Person of the Day: John McCain

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SENATOR JOHN McCAIN

When people finally wonder why McCain faded in the campaign they can start with this interview yesterday on CNN. McCain was claiming that there were neighborhoods in Baghdad that were so much improved you could go out for a walk in them.

“General Petraeus goes out there every day. The success we’re experiencing, (it’s now possible) for Americans…to go into 2 of the 5 neighborhoods in a secure fashion.”

Soon CNN’s Baghdad correspondent, Michael Ware, was live from Baghdad with a response. “No way on earth can a Westerner, particularly an American, stroll the streets of this capitol of 5 million people. If Al Qaeda doesn’t get wind of you or one of the Sunni insurgent groups don’t descend on you, if someone doesn’t tip off a Shia militia, then the nearest criminal gang is just going to see dollar signs and scoop you up. You’d barely last 20 minutes out there. I honestly don’t know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says you can go strolling in Baghdad.”

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In this month’s Summer Membership Drive, we’ve got to raise $200,000 to support more crucial investigations. This is a pivotal moment in our nation, with democracy on the line, and we can only do this work because readers like you step up. Every donation, of any amount, makes a difference here. We cannot do this work without you.

So, we’re asking: Will you support independent journalism that demands those in power answer for their actions?

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