McCain Adviser Says... Wow, Just Watch for Yourself
This is absolutely horrifying. At first, this just appears to be an American shilling for a new casino project that is being built in Baghdad's Green Zone. He's an aggressive conservative capitalist — he suggests that the casino will be good for all Iraqis because when rich people play roulette, they leave tips for their waiters. But in the second half, he uses his influence with John McCain to sell the project, saying, "I think the people here in Baghdad should understand that a future American president supports this endeavor." And he has some really interesting things to say about John McCain's faith in the power of casinos, saunas, and golf courses to bring warring people together.
By the way, he ends by reassuring his Iraqi host, "We're in this together for at least 100 years." The host looks sick to his stomach. I'm pretty sure you will be, too, if you watch all eight and a half minutes. A transcription of the worst moments follows the video.
(Oh, and the guy's a total huckster. He claims that casinos and entertainment have healed racial wounds in the United States. Gambling has made Native Americans, "prosperous and wealthy, driving in Mercedes." And African Americans "with the sports have managed to advance themselves.")
If you couldn't watch the video, here's the most cringe-worthy stuff. Just FYI — next time you have a deep and violent difference with someone, get a minimum wage job with them. Putting on that tiny plastic McDonald's name tag will make all your hatreds disappear.
When you have a jack and a six and you hit, everybody's in it together. That rush transcends your language, your culture, your religion. And that's what I think is really bring people together, whether you're Sunni, Shia, or Kurd, you're going to wearing that same casino uniform. With the same nameplate, that says, "We're all one, we all work for the casino, there are not differences between us."
I'm probably soon going to be an adviser to the McCain campaign… and I can assure you that John McCain supports this effort. John McCain, who will likely be the next American president. And I think the people here in Baghdad should understand that a future American president supports this endeavor. And John McCain as the head of the Indian Affairs Committee in the Senate knows hands-on, full well the importance of development. And how a casino, how a sauna, how a golf course can transform a people, can transform a region, and bring peace to groups that otherwise fight.
We also had a racial conflict, between the Indians, the white people (the Caucasians from Europe), and the black people from Africa — and somehow casinos have managed to fix that divide. Where only 20 years ago, Indians were drunk and homeless and committing crimes. Today they're prosperous and wealthy, driving in Mercedes. Their kids with Gameboys and Playstations. Satellite dishes on their homes.
And so too the black people with the sports have managed to advance themselves in this kind of entertainment sector. And it's brought a harmony between all the people. And we intend to bring that kind of thing here to Baghdad.
The man speaking, Martin Eisenstadt, has since apologized, saying that he was "representing commercial interests in the Green Zone, and did not formally have a position with the McCain campaign." Yet, he means. He also claimed to be taken out of context. You've seen the video. Judge for yourself. What on earth does the McCain campaign do with this guy now?
Oh, and PS — Gambling is haram, prohibited by the Quran. Eisenstadt manages to not address this.
Comments
Might be a good idea to include the name of the "McCain adviser" and in what capacity he advises McCain in this post.
KFVG,
The man's name is in the post, toward the end. According to his blog, he is a “Liaison with the Jewish community” and “foreign policy advisor."
http://www.eisenstadtgroup.com/category/mccain/
Freedom isn't free.
Posted by: Jonathan Stein on 07/07/08 at 3:12 PM Respond
Ummm, as a Jew can I request he lose his "liaison" status? 'Cause I have no interest in liaisoning with this dude...
Posted by: Lea on 07/07/08 at 4:44 PM Respond
Absolutely surreal.
Thank you for posting this, Jonathan. I'll be passing it on.
Posted by: Jonathan Blaque on 07/07/08 at 4:54 PM Respond
Jon, I'm pretty sure that this is a hoax. You can check it out yourself with a quick google search, but really, you shouldn't need to...
Posted by: Dan on 07/07/08 at 6:15 PM Respond
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Posted by: King Friedrich von Goldschlager on 07/07/08 at 2:49 PM Respond