WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democrat Barack Obama kept up an onslaught on John McCain Tuesday after one of the Republican's most trusted aides said a terrorist attack on US soil would benefit his White House bid.
Despite an apology from the aide, campaign strategist Charlie Black, and a disavowal from McCain himself, Obama's campaign said Black's slip had unmasked Republican election tactics to be all about the "politics of fear."
Richard Ben-Veniste, a member of the official investigation into the September 11 attacks of 2001, said Black had betrayed "a candid and very disappointing glimpse into the thinking" behind the McCain campaign.
Ben-Veniste, speaking for the Obama campaign, stopped short of calling on McCain to fire Black over the controversy, which recalled President George W. Bush's powerful use of national security in the 2004 election.
But he said that like in 2004, Republicans were exploiting the threat of terrorism "for political gain."
"It is important that the candidates debate their vision for America's national security free from the politics of fear that has for so long dominated and distorted the discussion."
Obama insists the "Bush-McCain" approach has made America "less safe" with Iraq a breeding ground for extremism, Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden still at large and the Taliban now resurgent in Afghanistan.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, the media front-runner to be McCain's vice presidential nominee, attempted to put a gloss on the remark by Black made in an interview with Fortune magazine Monday.
"I think Charlie was probably just trying to reflect that John McCain is viewed as, and in fact has, stronger national security/international affairs credentials than Barack Obama, but he's acknowledged the statement was inappropriate," Pawlenty told Fox News.
Black, a former Washington lobbyist who is in McCain's inner circle of advisers, had apologized Monday after telling Fortune that an attack on US soil "would be a big advantage to him."
McCain himself told reporters in Fresno, California Monday: "If he said that, and I do not know the context, I strenuously disagree."
Black, reading from handwritten notes, told reporters: "I deeply regret the comments, they were inappropriate.
"I recognize that John McCain had devoted his entire adult life to protecting this country ... and placing its security above every other consideration."
In the Fortune article, Black also said the December assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto had been an "unfortunate event."
"But his (McCain's) knowledge and ability to talk about it re-emphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be commander-in-chief," he said.
"And it helped us."
The remarks generated an avalanche of US media coverage, with commentators recalling journalist Michael Kinsley's celebrated quip from 1992: "A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth."
Bush played the security card to devastating effect in the 2004 election, accusing Democratic hopeful John Kerry of being soft on terrorism and promising strong leadership in a time of war.
Bush's longtime counselor Karl Rove had said Republican candidates should not hesitate to cite terrorism as a reason to vote for the party. But in this year's election, the predominant theme of 2004 appears to be receding.
Polls suggest McCain is favored over Obama for handling terrorism and national security. However, they also give a commanding lead to the Democrat on the economy, which is now the top concern of voters.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Black's remarks were a "complete disgrace" and vowed the Illinois senator would defeat Al-Qaeda by turning "the page on these failed policies and this cynical and divisive brand of politics."
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