Via Blake Dvorak at RCP, we learn Cindy McCain is the latest member of the McCain team to take a hard negative turn:
“Let me tell you just a little something that I was not so happy about. My son, like so many others, and today like the Palin’s son, have served on the front lines, helping keep peace and helping freedom for other people. I’m a blue star mom, just like Gov. Palin is. I’m proud of my sons, but let me tell you, the day that Sen. Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body,” Cindy McCain said.
“I would suggest that Sen. Obama change shoes with me for just one day, and see what it means, and see what it means to have a loved one serving in the armed forces, and more importantly, serving in harms way. I suggest he take a day and go watch our fine young men and women deploy, get on those busses and leave with a smile and a charge.”
UPDATE: Democrats respond (and are far less personal about it than many of our commenters):
FACT: USING THE SAME STANDARD, MCCAIN HAS SUPPORTED CUTTING OF FUNDING TO THE TROOPS
FactCheck.org: Using The McCain Campaign’s Standards, It Would Be “Literally True” To Say That “McCain Urged A Veto Of Funding For Our Troops.” “The McCain camp and Republicans cite one vote Obama cast against a funding bill as justification for their claim – but that vote came after President Bush had vetoed a version of the bill that included a date for withdrawal from Iraq. In fact, most Republicans voted against that 2007 war-funding bill Obama and the Democrats supported. McCain was absent for the vote, but he urged the president to veto the bill. As we said about this subject previously, ‘Based on those facts, it would be literally true to say that ‘McCain urged a veto of funding for our troops.’ But that would be oversimplified to the point of being seriously misleading.’ And the same goes for Lieberman’s claim at the convention.” [FactCheck.org, 9/3/08]
McCain Cheered On Bush And Welcomed His Veto Of The Iraq And Afghanistan Spending Bill, Noting That The Congress Needed To Pass A New Spending Bill Because The “Troops In The Field Are Waiting On Our Action.” McCain: “I look forward to the President’s prompt veto of this misguided bill. After the President rejects the legislation, I sincerely hope that the Congress will finally get serious about passing a measure that can be enacted into law. … We need to send a bill to the President that he can sign, and we need to do it as soon as possible – our troops in the field are waiting on our action.” [McCain release, 4/26/07]
FACT: ATTACK ON TROOP FUNDING IS “HIGHLY MISLEADING”
AP: Charge That Obama Voted Against Troop Funding Is “Misleading.” “The ad’s most inflammatory charge — that Obama voted against troop funding in Iraq and Afghanistan — is misleading. The Illinois senator consistently voted to fund the troops once elected to the Senate.” [AP, 7/18/08]
Fact Check.org: The Claim That Obama Voted To Cut Off Funding For Our Troops Is “Highly Misleading.” Factcheck.org wrote, “Lieberman also said that “colleagues like Barack Obama were voting to cut off funding for our American troops on the battlefield.” That’s a highly misleading claim that McCain also touted in an ad this summer. Obama has voted in favor of war-funding bills at least 10 times since becoming a senator. The McCain camp and Republicans cite one vote Obama cast against a funding bill as justification for their claim – but that vote came after President Bush had vetoed a version of the bill that included a date for withdrawal from Iraq. In fact, most Republicans voted against that 2007 war-funding bill Obama and the Democrats supported.” [Factcheck.org, 9/3/08]
