Soldiers' lives "wasted" in Iraq

UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS POST.

Nope, this isn't a reference to Obama's statements a couple of weeks ago. This one comes from John McCain (R-AZ), who formally announced his candidacy for prez on a taped Letterman show. From the AP:

Republican presidential contender John McCain (news, bio, voting record), a staunch backer of the Iraq war but critic of how President Bush has waged it, said U.S. lives had been "wasted" in the four-year-old conflict. Democrats demand the Arizona senator apologize for the comment as Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) did when the Democratic White House hopeful recently made the same observation.

"Americans are very frustrated, and they have every right to be," McCain said Wednesday on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." "We've wasted a lot of our most precious treasure, which is American lives."

McCain, who repeated his assertion that U.S. troops must remain in Iraq rather than withdrawing early, made the "wasted" remark after confirming to Letterman what has been clear for at least a year or more — that he's in the running for the 2008 Republican nomination.

"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," he said — and added that he would officially enter the race by giving a formal announcement speech to that effect in April after a visit to Iraq.

Hours after the taped appearance aired, the Democratic National Committee called on McCain to take back the "wasted" lives remark.

"Senator McCain should apologize immediately for his callous comments," said Karen Finney, a DNC spokeswoman. "How is it that John McCain now believes American lives are being wasted, yet he so stubbornly supports the president's plan to escalate the war in Iraq and put more American lives in harms way?"

Way to go after those military moms' votes, Johnny Mac! I'm sure your remarks that their kids are "wasting" their lives in Iraq will be as well received as Bill Clinton at the Lewinsky family reunion.

Just as it was a stupid and outrageous thing for Obama to say, it is equally stupid and outrageous for Johnny Mac to say it. Obama quickly apologized, so it will be interesting to see if McCain does, too.

Probably not the kind of start Johnny Mac wanted to his White House campaign, huh?

UPDATE (3/1/2007 - 8:00 P.M. EST): Sure enough, J-Mac apologizes. Obama defends McCain...I wonder why (not)!