Terrorist endorsements Posted by Max Bergmann

It has definitely been the week for foreign policy endorsements. Colin Powell dramatically endorsed Barack Obama on Sunday, and now today we learn that Al Qaeda has endorsed John McCain. The Washington Post and AP reported today that Al-Qaeda affiliated websites have endorsed Senator McCain, saying that he will continue the policies of George Bush that have weakened America and strengthened them. In response the McCain campaign has organized a panicky conference call that will likely try to dismiss Al Qaeda's endorsement of Senator McCain as ridiculous.

They could have a point on the ridiculousness of terrorist endorsements if they hadn't spent the last six months claiming that Barack Obama had been endorsed by terrorist groups like Hamas. You know you really shouldn't throw launch RPGs if you live in a glass house. And McCain sure has launched a lot of RPGs. McCain's website currently reads:

Hamas Has Praised Barack Obama's Foreign Policy

•    "During An Interview On WABC Radio ... Top Hamas Political Adviser Ahmed Yousef Said The Terrorist Group Supports Obama's Foreign Policy Vision." (Mosheh Oinounou, "A Hamas Problem For Obama?" Fox News' "Cameron's Corner" Blog, foxnews.com, 4/16/08)

•    Yousef: "We don't mind-actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance..." (Mosheh Oinounou, "A Hamas Problem For Obama?" Fox News' "Cameron's Corner" Blog, foxnews.com, 4/16/08)

McCain in April told conservative bloggers:

I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare....If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly.

McCain's deputy campaign manager Christian Ferry even sent an email to donors with a subject line that read "Hamas Weighs In On U.S. Presidential Election." The email read:

Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders. Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, "We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America." We need change in America, but not the kind of change that wins kind words from Hamas, surrenders in Iraq and will hold unconditional talks with Iranian President Ahmadinejad.

And then this week, McCain said he was proud of an RNC anti-Obama mailer that evoked 9-11 and said Obama would just talk to terrorists.

Maybe if McCain hadn't launched all these attacks, he could be taken seriously when he dismisses Al Qaeda's endorsement. Unfortunately for McCain his house is made of glass.