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McCain fury at Brown's Obama praise
Joe Murphy10.09.08
Gordon Brown was embroiled in a row with John McCain today after appearing to endorse Barack Obama.
A gaffe by the No 10 machine saw the Prime Minister "writing" an article that lavished praise on US Democratic presidential candidate Mr Obama - while ignoring his Republican rival.
In fact the article was ghost-written - and there were suggestions that Mr Brown had not actually read the words put out under his name.
But the damage caused, by what looked like a clear breach of the usual strict neutrality in a presidential election, was immediate. There were protests to the British embassy in Washington from Mr McCain's backers - and fresh questions at home about flaws in the Downing Street operation.
Mr Brown's praise for Mr Obama, revealed exclusively in later editions of the Standard last night, came in an article for Parliamentary Monitor.
It read: "In the electrifying US presidential campaign, it is the Democrats who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times.
"To help prevent people from losing their home, Barack Obama has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession." Mr Brown did not mention Mr McCain. His spokesman tried to play down the words this morning, saying they are not an endorsement.
Effectively confirming that Mr Brown did not write the words himself, he went on: "The Prime Minister takes responsibility for everything that goes out in his name."
No 10 said it was a "party political article", which suggested regular civil servants did not handle it and it was written by a member of Mr Brown's political campaigning team headed by chief of strategy Stephen Carter.
Asked if Mr Brown had spoken to Mr McCain overnight to apologise, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to comment on any private conversations."
Other sources said they believed the article had been sent to Mr Brown to be "signed off ". Although not personally written by the Prime Minister, they said it was based on a party conference document he did write. That document, however, did not name Mr Obama.
Within hours of the Standard's original report, the influential US website The Drudge Report was running it as "Brown backs Obama".
It was reported that a member of the McCain team called the British embassy to demand an explanation.
Michael Goldfarb, Mr McCain's deputy communications chief, accused Mr Brown of praising a policy Mr Obama had dropped. Under the heading "The Coveted Gordon Brown Endorsement" he wrote: "Far be it from this campaign to underestimate the value of an endorsement from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, but there is one slightly embarrassing detail."
With the row expanding rapidly, the Obama camp was forced to deny dropping the homes policy. Shadow foreign secretary William Hague accused Mr Brown of behaving irresponsibly.
Reader views (28)
Michaela,
I myself am an an American who has lived in the UK for over 24 years and I have to say your post was full of nearly ALL the cliches I've ever heard here.
Humour me a little, do a google search on "How the Republicans Win" an article by Robert Parry.
I know you're going to disagree with almost everything there, yet the smoking gun exists. I stand amazed at how many 'mericans think that they're upper class then vote for republicans. lies. lies lies lies.
How on EARTH could Russia be the "bad guys" in the Georgia conflict. Doesn't take a genius to note the coincidence in timing.
Do us a favour, shut up and do your research before you make a fool of yourself again.
And ohhh btw, as for WW2, I think Britain did fairly well with the "Battle of Britain" a few years before "we" decided to ....
- Mark, San Diego
To Michael in Nebraska, who said you were uncouth? With regards to Americans and knowledge of the world, why do you have a World Series which only involves American teams?
Dennis - re WWII we did fight too you know, and we did for 2 years before you joined in. Where were you during the Falklands conflict?
Yes Gordon Brown has made a gaff how many has George Bush made? The number is to many to remember.
- E Sullivan, London
Old imperialism, new imperialism - what's the real difference?
Old imperialist interferes in ex-colonie's affairs . . . it will be interesting to see how the new imperialists settle the disturbances in their newest Central Asian colonies - if they ever go there.
I worked for a big US multinational that was forever making small-town hicks into Global VP of something and us 'foot soldiers' always had to wait till they got a passport before we saw them and rescue them when the Hungarian taxi-drivers wouldn't take dollars - and they couldn't wait to slink home.
- Dave, Bangaloru, India
I have traveled to England over 25 times in the past 40 years. Many English would be surprised to how much many Americans know about the UK, Europe and other parts of the world. What Mr. Brown says has about as much influence as a glob of spit in the face of a good Texas hurricane.
- Gary Andersen, McKinney, TX
Brown endorses Obama?- McCain will win then for sure.
- Cestor, London
It's good to know, at least the rest of the world can see, lipstick on a self-proclaimed bitch is still a bitch.
- Ghost Dancer, seaford, DE.
I address this to whom it applies
You silly, stuffy Brits should be thankful us young, uncouth Yanks have the good sense to vote a MCCain*Palin ticket. It is the youth, morals, values, and ethics represented in the Republican ticket that has kept Europe free to share it's socialist views with the world.
A couple of points, first the U.S., in and of itself, is larger than much of Europe. Many of the citizens travel all over the U.S. and we don't need passports to do it. Our country is beautiful and there is much to do and see here. Second, many of have been to Europe, myself included. Third, many of us don't care to travel to Europe. Why would any sane American wish to travel such distances to encounter such singleminded, ignorant people, as I have read here today? Oh, yeah, and many of us are just waiting our turn to "tour" Europe... inevitably many of our citizens will visit your esteemed shores to shed their blood because one of you got your hind end in a bind.
Please, focus on your problematic Mr. Brown and if you wish, we would be happy to send you Senator Obama. Please, offer him the PM job. He and Michelle don't care for living here anyway. I will pay for their plane tickets to England!
- Michaela, Nebraska, USA
It take a loser, to know another loser.
- Bernard, delray FL U.S.
McCain is a very old and ill man which means that Pallin has a very good chance of becoming President. Does the world need yet another religious fundamentalist, anti-environmentalist, right-wing nutter with close links to the Oil industry running the most powerful country on the planet? It would be funny if it was not so frightening.
- Dee, London
What else would you expect from the Ultra left Labour regime (soon to be dismantled0).
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7
What Brown said is true though, isn't it...
- Matt, Bath UK
Only the Americans could vote someone like McCain into power - Brown was just using what little influence he has over the US electorate to tell them what an idiotic choice he would make for President. I'm building my nuclear bunker already.
- Brian, Birmingham
Would any readers actually WANT Gordon on their side?
I have written to my MP complaining that Gordon Brown is jeopardising Barack Obama's chances by siding with him.
- David, East Grinstead
I sadly agree with Mick from London. Most Americans wouldn't know about who Gordon Brown is. Most Americans don't have a passport or the means to travel abroad and learn about other countries and cultures. They are isolated in vast middle states.
But give us time, we're still a young country. Hopefully forward thinking enough to elect Barack Obama.
- Jason, New York City, New York City, USA
So we find that articles written under the name gordon Brown may not even have been read by him, let alone represent his views ! So why is his name at the top then ? This is a farce
- Keith Price, Luton, England
With Brown the ventriliquist dummy running the Country ZanuLabour are assured 25yrs in the political wilderness come the next General election.The difference between this dummy and the others,-is nobody knows who's hand is up his back.
- Jacob, Canterbury
We certainly were able to find Britain during WWII. If we weren't, you would be writing you rubbish in German.
- Dennis Flynn, USA
Why on earth is John McCain getting hot under the collar about this - surely any endorsement from Gordon Brown is the kiss of death for Obama! It should be Obama calling the Embassy and demanding a retraction from Brown.
- Louise, London
To Mick, most Americans do know where Britain is and do know who Gordon Brown is, So don't assume that Americans don't read and are not up to date on current events in your country as well as our own. But you are correct on one point and that is we do not care what non Americans think of our political process as long as it remains Democratic in our choice to agree or disagree with our government. You should be more concerned what is happening to your great country.
- Kathy, Ellington, USA
Leaving the poor man alone. When you know you will nolonger be PM in a couple of years, why should US-British relations matter?
- Tom, St. Albans
I'm sure Mr Browns' views will have a great effect on American voters. Most Americans do not know who Gordon Brown is, and I suspect most couldn't find Britain on a map.
- Mick, London, England
Why can't Brown ever do anything properly? Has he got rocks in his head? What ever possessed those who knew him well, to propose him for Prime Minister? Have they got rocks in their heads? I think we know the answers to all these questions.
- David Lewis, Chipping Norton, UK
That's rich coming from William Hague. I seem to remember there were some back-room shenanigans by the Tories during the Bush election, which resulted in George Bush refusing to meet with the Conservatives for the duration. If that didn't put a strain on Anglo-US relations, I don't know what did! Michael Howard was never invited to the White House. Gordon Brown is merely stating the obvious with regard to Obama's policy of keeping people in their homes; something the Bush government also supports, hence the Mac and Mae bailouts.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa. Spain
How much more damage is this jerk going to cause before he resigns/gets pushed? I see that he and Harman have decided to open up the old chestnut of 'class war' to try and divert attention away from Labour's dire state. Many Tories hope that Brown will stay in power as long as possible so as to totally destroy Labour's chances of regaining power for a generation, but one has to consider that he may do irrepairable damage to the U.K. in the meantime!
- Phil Jones, London UK
You really can't blame the Prime Minister: he's a busy man, how can be expected to know what he's written in the newspapers?
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
I'm pretty sure Brown would prefer Obama to Mccain (as do I) but this just looks like a mild cock-up
- Jason Stone, Stratford, Newham
Oh well, everything Brown touches turns to dust so that's the kiss of death for Obama.
- Ian, London
McCain shouldn't worry. With Brown's track record, being backed by him has to be the kiss of death!
- Paul, London
