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St. Louis, MO — Sen. John McCain rebuked comments Monday by an Iowa Congressman who said al Qaeda would be “dancing in the streets” if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.

“I don’t understand that kind of rhetoric, I don’t know what motivates someone to use it, so it’s hard for me to even contemplate why someone would (say that),” McCain said aboard his campaign plane this afternoon when asked about the comments by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). “I think it’s important that people know where I stand as a candidate. And how I stand on how we should treat our opponents. And my clear message has been over and over I’ll treat my opponents with respect.”

King, who has no connection to the campaign, told an Iowa newspaper over the weekend that terrorists would be energized by Obama’s policies in Iraq as well his given middle name–Hussein. The Obama campaign immediately called on McCain to condemn the remarks.

The King comments are the latest in a series of incendiary anti-Obama statements made by Republicans. McCain also condemned statements by the Tennessee Republican Party and radio talk show host Bill Cunningham.

The presumptive GOP nominee reiterated today that he intends to conduct a “respectful debate,” but lamented that he won’t be able to control everyone in his party.

“One of the fundamentals that I’ve learned in this campaign is that…when at a town hall meeting I say I’m going to have a respectful debate, people applaud, people say ‘that’s what we want’…I would think that other elected officials would also get that message,” McCain said. “I can’t control obviously other people…what they say or do, I can only make it very clear as to what I’m going to do. I think that position is being reinforced when people just come up to me and say ‘gee I hear you’re going to run a respectful debate. We’d love to see that for a change.’”

Another day, another inflammatory anti-Obama remark for Camp McCain to condemn.

The latest comes from Iowa Rep. Steve King who told a Spencer, IA paper that terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Obama is elected president, adding that Islamic extremists will be energized by the Democrat’s Iraq policy as well his middle name, Hussein. While King has no affiliation with the McCain campaign, Obama officials still called on the presumptive GOP nominee to condemn the remark yesterday.

McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told Fox Saturday:

“The Senator has been clear that he intends to keep this campaign about the issues. He has condemned similar comments by (radio talk show host) Bill Cunningham. He doesn’t agree with King’s comments,” Buchanan said. “He intends to run a respectful race and keep it about the issues.”

In recent weeks, McCain also condemned Cunningham, who had delivered an anti-Obama rant at a campaign event, and the Tennessee Republican Party for an anti-Obama press release that also used his middle name.

One has a feeling that these headaches won’t be going away any time soon if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee…

Cincinnati, OH — Though he vowed that attacks on Sen. Barack Obama’s background like the one that took place today “will never happen again,” Sen. John McCain acknowledged late Tuesday that he is concerned that he may be unable to control all of his supporters—especially third party groups.

At a rally in Cincinnati this morning, radio talk show host Bill Cunningham referenced Obama’s middle name, Hussein, three times during his on-stage introduction, in addition to attacking the Democrat as a “hack.” McCain immediately denounced the remarks and promised a civil debate with the eventual Democratic nominee, but acknowledged to reporters aboard his bus that conservative independent groups pursuing a similar line could be impossible to control this fall.

“I think you have to worry about that, particularly the 527s,” McCain said, referring to the independent advocacy groups that are not subject to contributor limits. “We’re aware of many of the things that 527s have done…where unlimited amounts of money can pour into negative campaigns such as we saw against John Kerry and his combat record, as we saw against (former Senator) Max Cleland…they’re really very not accountable to anyone. At least I have to say ‘I’m John McCain and I approve this message.’”

A number of conservative talk show hosts have questioned Obama’s patriotism and allude to his Muslim family background by calling him Barack Hussein Obama in order to paint him as a type of Manchurian candidate. It is entirely possible that an independent group could push that issue against Obama in the fall.

Some critics blame his signature McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation for the explosion of uncontrolled 527 groups. But, McCain said his bill is not the problem, arguing that 527 groups were able to sprout up as a result of loophole in a 1974 campaign finance law.

But, back to talking about what is under his control—McCain said he would do his best to prevent dirty politicking by his campaign and surrogates.

“The moral of the story is we just have to have stronger control of our campaign..there is no excuse for what happened today,” he said, adding that his campaign has plans to expand it’s bare bones staff.

Cincinnati, OH — Sen. John McCain was forced to take time Tuesday to disavow disparaging remarks made about Sen. Barack Obama by conservative talk show host at a rally.

Asked by local organizers to warm up the crowd while McCain was still en route to the event, controversial WLW radio talk show host Bill Cunningham used Obama’s middle name, Hussein, three times during his remarks and referred to the Democratic contender as a “hack, Chicago-style, Daley politician.”

“I want to disassociate myself from any disparaging remarks that may have been said,” McCain said at the top of a media availability after the rally. “I have repeatedly stated of my respect for Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, that I will treat them with respect that I will call them Senator. We will have respectful debate as I have said on hundreds of occasions. I regret any comments that may be made about these two individuals who are honorable Americans…it will never happen again.”

McCain added that he also believes it is inappropriate to make use of Obama’s middle name for political purposes.

During his remarks, Cunningham said Obama has gotten overly easy treatment from the media and stated his hope that they will “peel the bark off Barack Hussein Obama.”

“At some point, the media will quit taking sides in this thing and maybe start covering Barack Hussein Obama the same way they covered Bush, the same way they covered Cheney and the same way the cover every Republican,” he said, also mockingly describing Obama’s foreign policy when he gets into the White House.

“Obama just came back from meeting Ahmadinejad, he’s got a meeting the next week with Kim Jong Il of North Korea. Then he’s going to saddle up next to Hezbollah, they’re going to have a little cookie and cream party,” Cunningham said.

Campaign officials are quick to point out that local organizing officials selected Cunningham to rev up the crowd as part of the pre-program and trusts locals to vet program participants. Though one senior aide acknowledged that the campaign will likely play a bigger role in more carefully scrutinizing individuals who take the stage with McCain at future events.  Camp McCain has been running on a very slimmed-down advance staff but today’s incident makes clear that it may be time to bulk up for the general.