Mar 18, 2007 10:30 pm US/Eastern
McCain Questions Democrats' Troop Surge Opposition
EXETER, N.H. (AP) ―
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on Sunday questioned whether Democrats who oppose sending more American troops to Iraq truly support those who already are there.
"To say that 'we support the troops but don't believe your mission will succeed, it's doomed to fail, we don't want you to go,' is not exactly the most supportive statement," the Arizona senator said in defending his own strong support for the war.
Instead of proposing nearly two dozen proposals to end the war, Democrats should give President Bush's new strategy a chance, he told several hundred people at the Exeter Town Hall.
"To set a date for withdrawal is in my view, to say to enemy, 'Hey, we're leaving on a certain date, just hang on and we'll go,"' he said.
Yet in response to another question, McCain decried the partisan bickering so common in Washington.
"If we want to young people to serve in office, we'd better stop impugning each other's integrity and patriotism just because we happen to disagree," he said, promising that he would reach out to Democrats if elected to save Social Security, reform Medicare and solve other looming problems.
Another audience member raised concerns that McCain's support for the troop increase could hurt his campaign.
"With your support of staying in Iraq with a new direction, how do you propose to combat the constant drumbeat from the media and the other side of the aisle about pulling out of Iraq?" McCain was asked.
McCain gestured to an audience member whose son was killed in Iraq, saying that man's sacrifice made the political ramifications irrelevant.
"How could I allow any political ambition of mine to interfere with what I think is right for the country?" he said.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
