RezkoWatch FactChecker: Klein: Obama, McCain trade barbs on Hamas endorsement

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) "slammed" presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain (R-Ariz.) for "purportedly suggesting in a fundraising letter the Hamas terrorist organization supports Obama," World Net Daily's Jerusalem bureau chief, Aaron Klein, reported May 8, 2008.

"McCain, however, did not suggest Hamas supports Obama," Klein wrote, as he was quoting an audio interview conducted April 13, 2008, by WND and ABC Radio's John Batchelor "in which Ahmed Yousuf, Hamas' top political adviser in the Gaza Strip, said Hamas 'hopes' Obama will win the presidential elections and 'change' America's foreign policy." In the same interview, Yousuf "also compared Obama to President John F. Kennedy."

In a May 8, 2008, interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's The Situation Room, after being asked whether Sen. McCain suggested Hamas endorses him, Sen. Obama stated, "This is a smear. For him (McCain) to come out and make comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination."

Sen. Obama's comment's followed the May 7, 2008, appearance by Sen. McCain on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with John Stewart," in "which the Hamas endorsement was discussed."

"You did say, there was one comment, and this could have been taken out of context as well, that you felt that Hamas had endorsed Obama. Did they officially?" Stewart asked McCain.

"The (Hamas) spokesperson said that," McCain explained to Stewart. "And you take Hamas at their word?" Stewart retorted.

McCain responded: "No, but it's indicative of how some of our enemies view America. I guarantee you they are not going to endorse me."

Read the rest of Klein's article here.

Also see related RezkoWatch articles:

Klein: Hamas "endorses" Obama, April 15, 2008; updated April 19, 2008.

Klein: Obama camp 'flattered' by Hamas endorsement, April 17, 2008.

Editorial: Hamas & Obama: Terrorist flatter, April 21, 2008.