Can Charlie Black's Statements be Defended?

Charlie Black has a reputation of dirty politics and anyone who has been in politics as many years as he has will find it hard to stay "Mr. Clean." Considered a favorite of moderate Republicans running for office, Black knows a great deal about his trade and how to get people elected.

Black, the strategist for the John McCain campaign, recently told Fortune Magazine that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto last year was an "unfortunate event." "But his (McCain's) knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us." In an equally candid moment of honesty, Black discussed the possibility of another terrorist attack on US soil and discussed how it would effect John McCain's Presidential aspirations. "Certainly," he said, "it would be a big advantage to him," said Black.

These comments have, some how, created a shock wave in both media and politics. Black was attacked for his cynicism by Barack Obama and his own boss, Senator McCain, has disavowed the comments and said they were not reflective of his own views. My questions is, shouldn't they be?

Honestly, which party and candidate do people want when it comes to security -- McCain and Republicans or Obama and Democrats? Yesterday, Investors Business Daily published a summary of opinions among our enemies regarding the upcoming Presidential campaign. North Korea's Kim Jong-il has said "We will see a better relationship between the U.S. and the Korean Peninsula with Obama, who sternly criticizes Bush and who would meet the leader of Chosun without preconditions." Libya's Moammar Gadhafi has said that Obama should "be proud of himself as a black and feel that all Africa is behind him." Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega is arguing that Obama is "laying the foundations for a revolutionary change" in the United States. Finally, Cuba's Fidel Castro is stating that Obama is "the man who is doubtless, from the social and human points of view, the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency." Such comments should have a chilling effect on voters.

Maybe it was impolite. It was certainly politically incorrect. However, the statements by Charlie Black seem to be fairly reasonable in the eyes of many and are quietly being spoken by individuals around the water coolers where people congregate to solve our nation's problems.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.