The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says his exchange with President Obama at a White House meeting last week has been vastly overblown. “There was no sharp exchange whatsoever,” he said in a telephone interview. “To say that there was anything to it — it’s so insulting and so outrageous.”
It was just a year ago when Obama and McCain, R-Ariz., were trading sharp words, by long distance on the campaign trail and face-to-face in three presidential debates. Obama won those rounds and the presidency. McCain now describes their relationship as “respectful,” but respectful as part of “the loyal opposition.”
They came together to kill the F-22 fighter jet project. They have parted ways on health care and the stimulus package. They are now sparring over Afghanistan. The issue is whether to send 40,000 more troops there, as Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. forces, has proposed.
Obama has not tipped his hand. McCain has emerged as the most visible advocate for more troops, just as he was when former President George W. Bush was considering whether to implement a troop surge in Iraq almost three years ago.
That history colors the current debate and the current Obama-McCain relationship, which is why every word between them is examined for any hint of discord or disagreement and why their brief exchange at last week’s White House meeting between the president and about 30 members of Congress drew the attention it did.
“I said, ‘I don’t think we should have a leisurely process,’ ” McCain recalled. The president did not respond immediately, but when he was later wrapping up the meeting, he came back to what McCain’s had said. According to several people in the room, Obama said, “John, this won’t be leisurely. No one feels more urgency about getting this right.”
McCain described the exchange as respectful, not contentious. Others at the meeting endorse that description. “I didn’t see any particular flash of temper,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said. But he added: “There obviously is a difference of opinion.”
Obama and McCain long have been divided on U.S. war strategy. Obama argued that Iraq was a war that never should have been fought; McCain was a strong advocate of the invasion. Obama opposed Bush’s surge when McCain supported it. When, by fall 2008, the surge had helped reduce the violence, McCain pressed Obama to admit he had been mistaken. Obama said the surge had helped but would not say he was wrong.
Now the men are fencing again, over a decision fateful to Obama’s presidency. McCain is publicly prodding his former rival not to back away from the strategy announced last March nor disregard the advice from the military commanders the president installed. Obama may wonder whether a proposal for 40,000 more troops would be the last such request.
Of Obama’s leadership in the meetings with members of Congress, McCain said, “He makes it very clear he is the president. He seeks advice and counsel but [makes clear] that the decisions rest with him.” McCain respects that. But he added, “Where I disagree with him is that I think he is considering all options with equal weight and I don’t think that should be the case.”
