Meet The Press Carries McCain's POW Water
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Download | play (h/t BillW)
Gosh, who needs campaign surrogates when the mainstream media will only too gladly suffice? Tom Brokaw continues in his role as Republican concern troll by citing an anonymous email from a military man (who is "not crazy" about McCain, natch; that only increases the credibility, right?) objecting to Biden's crack yesterday about seven kitchen tables because, after all, McCain was a POW. And Chuck Todd agrees, that while Democrats--citing Maureen Dowd, who has never met a Democrat she didn't metaphorically castrate or feminize-- don't like it, it still works with voters.
BROKAW: Chuck Todd, a career military person-who is not crazy about John McCain-immediately emailed me about that crack about seven kitchen tables, saying, "Wait a minute, that's pretty gratuitous. Here's a guy who spent five years in prison, not knowing where his next meal was going to come from."
TODD: It's interesting that..that Democrats are getting a little more upset by that line of defense now. Coming, there's a column this morning by Maureen Dowd in the New York Times sort of laying out this case that you know, is the McCain campaign using the...using that defense too often to pushback everything, but it does work, I think, with voters.
You know, I normally think Todd's fairly astute, but this is just ridiculous. I'm ready for Brokaw and Todd to appear in a YouTube video complete with smearing mascara, screaming "Leave McCain alone!" The reason that Democrats are getting upset is not that McCain is using it too often, it's that being a POW IS NOT A LINE OF DEFENSE. Jumpin' Jiminy, these guys are clueless.
McCain gets pulled over for speeding: "But Officer, I was a POW!"
McCain misspells 'onomatopoeia' at the National Spelling Bee: "But judge, I was a POW!"
McCain forgets to pay taxes on one of his multiple homes: "But Mr. IRS Auditor, I was a POW!"
That's how ludicrous McCain's "defense" is, and yet the media sees nothing wrong with it. In fact, they're shocked by those who point out that being a POW isn't a "get out of gaffe" free card. It's not working with the voters, you McCain Media types, it's working with you. You're just not on the ball enough to know you're getting played.
John McCain spent five and a half years without room service. The horror. The horror.
McCain: POW, POW, POW, POW.
Giuliani: 911, 911, 911, 911.
They have to play it up. McCain is the only GOP politician who actually served.
I don't care if he spent 5 and a half years sitting on a toilet. The man has no principles (at least none that he hasn't changed to get the vote of the nutcase right), he has 26 years of experience but has nothing to show for it other that kissing Bush's butt 95 % of the time. Has he told Bush to stop killing our soldeirs? No. Has he said that Bush has done a wonderful job in Iraq? Yes. Has he tried to stop Sen Webb from giving to our soldeirs at least something for their contribution to our safety? Yes. Is he completely out of touch with all the American "Whiners" who sadly know how many houses they actually own? Yes. Would he continue to shun our Constitution and pay back the lobbyists for all they have done for him? Yes. This man has absolutely no right or qualification to be President, just as Bush did not.
The P.O.W. card is the ace in this election, a wild card if you will, But the race card is like a deuce or maybe a three. the P.O.W. card maybe played at anytime during the game, where the race card may only be played when the guy holding the P.O.W. card says so. there, now that we all know the rules, who wants to play.
“Wait a minute, that’s pretty gratuitous. Here’s a guy who spent five years in prison, not knowing where his next meal was going to come from.”
"gratuitous"...interesting word that.
Does anybody really buy this crap anymore? I mean, does the stupidity here really overpower what Biden said?
I had no idea Brokow was such a tool. Live and learn.
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sorry, i kinda sounded like a republican there for a moment.
We know McCain was a POW and a hero. Now can we please move on?
Further to McCain, I might add that this is part of his history, the past. It's like he was a baby once, is he still?
he called his wife a 'c*nt' my friends. she probably made him sleep in one of the other 7 beds along with the rest of the dwarfs.
I thought Rudy was bad with his 9/11 bullshit but this POW crap is getting pathetic. the man could take an axe to his entire family but we can't question his motives because he was a POW. Bullshit.
krisken @ 7:
I'm not sure I take your meaning. Does the stupidity here (meaning C&L?) overpower what Biden said (about the seven tables?)?
The fact that Brokaw chose to cite an anonymous email is in itself a fairly funny smelling and stridently dick-ish maneuver in and of itself.
I understand that the republicans want to use “Living in a Box” as John McCains theme song at the convention.
All the more reason for the Democrats to focus their main attack on the Republican (Bush) party and not on "the man" McCain. Like it or not McCain is going to shamelessly ride this POW-horse all the way to the finale.
krisken @ 7:
Our line will play better than theirs will. Let them talk about it -- it only draws attention to the issue and that's good for Obama.
For comments like this work for the repiglics - it completely and utterly REQUIRES the listener to be an imbecile. And that's their base - the 23 or so percent - Obama won't get them anyway. These guys are desperate - they know this one is going to hurt them.
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Saying he's qualified to be commander in chief because he was a POW is like saying you are qualified to be the top scientist at Princeton because you went through a divorce.
The two are not connected at all.
Exactly what did he learn about, foreign policy, energy issues, the environment, or the economy at the hanoi Hilton?
Nothing.
It's admirable that he survived it and maybe he gained some willpower and endurance psychology, which is great.
But he has proven time and again that he does not have the knowledge he needs to deal with the issues America is facing now.
And the Hanoi Hilton in the 1960s did not give him the relevant training to tackle the problems America faces in 2008.
Therefore, the experience of being a POW does not qualify him to be President.
I think a majority of voters can figure that out.
I wonder how many former POWs are homeless, living under bridges, in cardboard boxes, the lucky ones spending the night at a Salvation Army Shelter? How many in jail for PTSD related crimes?
Has McCain done anything, lifted a finger to help these men? He's voted against funding for Veterans, for that matter for soldiers STILL SERVING.
What has he done for all the other Vietnam POWs? Or does he think he's the only one?
AP's Fournier is at it again
A noun, a verb and 911....
pinkobait @ 6:
Seems a stupid choice. What am I missing?
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Broke-Aw: "SOME SAY..." taking the phrase out of Orilys, and all the FoxFolks mouthes.
Oh yeah, one more thing.
If being a POW qualifies you to be president, then I have a guy who stands under a bridge near my house holding a "Help a Nam Vet" sign I'd like to nominate for the job.
Because that guy knows more about the economy than John McCain does.
"Here’s a guy who spent five years in prison, not knowing where his next meal was going to come from.”
Say what?! While John Wayne McCain was in the POW camp he knew exactly where his next meal was coming from - the freaking guards! As a POW, he probably didn't know where his next table was coming from, but the meal was a given. This explains why he probably went on and bought so many houses containing so many pesky tables.
Brocaw=just another example of the chattering class. Doesn't want to lose his position at the table.
Hey Nicole, that whole POW defense is so over the top, but I fear some voters will fall for it, we just have make sure that such fallout is minimized
I personally know a number of former POWs. They rarely ever talk about their experiences, and none ever try to exploit it as McCain is shamelessly doing.
Kathy @ 20:
Obviously he cannot afford to acknowledge the existence of any other POWs since they would automatically become as qualified as McCain to become president.
pinkobait @ 15:
"Chuck Chowder, career military person... ...here's a guy who spent five years in prison not knowing where his next meal was going to come from"
I smell BS, first of all 'Chowder' for those who dont know, is a newish cartoon series, very surreal comedy about strange chefs and animistic food.
and POWs do know where their next boring meal comes from, in sickening detail, day in day out.
Brokaw and the MSM RNC spin machine are trying to equate being a Vietnamese POW (grim yes) with being a prisoner of the Japanese in WW2, a whole different ball game.
McCain while being a fossil born in 1936, and old enough just to vaguely remember Pearl Harbor (navy brat), is twenty years too young to be a heroic WW2 POW survivor.
I don't know where else to mention this, but is it too late to reconsider all of the nuclear technology our Preznit has decided to share and sell to Pakistan? I'm only concerned because their country appears to be falling apart. No bit deal, just a passing thought. Its not like they're evil like Iran or anything.
It wasn't just the POW meme. Every question and every comment by Brokaw was right out of the GOP playbook. He didn't even attempt to have the appearance of an unbiased, neutral journalist. Truly disappointing.
World War Two, proper war with rules, declared by governments and Geneva convention observed by some participants.
Vietnam conflict, NOT A WAR, superpowers playing a surrogate game in some hapless small country, 100,000s killed by heroic jet jockeys like McCain who dropped napalm, iron bombs and chemical poisonous sh1t like 'Agent Orange' from above on civilians.
Oh Billy @ 13:
Speaking of Rudy... this is 30seconds i wish every "PUMA" out there has a chance to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKO1PnkmmJA
There's another factor about this that rarely gets brought up.
Every time someone gets aided in gaining political office (or anything) through their military experience, it's a little bit of sexism in action because it's a benefit women don't get. Sure, there are are women in the service now, but in comparison to men how many women get the magical "fought for his country" or "he's a POW" shield?
I am confused. What was the navy doing putting a guy who graduated 5th from the bottom of his class in an expensive jet making bomb runs over Vietnam? McCain was involved in losing 4 aircraft . Two were his fault one was on a carrier that was not his fault and the fourth was over Hanoi. Was this common for all pilots that flew during the war? His pilot skills obviously were not too keen. His being shot down while on a mission seemed like a good bet. Why did this make him a hero over the ground troops that fought bloody battles regularly over 2 and 4 year stints.
Are all the Vietnam era POWs qualified to be commander in chief? even those who lost their minds or went to prison for felonies? I am a Vietnam veteran and there has been a lot of stuff happen in the forty years after I returned home that had nothing to do with Vietnam. To think that is a qualifier for the POUSA is stupidity. John McSame has proven, with his performance in the Senate, that he is a poor candidate. He voted with the Bush Crime Family 95% of the time. John McSame is not a good candidate because this country must get on a different track. The thugs in the crime family have us going over a cliff.
Northwest Washington @ 37:
His grandfather and father were both admirals in the navy at the time.
A noun, a verb & POW.
McLame
Tom Brokaw needs to provide this email for experts to view, I call BS.
or show us the fee he received from the RNC PAC to spin McCain.
Theres supposedly $50 or $250 million available to be divvied up amongst the MSM people in IRS invisible fees.
Explains the onboard message and keenness to attend McCain BBQs.
Ron @ 39:
grampa Admiral McCain died four days after the signing of the surrender of Japan, worked to death by his boss.
pa McCain became an admiral after junior got shot down I believe, which made McDumb suddenly a 'crown prince' POW.
And as other people have said, twenty six medals for twenty hours combat time and five point five years in a bamboo love shack, heroic indeed.
Beef Jerky @ 3:
LOL. While not true, it isn't that far off, either. The majority of non-career service members (and even many of those) from every war in our history do indeed seem to align with whichever political party leans less towards war and more towards diplomacy after their service is complete, be it the Republicans or the Democrats. At this point in our history, the Democrats are the more anti-war, pro-diplomacy party, and thus are the party with considerably more members who have served in public office. How the Republicans manage to keep the meme going that they are the voice of the military, when that is demonstrably untrue (they are truly the voice of the chickenhawks), is simply mind-boggling.
What Carlin's Ghost said: Every sentence out of McCain's mouth is a noun, a verb and "POW."
Crian @ 28:
they are falling for it.....the POW brand is the only reason this race is close....big business/corporations are behind this brand and they are selling it to the public. if people don't see and feel what's happened to this country/constitution in the last 8 yrs...there're not going to get it. people are foolish to let this go the culture game.look at just a couple realities:
devaluation of u.s. dollar 40% last 6 yrs.
record oil prices
recession.....not by their definition
record home foreclosure affecting everyone
prolonged iraqi occupation
negative wage growth
tax cheats/loopholes among super rich
commodities inflation
bankruptcy increase
Nicole Belle @ 14:
No, not here, but here as in the Saturday morning idiots. I have a hard time believing that the more ludicrous statements by the so called "trusted news guys" really has an impact on anyone with more than a child's intellect.
Sorry Nicole, I realized later that my comment might be taken in that context, but I figured everyone might come to the conclusion that I had intended to mean the nitwits on T.V.
Trittydi @ 18:
That's what I was thinking. It reeks of being so... well... desperate. If they are trying to convince the undecided voters of this silliness, I think they are going to be met with a whole lot of fail.
The man is old and has A.D.D. and Alzheimer's.
He needs a staff directly at his side, to keep his private and public facts straight.
He gets Sunnis & Shiets, and the borders of key hot spots all WRONG. But, ain't that a very "key" part of the job he so desperately wants?
He has many temper flair ups, more than a person trying to become "the worlds most powerfull person" should. To give him any access whatsoever, to "the football" scares the crap out of me.
He hasn't had the time to vote on many key issues as part of his DUTIES as a senator. Where's he going to find the time to do his duties as the president?
Being a POW is worth 3 points in my book. However, all the total points I can give him on all OTHER factors combined, comes up to a big fat ....MINUS 147!
GWB was a MINUS 150.
BTW, 150 means the lowest of the low. TOTAL L-O-O-S-E-R!!!
Yet, somehow, the poles are sooo, sooo close. Just like when GWB, the poster boy with a history of "failures" and a history of using mind altering chemicals, was annointed by sheer DECEPTION, DIRTY MONEY, and DIRTY SOFTWARE. Nearly all of his backers were indicted, convicted, supeanad, or are in jail right now. He has PROVEN himself AGAIN, to be a failure. Only we, as a nation, are doing ALL the suffering for it. Not him. Damn! He's so good at it!
Why ANYBODY even REMOTELY CONSIDERS, to have more of the EXACT SAME SHIT, really baffles my brain to the limit.
krisken @ 46:
theres a lot of functioning dumb people out there.
Maybe John McCain should pick Joe Lieberman as his running mate after all.
One well-kept secret is that, back in December of 2001, a congressional 'gang of 10' issued a letter stating a case for America to go after Iraq. The letter was co-signed by just 2, you'll pardon the expression, Democrats, Joe Lieberman and Harold Ford Jr. McCain was also a signer.
If you look at the language of the letter, they were clearly doing George Bush's bidding on this. McCain even went on Face the Nation on December 9th and truly discredited himself.
I quote from the reports on the letter, and include the portion of the program's transcript, for those who would like to check it out.
http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/08/mccain-lieberman-sought-to-i...
Tom Brokaw, America's Drinkin' Buddy. I don't think I've ever seen him on TV when he didn't look like he'd just gulped down a least five shots of whiskey.
"That crack" about seven kitchen tables is absolutely fair when you really, really do have at least seven kitchen tables to choose from -- not counting the ones in his private jets.
Oh, wait -- can't say all those tables actually belong to John McCain. They actually were bought with Cindy's money. Whoops, then it looks like Johnny boy depends on his wife's money, like Bush accused Kerry of doing...
Say, doesn't John McCain depend on his wife's money? Where would he be without it? Uh-oh....
Who chose Brokaw, Ifill and Schieffer for the debate hosts??
They sure as hell aren't Obama's friends.
Back to Meet the new ass kisser, Brokaw went on even further though with his b.s...
1. He cited a poll showing McCain trailing Obama by over 16 points on the economy and said nothing about that - but then cited another poll with Obama trailing McCain by a HUGE 11 points on the Commander in Chief issue - and it's Holy moly the sky is falling -what's Obama's problem!! McCain used to be up well over 20 point on that subject, but ol' Tom didn't go there. He did mention another poll where according to him, Obama 's lead was cut in half- Brokaw didn't cite which poll he referred to - back in 2004 maybe Tom?? But I remember no national head to head with Obama beating McCain by 25 points.
Too many elections to get his facts straight- at his age it must be easier just to let someone else write it all??
2 Asked Pelosi about the surge working so well - she denied it and explained why - he argued back saying her views 'were disputed.'. That's not a discussion - that's someone with talking orders to fill.
3. He mixed up facts and date to confuse Pelosi but she's such a bad speaker, she didn't notice:
In 2004, after the Iraqi's started to fight back, Meet the Press had Pelosi on one show and Biden and McCain on another. Both Pelosi and Biden in early 2004, as well as the majority of Dems, were calling for more troops because they were suddenly outnumbered- remember thousandsof ours were kept back in Kuwait.
Bush and the right said we didn''t need any. So did John McCain. Biden and Pelosi both said we did - Biden says in the interview ( paraphrasing) " John starting to get there too."
Brokaw airs the Pelosi clip- and tried to claim she was partially responsible for the recent surge of 2007 -three years later??
That is some serious, serious Right wing ass kissing.
My friends, one of these days Cindy's goin' to really piss me off and ...POW! right to the moon!!
(another McAskmystaff use of "POW")
Theres a lot of pundits and so called journalists being paid to spin this election for the Repugs.
Money that isnt in the FEC accounts, and prob being supplied by offshore masters.
The Republicans are just the local dumb branch of the international org crime families.
scootmandubious @ 50:
DLC the blue branch of the Repugs.
I am so sick of our kangaroo court media who controls the message and reinforces the right-wing memes--
It is so riediculous that the media keeps asking why Obama isn't ahead by more, when it is all Obama all the time--and 90% of that is negative reinforcement of right-wing talking points.
low information doesnt only describe some american voters but also many media personages.
peddling illogical arguments is something i expect of republicans but not of todd. brokaw maybe but i expected more of todd.
jimbo92107 @ 51:
I find it hard to believe McCain knows squat about his kitchen tables, the ueber rich as a rule dont tend to hang out in servant work spaces,
his dining rooms and tables maybe.
Somebody should ask McCain how many servants he and Cindy Lou employs and if he actually knows any of their names,
or are they just invisible people supplying his every need and changing his diaper four times daily etc.
What you're not getting is that it is not JUST McShame who's getting the 'free-pass' from the Vietnam war...It's the whole aristo-officer class which wanted and needed the war (promotion is v e r y s l o w in peacetime) which is getting the get-out-of-war-crimes card for the enthusiasm with which they slaughtered innocents all over indo-china...
Their vindication will be Bombin' Johnnie's assumption of the presidency...and i have no doubt in my mind that he will
enlisted men bore the brunt of the battle; officers--mainly charged with bombing defenseless civilians--got the medals, the glory, the promotions...McStain flew 23 mission, never once was in actual combat til the day he went down, and collected 23 medals, including a silver star...for what? his stellar performance on those NVN propaganda tapes?
I don't know how many planes McCain lost, but I'll contact my staff and get back to you. Corpus Christi, the northeastern US, and the Mediterranean were crashes, plus the Forrestal, and North Vietnam makes five. Or did the Forrestal disaster happen in the Mediterranean?
Northwest Washington @ 37:
Was there any proof that McStain was actually shot down? Or did he crash that plane, too?
Revisionist historians portray McStain as a Naval Fighter Pilot (a la "Top Gun") when in fact he was a bomber.
I'm not slamming his service, but what is real and what is the Hollywood rewrite of the truth?
PEACE
And I just heard Lou Dobbs assert with his faux incredulity that the "national media" is in the tank for Obama. My head hurts and I have only watched 30 seconds of news all day.
Brokaw is a miserable Republican. He joins the rank
& file of the many who fill our newspapers with right
wing garbage along with TV & radio. The public eats
this stuff up all to the benefit of Hogan's Hero. McCain:
jacko @ 48:
scared people, people who have good jobs (until outsourced) , live (at the moment) in nice housing, with failing 401Ks, these dumb sh1ts think that the Democrats are going to go all soviet on them. and of course this has nothing to do with the MSM and their Rovians Republican smear machine.
After all who has been the party in power for the last seven years, which party screwed up the economy, and everything they touch.
Which poltical party starts and loses all the wars, teh Repugs, which party cant manage money at all, teh Repugs, which party is comprised of felons and thieves, teh Repugs, which party is sleaze incarnate, teh Republicans.
THE REPUBLICANS with GWB at their head, aided and abetted by Congresscritter scum like McCain.
moniker @ 60:
No, it was off vietnam, iirc
Northwest Washington @ 37:
The incident on the carrier Forrestal was caused by hot shot McCain wet starting his engine causing a flame ball to shoot out of his engine engulfing the lane behind him for a second or two. That plane then had a wing mounted rocket fire off, hitting a wing mounted fuel pod on a plane in front of it. Then a 1000 lb bomb fell off a 500 lb carrier and exploded. Over 130 sailors died as a result of John McCain's irresponsible behavior. The flew John to another carrier for medical treatment because the folks on the Forrestal were not too happy with the Admiral protected pilot.
McSame being shot down probably saved both Vietnamese lives and American lives.
His piloting skills and those of other Navy pilots were bad at the beginning of the war and led to the start of the Top Gun school in 1968, loss/kill ratios improved in the later years after the better trained pilots were available.
woody, tokin librul @ 59:
McCain a true Republican 'fortunate son'
you will not see McCain on this video, he was safely eating dinner in his whites on a ship, miles offshore.
So, McCain survived! How great for him and his family (the second family.) My family, not so much. My husband, 24 years old, was shot down over Vietnam and died. The military promised much, delivered little, yet I and our 3 children survived. I figure we have a greater claim to fame than John McClain claims. At least he lived, he has had a life. How I would have given most anything for 5 more years with our husband/father.
Come on now, dear author of this post. Do you really think the media is being "played"? The media is doing exactly what it wants to do. They're in on it. Partners. Not getting played at all. They're playing us.
My GOP friends were telling me at the beginning of the campaign, "We won't be able to have a serious debate in this election because anytime you criticize Obama, you'll be considered a racist." Well, it seems like the POW card is more powerful than the race card, nevermind that Obama doesn't pull the race card at all! And with the "liberal media" acting the way it has thus far in the election season, this will be a pretty steep hill to climb.
"I'm John McCain and I approved this message because, if you don't vote for me, you might as well be pissing on the graves at Arlington National Cemetary."
McCain wasn't just a POW. He was a POW who was constantly given special (and gentle) treatment due to the status of his powerful daddy, he was a POW who immediately copped out, told his captors all the information he had, and allowed them to use him for propaganda that was a hundred times more effective and worse than anything Jane Fonda did.
Just like Bush, McCain is a spoiled punk from a wealthy family who was handed everything he has. Crashing three planes and 5th from the bottom in his class, instead of being thrown out of the Navy on his ass as he should have been, the cowardly little puke was shot down while bombing innocent civilians (because he neglected protocol regrding what to do about enemy missiles). The moron was injured not because he was tortured, but because he ejected from his aircraft improperly, blasting himself through the jet's canopy. He made up the story about the guard drawing across in the dirt.
When McCain got back home after helping the communists trash the United States, just like the spoiled frat boy George Bush, his powerful daddy opened doors for him and got the fool assigned to cushy and powerful positions with the Navy.
Because his once beautiful and always loyal and faithful wife was disfigured in a car crash, McCain dumped her and married a rich bitch who inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from a drug dealer (her daddy was a purveyor of America's most lethal drug--alcohol), and who is as stupid as McCain is. So now the spoiled rich kid who is 71 or 72 or maybe 80 years old but possesses the maturity of a 14-year-old and the brain of a gnat is a parasite in $500 shoes feeding on his wife's drug money and phoney fantasies about his years of experience as a propagandist for the communists--oops, I mean a POW.
John McCain, like George W. Bush, has never earned anything himself and, like Bush, everything he touches turns to sh-t. Like Bush, McCain does not deserve our respect. Like Bush, McCain is a parasite, a liar, a war criminal and a crook. He should have been sent to prison because of his role with the Keating Five. That's where criminals like him and Georghe W. Bush belong.
Where were all these airhead gasbags when Kerry, another war hero, was made fun of because he wife provided him with all the trappings of the elite?
I'll tell you where they were: joining in on the jokes and asking how Kerry could possibly be tough enough to lead.
It should be obvious to everyone but the hydrocephalic beltway bobbleheads that the press is heavily biased towards Repubs.
What everyone should learn from this is this ridicule works. What the Dem establishment probably will "learn" is to stop using these tactics against Repubs. Just like they no longer bring up any gaffe or airplane crash to do with his Vietnam service.
Age Gregory a hundred years, give him a few thousand bottles of whiskey over his lifetime, and coat his lungs with tar phlegm, and you have...
Tom Brokaw, Repub talking-point parroting ass-hat extraordinaire.
I kinda paid attention to MTP today; I was a little distracted while searching for a new job online. That being said, I don't exactly remember this exchange, so my grasp of the full context is admittedly limited. But in my opinion, what Todd said can be interpretted merely as saying "yeah, it kinda works, because there are voters dumb enough to believe it." Saying such a thing (or saying what he actually said) sounds like opinion - especially since he inserted"I think" in the middle of his sentence, but I see him as more of a reporter than a commentator; Todd usually has the numbers to back up his claims, thus, not making what he says "opinion" in the strictest sense. It's mostly an expert interpretation of factual numbers, which is (arguably) marginally different. I don't think he buys the McCain excuse, he's just saying that some voters do.
While we're on the subject of accurate interpretation... How are we letting McCain get away with putting Biden's "criticism" of Obama in an ad. Stephanopoulos quoted Biden as saying "I think he (Obama) can be ready, but right now I don't think he is." That's not nearly strong enough of a condemnation to put in an ad. Any lawyer would tear a witness apart for "thinking" something. By treating such a claim as a valid condemnation, we're losing the war before the first battle begins. Biden hardly said anything definite (such as "He is not now, nor will he ever be ready"). If you can control the language, you can easily hold all the power. Republicans have been masters of this, and we need to think in these terms.
Furthermore, Republicans are pushing hard the meme of "Democratic infighting" between Obama and Clinton supporters... Maybe it takes peoples' minds off of the amount of Republicans who are actually dissatisfied with their party, and how many are skipping their conventioin. To allow them and their media clowns to continue to play that clip and put forth the idea that Bill Clinton doesn't think Obama is ready without allowing for the full context and meaning of his statement is pitiful. Clinton said "You could argue that no one is ready to be President." A statement that is completely true, what should not be lost in that, though, is Clinton's next sentence, in which he puts himself in Obama's shoes and admits that he himself was not ready; then, for good measure, he goes on to pay Obama compliment after compliment. He didn't disrespect or demean Obama, he was just making the point that there is no job on the planet which can make you completely ready to be President. Which is true. He was also originally ready to answer that question with a definite affirmative until the reporter cut him off and pursued a more combative line of questioning, then the piece has been shown and presrented as "Clinton being combative." It's horseshit...
Clinton's unedited answer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdvaxQIC1s4
Otay @ 72:
Kerry for all his faults, was a boat commander in the brown water navy, saw real combat, got his feet wet AND muddy, got several purple hearts for combat wounds, then when he left the Navy, was brave enough to speak out about the illegal conflicta nd the murder of civilians.
Yet the MSM (paid) smear machine thought Kerry was a joke...
Yet McCain is a hero for being a fcuktard and a loser, and a person who lives off his wife's unearned money, and sucks at the taxpayer teat for three decades, plus is a recipient of assorted Abramoff monies from various immoral sources.
The Dems need to find themselves a Vietnam POW, who is as disgusted with McCain's use of his POW status as most people, and who can then rebut everything McCain says.
I was a POW in Vietnam, and never once did it occur to me that it would be a qualification to become POTUS.
I was a POW, but I NEVER forget how many houses/kitchens I have.
I was a POW in the Hanoi Hilton but I never cheated or left my wife and kids, who fought for me and stood by my side when I got back.
Etc. etc.
Put out a call for help at a variety of Vets' sites:
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
http://www.veteransunitedfortruth.org/index.html
Other sites will be easy to find....
The Republicans are a disciplined, organized party. For example, we now know that, according to the repukes, five years as a POW qualifies you for a free ride from criticism during a presidential campaign. But losing two legs and an arm in warfare won't qualify you from similar criticism during a senatorial campaign. (Cleland) (Ask Rove and Bush about that one). What office can be sought - free of criticism - can the young female soldier that lost both legs in Iraq and featured on the cover of Newsweek expect?
Brokaw is a long way from being the "Solomon of the news room' that he pictures himself as being.
There was a great posts on Huffington or Kos not long ago from a former POW who took McCain to task. Don't have a URL,sorry.
Attacking a rich and out-of-touch elite is unfair because he was a POW, but smearing him with whispered lies that he fathered a black child is just good ole politics.
Playing the POW card over and over and over. This would be like accusing somebody of racism every time they say something negative about Obama. What does being a POW have to do with how many houses the fucker owns? Do we want that senile warhawk running our country? HELL NO! Whatever happened to him in Vietnam has not a damn thing to do with it!
Part of the story of the man who saved McCain's life after he was shot down (copied from http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/)
"...Then, through an interpreter, Mr On recounted the events of that day as McCain listened.
He launched into a very emotional description,? said Searcy.
Suddenly they saw this parachute coming down into their small lake.
Everybody was afraid because they knew it was an American pilot and they didn't know what to do.
He said he just instinctively grabbed this big bamboo log and threw it into the water and jumped in after it.
One of his neighbours joined him and the two of them swam out to the parachute.
Apparently McCain had broken both arms and one leg, and had sunk to the bottom, but they pulled him out of the lake.
When they got to the bank, a couple of men attacked McCain, breaking his shoulder with a rifle butt and stabbing his leg, before Mr On stopped them.
That day, he saved McCain from drowning and then from maybe being killed by the mob.
McCain listened but there was no dramatic response. He just nodded, said, 'Thank you very much,' and gave Mr On a little Senate seal.
It was the kind of thing you buy in the souvenir shop in the Senate basement.
But Mr On, to the day he died, treated it as if it were a Congressional Medal of Honour.
But although McCain appeared to believe the story, it was one he would later seem to ignore in his autobiography and there was no more contact between the two men.
When Mr On died in 2006, an email was apparently sent to McCain's office requesting a message of condolence for the family. There was no response."
A man of honor indeed.....yikes.
ferrofluid (Obama + Biden = 2008) @ 49:
theres a lot of functioning dumb people out there.
Actually, they don't function very well, and unfortunately, yes, there's a lot of them.
Graduated 5th from bottom of my class. "But I am going to be a POW someday"
I was involved in crashing 4 jets directly and one by flying over Hanoi. "But I am going to be a POW someday"
Divorced my wife and ignore our children that waited for me for 7 years after I met heiress almost 20 years younger. "Because I was a POW"
If it wasn't for me, it would have only been known as the Keating 4. "Because I was a past POW"
I know how to win a war even though I can't tell you what wars I have won. "Because I was a past POW"
I am OK with torture now. "Because I was a POW"
I can't remember how many houses I own. "Because I was a POW"
I love the song, Bomb bomb bomb Iran. "Because I was a POW"
I believe we are all Georgians now. "Because I was a POW"
I believe countries don't invade other sovereign countries in the 21st century. "Because I was a POW"
I deserve to be President of the United States of America "Because I was a POW"
Do you see a pattern?
It's interesting how they can excuse his philandering and his gaffes on his POW-ness. To me, and I know it would be nearly 'sacrilegious' and suicidal to raise it, but to me it really raises the question that his POW ordeal may have rendered him unfit for the office.
It's quite basic.
perhaps if Mr McCain had graduated higher than fifth from the bottom
of his class he might have been able to avoid being captured, eh?
we're living in a Bizarro World or so it seems - lies are truth, dark is
light, and down is up!
Today, Ed Rendell declares "Obama coverage was embarrassing".
Chuck Todd is a regular guest in the parrot pool of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, who unquestionably was deep in the tank for Obama.
Chuck Todd could hardly be carrying water for John McCain and still exchange smirks, smiles and nods with Keith Olbermann.
I'm sure that if elected McCain will continue to play the POW card every time he F***S up, which will be continually.
Jobless in California @ 76:
Check this out:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html
dennis @ 86:
Dennis, my buddy, my pal, that's not honest and you know it. It's bad logic to say that Todd is in the tank for Obama because Rendell said the Obama coverage was embarassing.
Rendell was complaining that Chris Matthews can not be impartial when it comes to the Clintons (which we've documented numerous times). It does not follow that Tweety is in the tank for Obama. Especially when he tells McCain that he "is in his heart". (gag!)
I will fully give you that Olbermann is an Obama-maniac. I also made the caveat that Todd is normally politically astute. However, the entire media has a brain fart when it comes to McCain's former POW status and the campaign knows it and employs it EVERY time something even slightly bad for McCain shows up. They literally excuse EVERYTHING if McCain references back to his POW days and that's just bullshit and you know it.
St. Augustine - I've read that piece as well and wanted to include it, yet I couldn't find the link again....
Thanks!!
Oh, and ZO......needless to say, I'm looking for a job as well.....not much looking to do on a Sunday though!!!!
Hey Nicole, and welcome back.
I didn't think I was arguing your point about Todd. I said MSNBC's coverage was skewed toward Obama, Olby is in the tank for Obama, and Todd appears on his show and does the head-bob thing all his guests do, not necessarily that he was also in the tank for Obama.
My point, inartful as it may have been, was that no McCain water-carrier would ever appear on that show if anyone from the McCain camp had anything to do with it.
As to the media giving the free pass on McCain's use of the POW card, there's still a long way to go. Everyone in the media I think by now should've heard the complaints from Democrats about it. I should think you guys should be hoping he eventually way, way overplays his hand at some point and in a huge gaffe situation and then use that against him instead of trying to put up the Heisman on it now. But that's just me.
Renegade98 @ 11:
Well you know what they say, "once a man, twice a child".
Jason Linkins of huffingtonpost exploring how far the press might go to carry McCain's POW water:
Quote: "Really, how far is this going to go? McCain, knee deep in the blood of a drifter, with Randy Scheunemann yelling: 'HE'S ALLOWED TO DRINK THE HOBO BLOOD! WAR HERO!! WAR HERO!!!'"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/24/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_120...
Ron @ 39:
And living on a ship that was filled with
Men, men, men, men
men, men, men, men
There's Bob, and Bill, and Jim, and Frank
And one guy we call Sally
And one guy we call Sally
Hate to seem like so much of an amateur, but how do you get a link so specific to the post #?????
Is it the 'Copy Link Location'???
Jobless in California @ 95:
No, it's "Quote this comment"
Ahh, I see.
No wonder I'm jobless......I overlook the obvious...
Thanks Nicole!!
Hell, I'M A POW; a prisoner of the last eight years of shear bullies, crooks and liars running this country.
It's amazing how the McCain surrogates and political pundits and bought off journalist want to forget about "30 years ago" when it comes to McCain's infidelity. But they want everyone to remember "30 years ago" when he's being pressed being such a Bush puppet.
I'm sick of his POW whine!
dennis @ 92:
Thank you...it was nice being a beach bum for a few days. ;)
The problem is that we're talking NBC, not MSNBC, and we're talking Meet The Press, not Countdown. We've documented several times over how willing Brokaw has been in his short tenure at MTP to frame his questions like they came straight out of Rove's office. And right now, that makes them sound like watercarriers for McCain.
Todd is an employee. He'll show up on whatever show they tell him to and he'll make the host look good. That's reality.
Jason Linkins of huffingtonpost exploring how far the press might go to carry McCain's POW water:
Quote: "Really, how far is this going to go? McCain, knee deep in the blood of a drifter, with Randy Scheunemann yelling: 'HE'S ALLOWED TO DRINK THE HOBO BLOOD! WAR HERO!! WAR HERO!!!'"
Don't forget, McCain may have spent 5 years in a POW camp, but according to the definition he and the rest of the administration set, he was not tortured. So don't go looking for my sympathy. At least "enhanced interrogation" is in the past for YOU, Senator.
(I also enjoyed the C&L poster who stated that, since McCain wasn't tortured according to how he defines torture now, all those propaganda tapes he created while a POW should be considered treasonous.)
I am so sick of the Clinton that I puke every time I see them. If Bill had kept his private in his pants Bush would never have been able to steel the election in 2000.
Now Hillary comes and wants to have her name put forward at the convention! Even that all the reports were telling that she could not win, she continue running and accumulated debts of 25 billions and wants Obama’s supporters paying for her stupidity.
It has always been about the Clintons, like this nation owe them something. I hear those words every time; it is not true because they were supposed to work for “We the people”. We do not owe them anything because if you thing about the congress during the Clinton’s era was that after 2 years in his presidency Democrats lost controlled it after 40 years. Bill gave us 2 old flames (one I recall Jennifer Flowers) and as a finish, he did give us Monika. He could not control his urge for adultery even with his wife in the same White House. The surplus in the national debt was because the welfare program was eliminated by the republicans.
Yes she is smart and care and would be great as a Supreme Court nominee.
That would put her in the very best place to help all women in this nation who claim that we are the freest country in the world while treating Women, Black, Brown, Asian are as a second citizen.
The Republicans rules are that they care about the rich and nothing else.
Let’s replace them all in the next election.
Wasn't Brokaw's office one that was hit with anthrax? Maybe he is afraid if he doesn't go repug there might be a repeat.
I've gotten to where I can't even listen to these commentators anymore. What a bunch of blowhards and imbeciles.
Pat Riot @ 85:
as an officer he had the obligation of either escaping or doing the decent thing.
he did the typical Republican thing, sold his soul for money and whores.
Pat Riot @ 85:
And failure is presidential material.
When you hook up with the MSM you are expected to say what you are told to say? That is why they pay you don't you get it?
Money = free speach so whoever pays the check also get what he wants said!
liberAL @ 103:
I would think Brokaw's attitude would have been more like: "Hey, I'm death warmed over already. I'm lucky to have lasted this long. Nothing here to be afraid of." But no, the guy still frets over his own precious barely life-animated behind.
Actually, all this talk about McCain's use of his P.O.W. status is a good thing. Just one more thing he can't use against Obama in the general election.
Jobless in California @ 91:
I too am jobless in California... I like to look on Sundays because jobs usually fire people on Fridays and the HR department will see my resume in their inbox first thing Monday morning. lol. I'm not a POW, but I am a college grad... You figure it'd be easier out there for two poeple like us. Good luck.
The whole POW line is bull$hit. I can hear it now...
President McSame:
PM Putin:
Presidnet McShame:
PM Putin:
i've said all along that news probers have been getting a free ride. they throw their spears and arrows and nothing comes back at them. I just watched Pelosi
being grilled by Brokaw. Pelosi is not my favorite person, but bless her mushmouth stuttering, she tried. I still say that when the interviewer sits back and asks the probing questions, the interviewee needs to direct the question back at him. something along the line,"you know Tom that's a great question regarding the economy. McCain feels it's going so well. I need to ask you, Tom, personally, do you feel the economy is going well." make him answer and have his answer put up as a matter of record. There are no more free rides. Everyone who has media time should be put on the spot and made to answer where do you stand. Do you want eight more years of the same, because you know mccain has supported bush and his decisions every bit of the way, or do you want change. "how about it, Tom, can you smoothly answer that for the American people. No more free Rides.
Question to McCain: How many houses do you own?
McCain Response; I was a POW!
End of interview
Of course McCain can also use the argument, I am an IDIOT and NOT FIT to be president because I was a POW...
this is completely expected. brokaw is the author of the 'electability' of the asshole in the next chair at the bar.
speaking of tables, i just saw the interview with pelosi. talking about gas prices and offshore drilling, she said as speaker of the house she had to put all options on the table. if i were brokaw i would have asked why she refuses to have impeachment back on the table? i mean since she likes to have all options on the table. im just saying.
Vietnam Veterans Against John “Songbird” McCain
If that damned librul media only understood how tough it was for McSame forty years ago. It seems that was the pinnacle of his life and career. Nothing since then matters. It doesn't , matter that he is a senile fool who has voted along party lines with W 95% of the time.
Senator Obama, how many houses do you own?
"One."
Senator Biden, how many houses do you own?
"One."
Senator McCain, how many houses do you own?
"The SURGE is working."
But sir, about your houses...
"Drill here, drill now."
Your houses, sir, how many do you own?
"I was a POW."
Could McCain have cheated on the Saddleback Forum since he was not in the cone of silence?
Why, of course not because "[t]he insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous." (McCain spokeperson Nicolle Wallace)
Why is it so outrageous? He cheated on his first wife several times didn't he...despite his being a POW?
I am beginning to believe that mainstream media has an interest in keeping the McBush candidacy alive. In instance after instance, they've bailed him out, but defending the indefensible. Whether it's the overuse of his POW status, his constant errors on foreign intelligence issues (not knowing which countries have common borders, or which countries no longer exist, or which country is training Sunni militants, or encouraging Georgia to bait the Russians, or calling for an occupation of 100 years in Iraq, while they want us out pronto).
McBush is either old and forgetful, or he's as dumb as the current occupant of the White House.
EITHER MCCAIN IS OVER THE EFFECTS OF HIS POW TIME OR NOT..... THAT IS IT.....
if he is over it.... he should know how many houses he has, and that he does not or lies about it MAKES HIM USELESS AS PRESIDENT
if he is NOT over it..... he should accept fighting alzheimers as his next great battle BUT dont put his finger on THE BUTTON !!!
YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS....
This more or less sums up McCain:
http://daltonator.net/durandal/blog/
Chuck Todd has McCain’s love juices caught in his goat tee. Todd is the fuck bag who said McCain could make as many gaffes as he likes because he has a wealth of cred built up in the bank.
Can you imagine the outrage if every time Obama fucked up he said it’s ok give me a pass because I am black
Next thing you know McCain will be using the combo platter of hey I was a POW and I had skin cancer
Once again if you are Obama you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. McCain can get away with saying and doing anything including out right lies and questioning Obama’s patriotism and nothing is said. Obama bitch slaps McCain’s and its unfair and outrageous
Remember, these are the same (media) people who put the Swift Boat Veterans front and center while raising nary an eyebrow over Bush's dubious "service" during Viet Nam or Cheney's "other priorities." Suddenly being a war hero qualifies you to be president, and Brokaw and Schieffer practically faint when it is suggested otherwise, and it also puts you above any questioning of your character and motivations, but it sure didn't seem that way 4 short years ago. I don't know what these news people are up to, but it doesn't pass the smell test.
Brokaw's harping on the surge is also getting nauseating. Who outside of the White House didn't know at the beginning of this war that we didn't send enough troops there? It was discussed ad infinitum after the invasion, especially after the mass looting and unprotected weapons caches, yet somehow it was all John McCain's brilliant idea 4 years later. What exactly is he getting credit for by the likes of Brokaw and why does Brokaw keep haranguing any Democrat who won't confess that it was some brilliant military tactic that has practically guaranteed our victory in Iraq? Is he that big a dumbass or is he that crooked?
Why the Red face Todd?
Hmm, I don't think Chuck Todd has sinned so bad here. Brokaw, of course, has; he's parroted this idiotic line of defense. Though he hides behind Maureen Dowd, Todd, to his credit, brings up what he presents as a legitimate argument that the POW defense is ridiculous. He doesn't identify with the argument, but I don't think that by saying "it works with voters," he attempts to discredit Dowd's argument at all.
McCain still has not been baptized into his baptist church. This doesn't sit well with evangelicals, even though liberals and progressives who are not as devout may not understand how sensitive this issue is.
Chuck Todd, screw you on this one. Don't be afraid of Brokaw. He sold out a long time ago. Get back on tract to being a true reporter. You know, objectivity.
pmb @ 126:
Getting a little close to crossing the line. But, it is a way of looking at things. McCain has prostituted himself big time.
WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN FROM THE VIETNAM WAR , mCCAIN ?
It seems preventing future wars in not high on your agenda and Brokaw (council on foreign relations ) lapdog , His pow experience has NOTHING to do with him failing once again , to live up to his " Straight Shooter " status , you and the other echo chamber RNC puppets , keep parroting .
I'm not so sure if this POW excuse works so much with voters as it does with the media.???
Is the media trying to be extra sensitive to McCain because they feel guilty of not only enabling the swift boaters for (achem) truth but holding them up in the media as "Truth". The media never checked their funding nor reported their funding much did they?
So is the media overcompensating with McCain because of John Kerry's Swift Boat excursion by the media?
They want it both ways? Attacking a Democratic Kerry of military record, exempting Bush and now McCain? Actually that makes three ways not "both".
It is really sad that these people really think that running Obama in the ground is getting a positive response for McCain.
The only thing that has happened is they did manage to wake up some of the republicans, who were not going to vote at all out of pure frustration.
I think doing what they are doing is giving Obama even more support then he had and the Prof will be in our votes.
C-Span will be covering the entire event so that we can see it uninterrupted, by these stupid ass clowns. And BET, will also air Obama speech as well as Air America so we have lots of avenues to shut these bastards down. Let them spew their hate in their own nasty ass sweat. It going to be nice to see something as spectacular as this event without all the jealous and hate filled commontary for a change. They are jealous of the democrats.
We can show them better then tell them and the prof will be in the dismal rateings.
Noun and a verb and "I was a POW"
yogi-one @ 25:
What a good video or ad this would make for Obama?
g
And Hitler was a prisoner of war after WWI for several years. Does that excuse what he did? NO!
The arguement that McCain is beyond reproach because he was a POW is slightly less than ludicrous!
Doesn't sound at all like it's from a "career military person" to me. Those people generally understand the significant difference between have been a captured prisoner and having more houses and kitchen tables then is seemingly. I call bullshit! They never received any such e-mail from a true "career military person"! Unless you consider rove or his lame minions to be "career military persons". Because to conflate having too many kitchen tables with being a captured prisoner is some sick twisted shit. So OK maybe it was one of those "career military persons" that work at the Pentagon and are members of that illegal prayer group. They fit that profile.
McCain missed many days in the senate as a senator
McCain: "I was a POW"
Imagine if he were to be president and screwed the country even more than what it is and he was to use the same line. Before he can finish. would look like
McCain: "I was.." (gets cut off)
Annoyed Average citizens : "a POW, we know we know". "It's used for every mistake or problems you have created so far."
yogi-one @ 19:
I've only read 19 of the 141 posted and not one talked about the failings of the Messiah. It's like an endless parade no evil monkeys banging a keyboard.
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