Spike Lee Calls Senator John McCain's Debate Cancellation a 'Punk Move'

Controversial Director Says He Hopes McCain 'Has the Guts' to Debate Obama

Director Spike Lee appeared on CNN's "American Morning" early Friday, September 26, to promote his new movie "Miracle at St. Anna" and told anchor Kiran Chetry that he hoped that Senator John McCain, who has suspended his campaign and confirmed that he will not participate in the debate scheduled for Friday evening, "had the guts" to show up. Lee followed that up with calling McCain's decision a "punk move."

Spike Lee is no stranger to controversy for his seemingly abrasive comments. His most recent controversy came in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where he criticized director Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated "Flags Of Our Fathers" for not accurately depicting history by not having black soldiers in the movie.

His most recent, until the interview with Chetry, that is. Lee will no doubt draw considerable attention and criticism for his remarks on CNN as well.

Spike Lee Called John McCain A Punk?

Kiran Chetry began the interview by asking Spike Lee to present his thoughts on the scheduled debate between Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama at the University of Mississippi. Lee said that he believed the American people wanted to see the debate and that it appeared that Senator McCain's reasons for canceling may have been purely political. He then said that he hoped that McCain "had the guts" to show up and debate Obama. He followed up, saying he knew that that comment might sound "strong," but that was the way he felt.

Lee then said that where he is from, Brooklyn (New York), what McCain had done, pulling out at the last minute, was known as a "punk move."

Before the day is out, Spike Lee will no doubt be embroiled in another controversy over his choice of words. He will more than likely be accused of called McCain, a Vietnam war veteran and war hero, a coward and a punk. And many will say it was all done in the interest of making Senator McCain look bad and promotes Lee's new movie, "Miracle at St. Anna."

It is no secret that Spike Lee is a Barack Obama supporter, but do his words have any merit? Was John McCain's move purely political, a move to better position himself? Was it a "punk move"?