McCain Rebukes Top Aide Over Terror Comment
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

Senator McCain and his presidential campaign are publicly rejecting a statement by one of his top aides, Charles Black, that the presumptive Republican nominee would benefit politically if America is attacked by terrorists before the fall election. Mr. Black told Fortune Magazine that such an event “would be a big advantage” to Mr. McCain.
“I cannot imagine why he would say it. It’s not true. I’ve worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America,” the senator told reporters yesterday.
A spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, Jill Hazelbaker, told the Washington Post that Mr. Black’s comments were “inappropriate” and that he regrets making them.
The McCain adviser told Fortune such an attack would be akin to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan in December, which showcased Mr. McCain’s foreign policy expertise and gave him a boost in the Republican primary. “It helped us,” Mr. Black said.
OBAMA, CLINTON TO UNIFY IN ‘UNITY’
Senators Obama and Clinton are opting for a heavy dose of symbolism as they plan their first joint campaign event since the end of their historic and protracted primary battle. The two will appear together Friday in the town of Unity, N.H., where they each received 107 votes during the state’s primary in January. The Obama campaign has labeled the event a “Unite for Change” rally, where the emphasis will no doubt be on the need for the divided Democratic Party to come together in support of Mr. Obama’s candidacy. With some Clinton supporters vowing to vote for Senator McCain, the unity message is considered paramount to Mr. Obama’s chances in November. Mrs. Clinton, who will join him in Washington for a meeting with fund-raisers on Thursday, dropped her presidential bid and offered a full-throated endorsement of the Illinois senator two and a half weeks ago.
CLINTON MAKES PLEA FOR CASH TO PAY OFF DEBTS
Senator Clinton is making her most direct appeal for contributions from supporters to help her retire the more than $20 million she owes to vendors and to pay back more than $11 million in personal loans. Mrs. Clinton sent supporters a video message yesterday urging them to return to her campaign Web site and contribute more money. “I still need your help,” she said. “By helping us pay off our campaign debt, you’re not just helping Hillary elect a Democratic president and grow our majority in Congress. … You’re making it possible for her to work as hard as she can on the issues we care about,” a written message on the site said.
WILSON: OBAMA ‘PATRONIZING’ TO WOMEN
A female supporter of Senator McCain’s presidential campaign, Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico, is accusing Senator Obama of being “patronizing” and “condescending” to women. Ms. Wilson leveled the charges during a conference call with reporters yesterday that primarily involved criticism of Mr. Obama’s energy policy. The congresswoman was apparently referring to Mr. Obama’s appearance Thursday before a closed-door meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus at which he reportedly used the words “get over it” while responding to a question about how he would seek the votes of women who were loyal to Senator Clinton. ABC News reported that Rep. Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn quoted Mr. Obama as saying, “If women take a moment to realize that on every issue important to women, John McCain is not in their corner, that would help them get over it.” At least one lawmaker in attendance, Rep. Diane Watson of California, recoiled at the latter phrase, though others said they were not disturbed by it, ABC said.
Ms. Wilson, who recently lost a Republican primary for a Senate seat from New Mexico, is a possible running mate for Mr. McCain.
AMID CRITICISM, OBAMA SCRAPS PRESIDENTIAL-STYLE SEAL
The Obama campaign its ditching a much-maligned presidential-looking seal it began using in Chicago last week. The blue circular seal, which was emblazoned with an eagle, a Latin slogan, and Mr. Obama’s Web address along the bottom, drew immediate criticism from pundits and Web loggers. It was used during Mr. Obama’s meeting with Democratic governors last week, but will not be reprised, the campaign said. “That was a one-time thing for a one-time event,” the communications director, Robert Gibbs, told CNN.