McCain Critical of Rumsfeld’s Handling of War

The former “straight-shooter” (who has recently reversed his stances on several issues) is nevertheless steadfast on his support of the Iraq war, despite being “a bit resentful” of the Secretary of Defense “for the way the war has been poorly handled.” (via Huff Po)

Bloomberg:

By Roger Simon

April 20 (Bloomberg) — Forget about whether Senator John McCain is a maverick or a mainstream Republican, whether he has moved to the left or right, or whether he has changed his positions in order to prepare for a presidential run in 2008.

The real barrier to his ambitions may be his unswerving, unstinting and unnuanced support for an unpopular war in Iraq.

“I do understand it could be a political liability,” the 69-year-old Arizona senator said in an interview. While he said he is “a bit resentful” of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “for the way the war has been poorly handled,” McCain added, “I still think we’ve got to win the war.”

With only 38 percent of Americans in the Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll saying the war is worth fighting, McCain’s advisers are trying to make a virtue of his stance, saying it shows he is genuine, courageous and un-political. When 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry “attempted to be `adroit’ about the war, the public didn’t like it,” said John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist. “McCain is a straight shooter.”

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