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Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain, why apologize for honesty?

Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2007 6:14 PM by Dateline Editor
Filed Under:

by Josh Mankiewicz, Dateline Correspondent

Barack Obama and John McCain have several things in common. They’re both U.S. senators, they’re both running for president, and now they’ve both had to apologize for saying the same thing.

What they both said was that the lives of the more than 3,100 U.S. troops lost in the Iraq war were wasted.

Both had to quickly pull back and say that’s not really what they meant.

Well, it’s pretty clear to me that that is exactly what they meant. But saying that soldiers’ lives have been wasted is hard for some people to hear.

It turns out that political correctness knows no party or ideology. Both politicians now say they should have used the word “sacrifice.”

It’s really unbelievable. Even when you’re running for president you are not allowed to say what you really think.

Obama, a Democrat, has opposed the war from the start. It’s pretty hard to believe he thinks those lives were anything but wasted.

McCain, a Republican, has supported both the war and the new surge in troops. But he’s talked a lot about the mistakes made in Iraq. And he clearly feels that those errors have led to some needless deaths...some of our best and brightest who went long before their time.

And just as amazing, both of these guys like to claim that they’re a different sort of politician—that they believe in straight talk, that they’re not part of the Washington spin cycle.

Here’s what they should apologize for: that after four years, with the nation clearly hugely conflicted over the war, our leaders can’t even discuss it honestly.

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Amen. The rediculous ongoing apologies from every politician or celebrity just simply ring false. If they didn't mean what they said, they wouldn't have said it in the first place. An apology should come when you've been wrong and had a change of heart, or done something you feel was improper, and you're remorseful. Apologies should not be used to appease anyone that might be offended at the honesty.
Absolutely right. It's pathetic the way the political correctness police hold all candidates hostage. The loss of life in Iraq. IS a waste -- there, I said it. Mary Lieberman
"It’s really unbelievable. Even when you’re running for president you are not allowed to say what you really think." I think these two scentences make the entire artical a farce. Draw your own conclusions as to why.
Completely agree with what you said, if polliticians dont say what they mean and express it (which by the way is whay most of Obama's platform is based on) then there is a larger problem with our pollitical system.
I totally agree. Why can't we say these things? Why can't our candidates say these things? It's a sad fact that the current administration's culture of fear is now preventing anyone from saying anything that someone might disagree with. I want honesty from my leaders...wouldn't that be refreshing?
They both need to go to therapy for saying that any soldier is a waste of his life. And they both need to resign from Presidency because we don't need that kind of leadership.
I think what they meant by wasted is, we didn't get anything done except lose lives in Iraq. Although I do not agree with this, these men should not be considered bad people. They just have an opinion, but I agree with both sides, in a way. We didn't get too much done except get soldiers killed, kill Saddam (which made the war worse), and now we're going to get a new president who may get the U.S blown off the map! I think Barak should win the election (personally), but sadly it is too obvious Clinton will win by a lot.
Fantastic! I couldn't believe my ears as I listened. Tell it like it is! The press is finally doing its Constitutional job. Oh WOW! BTW, I also heard/saw Senators Obama and Clinton today in Selma AL-they were really inspiring, awesome.
It sounds unpatriotic to say the lives were "wasted", because that might seem to make light of the personal life (as opposed to military "life") of the person killed. Better to say that their deaths were wasted - needless - they should never have been asked to go to this war, much less lay down their lives for such useless things.
I agree as an Veteran, the soldier's lives in Irag were wasted. That also include the thousands permanently wounded all for a personal agenda. On Law and Order that is a charge of depraved indifference. Speaking the truth should be be silence!
Don't jump all over people for having opinions. Heck, who knows; maybe their lives were wasted. Maybe our men were thinking that in those few seconds they were dying. It seems sad, but the government has messed up.
The main reason this was on dateline is because you do not have many people logging on to this web site. (It worked this is the first time that I have ever been on dateline.msnbc.com) The secondary reason is a chance to say anything negative about the war at all. If you want others to not be politically correct, you should start yourself. NBC is nothing but politically correct. Look in the mirror before you criticize others.
I am a Veteran of the Iraq war, I lost my left hand on Nov. 7th of 2003 and if you havent been a soldier in combat there then you have no idea what your talking about and only make yourself sound stupid by saying that any soldier dying or being injuried is a waste.Ive been there I know what I am talking about. Sgt. (Ret.) Gary J. Yoakam
Excuse me, but hasn't John Edwards apologized for voting for the war in the first place? Not that he's perfect, but he's probably the most forthright person running. A Mercer, Asheville, NC
I believe that being Iraq has been a mistake from the get-go, but our troops are there and should be supported in the job that they have been given. Do I cringe at the loss of life that has been totally unneccessary - absolutely! Unfortunately, politics has gotten to be such a mess - more gain for less opinion. I'm not sure what the answer it, but the only way to try and control the situation is to pay more attention to who you elect as a representative and senator and less attention to who the President actually elected. The power has shifted!
Senators McCain and Obama were right on about American lives being wasted in a war we are not fighting to win. It reminds me of Viet Nam and the back and forth POLITICAL mechinations which also wasted lives. It would be so inspiring to have a politician stand up and stand behind what he/she believes. Yes, they probably have to take care what they say and how they say it due to the way the media and their opponents spin things. But I'd love someone who doesn't back down so much.
I don't believe Barack OBama said what you are alleging. I think you are twisting his words which is quite troubling.
ALL OF YOU ARE ALLOWING MSNBC TO PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES. DONT YOU SEE THAT MSNBC IS SUPPORTING HILLARY???? IS THERE NOT A DISCREPENCY WITH ALL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES? WATCH OUT EVERYONE. HILLARY IS COMING FULL FORCE, AND PLAYING DIRTY....IT LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS THE DECEITFUL SUPPORT OF NEWS STATOINS AND THE LIKE. I AM SO OFFENDED THAT DATELINE BLATENTLY TRYED TO THROW THIS GARBAGE AT ME AND TRY TO GET THE WORLD TO FOCUS ON NON-ISSUE BS. DAVID
It is insulting to think that their double talk is not obvious; that Americans would not realize their conniving intentions. It's also sad that the media would misconstrue the words of the two men so they, in turn, would feel the need to apologize. Why is it negative to think that lives were wasted? Were lives wasted?
What you said was completely liberal minded. Senators Obama and McCain are human. They mispoke, and certainly Senator McCain, a strong supporter of our efforts in Iraq, did not mean what you said he did. They chose the wrong word and now they are suddenly being attacked. The War in Iraq is the right thing to do and I hope that NBC, which has taken such a sharp left-wing turn, can start reporting the news fairly and without so much PERSONAL OPINION!
As a Canadian and therefore an outsider to the US political scene, I am giving you a foreign perspective to your broadcast about honesty in speech. Since 9/11 I have found it frightening that more and more freedoms have been withdrawn from the US citizens (i.e. bashing celebrities for speaking out against the Iraq war), but now that even the highest officials of government are being restricted in commenting..... Does the USA really have a democracy? It does not appear so to those looking in on your country. President Bush appears to all the world as a dictator, tyrant and despot. What surprises me is that the US people don't impeach him for his reckless and irresponsible actions. Come on people! Get real.
I agree. I also would add that because of this insidious political correctness campaign having been forced down the throats of the American people free speech, as we know it, will soon disappear altogether in this country. It is too absurd that even well respected senators, espcially Senator McCain who is such a stand up guy, cannot speak the truth for fear of offending some faction. If the truth is denied us because some might be offended where exactly does that leave us? Lost in La La land? Speak the truth Senator and take no prisoners!
Dan Cornwall made a good point when he said: Look in the mirror before you criticize others. Consider that everyone. I'd like to say that I was with Walter Smith when he posted that (I SWEAR!) and he forgot to say something. On the other side of this dash is him typing-Hey. Walter Smith here. When I said I wanted Barak Obama to win the presidential election, I meant if I had to choose between him and Clinton. I'd rather have someone else. These people just wouldn't be good presidents. I say, let Schwarzenegger run!
I think what you said was completely ridiculous. Senators Obama and McCain simply mispoke. Certainly Senator McCain, an avid supporter of the War in Iraq, did not mean to imply that the soldiers lives had been "wasted" as he said it. They mispoke, and now NBC, which has taken a sharp left-wing turn in reporting, is attacking these two men. Haven't Senators Clinton and Kerry also apologized for what they said about Iraq? Please NBC, start reporting the news fairly!
What is so frustrating is that they lie, and get to the highest office in the land. They change the words so to please the nay sayers - not the real people. When are the politicians going to realize that many of us no longer believe in their blather to please? Viet Nam is the comparison I give you. They did a troop surge there as well. We underestimated the drive of the communists in the North, and we are doing the same with those in the Middle East backing the fight in Iraq...
Wasted/Sacrificed, either way - they are dead. They were brave and good, the men who lied to the American people in order to send the there are not.
DEMOCRATE-REPUBLICAN-WHO CARES!!!I'M REPUBLICAN AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. BUT IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I'M DISGUSTED WITH ALL POLITICIANS INABILITY TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS, LIKE THE WAR, SPENDING, DEFICITE, MEDICARE..I PROPOSE WE HAVE TERM LIMITS FOR ALL POLITICIANS, NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT. MAYBE 8 YEARS AND THEN THEIR DONE. MAYBE THEN THEY COULD MAKE TOUGH CHOICES-NOT JUST CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET RE-ELECTED AND FEATHER THEIR OWN NESTS. NONE SEEM TO HAVE ANY COURAGE TO 'JUST SAY NO' TO SPENDING. ANOTHER INTERVIEW ON TV TONIGHT WAS ABOUT THE REAL THREAT TO THE US AND OUR WAY OF LIFE IS THE UNCONTROLLED SPENDING AND GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENTS, AKA 'FREE-FALL SPENDING'. AGAIN, LIMIT ALL POLITICIANS TERMS TO 8 YEARS! THEN JUST MAYBE THEY WILL DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY AND NOT JUST WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEM TO BE RE-ELECTED. ALSO, NO PENSIONS WHEN THEY LEAVE OFFICE-JUST GO BACK TO THEIR 'REAL' CAREERS-AFTERALL, SERVING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED 'PUBLIC SERVICE' WITH A DECENT SALARY..NOT A LIFELONG GROWING INCOME FOR THEMSELVES. LET THEM PAY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, CONTRIBUTE TO 401KS OR IRAS WITH THE SAME LIMITS WE HAVE. WHY DO THEY EVEN GET TO COLLECT THEIR SALARIES EVEN FROM FEDERAL PRISONS. DON'T APOLOGIZE, YOU SAID IT. DON'T TRY TO 'SPIN' IT. WHO CARES. THANK GOD FOR THESE BRAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO SERVE AND DO THE REALLY DIRTY WORK OF THIS NATION. IF WE ARE NOT SAFE AND FICALLY SOUND, WHAT DO WE HAVE? THE POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON D.C. DON'T KNOW OR LIVE IN REALITY. LIVES LOST IN ANY WAR ARE NOT WASTED BUT SACRIFICED. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE AND KNOW THEY WERE APPRECIATED BY THE REST OF US WHO ARE HOME AND SAFE.
It seems as tho' politicians can say whatever they want and then apologize when it seems feseable to do so. I've gotten to the point now that I believe very few of them. In the mean time our young are getting killed and mangled in a war brought on by false information. Let's get out of Iraq and Afganistan now. The voters have spoken. Why are we playing games with our troops and their lives.
It is a shame that politicians can't (or don't) tell it like it is (honesty), but most of them are more afraid of losing their jobs, rather than caring about their country. It is mostly about money, not what is right or wrong, or being honest in their opinions which affect this country.
ask your seif when was the last just war we fought?Johnson had fifty five plus thousand of our own killed,unknown number vietnamies,while lying about being attacked,he was more intrested in a war economy than young lives,sound familure?
Can you really say your surprised about this. It's not like we have ever seen this type of question answering from politicians. Especially politicians running in a presidential election. Part of the reason I think is because we the public are too sensative to what people say and do when it comes to politicans. I mean we look at these people like there under a microscope. A good example is Howard Dean. A man shows some emotion and everyone thinks he's crazy. These politicans know this and don't want to end up the same way Dean did. The second reason is that any political election is a popularity contest. Not only that, most people don't even care about the canidates. They get all the information from the TV, radio, web and papper. Only a small percent actually take the time to do research on them and their policies. Most just vote what ever party they belong to. So why should these canidates speak the truth, especialy when it comes to the most important topic in the election. One wrong word or phrase causes heahlines and spreads to every American. The best thing for them is to research what the people like and say it, like they always have. Majority of the population thinks the war is not going well. Do you think anyone in a election will say otherwise. Will we ever see a politician that speaks the truth? I really don't think so. The political process has been going on for hundreds of years and hasn't changed. If there is a person that wants to try telling the truth for a change. Become completely truthfull! You need to cause, tell it the way it is and never say your sorry. If this ever happens in my lifetime, I hope this doesn't turn into another political ploy for votes.
We all “out live” conversation every day of our lives, if there is something said in the interim which needs clarity, ask a question. And if someone has a better way to phrase a point of view, share it. We are all a part of humanity in a communication crisis, broken homes, greedy capitalist and in a war without tolerance of religious difference. Don’t we all wish for peace as a common goal? When are the great minds of leadership going to assemble the puzzle together and start problem solving, ask questions to gain understanding and stop bashing one another? If anyone has a better way to convey a point of view, speak up! It’s time we all work together for peace and charity. Politics is we the people not these immature political party‘s.
AFTER CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR BLOG AND READING ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS, I REALIZE THAT ALMOST ALL OF THESE COMMENTS ARE BASICALLY DISGUSTED WITH POLITICIANS AND THEIR 'LIES' TO GET ELECTED. AGAIN...TERM LIMITS...IT'S THE ONLY WAY TOUGH DECISIONS CAN BE MADE WITHOUT THE WORRY OF 'JOB SECURITY' FOR THEMSELVES. WE NEED 'REAL' PEOPLE AT THE HELM AND NOT 'CAREER' POLITICIANS WHO VIEW THEMSELVES AS INFALIBLE AND VIEW US AS 'STUPID'. GET REAL WASHINGTON!!!!
I dare any of you to say that our troop's lives were wasted in this war TO THEIR FACE. How can you use their deaths to further your political agenda, and live with yourselves?? Can any of you tell the difference between a wasted life, and one that was sacrificed without being partisan?
A BIG part of the problem with is with the media, esp. as it relates to Democrats. When Obama said it, it was on the front pages from coast to coast and the MSM covered it as a "stumble" or something that he had done/said wrong, mainly because that was how a lot of right-wing pundit types reacted (see Michelle Malkin). And the mainstream press took that as a que to critcize Obama. The reaction to McCain's "stumble" was WAYYY more subdued, and if not for left-wing bloggers, wouldn't have been mentioned. Your post is so disingenuous it hurts. If you are troubled by pols reluctance to talk straight, check out how you and your cohort react when they do? (see John Kerry botched joke for further example)
Who are they apologizing to? I would like to know who is complaining about a person honesty. I sure would like them (policians) to be more upfront and honest with their statements and ideas of how they are going to make things better for this country. I am not only speaking about the issue about the war, but of all the issues that are spring up during an election of any kind. I think the majority of this country wants to hear the truth without getting the run-around. I am a hard working american from the middle class and I am sick and tired of politians protecting their seats and those who are holding this country back. Sorry for going off subject but its something that I've been waiting for someone to say on t.v. When someone has to rethink what they are going to say they aren't being themselves.
It is too bad that they did not stick to their original statements. It has been a waste. The UN inspection teams said there were no weapons, but we went to war to prove there were weapons. That was a waste. We went to free the Iraqi people from a dictator and now they are oppressed by factions from at least three sides in a civil war that shows no signs of letting up. What a waste. We went to stabilize the region controlled by an evil dictator and have de-stabilized the region and we cannot leave or that region will fall further in to chaos. What a waste. We have lost the lives of more than 3100 fighting men and women, maimed 10 times that amount, and killed or maimed even more Iraqi people to create this mess. What a waste. Don't apologize. Call it what it is.
All I know is that while the politicians are politicing this war, and it hasn't gotten any better since the Democrats supposedly won the mid-term elections, our men and women, our kids, Iraqi kids are still dying. It's time to bring them home and then the politicians can whine and cry and lie all they want.
i think they said what they meant, and both are right thier lives were wasted and sacrificed,in a useless and trumped up war. it was for revenge and oil for the bushes(shurbs) and it is sicking and disgusting what they have put the citizens of this country and iraq thru. and u should not apoligize for telling the truth... never,sorry ....it hurts but its the truth!!!
i think they said what they meant, and both are right thier lives were wasted and sacrificed,in a useless and trumped up war. it was for revenge and oil for the bushes(shurbs) and it is sicking and disgusting what they have put the citizens of this country and iraq thru. and u should not apoligize for telling the truth... never,sorry ....it hurts but its the truth!!!
It's sad that anyone would say a person fighting for our freedom is "wasted". I also feel sorry for the politicians who don't have the luxury of editors like Josh Mankiewicz and the rest of the media. My opinion is your all full of hot air (politicians & media) trying to sell your product at almost any cost.
War is a terrible waste of human life. Period. No one should have to apologize for speaking that truth.
If you spend resources doing something you should not have done in the first place, you will have "WASTED" those resources. If USA should not have gone to Iraq but did so and this has resulted in both human and material resources being SPENT, is it not enough to say that those RESOURCES have been WASTED? Those resources could have been more meaningfully employed. Any CEO who uses company resources this way deserves the sack.
This war has been a mess since day one, and the longer we stay there we will have wasted more lives, and i think its a shame that we had to lose even one live,and i am glad that you told the truth.
I don't think they need to appologize. They said one thing and totally meant another. Let's face it, we all sometimes say one thing and it is taken the wrong way simply because of the way we stated it. It is a mistake in their speech and they should only have to correct the language and tell the American people what they actually meant. It is no different as to what happened to Senator Trent Lott a few years ago. He was saying something to make the an old man feel good about himself in his last few days of life. I bet you Senator Lott does not really feel the country would be better off is Strom Thurman were elected president in 1948. People make mistakes and the media runs it into the ground when it is someone in the public eye.
"It's sad that anyone would say a person fighting for our freedom is "wasted". What "our freedom" is Dan Jacobsen talking about? I thought that this fight for the America's freedom was fought and won in 1776? I did not know that somehow the war in Iraq was meant to free Americans. I am confused here.
The comparison of Obama and McCain was not appropriate. Yes, both men beat a hasty retreat recently on the use of the "w" word. But like it or not, US senators have NEVER been known for courage (except perhaps that long-forgotten senator who lost his seat after he blocked President Andrew Johnson's impeachment). What IS more striking to me is how John McCain ability to flipflop overnight on just about every position he's ever held. E.g., McCain showed his so-called maverick side when called Rumsfeld the worst defense secretary...but then immediately withdrew the criticism when he saw it didn't work.
It sounds unpatriotic to say the lives were "wasted", because that might seem to make light of the personal life (as opposed to military "life") of the person killed. Better to say that their deaths were wasted - needless - they should never have been asked to go to this war, much less lay down their lives for such useless things.
"Wasted" means "lost in vain", "with no use". OK, let's then say the soldiers' lives were lost for nothing, which is true, by the way.
Politicians should have the same rights as the rest of Americans. Just as we enjoy the freedom of speech in posting our comments here they also should be able to freely voice they opinions.They need to remember as well as we all need to remember that somewhere in the history of our country an American soldier served, fought and died for all the freedoms and rights we enjoy today. They never questioned or disobeyed. They served and defended when we asked them to.They provided us with the freedom and right to collectively vote and elect politicians to represent us regarding decisions on whether or not to go to war.So let us all be honest.


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