The Trail

OBAMA TEAM CRIES FOUL

McCain Mailer Alludes To Terror in the Air

John McCain gave his stamp of approval this week to one of the toughest pieces of direct mail in the 2008 campaign.

The brochure, which is being sent to voters in Virginia and Missouri, features a picture of an airplane that is either about to crash into a building full of people or parked at an airport departure gate, along with the words "Terrorists Don't Care Who They Hurt."

The other side of the mailer says: "Barack Obama Thinks Terrorists Just Need a Good Talking To."

In an interview with KDSD, a Missouri television station, McCain is shown the flier and asked whether he's proud of it.

"Absolutely," he said.

McCain went on to say the point of the flier is that Obama would sit down and meet, unconditionally, with the leaders of nations that sponsor terrorism.

"Senator Obama said, 'I would meet unconditionally with leaders of Iran, Syria and other state sponsors of terrorism,' " McCain explained to the reporter.

Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said, "The fact that John McCain is actually proud of this deplorable mailer is another indicator of how dishonorable his campaign has become."

-- Michael D. Shear