NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday March 24, 2008

McCain "Debates" confirm Arizonans can't trust John McCain

Arizona Democratic Party today welcomed a new series of debates featuring Senator John McCain, launched by the Democratic National Committee and to be broadcast on www.mccaindebates.com. The debates, which show the Arizona Senator debating himself on the vital issues confronting the American people, make it clear that even John McCain disagrees with John McCain. As the two McCains square off, voters in Arizona will have the opportunity to hear the old McCain vs the 2008 McCain, the third-Bush-termer and pandering politician who will say or do anything to win.

Fresh from the Senator’s campaign trip at taxpayer expense to Iraq and the Middle East, the first spirited exchange will focus on the war in Iraq, and feature not-to-be-missed questions about the threat of Saddam Hussein, the ease of success in Iraq, and true feelings about the Donald Rumsfeld strategy. The McCain vs. McCain debates will be held over the coming weeks, with the two McCains arguing over other issues.

“We’re glad that John McCain has finally agreed to debate himself, but unfortunately, Arizonans are all too familiar with McCain’s rhetoric,” said Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director Maria Weeg. “Having made it clear that he is willing to pander and change his positions in order to win the Republican nomination, how can John McCain possibly expect voters to trust him to deliver the change the American people want? As much as Arizonans would like Senator McCain to find a new job, his case for a third Bush term proves he is wrong for all Americans.”

For a front row seat to the debates, go to www.mccaindebates.com and see for yourself.

Script of McCain vs. McCain Debate #1
Iraq

ROUND 1: Do you think Saddam is a threat?

“I believe that Saddam Hussein presents clear and present danger to the United States of America.” [CNN Late Edition, 3/3/02]
vs.
“I never said—I never said that it was a, quote, clear and present danger because of weapons of mass destruction.” [Hardball, 9/17/03]

ROUND 2: Will success be easy?

“I believe that the success will be fairly easy.” [CNN Larry King Live, 9/24/02]
vs.
“I don’t think it’s quote ‘easy.’” [CNN, 9/29/02]

ROUND 3: How do you feel about Rumsfeld’s strategy?

“And so from everything I can tell, that seems to be a very good strategy.” [Meet the Press, 9/22/02]
vs.
“The point is my friends, that when Rumsfeld strategy was failing I’m the only one that stood up and said that it’s a failed strategy and we have to adopt a new strategy.”
[McCain Tracking Footage, (Fort Myers, FL), 1/26/08]

ROUND 4: Do you think we will see house to house fighting?

“We’re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad.” [CNN, 9/29/02]
vs.
“It doesn’t take a large number of people to cause difficulties in house to house fighting- we’ve just seen that in southern Iraq.” [MSNBC, Hardball, 3/24/03]