McCain, Obama, Gooses and Ganders

John McCain has been diligent in wanting to run a "clean" campaign, that's respectful of his opponents. I've had doubts that the Democrates would reciprocate, and it seems we may be seeing the first signs that they won't.

McCain Calls on Obama to Condemn ‘Warmonger’ Remark

John McCain’s campaign officials are calling on Barack Obama to condemn remarks made by an introductory speaker who called McCain “a warmonger” at a North Dakota campaign stop Friday.

Local liberal talk show host Ed Schultz used the term to describe the Arizona senator while warming up the crowd in Grand Forks, N.D., before Obama’s arrival at the state’s Democratic convention.

The McCain campaign likens the insult to the language used by conservative radio talk show host Bill Cunningham, who rallied the crowd for McCain in Cincinnati, Ohio, in late February by repeatedly invoking Obama’s middle name, “Hussein,” mocking him as a “hack” and suggesting that as president he’d cozy up to Hezbollah and Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. McCain condemned Cunningham, prompting a fierce response from the talk show host.

On Friday, however, Obama thanked Schultz and called him the “voice of progressive radio.”

What’s fair is fair, the McCain campaign says.

“Sen. Obama has repeatedly said that words matter, they do, and for him to stand on stage and thank someone who just minutes before used hate-filled and inflammatory language to describe John McCain, someone who has served his nation in and out of uniform for over 30 years, shows Obama’s true colors, liberal Chicago-style politics as usual,” McCain campaign spokesman Jeff Sadosky said. “Americans want more; they deserve better.”

The Obama campaign has not yet commented on the matter.

After learning about Cunningham’s incendiary comments from advisers after the February event, McCain rebuked and disassociated himself with the talk show host minutes later at a press conference. The presumptive GOP nominee repeatedly has vowed to run a “respectful” race and campaign officials are attempting to draw a contrast between McCain’s quick condemnation of Cunningham’s remarks and Obama’s lack of reaction.

FOX News’ Mosheh Oinounou contributed to this report.

(bold emphasis mine) What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander... unless the Gander is a Democrat, then he can do whatever he wants. Only Republicans are expected to be held to any standards, it seems.


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