In July 2007, the former junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum, engaged in a bit of fear mongering on a local talk radio show. Santorum suggested that a series of “unfortunate events”, i.e. terrorist attacks, would occur within the year to change the American people’s perception of the war. The following week, Ron Paul, then a candidate for the Republican nomination, opined the Bush Administration would indeed fabricate a terrorist attack, also known as a false flag event, in order to justify an attack on Iran. Although Paul’s comments did find some quarter in Republican circles, namely former Reagan Administration official Paul Craig Roberts, the Republican noise machine was quick to denounce Paul. Some even called the Congressman from Texas a terrorist.
Funny what a difference a year makes. Today, the McCain campaign is falling all over itself to distance the candidate from the remarks of his most senior political advisor, Charles Black, all the while letting Black keep his job. Charlie Black was forced to apologize for comments he made in a recently published article in Fortune magazine. When asked in the interview what affect another terrorist attack would have on the election, Black answered: “Certainly it would be a big advantage to him [McCain]." Barak Obama called Black’s comments a “complete disgrace.” Has Black resigned or been asked to step down as an advisor to McCain? Not yet. How ‘bout a wedgie? Nope.
But Black’s odious comments didn’t stop there. When asked to explain his candidate’s remarkable turn-around win in the New Hampshire primary, Black credits the win to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Black characterized Bhutto’s assassination as an “unfortunate event” that “helped us” because it emphasized McCain’s foreign policy chops. How accommodating of her! An “unfortunate event”…Hmm, perhaps Bhutto’s husband, children and the people of Pakistan could help Charlie Black wordsmith his next interview.
Is Charlie Black lacking a moral compass? Is he a bonehead? One wonders. As to the first question, the answer seems to be a resounding yes. Black has certainly shown a distinct ability over the years to compartmentalize morally reprehensible actions. In 1972, Black and Karl Rove were jockeying for control of the College Republicans in a campaign that turned so dirty, George H.W. Bush, the chairman of the RNC, was forced to intervene. Since then, Black has made a fortune as a lobbyist representing some of the most reprehensible regimes and individuals on the planet, including: Mobuto Sese Seko, Jonas Savimbi, Admad Chalabi, and the junta controlling the government of Myanmar.
As to the second question, a resounding maybe. Black’s comments certainly took his candidate “off message” yesterday…well, even more so than McCain did himself. Talk about the $300 million car battery was certainly overshadowed by Black’s comments in Fortune, but it didn’t cost Black his job. Neither did his former lobbying clients nor the niggling suspicion by some that Black hasn’t fully divorced himself from his lobbying firm.
Hmmm, perhaps it’s not Charlie Black who is the bonehead here. Maybe it’s the guy who continues to keep him on the payroll?
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
|
|
read more blogs!
Blogs by eastham:
|
|
|
| Charlie Black: Sociopath or Bonehead? You decide. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sloriver
|
Jun 24 @ 8:20PM
|
|
|
The inferance here is McCain would like to have a terrorist incident in order to improve his chances in the election. The truth is John McCain is a patriot who loves his country and would never want anything bad to happen. We make too much of small slips by candidates and then read too much into them. As a pure observation, Black was right. A terrorist attack would probably get McCain elected. Is Black a reprehensable individual? Yes, I believe so and I would be surprised if he continues to be a player for long. I'm much more interested in what the candidates record is and what his opinions are on the issues. I don't FREAKING care if his minister is a boneheaded biggot, so stop talking about Obama's church and lets focus on issues. The candidates, not his advisor or his minister.
|
|
lefthandedluckie
|
Jun 24 @ 9:12PM
|
|
When Mr. Black and other republicans, Democrats, Americans or anyone else makes a statement like this it must never cross their mind that their families or friends or even a whole city could be wiped out. The only thing that has passed through their psyche is it will be good for John McCain or some other person of interest!
Somewhere, someway or somehow this man and others that think like him were left out when feelings, common sense and understanding were to be an integral part of his makeup!
Mr. Black and people like him are despicable! 
|
|
eastham
|
Jun 25 @ 10:38AM
|
|
Lincoln Mitchell, Ph.D., a professor of international relations, weighed in today on the Black comments in a blog on the Huffington Post. Makes for some interesting reading.
As to the notion that this the press focusing on a glib soundbite, I might be more forgiving if these comments were said off the cuff and not in a prepared interview. That said, the McCain campaign has made some real blunders and in politics like real life, you can be felled by "death by a thousand paper cuts" just as easily as one monumental mistake.
|
|
|