McCain supporter at Ohio rally ridicules Obama

The Washington Post

February 27, 2008

CINCINNATI - A John McCain supporter ridiculed Barack Obama in an introductory speech at a rally, referring to him as the "fraud from Chicago," repeating his middle name, Hussein, and deriding him as a terrorist sympathizer.

Former Ohio congressman Rob Portman then told the crowd that the supporter, talk show host Bill Cunningham, was an "extremely important" part of the McCain campaign.

McCain did not mention the comments in his speech, but apologized to reporters afterward for "any disparaging remarks" made about Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton. "I absolutely repudiate such comments," he said.

Cunningham, known for his fiery right-wing rhetoric, urged the media to "stop taking sides and begin covering Barack Hussein Obama" as they do Republicans.

He used Obama's middle name twice more and called him "a hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who's picturing himself as change. When he gets done with you, all you're going to have in your pocket is change."

He mocked Obama's foreign policy statements, saying "leaders who want to kill us" will be "singing Kumbaya . . . with Barack Obama."