On Sunday, May 13, Tim Russert dealt a stinging verbal punch to John McCain on Meet the Press.

While discussing McCain's Iraq policy, Russert set up a quote by saying, "Let me show you the kinds of things that are often said when soldiers are overseas." He then read a quote that went as follows:

"There is no reason for the United States to remain. ... The American people want them home, I believe the majority of Congress wants them home. ... Our continued military presence ... allows another situation to arise which could then lead to the wounding, killing or capture of American fighting men and women. We should do all in our power to avoid that. ... What should be the criteria is our immediate, orderly withdrawal. ... And if we do not do that and other Americans die ... then I would say that the responsibilities for that lie with the Congress ... who did not exercise their authority under the Constitution ... For us to get into nation-building, law and order, et cetera, I think, is a tragic and terrible mistake."

McCain disputed the quote by giving several examples of what he thought would happen in Iraq if the troops were pulled out.

Russert then, fighting to hold back a smug smile, informed the Senator that those were HIS words used in 1993 on the Congressional floor to describe the conflict in Somalia.

It was unclear whether McCain saw the shot coming, or fell into Russert's trap. The way McCain addressed the quote, it would certainly lead one to believe that McCain was unaware that his own words were being quoted to him. He hesitated for the briefest of moments, before acknowledging that he had spoken those words.

In McCain's defense, a lesser man would have, at the very least, winced, when Russert threw the shot. McCain stood his ground and went on to describe why the conflict in Somalia and the Iraq war are different. And he has a point. But it's definitely worth noting how a comparable military situation 15 years ago elicited the exact opposite response from the Presidential candidate. Maybe it's time he heed his own words.

Learn more about this author, Sean Curtis.
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