McCain chief strategist Charlie Black:
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December was an “unfortunate event,” says Black. “But 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.” As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. “Certainly it would be a big advantage to him,” says Black.
Not only was this an unfiltered example of disgraceful fear mongering, but it's also not true. A second major attack under a Republican president won't help the Republicans regardless of their bogus gung-ho lapel pin branding. They've made terrorism worse and it has caused another (hypothetical) attack.
Naturally, Senator McCain's response yesterday was weird.
"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."
So he wasn't apologizing for the crass fear mongering -- the conflating of the election and an attack -- but rather, he was objecting to the idea of an attack in the first place. "It's not true" because the Republicans are awesome on terrorism. Has anyone called McBush on this non-apology apology?