in 3 places and after torture, he escaped and eventually recaptured in '67.

Other POW's of the time have come out against McCain for various reasons, but this is a supporter...Jeez, truly pathetic.