Pensacola, FL — McCain Senior Adviser Steve Schmidt accused Barack Obama of “dishonesty” and “nonsense talk” regarding his plan for a post-war “strike force” and accusation that McCain supports a 100 year war in Iraq.

“The lofty rhetoric of change, coupled with I’m different, ‘I will run a campaign for the American people that is different,’ has been reduced through this instance to nonsense talk,” Schmidt told a group of assembled press in the aisle of the McCain campaign plane during a flight to Pensacola.

Schmidt also referred to Obama as “detached from reality,” engaging in “old-style Chicago politics,” a practitioner of the “politics of distortion,” and “absolutely dishonest.”

Schmidt held court for more than 20 minutes, describing Obama as “dishonest” at a rate of at least two times a minute—more than 40 times by my count.

The McCain campaign is responding with vigor and force every time Obama accuses the presumptive GOP nominee of willing to fight a 100-year war or maintain an occupation for that long in Iraq. Schmidt reiterated today that McCain is talking about a century-long post-war presence like current missions in Japan and Germany–as opposed to a 100-year military conflict. More here.

Initial highlights: (more coming)

Schmidt on the strike force:

• “It speaks to somebody who has a very ill-conceived plan, that’s not well thought out, based on a lack of experience and preparation. What is a strike force? Who is in the strike force? Is it a joint strike force? What is its composition? Where is this so called strike force going to be based at?”
• “It’s nonsensical, it makes no sense. It makes no sense at any level.”
• “If we send all the troops out of Iraq, is the strike force not inherently a combat force?”

Schmidt on Obama distorting McCain’s comments about a 100-year post-war presence in Iraq:

• “It’s rhetoric again that is detached from reality.”
• “I actually think that Senator Obama has done the country a great service on this 100 years comment because now the American people have the information they need to have to know that he is not being honest–that he is being dishonest when he gets out and makes that charge.”
• “It’s not a question of John McCain said ‘X’ and your opponent said ‘Y’…Barack Obama is deliberately misleading the American people. He is deliberately misleading people. He knows he is misleading people. It’s absolutely dishonest. And Barack Obama then gets to give up his claim of being the practitioner of a new type of politics, which is above the politics of distortion. He doesn’t get to have it both ways.”
• “Its old-style Chicago politics. It’s old school, ‘lets distort, (and) take things out of context.’”
• “The lofty rhetoric of change, coupled with I’m different, ‘I will run a campaign for the American people that is different,’ has been reduced through this instance to nonsense talk.”
• “There is no shade of gray here….this is a debate over Barack Obama’s honesty. He is being dishonest with the American people.”

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San Antonio, TX –Sen. John McCain continued to hammer Obama for his comments at last night’s at an afternoon town hall in San Antonio today.

“If we do what Senator Obama wants to do, and that’s immediate withdrwal, that would mean surrender in Iraq. So I guess that means he would surrender and then go back,” McCain said.

The two have been tussling all day over the war in Iraq. See McCain’s first strike and then Obama’s response.

Today the Democratic and Republican frontrunners for president traded barbs on the campaign trail. The subject - Iraq. At last night’s Democratic debate in Cleveland, moderator Tim Russert asked both candidates if they would send troops back into Iraq should al Qaeda reestablish base there following a U.S. withdrawal.

Last night, Obama responded, “Ad Commander-in-Chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.”

At a town hall meeting in Tyler, Texas, today, John McCain took those comments and used them chide Mr. Obama’s foreign policy gravitas. “I am not embarrassed to tell you that I did not watch the Democratic debate last night, but I am told that Senator Obama made the statement that if al Qaeda came back after he withdraws - after the American troops are withdrawn - then he would send military troops back if al Qaeda established a base in Iraq. I have some news - al Qaeda is in Iraq. It’s called al Qaeda in Iraq…If we left, they wouldn’t be establishing a base, they wouldn’t be establishing a base. They would be taking a country. And I’m not going to allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender to al Qaeda.”

Today Obama tried to prove to voters that he can stand up to the Republicans - even on these foreign policy issues. He began, “Some are arguing that, ‘Well you know, Obama may not stand up that well against Republicans, they’re so tough; they’re so mean.’ Well let me tell you something, I revere and honor the service of John McCain to this country; he’s a genuine American hero. He deserves our respect and our gratitude. But I have to say that when it comes to policy, John McCain is looking backwards; he’s tied to the failed policies of George Bush. He’s not gonna bring about change.”

Obama then gave his potential Republican rival his own news flash. Watch it here.

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Tyler, TX — Sen. John McCain slammed Sen. Barack Obama for suggesting during last night’s debate that while he would begin to withdraw troops from Iraq upon taking office, he would potentially return troops to the country if “al Qaeda is forming a base.”

“I have some news–al Qaeda is in Iraq. It’s called al Qaeda in Iraq,” McCain said at a town hall meeting. “If we left, they wouldn’t be establishing a base, they wouldn’t be establishing a base. They would be taking a country. And I’m not going to allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender to al Qaeda.”

During a media availability after the event, McCain added that if the U.S. was to proceed with Obama’s plan for a gradual withdrawal, it would enable al Qaeda to strengthen it’s position in the country.

“(I) question as strongly as possible the premise that somehow you could leave Iraq and defeat the entire purpose of the strategy we are now employing…and then say that you will go back in,” he said. “I am convinced (that would) be a far larger sacrifice of American blood and treasure if you allow al Qaeda to control Iraq.”