Newsweek's Alter: 'McCain should stop lying about his opponent'
By Steve Benen Wednesday Aug 20, 2008 7:30amTwo weeks ago, it seemed Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter had just about had it with John McCain. The columnist said he’s “misread McCain,” who, it turns out, is “a surprisingly immature politician” who may not be “ready to lead.” Alter’s piece concluded that McCain had “mortgaged his precious personal honor.”
But underlying Alter’s argument is that McCain is still a good guy who’s been led astray by irresponsible advisors who’ve led him astray. McCain’s ugly campaign is “out of sync with the real guy,” Alter said.
In his new column, Alter takes McCain to task for “making stuff up about Barack Obama,” and this time, Alter doesn’t make excuses for the Republican nominee.
As usual, news organizations are deeply afraid to say that one side is more negative than the other. Doing so sounds “unfair.” It’s much easier, and less controversial, to say that “both candidates” are being negative. That would be “balanced”, but also untrue. […]
[O]verall, and to his credit, Obama has not engaged in anywhere near the number of falsehoods as McCain.
For about a month, McCain’s campaign has been resorting to charges that are patently false. When Obama traveled abroad in July, to positive reviews, McCain decided he had to make attack ads that went far beyond the norm. In the past, plainly deceptive ads were the province of the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee or independent committees free to fling mud that didn’t bear the fingerprints of candidates. But not this time. These smears come directly from the candidate.
The litany is no doubt familiar to those watching the campaign closely. McCain lied about Obama being responsible for gas prices. Then about Obama’s treatment of wounded U.S. troops in Germany. And then again about Obama’s tax policies.
[W]hen he resorts to these kinds of falsehoods, and casts such aspersions on his opponent’s patriotism, John McCain is no longer putting his country first. If he were, he would recognize that the interests of the nation require a relatively truthful campaign. To fulfill his image of himself, McCain should stop lying about his opponent. For a man with his claims to honor and integrity, that’s not too much to ask.
I think McCain has lost Jonathan Alter.
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if only more of the msm would talk like that. *sigh* if only...
i don't think alter is permanently "lost." such, in my opinion, is the maverick's hold on the corporate media that it would require just a tiny genuflection toward his mythical honor to bring alter (and all the other possible strays) back into the "straight-talking" fold. to do otherwise would be to admit they've been wrong about mccain all these years--and we know that won't happen.
What? Alter is "shocked...shocked"?
The GOP only TALKS about putting the country first.
Alter is a good writer. At course, he will be ignored. His accurate observations do not serve the corporate masters.
McCain is simply George W. Bush without the fake Texas accent. He's Bush minus the faux ranch. He's as absent a moral center as Bush, that's for sure.
If this dumb bastard gets elected, we are so fucked. Obama, you better be ready to fight hard. Otherwise, GOP dirty tricks might just work their magic--again.
I am amazed that people fall for what McCain says...then I am not given this country and the history behind Bush getting in our house twice!!!!
I do not understand how we let the media get away with leaning one way or another vs. sticking to reporting facts and letting us decide.
Truly, if McCain gets in..this country will deserve what will happen to us and it won't be pretty.
People need to stop making choices on sound bites. I look at McCain and think what is to support?????
Then I realize it is not about McCain at all but the court and neocons, the strong lobbies, oil, big business etc. getting to continue doing their thing to this country. For sure none of these folks put the country first.
Alter of course works for a "News Organization"
Ironic isn't it?
"As usual, news organizations are deeply afraid to say that one side is more negative than the other. Doing so sounds “unfair.” It’s much easier, and less controversial, to say that “both candidates” are being negative. That would be “balanced”, but also untrue. […]"
Maybe the most important statement that Alter has made! Knowing this, the McSame gang and the BushCo are able to pour it on and rely on the MSM to "balance" the criticism by saying both sides are doing it. It encourages Obama to do the same and if he doesn't he joins the Dukakis/ Gore/ Kerry bone yard. Do nothing--go nowhere.
Pecking Order
It's all a dog and pony show. Obama is terrible. The fact that he is considered a good candidate shows what pathetic condition the USA is in. Obama is terrible. McCain is worse. You Americans are enjoying the dog and pony show but they are all the same : Nancy Pelosi, Dick Cheney, Obama, McCain they all the same. Next summer - the US president will be Obama, or Bush, or McCain whatever...the USA will cause more wars, start more wars, instigate more wars, fight against extremists, give money to extremists, overturn governments in other countries...That's America, that's the Real America. That is what America is all about. How can there ever be world peace if America's economy and political system doesn't completely collapse and without the complete destruction of Evil Israel?? Americans are the most arrogant people on earth. They don't care about innocent people being killed overseas because they think it makes them safe. Does that make sense? People are safe in Finland, Sweeden, Norway, Denmark etc. without killing terrorists. Americans are so dumb -it's unbelievable. They think "terrorists" want to kill them because they are rich and happy. Denmark is officially considered the happiest country in the world. Why aren't the terrorists attacking them?? I think it would be better if McCain wins since he would bring about America's self-destruction a little faster than Obama. Let's drink to that ! Cheers !
Talkin about lying look at this email someone sent me, misspelled title and all
Subject: change you can "belive in"
This has to make you think a little bit, if not then keep your blinders on!
George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six years the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations o'seas, living large!...
But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress & yep--we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS & prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~11,100--
$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!
YEP , IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE!...AND WE SURE GOT IT!!!....NOW OBAMA, the DEM'S CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT--AND THE POLLS SAY HE'S GONNA BE 'THE MAN'--CLAIMS HE'S GONNA REALLY GIVE US CHANGE!!....
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YA THINK YOU CAN STAND???... .
________________________________
just how fucking stupid are you neville?
What the fuck is happening? How can McCain be coming back in the polls? He's a spetuagenarian nutcase with a terrible political history! I'm freaking out!!!!!
Lies, rumors, innuendo, what else does Sen. McCain have? It isn't good ideas that's for sure.
Don't forget the Fed just added another $5 trillion in debt bailing out all these banks and traders.
Have a wonderful life kiddies.
Republicans have no choice but to lie about their opponent. They can't run on their record and can't run on the issues.
McCain has lost Alter, but when is the country going to lose the 44% of morons who will still vote for him.
I have been the target of anti-Obama spam in recent days, and I want to know where to report it. (sigh) I am sick and tired of being forwarded this crap and I as much as I don't want the internet regulated, I would really like to see the chain-mails, false political e-mails, and urban legend stuff go the way of unsolicited male enhancers. (to my spam box) Is there a way to send all forwarded emails through snopes and/or urban legends and automatically sent back to all senders? What I am thinking is an auto-truth-check-and-back-in-your-face program?
Can some programmers get on that?
Ozymandias @ 12:
We're corrupted beyond belief, beyond hope thats whats happening.
Live, Buy, and Die
What a life eh?
For a man with his claims to honor and integrity
Yes, claims are all he has left. The honor and integrity, if it actually did exist, is long gone.
PEACE
A political party populated with hypocrites, chicken hawks, theives, felons, and liars is running a dishonest campaign? Who could have imagined?
spencers mom @ 20:
In order to do the devils work you have to believe your doing something right.
I dunno, I think the clusterf3ck in the GOP these days is due to bad advice. A LOT of bad advice. (COUGH ahem, ROVE, ahem!)
Same thing happened in Massachusetts during their gubernatorial race. Kerry Healy launched some really ugly attack ads against Deval Patrick. The ads offended so many influential groups (lawyers, unions, etc.) that she lost by a landslide. Now, Deval isn't exactly a great governor (and I don't know if Healy would have been any better,) but at least his campaign didn't use such obnoxious tactics.
But, I'm still willing to give McCain the benefit of the doubt... after November 2008.
Obama campaign, please, for the love of God, take note of Alter's realization here. It should be a part of the consistent, coherent story you should be telling about McCain. He's a man who sold his principles down the river for the good of the Republican party.
Did he take a stand against torture, when he himself has firsthand experience? No - he caved to the party line and voted to let Bush continue torturing people.
Did he take a stand for veterans' healthcare and benefits, when he himself is a veteran? No - again he caved to the party line, and votes against recognizing veterans' service.
Did he abandon previous stands against exorbitant tax cuts for the wealthy, against massive oil company welfare, against figures of religious intolerance? Yes, yes, and yes, all when the party's needs call.
Did he abandon his promise for a clean, honest, civil campaign as soon as he realized that he couldn't win on the strength of his party's ideas? Hell yes.
John McCain is no maverick, John McCain is a Republican. And that's probably one of the most insulting things you can say about him right now.
The we have 6 billion human beings, varying opinions, jousting for position in one form or another.
Nice mess.
Have a good one.
Talk isn't worth sh*t at this point
McCain Camp has been lying from the beginning
The MSM is afraid of McCain, Faux and the Right to call them out on their BS.
*Fox News’s Carl Cameron gave McCain’s efforts a major boost last night, declaring that McCain successfully changed the GI Bill
CAMERON: John McCain initially took some opposition to it [the GI Bill], because in McCain’s view, it didn't proportionately give GI benefits to servicemen and women, depending on how long they were actually in active duty and service. He thought it should be a more proportionate award. He fought for it, it was inserted into the legislation, and in the end, McCain supported it.
*Andrea Mitchell reports he wasn't in the cone of silence.
Then whines about NBC bias
Funny matter he wasn't
*CBS- Corporate Bull Sh*t - I'm still angry about the interview.
*Obama's presumptuous for making a speech in Germany, while McCain plays Russian war far
*McCain's constant POW response
*Maverick- no one seems to care he has flopped on everything
*Apologized for not supporting MLK day then flopped and said he supported it.
*Follow Osama to the gates of hell but not Pakistan?
*Those celeb/white women ads- disgusting
*The Anbar Awakening is the product of the surge, Sunnis and Shiites, Somalia for Sudan, Iraq/Pakistan border, President Putin of Germany, down to pre-surge levels (fact there were 20,000 more troops), Czechoslovakia? and even football’s Green Bay Packers for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ironically, the errors have been concentrated in what should be his area of expertise: foreign affairs. This is so appalling to see, as far as I'm concerned should disqualify him to be president.
lilorphant @ 17 Says:
Problem is we're still working on figuring out a way to tell if the person in the "from" line is actually who they say they are. It's still too easy under current e-mail standards (SMTP) to spoof email "from" lines.
Maybe once we figure that one out, we can work on the truth and fact check software for ya! ;-D
What do you expect from today's Republican party? The only ideas they have been given to them from businesses and their rich sycophants. I am surprised the Republicans don't just come out and say that they don't care about people and everyone is in it for yourself. If telling their base that putting people in ovens would win them elections they would be up and down the news screaming that Democrats are blocking the baking of people.
If McBush did that he'd lose by 20...
New Pro-Obama book coming out soon ...
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I'm waiting to see SOMEONE rip the shroud of protection from McShame's POW history from his old wrinkled shoulders and put out there all the misstatements and misrepresentations (not to mention outright LIES) that he and his campaign feel they can get away with (and do, thank you very much illustrious media bozos). Let it be 527s...I frankly don't care...and NO, I don't think Obama elevates his position or chances by doing the same sloganny half-truths in ads or speeches...there is MORE THAN ENOUGH accurate information out there to use in putting it to McShame (via these past two administrations and his current positions)...WHY ISN'T THIS HAPPENING?????
This is not news. Jonathan Alter gave up his own journalistic integrity when he became an Olbermann clone, promoting false stories of his own in the primary, verging on gossip instead of journalism.
Alter is only relevant to the Olbermann sycophants, and speaks to a very small audience now.
In the larger picture, he's pretty irrelevant.
I'm shocked that a journalist was able to remove himself from teh Maverick ray which transforms journalists into such wiggling bags of gelatin capable of seeing nothing but honor, humor, awesome Maverickyness, and of course forgiving every political betrayal, gaffe, and straight up lie, because, after all, John McCain is A Maverick.
As to the issue of inaccurate (and worse) e-mails...we're experiencing the same...unsolicited from folks we know who quickly find out A. they are untrue (we send them to Snopes or truthorfiction - if they'll go) B. we don't give a F**K! C. they get a lesson if they need it in BLIND COPY so our names are not included in their gang list of e-mail addresses quickly circling the globe ...but, sadly, the DEMS seem to have little accurate and powerful information put together to counter this tack...we need SOMETHING organized!!!!!
Bow Down to The Daily Show and The Colbert
MSM has sold it's soul but McCain, GOP and Bush Admin can't buy Comedy Central.
A new Pew Survey on News Consumption released yesterday reveals that viewers of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are more knowledgeable about current events than those who watch Bill O’Reilly, Lou Dobbs, Larry King, and the “average consumers of NBC, ABC, Fox News, CNN, C-SPAN and daily newspapers.” Thirty percent of Daily Show and 34 percent of Colbert viewers correctly identified Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives, compared to the national average of just 18 percent.
more analysis of the results.
Neville @ 10:
Sadly, due to the notoriously short American attention span, this type of tripe works on many people.
lmao (funny aprospos comic from the Washington Post)
fastfeat @ 37:
Sweet jebus! I hates me some fuckin repugs!
Obly @ 24:
Well said.
Oh, and Mary, I'm on board with the Alter being a KO clone...got totally disgusted with all of them over there at MSNBC during the primaries..hope they're happy now as they don't seem to be able to prop up Obama like they worked so hard to do then. I will certainly vote for him because McShame will be the continuing ruination of the America I grew up believing in...but I'm old enough and, sadly, experienced enough to think that there are are too many people in America who still think WHITES are SUPERIOR and we should be afraid...be very afraid...never mind the liars, cheaters, thieves that have been in charge for the past 12+ years...reading a wonderful book now that takes place in the mid 40's and concerns, in part, the occupation of Guernesey - causing me to consider that people then had to find ways to live in more than difficult times...something that many Americans (who have become fat and often lazy, intellectually for sure, would be hard pressed to do)...all the while we can turn blind eyes to those in OUR society who truly suffer and need assistance...
I saw a comment on one blog meant to be humorous but it was right -- Barack Obama should run constant TV commercials that say nothing except repeating over and over and over "John McCain is a Republican, Just Like George W. Bush," given how stupid Americans are about these things.
Brian @ 29:
As long as they are minorities, liberals, etc, expect it before November. Especially if the ovens are run with solar or wind power.
Neville @ 10:
Virtually everyone on this website is calling you a liar and an idiot... and they're right.
All of those problems you mentioned (save for some of the weak congress dems, some of whom are quislings) were caused by NeoCon thievery and scams. It's you GOP crooks that was the causes of the major problems going on in this country today.
Just remember, the PREVIOUS president had this country running FAR more efficiently. We had a financial surplus, housing was great, employment was great.... then Dubya the talking chimp went into office.
Dubya starting tearing this country apart, while his NeoCon buddies stole everything they could.
People like you make me sick, Neville. That fact that you're lying for your corporate masters tells me that you know full well what they did.
El Cid @ 34:
Expect him to be reassigned to covering Georgian entertainment trends (doesn't matter which Georgia...) or else be suicided soon.
Obummer @ 11:
On a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being no stupidity, I'd give neville an 11.
It did take a couple of years for businesses to learn how to exploit the openings given them by Chimp'ys policies and for the administration to learn how to play the fear card more effectively. The 2006 election showed that voters had caught on to the republiscum modis operandi, thus the change in Congress. Unfortunately we are just now getting people to have concerns about electronic voting and the possibility of more stolen elections.
the question isn't why is mccain lying about obama, but why should he stop since simple minded john q is buyin all the bs this man has to put up there. run the campaign on lies and inuendos, it's worked in the past and karl rove says why stop now. what obama has to do is get the pit bull biden in his corner and this smack talking will stop right now. biden does not pull his punches nor does he have to. i would announce him today and sic him on the straight talk express. Obama is trying to play too nice lest he alienate groups and meanwhile his ratings slip. come on joe, show your teeth.
Neville @ 10:
And like the Boosh Administration didn't have anything to do with this? 8 long years of war and deregulation have left the credit markets in a shambles? No energy policy other than 'burn baby, burn that gasoline, Exxon John needs his campaign contributions!'. Never ending borrowing and debt by both consumers and government has left our creditors with a giant financial weapon over us? And a Republican minority and President with veto power over anything the Democratic House passes?
It's time to finish the job started in 2006
L.A. Confidential @ 25:
So LAC, when are you stepping off the planet?
Wake up people! Obama will lose because he is black. Americans are not ready to elect a black man as POTUS. No one is ready to admit this. But a great number of Americans are sadly prejudiced. But they will never admit it.
I know a woman who is scheduled to go for surgery. Is she worried about the surgery? No. She is scared to death she will have a black room mate in the hospital!!! She doesn't think she can bear that. God help her if she has a black surgeon!!! Or a black nurse.
This is what we are facing. Too many people have a fear/hate of blacks. They may even think mcshame is crazy but that is the better choice in their addled prejudiced minds.
Is the problem really McCain's lies (it's just politics) or the fact MSM tells it as the truth and never questions the POW?
10
Neville Says:
Talkin about lying, look at this email someone sent me, misspelled title and all:
In defense of Neville, I believe he didn't write this; it was sent to him. (Bold and added punctuation mine)
Obly @ 24:
Obummer, Numinous, Saint Augustine: You're all illiterate fools. Read the first line of Neville's message again:
Neville specifically called the email's author a liar, and he mocked their inability to spell correctly.
So then all you shrieking morons come along and act like Neville himself wrote the email! Unbelievable. Learn to read.
This isn't the first time on this site I've had to call out people who were too dim to distinguish a poster's views and QUOTED TEXT presented by that poster.
If you three pride yourselves on inability to handle that fancy readin', why don't you just go write some big, fat checks to the RNC? Of course, you'll need to dictate them to somebody who's capable of writing numbers on a piece of paper without erupting into spontaneous nosebleeds.
Idiocy.
Neville @ 10:
It would be pointless to explain to you all the reasons why you're wrong. It would involve real facts based on actual economic theory.
Kinda like discussing science with a creationist.
Oh, and please stop yelling. You don't need to shout out that you're an idiot.
I just watched “Recount.” It’s a grim reminder that we will not ever let it happen again. Make sure your vote counts.
I highly recommend it. Available at your DVD rental store. It pretty accurately describes how the election was stolen in 2000.
The funny thing about a 2.5 year high in consumer confidence a year ago, was that was against a low that's ALSO during the boosh years.
And if we're talking gas prices, we should demand information from the chainey energy task force, and why despite all the so called costs, prices go down right before an election. Additionally the cost of gas is due in large part to the fallen dollar, that has fallen because of republican borrow and spend policy on two wars of choice at the same time and tax breaks for the top one percent. The money can't trickle down if our jobs are being outsourced.
And most homes and foreclosures are due to the burst in the housing bubble that boosh encouraged, and come primarily from the sub-prime lending mortgage idiocy. Remember how he would talk up the economy by saying more people were becoming home owners?
Additionally, boosh talked down the economy during the Christmas season of 2000, to make it look all Clinton's fault and not his own, but economists noted it was the shortest recession on record (despite the collapse of Silicon Valley), but the LONGEST in terms of recovery of wages and jobs under boosh.
The name Silicon Valley turns me on.
http://www.adrants.com/images/98_Boobs_Ad.jpg
fastfeat @ 52:
That's what I thought too, but maybe I'm just Neville gazing.
mcgramps was on the boob-tube last night repeating that Obama wants to lose the war if it helps him win the Whitehouse.
But according to mcgramps we've already won the war, so what gives?
ysbaddaden @ 58:
At least you're not filled to the gills with Fuzzy Neville, like 3 of the posters here are.
Mr. Alter,
I sincerely hope you will take the time in a very public forum and express these ideas to Senator McCain. If you won't, please find someone who will.
All those attacking Neville, read the first line of his post:
"Talkin about lying look at this email someone sent me, misspelled title and all"
He is simply pasting a dishonest email he received. He is not propping it up as true.
McCain hasn't lost anyone in the media.
The underlying theme from Alter et al is still a plea for McCain to get back to that good guy we all know he was at one time - the hot-headed, adulterous, Keating Five, Bush-blowing "Maverick", who almost flunked out of Annapolis before crashing 3 (2?) jets and still got a command from daddy.
Alter asks: What happened to that good man?
OT--
I haven't seen anything from 'pissed off patricia' lately. I know she's pretty close to where all the flooding from TS Fay is. Hope she's OK.
Ron @ 56:
Good Morning Ron. What obvious to me this time around is all this disinformation coming from the media about the polls.
Clearly, we're being lied to. There's a million new registered voters in Pennsylvania ( just for example).
If they lie enough, it becomes real. I ain't buyin it.
Off topic but check it out
Todays joke of the day
Have a laugh at John McCain. Guess what he said yesterday in an interview with Politco: McCain is unsure how many houses he owns!
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.
The article points out that he owns at least four houses, plus a few condos here and there, for a total of at least seven properties. During a housing crisis where hundreds of thousands of families are facing foreclosure, here is a president who can empathize with their situation. It just shows how far out from the average American McCain really is.
mudshark @ 64:
That should read "A million new registered Democrat voters"
mudshark @ 66:
Got it!
Please, people you are playing into Neville's hands. He may be stupid but his post wasn't stupid; it was just dishonest. This guy is probably a paid GOP poster. The GOP's strategy is to try to blame all the damage they've done the past 8 years on the Democrats. People who are paying any attention knows the Dems havn't had enough of a majority the past year and a half to change the bad things done the past 8 years because they don't have enough votes to overrule the Republican's lockstep voting patterns. Which reminds me that there has been NO bi-partisanship in Washington for a long time EXCEPT for when some Democrats side with the GOP. You virtually never see a bill where almost all Democrats support and half the GOP sides with them. It's almost always a dozen or so Dems joining the Republicans who vote in unanimous agreement.
Assassin @ 60:
That's why I try to keep my arguments in the abstract, so one I don't accidentally target the wrong person, which appears to be the case here
And two, I don't need to trace the tree to find the originating objectionable comment.
John McCain is a FAKE, just like GWB.
And, he's even mastered the art of faking his love and admiration for Georgie, the biggest fake ever!
Just like Georgie, he Faked his way through school, Faked his way through his early days as a pilot, Faked his way through being a patriotic POW, Faked his way through his first marriage and his adulterous affair, has Faked his way through a major scandal - the Keating banking mess, has Faked his positions on myriad pieces of legislation, has Faked the persona of being a maverick, etc.
Now, Johnny is trying to Fake his way to be President by running a Fake campaign, based on lies and inuendo, he has made up Fake positions on most issues that are exactly opposite from his former declarations, and foists Fake ideas about how he'll be better for America by promising us 100 more years of Fake wars.
John McCain, biggest Fake since George W. Bush.
It's Reagan's "Me" generation running the show and if you think they give a damn about anyone but themselves you have a hole in your head!
I know this is a comments forum, where reading comprehension isn't always at its highest, but I think it's pretty obvious that Neville was posting an example of the type of ridiculous emails being sent around, not advocating any of the information contained therein.
Cobsjo @ 65:
DNC also highlights this line in the Allen/Martin interview:
“I define rich in other ways besides income,” he said. “Some people are wealthy and rich in their lives and their children and their ability to educate them. Others are poor if they’re billionaires.”
lukeoneil47 @ 72:
I thought that's what it was too...
lukeoneil47 @ 72:
I'm not aware of Neville's history; he may have indeed been making an example. But it was an example that is the essence of the GOP strategy this year. All the guys who have voted in lockstep fashion for all GOP policy...are doing their most do distance themselves from Bush and the GOP. The party of never taking responsibility for anything, most notable in their attempt to blame Democrats for high gas prices. They should just change their motto to "It's not my fault!".
McCain needs to stop lying about Obama AND himself.
#65... He always uses that cop out. Has anyone ever followed up? No they haven't.
Apparently he doesn't know how he voted on anything (but takes credit for things he didn't vote on) or how many houses he owns.
Too bad only one of the candidates spouses is off limits or we could speculate on how fit Mrs McCain is for first lady. She can't even shake hands without going to the hospital for x-rays. Isn't there a lot of hand shaking involved with being first lady? She is also unfit for the job. Will she spend 4/8 years wearing a sling?
Nobody knows what the "Real" America or any other place on earth is. How arrogant.
Don Rumsfeld hater @ 9:
liberAL @ 50:
NOTE TO SELFJohn THE BUSH REPUBLICAN McCain is not only a liar and an idiot BUT has no ability to pick good advisors
my name is JOHN THE BUSH REPUBLICAN MCCAIN and i seem to have forgotten my message
Don Rumsfeld hater @ 78:
Nick @ 68:
The public appears to understand that, which is why the GOP has done badly in the interim elections so far, and polling very badly.
The GOP message HAS to be to plame the Democratic Congress and tear down Obama, because their only hope is that McCain wins the Presidency and has at least some type of coattail effect. That is why the GOP minority is playing the "silent fillibuster" game, tying up legislation in committee and demogoguing on others.
This election is winner take all and they know it. The best they can hope for is the Presidency and enough seats in Congress to leverage in leverage that McCain and his masters want.
American corporations are scared, as are high net worth individuals. They know that they've raped the country, ransacked the treasury, and that if they lose control to the people that they will be called on it and made to pay for it.
sorry..should have read..."leverage in legislation that McCain and his masters want."
Don Rumsfeld hater @ 9:
If you're definition of "American" is: someone who supports the so-called "government", then you're right on the money.
rk @ 16:
When voting is no longer done by secret ballot.
19 year old American girl : Mom, I'm so bored. There's nothing on TV but this election crap.
Mother : Oh, stop complaining and change the channel for Heaven's sake. We have more than 50 channels.
(Channel 2) Obama : John McCain is a hero. He has served this country with honor.
Girl changes the channel
(Channel 4) McCain : My opponent wants to raise taxes and destroy the futures of your children.
(Channel 5) Obama : John McCain's service to this country is honorable.
(Channel 7) McCain : My opponent wanted to lose the war for selfish political reasons. My friends- we are victorious in Iraq. We won. Had we followed the selfish political maneuvers of my opponent - the victory would have gone to the terrorists and we would have been forced into a wider war.
(Channel 9) Obama : John McCain loves this country. John McCai....
(Channel 11) McCain : My friends,my opponent has flip -flopped on every single issue. He now has been forced to admit that his position on off-shore drilling was foolish and dangerous to America. He now is following my lead on off-shore drilling. Regarding foreign policy - my opponent was sun-bathing in Hawaii while Russia was attacking the small, sovereign nation of Georgia. I wasn't on vacation. I sent two envoys to Georgia while my opponent was sipping Pina Coladas.
Daughter : Mom, this opponent guy should be sent to that American prison in Puerto Rico for water-boarding. You and dad are voting for the war hero guy, aren't you ?
Mother : Of course we are honey. We love our country.
Daughter : And so does the war Hero guy. By the way - who's the black politician? Oh ya, that's right - he's the one who attends huge events with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
liberalNmoderation @ 39:
This is a classic neocon manuever. Deny that a problem exists until there's a Democrat around to blame it all on. For over eighty years the Dems have been stuck pulling clean up duty after the Repugs have completely trashed the country.
I actually heard some Wall Street apologist state on his radio program a few months back state that the economy was, while not in a recession, was underperforming because people are afraid that Obama might secure the nomination.
Imagine that! Our economy is so fragile that even the thought of another party assuming power is enough to send it into a tailspin.
I think a lot of our current problems could be the result of widespread behind the scenes looting by people fearful of the prospect of their gravy train finally reaching the end of the line.
McCain may have lost Alter, and Klien too, and a few others, but, until the TV media, mainstream pundits and reporters start reporting the real McCain with all his gaffes and lies nothing will change. The American public is dumb as dirt, does not pay much attention and makes their decision based on pre-conceived ideas and cleaver commercials. We are no longer a nation of readers and demand to be entertained above all else. Only the political junkies really know that McCain can't remember s..t, gets countries, geography, tribes confused and has changed virtually every salient position he has held in the last 5 years. Until people like Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric turn their broadcasts into truthful reporting, few will know the truth. Less than half of America has cable where at least some analysis takes place, even though it consistently leans right with few exceptions. You have to really dig for the truth about these candidates and what they propose for the country and sadly, only a small percentage even care to do it.
I fail to understand how people could even consider Repugs in office after these last 8 years with Bush
Lying is as easy for Republicans as breathing and McCain is no exception.
St. McCain is devoid of honor and intelligence. He's basically Bush, just older and uglier.
Ozymandias @ 12:
The answer is real simple! MOST OF US ARE VERY STUPID AND WE BELIEVE MUCH OF WHAT THE RIGHT WING SCARE MACHINE TELLS US!
Mean and bad McCain lying about obama --- shock and amazed. Where were you guys when Alexrod/obama were call the Clintons racists just a few months back? The standard for this fucking election is falsehoods. And the reason is THEY WORK. The American public is not that educated --- March 19, 2003 -- the vast majority of Americans did not know the difference between Iraq and Iran, or be able to find them on a world map. Something a 12 year old could do in London, Paris, or Berlin. We are steadfastly an ignorant people, who mistrust folk with many degrees. That is why politicans/and their campaign throw mud, many people believe it. Otherwise KERRY/McCAIN could have taken out bush/and the dick in 2004. And oooh what a different world we would be living in if John McCain had said YES when Kerry asked him to join him, and the American people had told the swift-boaters to fuck off.
The Greedy Oil Pary has to lie! They have always won by telling lies. If they tell the truth, nobody would vote for them. They are against the people and for the corporations. The GOP is fascist and they know they can tell whoppers and the vast majority is ignorant enough to fall for abortion, war, gun rights, and gay marriage while they steal you blind. Wake up America, this has been happening for tweny eight years and we cannot stand another four. Do not vote for more of the same failed policies that the Boosh Crime Family has displayed. This country is at stake.
McCain is nothing more than an unhinged, befuddled, bellicose old codger/coot/curmudgeon.
He should be playing shuffleboard somewhere in South Florida.
douglas in oklahoma @ 91:
Hey douglas, have you confirmed that rumor about Kerry asking McCain yet? McCain has denied it. Granted, that doesn't mean shit, but I couldn't find any proof that Kerry ever asked McCain to be his veep.
Don Rumsfeld hater @ 78:
Ozymandias @ 12:
McCain's age is not an issue. ; 0 )
Don Rumsfeld hater @ 9:
You know, I don't think you're too far off the mark.
Sometimes I think the best thing for the world would be if America as we know it would kind of just go away...
The corruption, the war profiteering, the propping up of puppet regimes, the support of globalism... I think those negatives far outweigh the little good that America may be doing in the world.
By the way, I love Americans. Some of my most cherished friends are Americans.
But I just really really dislike the military-industrial complex, and those who serve it in Washington.
That part needs to be destroyed.
It may be time for Obama to use the 'nuclear' option. Anyone remember the 'Daisy' ad'?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKs-bTL-pRg
If that's how gramps wants to play, I say rough him up.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "JOHN McCAIN LYING?"
Don't you know he is a member of the North Phoenix First Baptist Church and Baptist republicans don't lie. Any thing they say is RIGHT OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD...like the Red Letter edition of the New Testamant.
ysbaddaden @ 57:
Absolute truth
Looking at the example of McCain's life, as demonstrated by the sum of his deeds, a compelling argument could be advanced that McCain has no honor.
You cannot get a republican to stop lying! They have to it's who they are.
What is particularly galling about the McCain "celebrity" ad & what Jon is too nice to mention is that McCain dumped his own "real" wife for a somewhat seamier version of Paris Hilton; the two women have the same looks, similar biographies & similar shallowness of character. For McCain to criticize Obama for being like his own wife is not just ironic; it's creepy.
Did you know that when McCain was at the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota he was only about a mile from Fort Meade (a veterans hospital). McCain didn't even stop and his motorcade drove right by the Veterans Hospital gate. McCain wouldn't even stop to visit our Veterans at their hospital!
But McCain did have time to talk to the bikers and talk about how Cindy McCain should enter the biker beauty contest, which is really a wet t-shirt contest!
Talk about disrespect for Veterans!
And why haven't we read anything about that in any newspaper or on FOX news!
John F A @ 86:
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