Soldiers on an armored personnel carrier enter Tskhinvali, capital of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia enclave, Aug. 11, 2008, next to a giant portrait of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
by Mark Silva
Sen. John McCain, handed a handy line in an interview, says he doesn't know if President Bush "missed the boat'' on Vladimir Putin, but Bush "probably had a higher opinion'' of the now-Russian prime minister than McCain does.
McCain, who has called for the ouster of Russia from the Group of Eight major industrial nations, spoke about the Russian invasion of neighboring Georgia in an interview with FOX News Channel's Carl Cameron that will air this evening.
In the interview on FOX's Special Report, starting at 6 pm EDT, the Republican candidate for president also says that his timetable for naming a running mate is not "driven by Sen. Obama's schedule.'' (Good thing, with Democratic Sen. Barack Obama on vacation.)
In light of Russia's assault on Georgia, McCain was asked if Bush, who had said early in his administration that he looked into the then-Russian president's eyes and seen his soul, had "missed the boat'' on the former KGB chief.
"I don't know if the president quote, 'missed the boat,''' McCain replied. "But, I do believe that the president probably had a higher opinion of Vladimir Putin than I do."
And in an interview with National Public Radio that will air in the morning, McCain tells host Renee Montagne that the Russian offensive in Georgia "is clearly in keeping with the Russian ambitions for the old near abroad, control of or absolute takeover of surrounding countries. And this may be trying to send a message to Ukraine and other countries in the region."
On the future of U.S.-Russian relations, McCain says in the NPR Morning Edition interview: "I don't think that there's going to be a re-ignition of the Cold War; don't get me wrong. I don't think there's going to be nuclear-weapons build-ups, et cetera, but I think that Russian behavior is not acceptable and we will do what we can to maintain our alliances and our friends and make the Russians understand that this kind of behavior is not a part of what we view as the 21st Century."
On Obama's own position on the conflict, McCain said in the FOX interview: "I respect Sen. Obama's views and I believe that it's important that we act in a bipartisan fashion now. There's no room for partisanship now."
On the selection of a running mate: "We're still going through the process and-- I'm not driven by Sen. Obama's schedule, but it's a very tonight thing to do. I'm working hard at it.... I'm not consumed by it. But frankly, real straight talk, I hope that I can reach a decision soon. It's -- we've got a whole lot of qualified men and women who I think would do a great job. So it's a tough process."
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Comments
"GRAMMSTANDING MCCAIN SPEAKS"
OH WHAT OH WHAT WOULD MY "EMBROYNIC VP DO"? OH WHAT OH WHAT HE DO!
IF HE WAS NOT IN THE PETRIE DISH IN THE GULF!
HE WOULD STAND BEFORE YOU AND TELL YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO!
HE WOULD STAND BEFORE YOU AND TELL YOU IT IS WHAT "THE SECRETARY DEEMS" NECESSARY!
HE WOULD STAND BEFORE YOU AND TELL YOU THE SAME THING I DID. NOTHING! VICTORY IS ON THE MARCH!
IT'S THOSE "EVIL DOERS"
FAULT!
IT'S OBAMA'S FAULT!
YES IT'S OBAMA FAULT!
ALL THAT "CELEBRITY" IN HIM!
IT'S THE "AGE OF THE VISUAL" AND IF KARL ROVE COULD TELL ME WHAT DO I WOULD LISTEN.
OH WHERE OH WHERE IS MY "EMBROYNIC" VP AT, OH WHERE OH WHERE IS HE AT! JINDAHL COUNTRY!
CRIST COUNTRY!
DUBAI COUNTRY!
LIBYA!
VICKIE COUNTRY!
CAROL COUNTRY!
CINDY COUNTRY!
OH WHERE OH WHERE IS MY "EMBRONIC" VP AT!
Posted by: Roger Morris | August 12, 2008 6:01 PM
Wow, what a maverick! You really cut against the grain in this country when you say you don't have as high an opinion of Putin as Bush did of his former BFF. And to do so in hindsight? This guy's got bra.. ba..s
What's next, McCain? Are you willing to publicly declare your steadfast opposition to heart disease? Or your unflinching support for puppy dogs?
Surely our amateur media critics must enjoy the "balance" contained in this McCain press release.
Posted by: a blinkin | August 12, 2008 6:12 PM
Here's the real issue, and what needs to be discussed by the candies;
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http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/seven-reasons-america-needs-good/story.aspx?guid=%7BE8E9E137%2D3375%2D41D0%2D9601%2DFA4D14601140%7D
Posted by: C.Morris | August 12, 2008 6:16 PM
I think McCain handled his comments on Obama's ideas for Russia/Georgia situation very well. Certainly better than Obama's first comments to come out attacking McCain's advisor and making accusations of connections to Georgia.....very unpresidential.
McCain is the Maverick, he does not feel a need to always agree with Bush. He's always been a Maverick and I haven't seen that change.....look at his stance on Earmarks and his plan for going after those trying to put them thru while he's president...he'll name names and expose them to the public. That's my kinda guy!
Obama has quite a few earmarks he's put thru with other Senators and by himself. That might not sit with the public when they find that out and look into the dollars involved.
Two different choices, and it couldn't be more obvious.
Posted by: vp might be a qualified female | August 12, 2008 7:24 PM
Shifty-eyed KGB agent Putin has made no bones about his desire to reassemble the old Soviet Union. Ukraine is next on his list.
But where is the outcry from the Left? Course, the Left says our invasion of Iraq opened the door for Russia to invade Georgia, but that is pure poppycock. Russia says it may topple the Democratically-elected Georgian government. No doubt, the Left, Chicago Tribune, Hollywood are A-OK with that.
Posted by: John D | August 12, 2008 9:36 PM
Mccain scares the hell out of me. He & that traitor Lieberman cant wait to go to war with everyone. His finger on the button is frightening, & by the way he does not speak for me when he says all Americans are Georgians, I am not. "diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy"
Posted by: eve | August 13, 2008 6:50 AM
EVE-Let's see, which is Russia most likely to back down to>McCain's tough no nonsense talk or Obama's APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT APPEASEMENT
I wrote a song trying to scare everyone about Reagan pushing the button years ago, and while it scared a few like you, it actually backfired on me and scared our enemies even more. No one wants to mess with someone who doesn't take any BS.
Posted by: Phil Collins | August 13, 2008 8:39 AM