McCain catches heat over apparent comment on Corsi's 'Obama Nation'

Democrats say McCain is endorsing the much-criticized book after he responds to a question about it with, 'Gotta keep your sense of humor.' But aides say he misheard and was speaking of a campaign ad.
By Seema Mehta
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

August 16, 2008

ASPEN, COLO. — An offhand remark Sen. John McCain made to reporters Friday morning is adding kindling to the controversy over an inflammatory new book about Sen. Barack Obama.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was asked by a reporter if he had a response to the best-selling "Obama Nation" by Jerome Corsi, which repeats discredited allegations about Obama and portrays him as a stealth radical with extensive Muslim ties.

McCain stepped toward the reporter, and the journalist repeated the question: "The Jerome Corsi book? That book, 'Obama Nation,' Jerome Corsi, that some people are asking . . . "

The senator replied, "Gotta keep your sense of humor," and the media were escorted from the room as scheduled at the end of a breakfast meeting.

Campaign spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan soon tried to clarify that the Arizona senator had misheard the question, and said that he thought he was being asked about a political ad.

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