by Jill Zuckman
Phoenix, Ariz. – If a red phone rings in the middle of the night, which candidate is best prepared to answer the call of an international crisis?
That is the question that Sen. Hillary Clinton has posed to make the case in the Democratic primary that she is better prepared for that moment than Sen. Barack Obama, sparking an intense clash between the two campaigns.
But don’t forget Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, a decorated veteran of Vietnam and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.
“I think many Americans, when they consider the three of us, I would believe that my knowledge and experience and background clearly indicates that if the phone rang in the White House and I was the one to answer it, I would be the one to best address a national security crisis,” McCain said in response to a reporter’s question this morning.
McCain noted that he’s been involved in virtually every national security crisis that has come along in the last two decades, something he stressed throughout the Republican primary race. Asked whether Clinton and Obama were unqualified to answer the phone in the middle of the night, McCain demurred.
“I’m not running against their qualifications, I am running for mine,” he said. “My knowledge, my experience, my background, my relationship with the world’s leaders…I’m not the youngest candidate, but I’m certainly the most experienced and qualified to answer that phone and act in America’s best security experience.”
When asked what he considered to be his own “red phone moment” qualifying him to respond to the ring, McCain paused and then cited two examples, ranging from the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 to his push for a counterinsurgency strategy involving a surge of U.S. troops in Iraq.
McCain pointed out that he was “sitting in the cockpit” of a Navy jet aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise off the island of Cuba shortly after U-2 spy plane photos revealed missile bases under construction just miles from American soil.
“I didn’t have anything to do with the decision but I was ready to be at the point of the spear,” said McCain.





Comments
Doesn't Florida have Conceal and Carry Rights? The liberals caved and FL citizens can be armed. Who do I blame for this?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sfl-303wendys,1,1555820.story
Posted by: Curious NRA dirtbag | March 3, 2008 2:52 PM
I don't care if McCain answers the red phone. I do care if he ends up with his finger on the red button.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 3, 2008 2:54 PM
Bush/Mccain, please NO.
Senator Mccain- 'BOMB BOMB BOMB'
Posted by: Joan | March 3, 2008 2:59 PM
The man looks asleep when he's awake. Nothing like that all important 3 am call and it goes unanswered.
Posted by: bill "hussein" r. | March 3, 2008 3:00 PM
He was involved, like in in the 90s when he wanted the US to leave Somalia because losing Americans was not worth that cause according to him. Just today it was reported that installations were bombed in Somalia to go after al-Qaeda members operating there. Senator John McCain openely advocated on the floor of the United States Senate a surrender to al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda type terrorists. John McCain emboldened al-Qaeda with his speech on the Senate floor and is more responsible for 9/11 than George W. Bush. Duncan Hunter is the only true Republican who has always understood the threat of radical Islamo-fascists.
Posted by: sam hartsock | March 3, 2008 3:02 PM
"AT&T / VERIZON WIRELESS SPEAKS"
At 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, and HALLIBURTON CALLS THE RED PHONE FROM DUBAI, I will be "JOHNNY ON THE SPOT" and take the call.
At 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, and Vicki Iseman calls in hopes of "KEEPING AMERICA MOVING" I will be "JOHNNY ON THE SPOT" and take that call.
At 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, and "COLE, BARBOUR, PERDUE OR RICK RENZI calls and says We got 100 MILLION DOLLARS FROM KATRINA VICTIMS, I will be "JOHNNY ON THE SPOT" and take that call.
At 2:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, and an American Soldier calls me on his "AT&T GIPHONEHOME LONG DISTANCE CALLING CARD" I will be "JOHNNY ON THE SPOT" and not only take that call, but "RECORD, WIRETAP IT, EAVESDROP, that call on behalf of the American People and the "FISA" law as it stood prior to GEORGE BUSH taking office.
AS I AM MR. JOHNNY ON THE SPOT MCCAIN!
Has anyone seen the "GOEGLIEN" REPORT today?
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 3, 2008 3:32 PM
Here's what crazy Johnny McCain/Bush would do if he heard the "red phone" ringing in the White House...which he wouldn't because he can barely hear anything anyway, let alone a phone ringing in the middle of the night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2kyXN4ZVQg&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/main/2
Posted by: John Hussein E | March 3, 2008 3:32 PM
McCain has military and leadership experience that dwarfts both his rivals. That's why neither of them are asking the "red phone" question of him.
Posted by: Jeff | March 3, 2008 4:25 PM
McCain thinks he can best handle a crisis...?
Heck, he can't even manage the ups and downs of daily living without having an aneurysm. I'd really hate to think of his hand near any red phones or buttons....
Posted by: Eric | March 3, 2008 4:42 PM
McCain has military and leadership experience that dwarfts both his rivals. That's why neither of them are asking the "red phone" question of him.
Posted by: Jeff | March 3, 2008 4:25 PM
Yeah, McCain has insane military visions alright, like spending 100 years in Iraq and bombing Iran....which reminds me Jeff, you're of age, why haven't you put your money where your McCain cheerleading mouth is by going down to the military recruiters office and signing up for his vision of Iraq?????????
Posted by: John Hussein E | March 3, 2008 6:06 PM
Well, more and more it looks like having McCain on the line would = having Bush on the line.
Nuff said. Goodbye Mr. McBush.
Posted by: C.Hussein.Morris | March 3, 2008 6:49 PM
Interesting that Mr McCain associates with THIS GUY...
Hagee on Women
"Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist."
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | March 3, 2008 8:46 PM
He is For and Against NAFTA
He is For and Against the Iraq War
He is For and Against Bombing Pakistan
He is For and Against Bushes Education policies.
He has a cute manner.
and he can cut and paste a great speech.
Vote McCain!
Posted by: hhkeller | March 3, 2008 9:23 PM
It's 3:00 am and John mcCain is waiting for an excuse to BOMB IRAN!!!
Posted by: Bush Family Value$ | March 3, 2008 9:28 PM
“I think many Americans, when they consider the three of us, I would believe that my knowledge and experience and background clearly indicates that if the phone rang in the White House and I was the one to answer it, I would be the one to best address a national security crisis,” McCain said in response to a reporter’s question this morning.
Since when does getting one's head bashed-in by the Viet Cong make a person qualified on national security.
Sen. McCain's advice to the president on Iraq has also been piss poor.
McCain should have told the president NOT to invade Iraq.
Instead, McCain wants to sink us further into that quagmire.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | March 3, 2008 10:12 PM
He's known as the most honest and ethical member of Congress.
He's the only one shedding light on the implications of this fiat currency and the absence of gold/silver backing. As Congressman Paul, member of the House Committee on Financial Services and former member of the House Banking Committee, has said, "A perfect storm (is) facing America, caused by a federal government that spends, borrows and prints so much money that our dollars are eroding in value at an alarming rate."
These are a couple reasons that former Treasury Secretary William Simon commented, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill. He's the only candidate who does not take money from lobbyists, PACs or special interests. Lobbyists do not bother visiting him because he never supports any bill that gives handouts to their bosses, no matter who they are.
He's repeatedly voted against raiding Social Security funds and introduced a bill to stop Congress from borrowing from Social Security to pay for unbalanced budgets. He's opposed to the taxation of Social Security benefits as well. It is said that Congressman Paul introduces more substantive legislation each year than any other member of Congress. Of all the candidates, only Ron Paul has an extensive legislative record opposing the monetary policy that led to the current sub-prime mortgage crisis.
He has never voted to raise taxes, for an unbalanced budget, to raise congressional pay, or to increase the power of the executive branch. He has never taken a government-paid junket, does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program, and he returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. Treasury every year.
Posted by: Marc | March 3, 2008 10:54 PM
All we need is a President John McCain, sound asleep and dreaming about following people to the gates of Hell, suddenly being awakened at 3 am by a red phone. How real is that scenario?
Posted by: GW | March 4, 2008 12:29 AM
Funny that John Hussein would bring up the 100 years comment. The democrats, particularly Obama, have taken it so far out of context that the Associated Press (not the campaign) felt it was time to set Obama's lies straight:
Time for some straight talk, my friends: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080229/ap_on_el_pr/iraq_fact_check
p.s. You're right, Bill, he's old. That's why he has his dinner at 3:00 p.m., is in bed by 5:00 p.m. and up and ready by 3:00 a.m. Just a little 3AM humor for you.
p.p.s. McFarlin, if you think calling for the surge that's stabilizing Iraq and calling for Rumsfeld's firing three years before either positive development happened "piss poor," then I think you should be using your filthy adjective to describe how well your own broken brain works.
Posted by: Jeff | March 4, 2008 2:46 AM
Jeff, What stabilized Iraq was negotiated deals with the Sunni and Shiite militias to provide them with arms and payments in exchange for peace and some level of cooperation. The surge wouldn't have mattered if we were still fighting both Iraqi factions.
Posted by: Tom O | March 4, 2008 11:58 AM
SWISH-CRACK!!!!! It's back, back, BACK, it's gone! Tom O swats out another one!
Posted by: TheReamer | March 4, 2008 12:55 PM
as a lifelong Dem-leaning Independent, should Clinton eventually win this nomination, I immediately need to know where to get campaign materials for John McCain. If it's Obama, I would like to have that debate. Either one of these men would be a great candidate.
Posted by: MKSinSA | March 4, 2008 4:53 PM
You know those yellow "We Support the Troops" stickers that are... everywhere?
Well, those who BOTH put their money where their mouth is regarding this election (by donating to their preferred candidate) and who ALSO put their lives on the line for their country -- instead of just putting those yellow ribbons on their cars -- support Ron Paul's version of the war more than any of the other candidates combined.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht8CQuOjxjs&feature=related
Posted by: Sean | March 4, 2008 8:16 PM