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Letterman Busts McCain On His Ties To G. Gordon Liddy

McCain may have come back with mea culpas to David Letterman after blowing him off a few weeks ago, but Letterman wasn't going to make things easy on McCain. After pointed questions on taking responsibility for hate speech incited by his campaign, as well as whether he really thinks Sarah Palin was the best choice for her Vice President, Letterman started to question McCain on his own ties to a famous "domestic terrorist" G. Gordon Liddy...or maybe we should call him Gordon the Plumber.

Dave: I know, but you will also admit that we cannot really control who we interact with in our lives 100 percent. I mean -- you have --

McCain: How long we interact with them and how we interact with them -- but the point, the point in this campaign is the economy and the economy --

Dave: Did you not have a relationship with Gordon Liddy?

McCain: Uh, I met him. I --

Dave: Did you attend a fundraiser at his house?

McCain: Gordon Liddy's?

Paul: I object, your honor.

Media Matters:

And in an August 22 blog post about an anti-Obama ad highlighting Obama's association with Ayers, (Chicago Tribune reporter Steve) Chapman wrote:

But conservatives may not want to draw attention to the issue of ties to violent radicals -- since John McCain is longtime pals with convicted Watergate burglar Gordon Liddy, who once plotted a journalist's murder (which was never carried out) and has advocated the shooting of federal law enforcement agents.

And more:

Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May. An online video labeled "John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07" includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an "old friend." During the segment, McCain praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great," said he was "proud" of Liddy, and said that "it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program."

Additionally, in 1998, Liddy reportedly held a fundraiser at his home for McCain. Liddy was reportedly scheduled to speak at another fundraiser for McCain in 2000. The Charlotte Observer reported on January 23, 2000, that McCain's campaign vouched for Liddy's "character".

Nailed him.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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Don Davis's picture

Speaking of which, Richard Nixon Laments the State of the Current GOP

http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=4092

Pericles's picture

If Nixon were alive today, the GOP would have given him the nomination over McCain. And during the debate he would have said "Senator Obama, not only am I not a crook, but I'm also not George Bush! If you wanted to run against George Bush you should have run in 2004. But please don't insult me by comparing me to that little "Nixon" of a man. Oh..and by the way, did you know that I've met Henry Kissinger?"

Neo-classical secular humanist's picture

Unfortunately, Letterman let McCain off the hook by going to a commercial break just after he brought up the Liddy question. Too bad.

Plangus's picture

In McCain's defense, that party at
Liddy's house was only an orgy.
http://www.filthyrichmond.com

Anonymous's picture

too funny.

I wish Dave had gotten more to the point and asked McCain about Keating and his RELATIONSHIP with him

Anonymous's picture

Let him off the hook, yes....but sowed the seeds of this and thousands of other conversations. It may end the 'terrorist' issue.

Fredric L. Rice's picture

Look at the insane Christian fascist shitting himself. Love it!

Leadership's picture

You have to read Liddy's autobiography to the full extent of his illness.

Liddy is actually scarier than most of the homegrown racist hate psychos

I know from here in MO because he is very smart and successful.

Neo-classical secular humanist's picture

None of the above links work, site monitor -- at least, not on my Mac.

Nicole Belle's picture

Work fine for me. PC using Mozilla Firefox.

Neo-classical secular humanist's picture
PC?

You mean I have to buy a Windows PC to access the links? AARRRGGH!

(but thanks for the quick reponse.)

I am using a Mac with Safari and 16 gig of memory because it is the way to go for what I do in audio/visual and the links don't work
.

Get a PC.

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

tyler82's picture

Modern day Macs run Windows as well. No need to waste your hard earned money on a PC.

libsechumanist's picture

and it works fine on my Mac using Safari, is also works using Firefox - a Mac that never crashes, opens ANYTHING created on a PC, never has a blue screen of death....wouldn't own anything else....;-) OK, this is off topic and a matter of taste....

Yeah, Macs just get a Sad mac face error screen.

LeftandLeft's picture

Notice that when Letterman asked Grandpa about attending a fund raiser at Gordon Liddy's home the old man broke out the senilty card and gave Dave a blank, dementia induced stare to avoid answering the question! Amazing!

How sad is it that it took an entertainer to call out McCain on Liddy instead of the Press. Just pathetic. And are they picking up on this? No.

And as bad as Ayers actions were, Liddy is even more insidious because he was supposed to be one of "us". He was plotting all sorts of nefarious actions, including assasination. His ties, past and present to McCain are MUCH more applicable than any tenuous ties Obama has to Ayers.

Anonymous's picture

John Stewart, Dave Letterman, Stephen Colbert and Queen Latifah

Anonymous's picture

The View is also more "hard-hitting" than mother mainstream sources, god help us all.

Diana's picture

Not sure liddy was ever one of 'us.' In his autobiography, he talks about how as a young man he decided to confront his fears head on. So he ate a rat, raw, to get over his fear of rats and strapped himself to a tree in a lightening storm, to get over his fear of lightening.

Slacker George's picture

Too bad Liddy doesn't fear death.

Wonder how he feels about waterboarding?

Pericles's picture

So John McCain pals around with domestic fascists? (Considering that he picked a fascist dominatrix as his VP, I guess there's no need to answer that question.)

L.A. Confidential's picture

of having MccCin appear on Letterman since Letterman is obviously not a Right Wing Demographic audience.

Force feeding of John McCain whether people want him or not?

libsechumanist's picture

probably ratings and the dozens of links he'll get on the web. Free publicity and you never know who'll click on it.

ysbaddaden's picture

Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Pericles's picture

I'll bet she can't wait to get started with those enhanced interrogation techniques.

Truth B Told's picture

G Gordon Liddy associated with the infamous E Howard Hunt, deathbed confessor to the JFK assassination.

I mean the JFK "intervention" as McCain described it in the last debate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAsHTSbkXs

What would you do if you knew there was a Coup d'etat in the USA?

Orangutan.'s picture

I remember seeing that weird wording at the debate, but subsequently forgot about it. Thanks for making me remember. It's a wonder more people don't look into this. Is "intervention" a term used by the cia and others when referring to assassinations? It wouldn't surprise me. Like the comments say in the YouTube clip. Don't mess with the Federal Reserve. A lot of people know about this shit it seems and they like to give hints to each others. Hillary made that stupid comment about RFK during the primaries as well. Why don't more people on the blogs, including C&L, look into this stuff and take it more seriously. We are letting them get away with killing our leaders, sending Anthrax to our legislatures. There comes a point where you have to say you don't stand up for your country when you let things like this slide by. Hope that changes. Good post.

I have been screaming to REPEAL THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT since August.

Prawny Sue's picture

They don't just judge Senator Obama by his friends.

They judge him by his supporters.

Yet McCain is supported by this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO0eR47WuLY

L.A. Confidential's picture

see he's cool after all because he gets along fine with Dave?

CMINCA's picture

Did McCain think that Dave was going to go on these rants (6 mentions of McCain's AWOL from the show) and let him come back and USE Dave to strengthen his campaign?

To quote Christopher Hitchens (I never thought I would see the day where I would be quoting him) "How dumb does he think we all are?"

I don't think McCain yet realizes how much everyone recognizes that he's lost his honor.

L.A. Confidential's picture

No he doesn't. His PR men, handlers, advisers and marketer's aren't going to tell him either. They are in it for themselves.

Real friends don't let you make a fool and idiot out of yourself.

CMINCA's picture

These aren't real friends, they're mostly members of the 2004 Bush Re-Election staff. Very telling.

Anonymous's picture

The only friends McCain cares about are

1) Himself.
2) Who will prop him up, financially or otherwise (goodbye Lieberman, as soon as you stop being a useful idiot.)
3) The ones with vaginas.

This has been fairly consistant throughout his life.

LeftandLeft's picture

Grandpa running back to Lettermen with tail between legs willfully getting grilled, Moose bitch going on SNL this weekend, accepting being a caricature of a caricature, these two dopes are so desperate for votes that they're willing to minstrel themselves.....NO HONOR.

ysbaddaden's picture

We can call him Gordo the plumber.

)O(


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

woody's picture

That's the advice Liddy gave a radio caller who asked what to do if the ATF raided his house. They all wear the latest vests which protect their torsos, he advised, so "aim for their heads."

Because our most important institutions the 'Free Press', our Congress had been subsumed by the Corporations, there is no longer a sense of shame.

The Republican Vice Presidential candidate has been found to have abused her power and violated here public trust.

She should step aside!

The Republican Presidential candidate is 'proud' of his association with the feloniously convicted co-operative of a resigned and disgraced President.

It can be argued that he went to prison and paid his debt to society, but I would further argue that a full sense of propriety would keep him from participation in Presidential politics.

Period.

Where is the sense of propriety?

L.A. Confidential's picture

to say NO.

It's that simple.

L.A. Confidential's picture

Saying NO doesn't cost anyone anything.

L.A. Confidential's picture

NO Mr. Bush your not invading Iraq.

NO Mr. Bush we're not giving you any more money.

SInce ALL corporations cannot vote, then ALL CORPORATIONS should be prevented from contributing and or spending ANY monies on campaigning for or against ANY candidates or issue up for election or vote.

Pretty simple to me. It is like allowing Felones to control the election process. They lost the right to vote, so why should they enjoy the control of the process to vote?

ruthless people's picture

John McCain pals around with would be terrorists who tell folks how they can kill American law enforcement officers?

That is mavericky!

Anonymous's picture

The job of the press and investigative reporters, only being done by talk show hosts and comedians.

I wonder. Hmmm? Do ya think it might be...fixed?

L.A. Confidential's picture

Doubtful

All todays "reporters do is shuffle around wire content and entertainment.

CMINCA's picture

McCain had just come from the Alfred E. Smith dinner, where both he and Obama gave satirical and lighthearted speeches.

A line from Obama's speech, jokingly directed at McCain's running mate, was "I do love the Waldorf-Astoria though, I hear that from the doorstep you can see all the way to the Russian Tea Room."

L.A. Confidential's picture

Playful back scratching part of our great hypocrisy.

Actually, if you watch the video you can see how uncomfortable McCain is while Obama is speaking, while Obama really was laughing it up when McCain was speaking.

Also, I loved that comment, because it is the very first time I've heard Obama or Biden actually take a crack at that idiot and national disgrace, Palin.

calgarylady's picture

Priceless!

Damien's picture

I feel bad for McCain. I pity him for how he has given up his good name and sold his soul to the devil.

that being said, he did it to himself. I just can't wait to find out if we reach the magic 60 number in the senate. It'd be nice to reach 61 so we can tell Lieberman to go fuck himself.

CMINCA's picture

In the Frontline episode this week, it poignantly illustrated how fast McCain fell. Until 2004, he was still fighting the Republicans, then realized that he needed to make nice in order to be considered a viable candidate. So, he made up with Jerry Falwell and the Radical Christian Right, made up with Bush and Co., supported them in all of their evil endeavors, then hired his 2004 re-election staff, the very same people who dragged him through the mud in So. Carolina in 2000.

You cannot completely pity a man who knowingly and deliberately moves to the Dark Side. He's been a politician for a long time and he knew precisely what he was doing.

McCain said once that being part of the Keating Five was worse than the time as a POW, because at least when he left Vietnam he still had his honor.

Damien's picture

Even though the prequels made it difficult. But you're right, I don't completely pity him.

It'll be interesting to read his book in a few years on his thoughts about what he sacrificed for vanity.

Pandora's socks's picture

McCain wasn't "nailed." He didn't even answer the question.

And Paul really sucks.

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

I thought Paul was dead.


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

AbsolutTBomb's picture

He was P3Wnd!!!!

woody's picture

Eye-bleach needed in aisle Ewwwwwwww

ruthless people's picture

Wouldn't that be considered flag desecration?

James B Webb's picture

Check out what a McCain presidency would look like on day one; hilarious: http://brainrageblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/mcc...

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

because mccain goes on to say that he has been open about all his relationships and has nothing to hide and that thousands of words are spoken during a campaign

he really is full of shit

Nikola - bring the old site back!!'s picture

McCain got nailed, pure and simple.
It doesn't matter that Letterman went to commercials.
McCain looked like either a liar, or a senile old man. Or both.

UncleDave's picture

both.

LeftandLeft's picture

Definitely both. An old, partially brain dead liar....sad.

UncleDave's picture

too late,Johnny. He should have shown up the first time=back when he an actual chance in Hell of winning.

Bonkers's picture

"The point of this election is the economy. By that I mean, let's bitch some more about who Obama may or may not know."

Do you think the two sides of McCain's mouth have ever met or know what the other is doing at any given moment? What a putz.

Karla's picture

Oh hey, McCain played the POW card again with the interrogation remark.

Quel surprise.

MSM: Carry on, you roguish scamp! We can't stay mad at you!

ysbaddaden's picture

Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops is dead.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/17/o...

And just the other night I was watching this on the telly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRN39oifsE

)O(


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

UncleDave's picture

bad news. A great voice is silenced. RIP,Levi.

CMINCA's picture

He was 72 years old.

Not to politicize his death, but this doesn't bode well for McCain. It reminds everyone that McCain is closer to death than birth and Palin could be our Commander in Chief. Such a scary thought.

calgarylady's picture

Awesome clips, ysbad. Thanks.

Jackie's picture

Wow McCain supports and is friends with the real Plummer G Gordon Liddy yet attacks Obama for meeting Ayres at the age of 8 years old. But at lease Americans see no problem with that. I remember the names who were in office and now still in office that did their best to save Nixon. It's interesting that McCain attaches everything to Obama as Obama never release this information about McCain publicly. Obama was 11 years old when the Watergate Scandal broke out, McCain returning as a POW but eyeing politics, rich woman and leaving his wife and kids.

ruthless people's picture

Well, unlike Bush at least she doesn't pretend to be a "uniter not a divider" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/17/pali...

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

WATERGATE New
Fri, 10/17/2008 - 12:56 — Jackie
Wow McCain supports and is friends with the real Plummer...

http://www.leninimports.com/christopher_plumm...


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Patmaniac's picture

Letterman appeared more Presidential than McCain.

McCain: the incredible shrinking candidate

Otay's picture

Isn't it discouraging that talk show hosts and comedians do a better job at journalism than "journalists" do? I guess I shouldn't expect much from empty suits, but when Letterman and even the cast of the View do better than the empty suits, it's pretty damn pathetic.

ysbaddaden's picture
)O(

I think it would've been funnier if this one busted mcgramps

http://www.ratewall.com/cpics/446c04a9-8af8-4...


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

ronhohn's picture

I have posted the entire interview as one piece at my site, with additional video prior to McCain's appearance on stage.
Should work well for Mac users, it was made on a Mac.

http://www.foxnews-follies.com


If you need funds to pay for essentials, you have a revenue problem
If you need funds to pay for frivolity, you have a spending problem

I think it's a RIOT that people like Letterman and the women on The View are asking tougher questions than the MSM. Add Maher, Stewart and Colbert to the mix and we have an interesting pool of "reporters" who are doing better than the supposed journalists. If I were a journalist I would be ashamed of myself for the way news has been handled over the past 8 years. Journalists bested by comedians and talk show hosts. How sad!

Janet's picture

I was watching CNN a while ago and they showed some of the racist bullshit going on including the "food stamp" mailing and an effigy of Obama hanging in someones yard. Some douche comes on and says he just talked to the McCain campaign a few minutes ago and he thinks it's shocking. The douche says McCain has repudiated it.
My question to all you smart and observant people here is, have any of you actually ever heard him repudiate these things, or have you like me, only heard reporters and McCain "say" he has repudiated them?
He should have a press conference and state loud and clear that this is unacceptable if he is really against it. He won't of course because as the douche said, "It works".


We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.
- Will Rogers

kaybe's picture

"advocated the shooting of federal law enforcement agents."

More than that, Liddy conducted training via his radio show on the best way to kill federal agents.

Didn't we recently attack terrorists who conducted such training rather than say how proud we were of them?

pmb's picture

You see McCain’s associations with vile cretins like Liddy don’t matter because they play on the same team. Bedsides the right noise machine loves fuck heads like Liddy

Stop Smoking's picture

Letterman at his very best!!! Especially in the 2nd half! Good to see that both -at least somewhat- kept their sense of humor in all of this though.

jimbo92107's picture

Jeebus, this is a hundred times worse than the tenuous connection between Obama and Ayers.

Why is there nothing about this on the MSM?

Otay's picture

Because the media empty suits have not been trained to do anything other than parrot GOP talking points.

Comedians Attack's picture

Its sad that only comedians these days ask the tough Questions....the real media sits on their hands afraid to ask tough questions....

CMINCA's picture

First McCain denies knowing Liddy, then when they come back from commercial, after he is busted, he acknowledges knowing Liddy, it friends with his son, Liddy is a fine man, paid his debt, blah, blah, blah.

More of the Circular Talk BS Express

Anonymous's picture

Paul really like McCain off the hook.

I object?

Who cares? You are a Canadian.

mudshark's picture

sad.pathetic.weasle.
On a different note, did anyone see Chris Matthews tonight with the woman with the pulsing eyes? A Congresscritter from Minnesota. If I'm not mistaken.
That woman is bat shit fuckin crazy.


What is your conceptual, continuity?

Anonymous's picture

(1) Ayers was cleared in 1974.
(2) Wright served in the military.

Her point of view was if you do not think like her, you are a terrorist.

Now why don't we hear about McCain - Libby and Ifshin connection?

Palin - her families and her background with the Alaska Independence Party?

(_(_)'s picture

Links broken. Getting message.

Page not found
The requested page could not be found.

Stop Smoking's picture

Letterman at his very best!!! Especially in the 2nd half of the McCain interview! Good to see that both -at least somewhat- kept their sense of humor in all of this though.

odanny's picture

I really liked the part where Dave stated "I'm 61 years old, and I have never, in my life, seen the country in the kind of mess we are in, respect for America has never been more diminished than now, we are stuck in a war without end, and I wonder what my 4 year old son will inherit someday"....


Radix Omnium Malorum Avaritia

viola's picture

Dave the plumber's speech is the most memorable pre-election speech so far, we should quote it continuously. Don't forget he said he was independent. Did you see that Dave wanted to really nail McLiar. I'd love a liar expert to look at the clip because the thing that grabbed me most was how he was lying all the way to his back polidentured teeth. He used the tactic of constantly interrupting Dave so to stop the attack. He had all his lies worked out, or he is so full of lies, it is second nature.I hope Dave keeps up the attack. It made me really queasy when McLiar was talking up Palin as a fabulous Commander in Chief if she had to face a 9/11 attack. More likely she will be like Bush and just have a Rovian fist up her arse manipulating her. There is no way she will go on Letterman because she will get nailed for sure. Was the audience stacked with GOP's because there was so much applause everytime McLiar lied. Does anyone know if Obama is going on Letterman?

I wonder how many GOOOPERS will be on SNL tonight? Guffawing it up for Failing palin.

Anonymous's picture

Seriously, this McMaster of Lies is such a hypocrite! A double standard, yet again. It's okay to pal around with Liddy because he did his time. Ayers is just some domestic terrorist that got off on a technicality. WTF?? Are you kidding me? Theconvicted domestic terrorist and criminal known as G. Liddy is okay to pal around with simply becuase he did his time? Am I the only one to see this hypocrite McCain with a couble standard? If Ayers is such a threat as terrorist, then why isn't he in jail or in Gitmo? If Ayers had a pair of *****, he would sue the McSame/Failin campaign for defamation. What Ayers did in the past has no bearing on who he is today. Liddy on the other hand still is cavalier and just as adamant even after being out of prison.

I am ery worrried that Mcblinky will find out that Obama had eaten at McDonalds as a kid and knows....the criminal known as The Hamburglar.
"Oh the horror."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv3y4ceOn1Q

plooger's picture

Why is no one talking about G. Gordon Liddy's role in fomenting the violent anti-government environment that led to Timothy McVeigh's bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, in April 2005?

Liddy was one of many Right Wing talk radio hosts railing against the government, and specifically the federal government's Executive Branch under President Clinton, since the Waco compound tragedy in 1993. And it was only a few months prior to the OK City bombing, in late 2004, that Liddy had instructed his radio audience, on separate occasions, how best to kill federal agents, with a "headshot", promoting defiance of the rule of law and government authority.

Whatever finite weight one wishes to apply to Liddy's contribution to the environment of anti-government paranoia that fed McVeigh's delusions, it must be noted that 186 people, including 19 children, died in the Oklahoma City bombing... as compared to the ZERO people killed by The Weather Underground. This makes Liddy infinitely more guilty than Ayers in the deaths of American citizens.

All this happened just a few years before John McCain attended a fund-raiser on his behalf at Liddy's home, in 1998; and to this day, McCain praises Liddy's "principles" and isn't challenged as to whether his praise is inclusive of Liddy's defiance of government authority and the rule of law, or Liddy's advocacy for the murder of federal agents.

As for McCain's usual rationalization that Liddy did his time for his crimes, all of the above occurred after Liddy's time in prison, and for which he is unrepentant and accepts no responsibility, as can be seen in this article written in the weeks following the OK City bombing.

More info here...
FAIR: AM Armies - Government "Cleansing" (3/95)
FAIR: Talk Radio on Oklahoma City: Don't Look at Us (4/26/95)
`Bitter radio of hate' hits back (4/26/95)
FAIR: Liddy's Lethal Advice (7/95)
FAIR: Knee-jerk Coverage Of Bombing Should Not Be Forgotten (4/26/95)

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