Sen. John McCain is fighting back after MSNBC host Chuck Todd was reportedly caught joking about the Republican having “heart palpitations” upon learning that former Gen. David Petraeus opposed further intervention in Iraq.
“It’s not like further evidence was needed to prove the liberal bias at MSNBC and in the mainstream media,” Mr. McCain’s communications director, Brian Rogers, said in a statement, Business Insider reported.
“Chuck Todd’s ’hot mic’ comments asking if anyone ’checked on’ Senator McCain for ’heart palpitations’ over General Petraeus’ remarks on Iraq show just how quickly the media will try and discredit Senator McCain and anyone who questions President Obama,” he said.
Mediaite reported Thursday that Mr. Todd and Fox News’ Ed Henry were caught on a hot mic mocking Mr. McCain just before the president was scheduled to give a press briefing on Iraq.
Mr. Todd was quoted asking if anyone “checked on” the Republican, who supports airstrikes on Iraq, since Mr. Petraeus seemed to come out against them on Wednesday.
“I’ve got to think McCain must have had heart palpitations,” Mr. Todd joked.
Mr. McCain’s spokesman argued that Mr. Petraeus does support further intervention in the form of targeted strikes on ISIL forces.
“It should be embarrassing for MSNBC — but likely isn’t — to see that in another interview just one day later Gen. Petraeus said he would support targeted strikes against the (ISIL) terrorist army in Iraq, which is what Senator McCain has advocated — so no ’heart palpitations’ necessary,” Mr. Rogers snarked, Business Insider reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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