Admirable stance

Sen. John McCain promptly denounced a radio talk show host's inappropriate comments made about his opponent Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Bill Cunningham, a Cincinnati radio broadcaster, spoke disparagingly of Sen. Obama while warming up a political rally that featured Sen. McCain.

Mr. Cunningham referred three times to Sen. Obama's middle name, Hussein, and called him a "hack, Chicago-style Daley politician who is picturing himself as change."

The speaker referenced Sen. Obama's relationship with an indicted fundraiser and spoke of how he landed "sweetheart deals" in Chicago.

There was more.

While Sen. McCain was not on stage or in the building when the comments were made, he heard about them and addressed them at the end of his speech.

"I apologize for it," the Arizona senator told reporters.

"I did not know about these remarks, but I take responsibility for them. I repudiate them," he said. "My entire campaign I have treated Senator Obama and Senator (Hillary Rodham) Clinton with respect. I will continue to do that throughout this campaign."

Mr. McCain described both Democrats as "honorable Americans" and said, "I want to dissociate myself with any disparaging remarks that may have been said about them."

Reporters asked him if the use of Mr. Obama's middle name — the same as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein — is proper. Mr. McCain replied: "No, it is not. Any comment that is disparaging of either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is totally inappropriate."

Mr. McCain's stand is encouraging.

And it brought a response from Mr. Obama's spokesman Bill Burton, who said: "It is a sign that if there is a McCain-Obama general election, it can be intensely competitive but the candidates will attempt to keep it respectful and focused on issues."

The American people would appreciate that.