September 04, 2007 01:16 PM
McCain: You jerk....you're drafted!
Yes, it was a joke. Yes, the audience laughed. No, I don't think it's the way to solicit votes from the younger generation.
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An unflinching John McCain was told Tuesday by New Hampshire high school students he might be too old to be president and too conservative to be respected.
McCain, the Arizona senator whose presidential bid has stumbled through the summer, countered the Concord High School students with humor.
"Thanks for the question, you little jerk," McCain joked back to one student who asked the 71-year-old about his age. "You're drafted."
Mccain and Thompson knew Andrew Jackson personally they're so old
“Thanks for the question, you little jerk. You’re drafted.”
Way to dispel the crusty-old-man image, John.
Just a joke...nothing to see here...move along...move along...these aren't the scandal you're looking for.
McCain's not so old. I got rocks older than he is.
Meh. Not like hordes were gonna vote for him.
Tasteless joke, but... what does the old man have to lose at this point? lol
Retire McOld.
Geez.
It just shows that McCain doesn't know how to handle himself around kids. Seems he felt he had to cut back at the kid in a juvenile way. Not the way a wannabe prez should handle things.
By saying what he did, he proved he is too old and proved the kid right.
So will the kid think its funny, when he wins the Uncle Sam lottery and flies off to bask in the fun and sun in the Middle East?
The McCain of late is much more refreshing than the stodgy old man who began seeking the nomination. i like his candor and his easygoing manner. i just don't agree with most of his stances on the issues, nor can i ever forgive him for allowing bush and rowe to trash his family while he quietly sat back and did nothing.
McCain's "witty comeback" was rude and not very funny. He probably could have been a bigger man and explained that his age shouldn't be a factor, and maybe talked to the kid about respecting his elders. You CAN be respectful to a Senator, even if you disagree with him on virtually everything.
That doesn't change the fact that the kid acted like a snotty brat. Too.
eh...a joke. so what?
This is just a mild example of how our representatives
REALLY feel about their cattle.
The remakr doesn't matter since 99% of young voters aren't going to vote for McCain anyways.
I don't get it. he gave a great response to the kid and what he said at the end was totally unnecessary.
I don't care if the question was a little insensitive it was totally legitimate and something I would have asked McCain.
Thanks for the answer, you old fart. You're irrelevant.
So, is McCain doing any "senatoring" these days? I mean... he is supposed to be doing the work of the people, right?
What the hell is he doing wasting time thinking he's a viable candidate? Arizona needs attention. Let's go John, Chop Chop!
QuakerDave @ 10:
Did the kid have any choice about being there?
I wouldn't willing go see McCain campaign on stage.
And is it proper to sell a political message in a public school?
Actually, I think a sense of humour is good for politics. It gets us away from sound-bite politics and into really listening to our candidates and to what they are really saying
The kid should have asked him if that was an admission of policy plans--McCain wants to draft kids--or was it just a smart-alecky remark in which case, now that the Senator has had his fun, could he please just answer the question.
HELLLOOOOOOO MR. WILSON!!!!!!
A draft is the only thing that will stop this war before Bush's exit.
I support the draft, 100% no joke, and you all should.
kendo @ 18:
That would've been a good question.
I believe the true answer is yes, but I wonder what McCain would actually say.
It was funny. The "youre drafted" thing wasnt funny... but the "little jerk" thing was funny, everyone knew it was a joke, and it was a cute joke. McCain would be a disaster as president, but this was just a little moment of "realness" that campaign consultants would try to hammer out of you and not let happen... which I dont see as necessarily a good thing.
JRo @ 20:
Bomb Iran.
Major Combat Setbacks in Iraq.
USS Nimitz is sunk along with other ships.
Tankers start blowing up in the Gulf
Gasoline goes to $12/Gal
Citizens say Hell Yeah! Bring back the draft!
McCain is a douchebag, but that was funny. I mean it does show he has a sense of humor.
Considering the question was asking about McCain's mental health, Alzherimers and all that, it was a rude question with a rude answer deservedly.
The kids may have giggled when McCain made the "You're drafted" comment but if things keep up as they are that may be exactly what they will get. Especially since most if not all ground forces are pretty much committed right now to Iraq and Afghanistan.
By they way, just a note for John McCain. Don't use that "You're drafted" comment in front of the Neocons. You know how they automatically fumble for their deferments or run for the door when they hear the word "draft". :lol:
Do today's high school kids even know what "drafted" means?
[Deleted. There is already a C&L thread on this topic]
I think it's great to offer the specter of a draft. Though that probably wasn't McCain's intent, we really should think seriously about if we need/want a draft which would be necessary to sustain current troop levels in Iraq long term.
Joe O. @ 26:
Hey! I'll keep that in mind. Just shouting that word "draft" might be a great way to break up a Republican Convention. Better yet, bring a military recruiter to the convention. The Republicans will slap him/her on the back until they find out what he/she does for a living. :lol:
ysbaddaden @ 25:
Maybe. But I believe that McCain may be suffering the early stages of dementia. If he has a shot at being President, I'd like to see some evidence that he isn't.
If he is in the early stages of dementia, what will his condition be in four years? Is he fully functioning in the evenings? Would there come a time when he forgets he is President?
We feel like we have a right to know almost every personal detail about candidates. Maybe Medical Records should be fair game? they are applying to be civil servants and to work for us, aren't they?
If someone wants to be President of the United States of America and have their finger on the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, I think it is fair to ask if they are of sound mind and body.
by making this joke, McCain is suggesting that being drafted and sent to war (or in this case, an occupation) is PUNISHMENT.
Very presidential.
I laughed. Get a sense of humor people.
The pundits were laughing about it- saying it showed a "sense of humor"...yeah...if he were a old drunk uncle that no one wants to sit next to at thanksgiving....Very disrespectful...
NO JOKING! EVAR! Not while there's troops on the ground, Senator McCain!
Or ... we could all just enjoy a rare light moment in a campaign where neither side can remind us enough how high the stakes are and not make a political issue out of it. Just a suggestion.
Ok, that was funny.
CD @ 13:
It doesn't matter even more when you consider that 60% of young people just won't vote.
Hey there are people , that are young, mere kids spilling their Blood Over There..and while any of us are able to laugh here at home- Someone running for president SHOULD Remember those over in the Sand...It ain't funny- and the Draft IS NEVER Funny....we all need to get some reality- even Mr.McCain...
The question was STUPIDLY worded, and the kid sounded like sort of an idiot with his stuttering.
"Do you think you'll die while in office?"
C'mon - there are much better, dignified ways of asking that. The wording almost came off as deliberately insulting.
With that said, McCain would still make a terrible president, and I'm not defending him. But I will put blame where blame is due. Something I used to not do, but am learning to be more honest about.
OT, but..
"Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, a fugitive wanted on a 15-year-old felony warrant, is on the lam once again after he failed to appear in San Mateo County Superior Court this morning to surrender his passport."
Fifteen years on the lam and they let him out on bail. Great idea.
We need Campaign Finance Reform so criminals (charged or not) have no more influence in politics than you or i do.
Oh lighten up! I thought it was funny. Sheesh!
Oh, he works 24/7. Yet he spends time with his family.
He doesn't sleep?
Hrmmm.... Me thinks he is prone to exaggeration...
Ah yes, the draft; always good for a laugh.
I'll be laughing all the way to Canada.
I agree that he was funny. I smiled at most everything but the draft joke.
I don't think he adequately answered the question, and I would like assurances.
Matt in Texas @ 42:
Remember though, its only funny (I.E. You're Drafted) when someone that supports the war says it. If anyone else says something even remotely similar and they are anti-war they shouted down fast.
Why is mccain wasting the donor's money?
He has absolutely no chance to win the nomination - unless rudy has another quick messy divorce, mitt is found to have had multiple wives - simultaneously, fred actually runs, and mike is one of the "left behind".
That was a lot of college aged kids sitting listening to a right wing, war-mongering has-been!
Weaseldog @ 45:
Like a contract that he wouldn't die during his term(s)?
:)
To be honest, I thought that was pretty funny...
I was laughing, it was really funny. Yeah, the kid was asking a jerkish question. That kid will get old someday, will he appreciate being made fun of for being senile?
Yeqh, he could've done without the "You're drafted" and had it be just as funny. At least McCain served; had one of the chickenhawks said it, it would have started more of a controversy.
Matt in Texas @ 51:
I agree with you there.
JRo @ 20:
Read this weeks Newsweek, great article in there from a soldier about why the draft should be reinstated.
hahahahahahah, we are in a war of aggression, which has killed tens to hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and almost 4000 US troops. Yeah, the joke under that context really is hilarious.
I can't wait until McCain gets confronted by a 9/11 victim and he makes a joke about Osama Bin Laden being a stud for knocking a set of twins at the same time.
Hahahahaha, it is soooo funny... hahahahahhaha
Doug @ 50:
Senile people don't run for president, if you are a fucking idiot and decide to put yourself under public scrutiny -which is what a political campaign should be- you deserve to be called out as an idiot. If you were senile, I may feel sorry for you. But if you were senile AND decided to run for the highest office in the land, sorry bubba... I think the office is more important than your feelings as an old fart.
Fuck McCain...
JRo @ 20:
Ditto.
MeMyselfAndI @ 55:
Ditto for Hollywood Fred.
ysbaddaden @ 25:
Considering what happened to Regan in office and out, the idea of a candidates mental health is hardly a joke.
Man... he just keeps digging that hole deeper and deeper.
Mr. Anon @34 and Matt in Texas @ 42:
Me too, I thought McCain's answer was hillarous and it made me laugh.
Dr. Matt @ 56:
I disagree. I think i shouldn't. (And i don't.)
Jeez, I don't like McCain but I thought it was funny. *Especially* the "you're drafted." I thought we liberals were supposed to be the ones with a sense of humor.
What I don't like is reading headlines that say he called a kid a jerk. It was just a joke but I opened an AP article because of a misleading headline. That ain't right.
anonymousryan @ 38:
Those are the old statistics.
Young people vote more often when there's a possibility of a daft.
Haha...that ole ham. It was funny. I don't see Romney joking like that. Fred and Rudy could but it would involve rouge and womens clothes. thats right!
I think the joke was funny, I don't think anyone should read into it and if you do, you are no better than those people that got crazy whenever they see something "against Christians." It's a joke and some take this too seriously, poring over videos just to jup on someone for a statement is really petty in my eyes.
You know, the word 'Senator' comes from the word 'senex', which means old man. McCain, having been active in politics since the early Washington Administration, is uniquely qualified to share the insights he has learned throughout his long and eventful career as a Senator. VOTE MCCAIN '08! DO IT OR BE DRAINED OF YOUR YOUTH!
Hey C&L, lighten up, take a chill pill... It was a joke... There are plenty of real issues out there regarding McCain (pro-surge, pro-war, pro amnesty) that should eliminate him as a viable Presidential candidate without you having to bend over backwards to create controversy. It was a joke....
Ha, oh dear. You commies couldn't crack a smile if your life depended on it.
CD @ 63:
But there is no possibility of a draft, so the statistic is valid. Do you really think the Congress would pass and the president would sign a law reinstating the draft?
ecotopian @ 69:
Not until we bomb Iran. We aren't deep enough into a clusterfuck yet.
When Gasoline prices hit $12/gal. The draft will return.
CD @ 63:
Was that a typo, or intentional?
To judge a leader's personality observe how they treat children and animals, the elderly and the disabled.
McCain has shown us that when asked a question he wished not to hear, he attacked the questionor, belittling a child and threatening them.
Very insightful.
The kid was being an asshole to the guy and he responded with humor. The kid was hardly a "child" either. He was old enough to know better and use good manners. Just because somebody is a lot older, or from another political party does not mean you treat him like a piece of shit. Good for him and I hope the kid gets drafted.
Not only is he too old, he's got malignant lymphoma which will kill him sooner rather than later. He was in surgery for 6 hours at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and was in the hospital for a week. You don't stay in the hospital a week even if you have open heart surgery. He's much sicker than anyone knows.
REMEMBER THE KEATING 5, which was headed up by McLame. He took millions from Keating for keeping the government at bay as long as possible.
He has not got a chance to be President. Is his wife still addicted to Percocet? She was stealing them from the "children's aid program" she was heading up. Instead of jail, she went to a high ticket rehab center. A great first lady with a WAR MONGER as president.
Well, what does it matter--those demograhics don't vote to any significant degree, anyway--if they had in Ohio, Kerry'd be President, Diebold notwithstanding.
That's the real issue--put down the joint & go vote, kiddies--then you can make any comments you want.
Weaseldog @ 31:
Are you effing kidding me? McCain has to offer "some evidence that he isn't".. "suffering from the early stages of dementia" ... on the basis that "... you believe ..." he is? What kind of fargin witch hunt atomosphere are you trying to create?
I am no fan of McCain as a candidate, especially after the way he has completely adopted the brown helmet uniform of the loyal Bushie for the last few years, but he always has been, and continues to be, a much more genuine person as a candidate than most others, except maybe Al Sharpton. Witness his many appearances on the Daily Show and his interviews with Jon Stewart, with whom he agrees on probably nothing, and I doubt that either one has changed the other's mind about anything, but there is respect, and a genuine back and forth, that I know you won't get from Rudy, or Mitt, and I doubt you'd get from Edwards or Obama, and I am not sure whether Hillary's even got it to give.
I had no problem with McCain in this clip - either with the serious answer, which he gave prior to the joke, or the joke, which wasn't the funniest thing ever, but was pretty good for a presidential candidate at a town hall meeting.
Got a laugh out of me
wow - so many commas, so little time. Sorry for the tortured grammar of that last comment
Hey McCain. You may or may not be too old to be president....But you're definitely too much of an asshole to be president.
Probably the most pathetic thing about this clip was that he was appearing in front of a bunch of high school kids. I mean, come on, the campaign season just kicked into high gear after Labor Day and he visits a high school to solicit votes?
This is the way they feel about all of the citizenry. We are, to these 100 little presidents, a mere excuse for their pathetic existence.
Well, McPain, it takes a little jerk to know one.
Whitey Says: JRo @ 20:
A draft is the only thing that will stop this war before Bush’s exit.
I support the draft, 100% no joke, and you all should.
==================
Read this weeks Newsweek, great article in there from a soldier about why the draft should be reinstated.
---------------------------------------
You guys need to look before you leap. If Shrub had a much larger military to abuse, the next Surge would be to invade Iran and Syria.
Quote This Comment September 5th, 2007 at 12:08 PM - PDT
The "little jerk" part was OK (if unfunny and telling of how ancient McCain is to these students). To add "you're drafted" was a no-no. Big mistake. But, who cares if he wants to hang himself? Not me.
Dr. Matt @ 56:
Me too - anything that's truly worth going to war over must necessarily put everyone of draftable age at risk of having to fight/die, else the public can sponge (as Chickenhawk Yellow Elephants do nowadays) off of the goodwill of those who *do* serve w/o being drafted, and those who are too old to be drafted must be forced to feel comfortable that they're risking sending their progeny/nephews/etc into harm's way.
War is, by definition, a public undertaking (since everyone benefits and/or loses from the outcome of everything that happens in one) and is a burden that must be shared.
The draft should be a permanent fixture in U.S. policy to help ensure that we don't unnecessarily tackle conflicts... it'll never solve the problem of being lied/deceived into war, but at least it'll provide people with more incentive to be introspective and really look into the ramifications of going into a war.
We may have gone into Iraq even if there'd been a draft but we sure as hell would never be in this clusterfark quagmire if the draft had been in place.
It was funny.
I must say that its a great relief, to me, to see the old McCain back.
I used to like this guy- before he hitched his wagon to the xtian nut house...
Is this proof that the NeoCon kool aid may not be permanent?
The draft should be a permanent fixture in U.S. policy to help ensure that we don’t unnecessarily tackle conflicts… it’ll never solve the problem of being lied/deceived into war, but at least it’ll provide people with more incentive to be introspective and really look into the ramifications of going into a war.
We may have gone into Iraq even if there’d been a draft but we sure as hell would never be in this clusterfark quagmire if the draft had been in place.
EconAtheist @ 84:
Unfortunately if there was a permanent draft I believe that would give the policy makers even less incentive to make a case for war if it arises....
If Bush had a drafted military already at his disposal I believe a fair percentage of our people would be viewing this blog from Iran right now...Who knows how this middle east conflict would have expanded to?...
The people elect policy makers to evaluate a potential conflict and the policy makers are the ones who vote (not us unfortunately) for the ultimate decision to go to war...
The only thing we can do (aside from voicing our disapproval) is to vote for politicians who appear to be the best at strategic resolution of potential conflicts and capable of effective leadership if the case for war is ultimately justified....
I'm sure Hillary or one of the other top tier Democratic candidates could have done this (ignorant ass) response, and nobody would have made anything of it.... The propaganda network would have been all over it like stink on shit.
Rusty Shackleford @ 71:
typo.
we already have "a daft" he's in the white house.
Oh, come on! That was funny.
We complain when politicians talk in platitudes, but when they show any realness or edge, they're "inappropriate".
It's like what John Wayne said: Smile when you say that, pilgrim.
McCain was smiling ear to ear.
He doesn't like the music his kids play...well his kids have to be in their 40's at least (unless he has some new ones, I'm not sure of granddaddy McCcain's home life) so we can assume that they are not listening to Hip Hop...but I guess if I think about it McCain must listen to Dr Demento, where else would he get the Bomb Iran song?
"you little jerk"
"ha ha ha ha!!
"you're drafted"
*dead silence*
You couldn't leave well enough alone huh chump?
pinkobait @ 92:
I guess it's always funny until you joke about our soldiers and who's going to fight!
Total non-issue. There's much more to hate about this party. Don't get sidetracked by this. It's nothing. Concentrate on his pandering to the right wing Christians.
McCain underestimates the level of distrust these days for old white men in suits who are mouthing republican party talking points.
I'm not terribly bothered by this one - it's a bit aggressive, but it got a laugh, and McCain answered the question, unlike Bush, who jokes and evades questions. I'm still more troubled by that McCain aide lashing out at that New School student, asking how dare she question or challenge Saint McCain. If this is a real trend on McCain's part, sure, I'll be troubled. He can be charming, but he does have a temper.
[...] McCain threatened one high school kid who asked whether McCain was too old to be Prez “Your drafted!” Yes and I would like to draft McCain to do karaoke at the old folks [...]
Does anyone have any figures on the oldest currently serving Senators and Congressmen? I know the oldest was Strom Thurmond at 100 and there's still Senators in their 80's.
I think if age is an issue, we also should be looking at the Senate and Congress, there's probably people who've hung on far too long as well.
The laughter to McPain's authoritarian jibes was scarier than his words. Let's just hope that was just adolescent nervous laughter.
How many posts on this now? Come on! This shouldn't even have been talked about... He said "you little jerk"; so what?!?!?! It just makes us look bad to complain about this or highlight it for some reason
ck @ 100:
You're talking about the guy who sang Bomb Iran as a 'joke', & 'joked' about bringing home IED's to give to John Stewart, & then 'joking' about kicking Stewart's bomb sniffing dog.
Real funny, Mr. Presidential fucking candidate,...!
JRo @ 20:
Yep. I hope it's supported in Canada as well and that all men and women under 50 years of age are required to serve. Then, and maybe only then might this 'war on terra' madness be forced to be brought a swift ending.
McCain: Well, his Mc-Campaign is practically over already, so people really shouldn't give a rat's ass about what he has to say about anything to any demographic. Silly old fart..
Lighten up that was a funny joke and fairly ballsy considering how everything a candidate says can get blown completely out of proportion.
As I guy who is on the fence between Edwards and Kucinich, I think McCain is old news. Frankly, I don't understand why he's still in this race. But, I have to admit, I thought the "you little jerk" comment was pretty funny.
McCain should drop out of the race. He is so irrelevant!!!
har har har
Do we really need to resort to ripping on what was obviously a joke? This is a non-issue and we have so many real issues to deal with. Why manufacture more? That's the GOP's MO.
If he's can "joke" about the draft, I can "joke" by taking a swing at his jaw.
I don't know if this was brought up before, but the MSM only showed MacCains' “Thanks for the question, you little jerk,” comment. They however stopped short of revealing the last part: “You’re drafted.”
In all honesty the first comment was funny, but the latter...a little too creepy (and for any high school aged kid, a bit threatening,, don't you think?)
Nice to see the MSM is not holding back on its censorship policies...
I can't believe the left blogosphere is jumping on this. It makes us look really bad. I know you know it was a JOKE, so why make a big deal of it?
I actually thought it was kind of funny. Everyone on here knows it would have been had a Democrat said it (and don't give me bullshit that a Dem would never say something like that to a public audience).
Sounds like the--OLD FENCE RIDER--is really getting a RAW ASS from riding that fence !!!
What do you want? It was joke. For years now, McCain ha been the only Republican with anything like charisma. Thank God he lost his marbles over this war or he may have gotten the nomination. In this country a charismatic Republican would be f-ing unstoppable, given the media support they already get.
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