McCain's Black day

What on earth was this idiot thinking?

A top adviser to Sen. John McCain said that a terrorist attack in the United States would be a political benefit to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, a comment that was immediately disputed by the candidate and denounced by his Democratic rival.

Charles R. Black Jr., one of McCain's most senior political advisers, said in an interview with Fortune magazine that a fresh terrorist attack "certainly would be a big advantage to him." He also said that the December assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, while "unfortunate," helped McCain win the Republican primary by focusing attention on national security.

"His knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us," Black told the magazine in its upcoming issue.

[...]

The comments also returned the political spotlight to McCain's advisers and, in particular, to Black, who has drawn criticism for his long lobbying career and his representation of controversial foreign governments. McCain has been criticized for surrounding himself with top advisers who were lobbyists.

Black earlier this year severed ties to the lobbying firm he founded. Records show that his firm had represented the Pakistan People's Party, which Bhutto led until her death.

Asked about the comments by reporters while campaigning in California, McCain said: "I cannot imagine why he would say it. It's not true. I've worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear."

The comment would be offensive and tone-deaf even if it were true. But why do people - on the left and the right - assume a terror attack on American soil would help the Republican Party, anyway?

That supposedly goes without saying. But a key pro-Bush talking point is that, regardless of what happens in Iraq or Afghanistan, at least there haven't been any major attacks (not counting the likes of Hesham Hedayet) in the United States since 9/11. If the Republican candidate can't argue that, what's left?

Damian P.

Posted by damian at June 24, 2008 03:39 PM