Democrats seized an opportunity to attack John McCain after a comment he made saying withdrawing troops from Iraq was “not too important.”

During an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning McCain was asked if he had a good estimate of when he thought American troops could come home from Iraq. “No, but that’s not too important,” he said. “What’s important is the casualties in Iraq. Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That’s all fine. American casualties, and the ability to withdraw. We will be able to withdraw. … But the key to it is we don’t want any more Americans in harm’s way.”"

McCain supporters say the comment has been distorted and Democratic leaders conveniently ignored the backing context McCain offered that he is more concerned with casualties than length of deployment. They say there is no one better placed than the former prisoner of war to understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers and military families.

“It is unbelievably out of touch and inconsistent with the needs and concerns of Americans and particularly the families of the troops who are over there,” said Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

During a week in which the focus has largely been on the U.S. economy, the comment has propelled Iraq and national security credentials back to the forefront of the campaign agenda.

View video of McCain’s comment on the Today Show below.

 

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