Jefferson City - The following are statements by Governor Matt Blunt and Jared Craighead, MO GOP Executive Director, on Obama surrogates’ derogatory remarks.

Governor Matt Blunt

 "When I was a plebe in my first year at the Naval Academy, I first began to learn about the heroism of John McCain and his fellow prisoners in the midst of daily brutality.  His is a model of heroic leadership in the face of tremendous adversity and his military service and sacrifice for our country’s freedom remain an inspiration.”

"Unfortunately one of Barack Obama’s campaign surrogates has attempted to demean John McCain’s military service to our country for political reasons."

"Senator McCain’s military service, the inspiring story of his sacrifice in captivity during the Vietnam War and his strong support for defending our freedom and helping spread democracy around the world are just a few of his many qualifications to be our next President of the United States.

"The Obama campaign’s attacks on John McCain’s resilient leadership, military service and readiness would be laughable were they not so unpatriotic.  Republicans are ready to compare John McCain’s heroism, military service and readiness to be the next President with Barack Obama’s any day of the week."

Jared Craighead

“Today, Barack Obama will tell the American people what he thinks it means to be a patriot while his surrogates continue to attack the military service record of John McCain.  The Missouri Republican Party is calling on all elected Democrats in Missouri and Senator Obama to denounce these despicable and vicious attacks on the military service of Senator McCain.”

“Even though Senator Obama has demonstrated that on issue after issue that he doesn’t mean what he says – it is our hope that while sharing with Americans what patriotism means to him, Senator Obama will tell his surrogates to stop attacking John McCain’s military service and record.”