McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

not.Brit — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:53:00 GMT

This actually ties into your previous post. I'm not sure why nobody noticed, but McCain was way out of character for an event like this. Personal time is where he used to have the most fun (town hall meetings, the Daily Show, sitting with reporters on the Straight Talk Express). Instead we saw and extremely short, perfectly on-message, and occasionally terse John McCain. Obama, by contrast, was much wordier, more personal, and obviously attempting appeasement.

The reason is simple enough: Obama needed this event to be extremely personal, so to humanize his image to the far right, McCain simply needed to hold the line and not make any blunder at all that might feed the old animosities between him and the evangelical base. Obama needed to be wordier, McCain needed to be short.

Both succeeded, I think. It's interesting that McCain's only "blunder" came when he was attempting a joke (normally a trademark McCain tactic). And Obama's only "blunder" came, predictably, during a question about abortion. In the end, neither base will be off-put by their candidate's blunder, while both campaigns can use these same blunder to shore up their own base support (that was a confusing sentence).

Back to your previous post, McCain's performance at Saddleback should stand as rock solid evidence that McCain will do nothing to offend this base. His staying determinedly on-message, I'm sure, was exactly the campaign's plan before he got there and I don't think it had anything to do with "talking to the TV." Quite the opposite, he was clearly talking to the crowd. More precisely, he was deliberately NOT talking to the crowd.

The $5 Million Mistake may make a fun ad, but won't do any more damage than Obama's "above my pay grade" comment.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Mr.tutto — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:22:08 GMT

Rick Warren.....

"How was it like in the CONE OF SILENCE "

John McCain....

"I tried to put my head against the wall to see if I could hear any of the answers" Laugh Laugh

It's not the deed ... it's the cover up.... Why is the McCain camp all riled up ? He cheated.

Why wasn't his answer " You know Rick... I have to be honest, but he was not.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

not.Brit — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:47:25 GMT

Mr tutto has a good point, however he worded it. I think the Cone Controversy (I just coined that, by the way) actually has a lot more legs than the $5 Million comment, even though (or especially because) it's such a stupid controversy.

Because McCain's intentional goal was to stay short and on-message, he would be neither helped nor hindered by hearing the questions or Obama's answers beforehand. If the campaign really was late to the Cone (which would have been horrendously poor timing) or it's discovered that he did, in fact, hear the first section (which would be "cheating"), it undercuts the point of the church forum to have an open, honest discussion with the candidates. That won't make the Saddleback crowd happy, no matter how he answered the abortion question.

The $5 Million answer is an actual problem. Along with the fact that McCain is genuinely rich (which can be a huge negative these days), it's just poor form to joke about wealth in today's economy. The Cone Controversy, on the other hand, is politics as usual and nothing we wouldn't expect of any shrewd politician. But the spin off of "dishonest" is a heck of a lot more damaging that the spin off of "rich."

Plus, we all know how the media love a good mystery. It's no secret that McCain is rich, but we will all get sick and tired of hearing about the Cone before the weekend is over. It's no wonder his campaign tried to shut it down early and fast.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Mike in Sac — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:08:39 GMT

Hmm.. McCain doesn't feel the pain or pinch in the wallet that most of us feel. He thinks the economy is just peachy. He is so disconnected from what most of us experience that he is OK with comments that we are just in a mental recession. He is the elitist in this campaign.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

AZStephanie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:39:27 GMT

It wasn't a MISTAKE it was a JOKE! The funny thing about the "$5,000,000 comment" was didn't McCain after saying that predict how out of context the media and Obama would take his comment. I believe all in the audience laughted at his answer knowing it was a joke. Obama should know that but once again he has NO judgement.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

AZStephanie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:40:18 GMT

It wassn't a MISTAKE it was a Joke! The funny thing about the "$5,000,000 comment" was didn't McCain after saying that predict how out of context the media and Obama would take his comment. I believe all in the audience laughted at his answer knowing it was a joke. Obama should know that but once again he has NO judgement.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

sj1357 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:48:44 GMT

Andrew, Your numbers are off. 1% of Americans have $5 million in net worth, not $5 million in annual income (this is made clear in the article to which you link, but which you apparently did not read). The percentage of Americans with $5 million in annual income is vastly smaller -- a tiny fraction of a percent. You should try to understand the difference between income and wealth before you write about these issues.

I am however glad that you have the courage to point out how terribly unfair the Obama campaign has been to poor John McCain, by choosing to interpret things John McCain has said and done in an unfavorable way. Thank God the McCain campaign would never stoop to such tactics, hewing instead to scrupulous fairness and honesty in its characterization of Obama's statements and actions. For example, the ad that McCain is running across the country saying that Obama wants to impose big tax increases on families that make $42,000 a year. Of course, Obama has actually proposed a tax plan that will ensure a substantial tax cut for all families that make less than $250,000. But Obama must have said somewhere that what he really wants it to raise taxes on the middle-class -- because surely honest John the war hero would never lie.

It is mind-boggling, given how this campaign has developed, that you choose to devote space to decrying the Obama campaign's supposed distortions -- while ignoring the raging hurricance of dishonesty from the McCain campaign.

Why don't you do your job? You could begin by applying the same standard to both candidates.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Mr.tutto — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:10:44 GMT

I didn’t realize until last night that McCain can lie with such a straight face….. The Democrats went after Hillary for her Bosnia story, but are giving McCain a free pass. Even Rick Warren allowed McCain to talk endlessly about his captivity. How can I trust anything that Rick Warren says. Tonight on Larry King he went out of his way to help John McCain by stating how sensitive McCain was that he teared up 3 times……….WOW……

Rick Warren…..

“How was it like in the CONE OF SILENCE ”

John McCain….

“I tried to put my head against the wall to see if I could hear any of the answers” Laugh Laugh

It’s not the deed … it’s the cover up…. Why is the McCain camp all riled up ? He cheated.

Why wasn’t his answer ” You know Rick… I have to be honest… but he wasn’t.

Note to McCain...... Don't answer a question before it's asked.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

blbtampa — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:41:03 GMT

Obama’s answers were described as thoughtful and nuanced. While sometimes inaccurate (abortions are at a lower rate than eight years ago and his example of going against his party neglects to mention how short the trip was before he went back to party’s position on Campaign Finance Reform) .

McCain’s answers are described as direct, concise and straightforward. He showed a wealth of life experience good and bad making the questions seem easier to him.

I believe this is why leaders and intellectuals are two different categories.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

tc125231 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:56:27 GMT

No reasonable people cannot agree regarding whether equal tax cuts on all rate classes will "make everyone rich." Look at the last eight years. Ha.se median income gone up or down?

Down, you moroon, despite tax cuts far more valuable to the rich.

What is this -- a news magazine, or the make excuses for McCain club? Why don't you do what NBC did, and just correct his mistakes, pretend he never said them?

Cripes.

Ho ho ho.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

marginaleyes — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:23:32 GMT

Well, this is one hard-working article. Must have been a tough two hours to watch.

Since we're talking about big scary numbers here, what about Obama's monstrous exaggeration of the death toll in the state where he himself lived and learned about Kansas values?

from the AP article:

"Barack Obama, caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died.

"In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died — an entire town destroyed," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people packed into a sweltering Richmond art studio for a fundraiser.

The death toll was 11.

Obama mentioned the disaster in Greensburg, Kan., in saying he had been told by the office of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that the state's National Guard had been depleted by its commitment to the Iraq War.

How would someone with any emotional attachment to a place have such a disrespectful "whoops" moment, even if it did conveniently lend dramatic effect to Bush-bashing?

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

RUNto fast — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:26:47 GMT

John Mc Cain when asked " what amount would he consider being rich and he replied ....$5,000,000 dollars. Then went on to say ....now some will use it as a campaign stump. Well. John McCain did said that he knew nothing about the ecomony. In 2006, the median annual household income was $48,201.00 according to the Census Bureau I guess, John McCain is giving STRAIGHT TALK........Coporations First!

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

spiritguide — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:27:15 GMT

At this point, McCain is under the daily guidance of his Karl Rove handlers.. and gets to be himself only in unrehearsed, extended discussions like the one at Saddleback.. ( altho there's a good chance that he heard all the questions and Obama's answers in advance in his limo on the way to the event ). To his Rove handlers, he's dangerous to himself when left alone to speak off the cuff, and "joke" during his answers. They want him to stay with their short, predetermined message of the day. Of course the Obama team is going to take advantage of his numerous gaffes... McCain's Rove handlers do it to Obama all the time... only they are not gaffes, but statements taken out of context and distorted to mean something that Obama did not intend or say. Who wins this thing will probably be the one who employs the team who does the best job of this kind of stuff...

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

vakosh — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:38:27 GMT

McCain is right! With the average home price at $206,000 there is nothing left for people to save. $2m used to be considered "rich" ... that was three years ago ... now rich is $5m, sad story, but true all the same.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

laker26 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:44:16 GMT

I was extremely disappointed in the way in which Pastor Warren allowed Senator McCain to basically say whatever, not answer the questions which were asked ..Senator Obama was wordy but he was thoughtful and more pragmatic than McCain...And it should be a big deal made about the issue that McCain was able to prepare himself better by listening to the questions ask by Warren to Obama on his way to the Chuch..My theory McCains be asked to go second was done by designed..and on last evening when Warren was on Larry King show he was very Pro-McCain...talking about how McCain was tearing up....talking about pouring on the BS real thick...If anyone who has true Christain values it was very obvious that McCain does not walk with God every day...that made up story about he and the prison guard worshiping together was such Bunk..If McCain was such a faith believing individual then he would not be so Hawkish in his attitude about fighting other countries all the time...If McCain is elected we will be in a third world war...he has the same Bush mentality...wake up America....If Obama was a white male with the same charisma, style, passion, intellect, and judgement this election..would not even be close....Let's be honest Race is the biggest factor in this election cycle...

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Obama Drama — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:04:21 GMT

It really kills me that during the Dem debates Obama was able to go second and always agree with Sen Clinton's answers. Now that Obama went first his supporters are cring about McCain's advantage? I don't think either one lost or gained in meeting at Saddlebrook. All it did was improve this Rev's reputation and his church followers. Polotics should stay out of the churches - what they should have done was both agreed to meet someplace else and have a forum. I was disapointed in both of them for going on TV with this Rev and not keeping State and Religion seperate.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Spacer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:10:24 GMT

"McCain pivoted to his real response: that he doesn't want "to take any money from the rich" but rather "want[s] everybody to get rich" by cutting taxes and (supposedly) spurring economic growth."

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Gee, I can hardly wait until McCain gets elected president so I can be rich, too. McCain gave his flippant $5-miillion answer because he really just doesn't care about the economic problems ordinary people have, and the Democrats are right to make him suffer for his flippancy.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

stonehenge — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:14:29 GMT

"The truth is my undoing" John S. McCain.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Spacer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:15:56 GMT

I find it odd that Romano thinks it's some sort of injustice that poor little Johnny McCain regurgitated most of his talking points so well but is damaged by the one "unfortunate" $5-million comment, He who lives by the sound bite dies by the sound bite. And there's nothing to McCain _except_ sound bites.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Spacer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:24 GMT

At the Saddleback thing, McCain promised to make everyone rich and to defeat Evil. How could anyone NOT vote for him with a platform like that? (sarcasm off).

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

ready9 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:05:32 GMT

What so so disturbing was the medias,"keep it short" campaign. Have we reduced the entire electorate to bozos that can only comprehend two word retorts??? the five million response from Mr. McCain was typical of his honest knee jerk retorts which, after realosig how it will play, he poo poos away. Nonehteless, the two word answers/responses the media craves helped me to finally summarize John McCains campaign (especially in regard to his "annihilate evil response). The summary: Drill & Kill Hows that for the bumper sticker retort The more thoughtful summary would be Drill evreything and Kill everything. Five words God forbid, its a book!!!!!!!

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

ljw54321 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:33:28 GMT

McCains wants everyone to get right via more tax breaks for the wealthy which will require either cutting other programs or increasing the deficit. In other words, 4 more years of GW Bush policies. Are you feeling rich yet? Do you think that 4 more years of crooked republican rule will make you rich? If you are rich, go ahead and vote for McCain. Otherwise vote for Obama because life for most of us will get better is Obama is president.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

miastella — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:24:22 GMT

Humor is often a thinly veiled statement of how we really feel about things. We all instinctively know that, or McCain would be getting away with his "brand of humor" without comment. He certainly doesn't get how the rest of us live. Our sons and daughters are toy soldiers in Bushes war game and our suffering at the pump, the doctor's office and the grocery store is a modern day folk song to him. He has no respect for us rif-raf who don't have rich spouses and jet planes. Our son's and daughters will be at war until they trade places with their sons and daughters because he's filled with the same pride and hubris George W. has. Our country has been run by the wealthy and indifferent for too long. John McCain is not direct --- he's pandering. If the sound bite fits the audience, then more points for him. I say it all the time and I'll say it again --- McCain is an angry man and he's going to pick up where Bush left off and do it bigger and better. Like Cheney, he doesn't care what we think. He will be unable to represent the people of this country because he can't hear us over the roar of his own ego. Of course his humor is exagerated, he's making fun of US!

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

ob08 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:26:11 GMT

McSame is a useless piece of garbage.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

el rob o — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:04:51 GMT

I enjoy perusing MSNBC/Newsweek occassionally to see just how biased the editorials are towards B. Hussein. Wow! This is one of the more biased ones I've seen in a while.

It's okay though, it reminds me how much I need to be involved to save our country from what may be a catastrophe in BH should win.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Anobserver — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:05:10 GMT

There are a lot of us concerned about John McCain's perspective. This is a man who has been elected repeatedly to represent Arizona and who has never earmarked funds for his state for any reason. Surely in all those years, there was something that could have greatly benefited Arizona and the country in general by investing in something in Arizona.

This is a man who has several homes. There is confusion about whether it is just 4 or 10, but more than your 'average bear', and yet this man offers nothing to help those who are losing their homes primarily due to unregulated brokerages and unsound lending practices.

This is a man who eight times has failed to vote on an extension to the tax credits necessary for start up funding of solar heating in Arizona. Reportedly he was even in his office (not a regular practice for the gentleman) and refused to vote to extend the tax credits. Arizona is a natural for capturing solar energy to ease the burden on foreign oil, but this man did not vote?

Why would a rich man who fails to serve the state he represents serve the country as president?

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Steve M — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:11:51 GMT

Why doesn't the mainstream press take Senator McCain and Rev. Warren to task for their charade about the "cone of silence"? After all, Warren asked McCain at the outset of the forum if he was comfortable in the "cone of silence" and McCain joked " I was trying to hear through the wall." Of course it's now been proven that McCain was still in his limo during much of the questioning of Senator Obama or in an open "green room" at the forum.

One could certainly observe by McCain's rapid fire, "sound bite" comments and his anticipation of questions that were forthcoming that he was "helped" with advance information.

Evidently, big time lying is less important to the newsmedia since the Bush administration took over.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

DavidRay2 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:15:27 GMT

Asked by Warren "at what point--give me a number, give me a specific number--[...]do you move from middle class to rich?", McCain replied "How about $5 million?"

Wow, I guess anyone could assume that they are talking about annual income, but being a business person, if asked that questions it would be based upon "net worth" and not in annual income.

Bill Gates children will be RICH, but they will possible not make much ANNUAL salary. So to assume that the statement is referring to annual salary - IS STUPID or Ignorant.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

mart7lin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:19:49 GMT

We are at a point in Iraq where our troops there are supporting Obama 6 to 1 and the Iraq government has asked us to leave. Yet, McCain is still trying to win something (I don't know what) in Iraq. He seems to be way out of touch on the subject of Iraq because he just wants to stay there. Would somebody put McCain on a plane, fly him to Iraq and drop him off.

re: McCain's "$5 Million" Mistake

Jkyacht — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:23:34 GMT

The man was clearly making a point that is beyond the mental capacity of the liberal socialist left wing to grasp. McCain was saying that Obama will go after anyone who owns anything, has a home and family because they are "rich" based on the socialist-communist and black victimology politics.

Who really suffers from the democratic taxation policy? Not monetarily wealthy people but the middle class "rich". If you live in a south Chicago section 8 housing project, anyone with a home, a car and a job is considered "Rich". And this has always been the root and basis of Obama and left wing socialists like him. These so called "victims" of (white) society per Jeremiah Wright, looking for their fair share or slice of the economic pie. The next couple rungs up the ladder are the "rich white folks" across the tracks with stable households.

Just ask Dr. Bill Cosby. He has been trying to elevate the life condition of the black community to not use racial and economic disparity as an excuse or crutch for irresponsible lifestyles and then expecting government to do all the work. The concept of taking responsibility for the children you father for instance. If this were to take root in the black community it would solve 90 percent of the problems. Half of all black children are born without fathers to help raise them and within the first few months to a year that number jumps up to 85%!!!

So go on about your twisting and turning the mans words. Obamas politics are so skewed you can't even begin to dissect them so you don't even try. McCain is an easy target and it is easy to lump him in with Bush even though they have very little in common on anything. Your blatant bias is actually horrifying. The unchecked power of the liberal media and the ability to smear people. For intance the New York Times attack on McCain a while back accusing him of having an affair. When it was proven that the NYT had nothing, no factual basis for it they just got away with smearing the guy. They should have the some liable laws here that they have in England. The media in this country is abhorrent and does not serve the people of this nation or society honestly. You're pretty bad. Hopefully this will come back on you and teach you a lesson someday.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Jkyacht — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:31:34 GMT

The soldiers are voting for Obama 6 to 1... what is the big surprise if this is even true. This is a tough job being a soldier in Iraq so they think voting for Obama brings them home.

So what is the next step for Obama? Ignore the Russian invasion starting in Europe? Have the USA take the back seat in the world and we can play nurse-maid to Darfur and Sudan etc... while the Russians and Chinese and Iran etc.. turn us into a 3rd world country and third rate political power? You don't undertand what McCain is tryin to win? You don't know much do you?

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

mart7lin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:39:24 GMT

To BLTAMPA: I think that cheaters are in a category unto themselves. McCain and perhaps Pastor Warren perpetrated a lie on national television. Not everyone is willing to give McCain the benefit of doubt. He knew the rules but did not follow them. Why?

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Jkyacht — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:51:00 GMT

I am convinced the majority of the readers of this column are low IQ.

McCain Cheated?? He conspired with this preacher on his answers? Are you kidding? If this is true then he could have done much much better. I would bet any amount of money that Mart7lin is a follower of BLTheology... based on the irrational comments he makes. Maybe it was John McCain that created the Aids virus (sarcasm just incase you really thought I was serious) Idiots... I am done with this .

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Pchukwu — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:57:02 GMT

The question was based on taxes and not on net worth. DavidRay2, got it wrong. We are not taxed based on our net worth. You might think that McCain was joking but I don,t. And if anybody felt that he won, that is really sad for this nation. It portrays lack of dept on issues at hand. Why is it that we spend all these time and effort to educate our society and in the end we say that leaders who do not have a deep grasp of issues are what Americans are looking for? A one line or word answer to complex issues leads to us another George Bush. How are we going to solve energy crisis? Answer: Off-shore drilling. How do we deal with renewed Russian agression? Answer: Stand up to them. How are we going to solve our economic crisis? Answer: Cut taxes.

Whoo! All I can say is ,here we go again. What McCain says at unscrippted moments is what he believes let's not make excuses for him. This time around the media must ask McCain follow-up questions to get him to expantiate on his elementary level answers. We are a nation of educated people please.

Lin-California

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

shaselai — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:02:54 GMT

I am not sure if McCain cheated... but seeing him speaking and answering questions elsewhere he does seem to be pretty fast for a 72 year old.. Also couple of questions he answered it in a tone that sounded "unsure". Plus one part of the questions he actually said something like "you prob gonna ask me about X next" when X wasn't even hinted much. Regardless mccain did better than obama but most of the stuff he said were stuff the audience wanted to hear. Do the audience really think they will get that huge of a tax break mccain said? If they do then they are really low in IQ....

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

MamaCath — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:02:58 GMT

You can discuss and argue until the cows come home about how the Democrats are going to exploit McCain's flip "$5 million dollars" remark. And you can defend McCain from here to there for saying it. But the fact of the matter remains that a canidate for president of the United States of America CHOSE to mouth off and use humor about a subject that is NOT humours for over 90% of Americans. The fact remains our citizens are loosing their jobs, homes, insurance and life savings at a catastrophic rate and this is not the time to joke.

This man has a well-documented history of being unable to contain his temper; does he also have an inability to restrain himself from inappropiate remarks? If so, then he is seeking the wrong office. It was temper and unkindness that got us to where we are today, do we want a repeat?

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Hollyu123 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:12:01 GMT

Obama says that $250,000 + is wealthy - shows how out of touch he is....McCain doesn't want to raise taxes on the "wealthy" because they are business owners who have too many taxes to pay already. If you tax the businesses more they will not be able to afford to keep good wages with good employees - layoffs. Businesses pay more taxes than anyone realizes.

Obama made the comment regarding adoption, that he cheated a little bit and researched on that subject...what did that mean? Did he have the idea that question was going to be asked? The both were probably given general subjects that would be asked. So they were prepared. Not really cheating - collecting thoughts. When you work at your day job, don't you sit back and think before you act?

Please people use some not so common sense.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

TimeToChange — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:24:39 GMT

The country is completely polarized. The same half of the country, who voted for bush, not once, but twice, still do not realize they have no ability to

make intelligent decisions. They are the ones that are falling for all the republican BS the third time. If enough of them do not smarten up, we will get

the third reich of bush with mccain at the helm. Admit it republicans, you voted for that idiot! Do you expect anyone with intelligence to believe anything

you say now? In the words of the brilliant republican leader you elected:

"Fool me once, shame on ....., shame on you, fool me, ....can't get fooled again..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ux3DKxxFoM

Look at the results of republican policy and politics:

Look at the headlines:

- "Prices rising at fastest pace in 27 years"

- "New home construction falls to 17-year low"

- "Russians free Georgia soldiers, keep Humvees"

- "Newsweek: Cold war 2?"

- "Violence flares after Musharraf resigns"

- "Wholesale inflation surged in July"

- "Stocks continue sharp drop for a second day"

- "US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,143"

(The following is from Jack Cafferty's column - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/18/cafferty.mccain/index.html)

"He will leave office with the country $10 trillion in debt, fighting two wars, our international reputation in shambles, our government cloaked in secrecy

and suspicion that his entire presidency has been a litany of broken laws and promises, our citizens' faith in our own country ripped to shreds. Yet Bush

goes bumbling along, grinning and spewing moronic one-liners, as though nobody understands what a colossal failure he has been. I fear to the depth of my

being that John McCain is just like him."

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

apolemic — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:19:03 GMT

Turn about is fair play, Swift-Boaters. Here's to "$5 million,' "100 years," "Bomb Bomb Iran," and what's sure to be many more "harmless " jokes hounding the McCain campaign to November.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

IdealistRealist — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:33:22 GMT

was a bit surprised when I this article referred to John McSame comment as "Authentic". I remember thinking, how is it fair, if Obama goes on first, then John McSame will be able to hear his answers and answer accordingly. Then Pastor Warren made that comment about him being in a "Clone of Silence", and I thought ok, he can't hear his answers. Much to my dismay, McSame seem to be brighter than a 100 watt energy efficient bulb, acting like a student who knew all the answers and was eager to raise his hand, cheaters usually act that way, because they had gotten the test questions way in advance. So, if anyone believes McSame little performance was Spectacular, and therefore he should be President, then I suggest you start churning your glass ball to see into the future and help McSame get the answers right way in advance.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Loden Green — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:55:34 GMT

I thought McCain's proposal to give a $5,000 credit to people to purchase health care was laughable. The problem is that in a "free market" health care system, those with really serious and chronic medical conditions can't get coverage at any price. The for-profit insurance companies will always "cherry pick" whom to cover, and the really sick cherries won't get picked.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Lascoma — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:35:23 GMT

John Sidney McCain the third's bona fide is an elite son and grandson of admirals and the inherent heritage of preferential treatment all his life. The SOB 72 year pitbull who collected 100% disability from the Navy and having false credentials of a war hero has used infulence peddling, connection and thugry all his life. Why is he refusing to open military his records for the public. Simple reason is that it is all fake and full of cover ups and preferential treatment that he recived.

The Lt. Commander destroyed five Navy Aircraft, was responsible for the explosion, fire and loss of life of over 110 Navy Personnel and 15 jet fighters aboard the Carrier USS Forrestal. The SOB boozer and Womanizer disobeyed direct orders of not removing te over size and over weight bombs from his air. The storey the US Navy put out was tha his fighter jet while awaitng take off was by a stray rocket ( not in coming) higly dubious aboard a air craft carrier.

After he was shot down in NAM he surrendered and was a POW for five years. Where according to much higher ranking military officers who were POWs much longer then McCain contend that he accepted nd received preferential treatment. After his release, the son of the admiral was usherd before Nixon and the Navy on account of his injuries suffered when he bailed, declared him 100% disabled. He was promoted to a full commander and for flying 25 hours of so called combat, i.e, bombing runs cherry picking civilain targets over Hanoi and N. Vietnam, he was decked out with 28 medals. The public is entitled to know for what merits or distinction. In stead of discharing him, the Navy and his elite connection allowed him to R and R at the War College, Which is reserved for high ranking Military Officers with merit and distinctions. McCain's were #496 out of 499 in his Class at the Naval Academy, destruction of five aircraft, the incidence aboard the Forresral and Five years as a POW. After nine months, the son of the admiral was promoted again to the rank of Captain and assigned a a Naval Liasion to the US Senate, A job for which he neither had any training or experience. In fact as preferential treatment, he was a special aid to the boozer and Womanizer Senator John Tower, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. McCain speciality was provding booze and women for Tower and Gary Hart in places like Saudi Arabia.

As far money, the SOB ditched his crippled wife for a rich hussy rodeo queen Cindy Lou Hensley, 17 years his jr. Her felon AZ and Las Vegas mafia associate father bank rolled McCain's first Congressional Campaign alon g with help from that other felon Charles Keating of the Savings and Loan fiasco under he Reagan Voodoo economic.

The McCain's are filthy rich conservative republicans with their preverse ideology of inequality and rights only of their kind.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Mimi13 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:34:52 GMT

"Rev." Rick Warner advertised this event as a discussion on AIDs, poverty, human rights and climate change and he stated that he wanted to hear how each of the candidates would interpret the Constitution. Anyone hear any questions like that? Anyone hear any questions that were not straight from the evangelical election playbook? Secondly, "Rev." Warner stated twice that McCain was sequestered in a "cone of silence" when, in fact, he was in a motorcade with access to both radios and blackberrys. McCain repeated the lie that he was somehow sequestered during Obama's session.

Can anyone tell me why evangelicals, who think they know so much better than anyone else how everyone should live their lives, have no qualms about public lying -- even when those lies are so basic that they are sure to be discovered. Is it arrogance? Is it stupidity? Is it belief that a lie in defense of "right" is okay with God? Is it some sense that truth is what they say it is?

What we learned from this event on Saturday is that McCain will lie whenever he feels it suits his purpose, and evangelicals are so sure that they are right about everything that the rules of civilized human behavior do not apply to them. This was my first encounter with "Rev" Rick (missed all those books, somehow) and it will surely be my last.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

keepitreal50 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:25:55 GMT

If you noticed, when Rev. Warren was asked about whether McCain was exposed to the questions while in his car in his motorcade while Obama was being presented with them, he was as nervous as a bank robber who ducks into a bldg. to hide only to realize that he has taken cover in a police precinct. This guy was given the benefit of the doubt because he is a high profile preacher when countless bishops and clergy have been caught in child sex acts and damn near everything under the sun. And then, there you have the POPE who acts as if he knew nothing about it while he watches his organization pay billions to silence the people they raped and violated. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED (TO SPEAK OF AMERICA'S GREATEST MORAL FAILURE, CONVEIENTLY LEAVING OUT SLAVERY - THE BIGGEST MORAL FAILURE OF THE US AND THE WORLD.) To believe that this so-called man of God is incapable of telling a lie is just simply the American way. Bush lied for 7 years in our faces on TV mind you before Americans would even bother to open their ears. As has been said by the international community, " If we can sell Americans rotten beef, $150 pair of Air Jordan's that it cost us $20 to produce and lead infected toys for their children - we can take their freedom." That's how stupid they believe we are. And we are. Anybody who believes McCain didn't hear those questions, when you can plainly see the kind of campaign he is running contrary to the one he promised he would run, has eaten a whole lotta beef from a whole lotta mad cows. America, you should be proud. Better get a grip, Americans. You are slipping!!!

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

keepitreal50 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:36:59 GMT

Again the media is absent, this time on the cone of silence. It was obvious that McCain's vigorous one liners was a result of knowing what the questions would be. Can't blame the international community for thinking that we are running a comedy show her in the good ole US of A. We be stupid.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

PReed1962 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:58:08 GMT

I believe the point is he doesn't know what number to give! The guy tried to help him "is it 50 thousand or 100 thousand?" and he DOES NOT KNOW. This was a silver spoon kid who has never known hard work! Not an easy question to answer I guess but at least Obama tried! John does not seem to be a very good listener, or maybe just one who likes to be in control of the conversation. Anyway he didn't answer.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

AZMarine — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:02:45 GMT

John McCain has been on the "public trough" his whole life, in the service and in government, and has never held a job in industry or the public sector. He does not know or understand how the average person lives and works to raise a family and have a home. He is so out of touch with the average American and how they live, that it would be a continuation of the economic policies of the Bush administration for another four years. The question, "are you better off than you were 4 or 8 years ago is relevent and revealing. He and his wife file separate tax returns so he can continue to hide his extensive wealth and privilages from the public eye.

Sorry John, but your not getting my vote to continue on the "public trough", time for you to retire and live off your total family income.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

sieg6529 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:55:37 GMT

just like AZMarine said: this McCain guy has no concept of the value of a dollar to the average American. He never needed to know the value of a dollar, what with 4 star military men in the family.

Just because he had a horrible ordeal in another misguided war does not qualify him to lead our great nation.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

msmithjr50 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:58:15 GMT

Once again, all of the liberal Kool-Aid drinkers are lined up to bash on McCain because he is old, or because he is rich, or because he didn't live through the trials of the everyday man. I assure you, he has 5 1/2 years in his past that he would trade any of you for a chance to do so. He answered the question about "rich" immediatedly, saying that it is a home, a good job, an education, and the ability to hand our chidren a more prosperous and safer world. McCain was trying to make a point that the Kool-Aid has made you folks miss: He wants everyone to be "rich" and people like Obama want to drag everyone down to a common level whether they aspire to do more or not. I don't know about anyone else, but I have never worked for a poor person. Yes, McCain wants everyone to be rich but Obama wants everyone to be poor. You decide which outcome would be better. The sad fact is this, Obama is not looking too good at the moment and it is scaring the Liberals. People are realizing that Obama is not the messiah like people would like everyone to believe and they are seeing that in all of his "change" and "hope" there lies the same old type of politician in a slick new suit. I think that the country will refrain from just enough Kool-Aid that we will not have to worry about him being president...

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

not.Brit — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:43:28 GMT

Andrew, I bow to your superior foresight. Yesterday's "houses" gaffe just gave new legs to the $5 Million Mistake.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

Dennie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:37:10 GMT

This writer of this article must be a liberal or a complete idiot. Anyone with half a brain would know Senator McCain was only joking because of the question and the potential for the liberal news media to attack him no matter how he answered the question. But as the saying goes: "If a Liberal had half a brain, they would be a Conservative".

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

D_Smith — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:50:28 GMT

What it boils down to in this race is the numbers. During the preceding 8 years of the Clintons, more people prospered and more millionaires were made than in the following 8 years under President Bush where almost 45+% of the mortgages are in foreclosure, hundreds of thousands of jobs lost, airlines posting record deficits and oil companies posting record profits. McCain will follow the latter policies and continue to drag all of us back into the forests clinging to trees hoping it will shade us when it rains and snows. No one can afford this and those McCaininites who blindly follow party lines deserve this for their future so that they can see and feel the results of their idiotic party policies and pandering to the rich. I will never make 5 million dollars in a year let alone a lifetime and jokes about mine and the millions of others not able to do so either are insulting! Shame on you McCain. You are the elitist here and you flip flop and go with the flow with whatever the media darling question or answer is for the day. You lied about Iraq and it will haunt you. Shame shame shame!

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

alsreaction — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:57:12 GMT

YOU GUYS ARE ALL STUPID, CANT YOU SEE WHATS GOING ON.

GET OUT OF THE BUSHESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Just keep saying.

YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

nutgrape — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:27:51 GMT

Sorry msmithjr50, but you need a napkin to wipe th kool-aid from your own lips. The economy does better and more people become rich under the democrats. If you would look at the numbers and not just listen to the hype. They are the ones want spread the wealth, the Republicans however want to protect the wealth of those who already have it. They spend a lot of time getting wannabes to side with them hoping for some scraps.

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

msmithjr50 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:41:28 GMT

Nutgrape, if you call windfall profit taxes on oil companies spreading the wealth, that's fine. I call it socialism. That is not what this country was founded on and it is not the direction that we need to go as a country. This country has some tough decisions to make pretty quickly and neither one of the candidates has a real clear plan on the long term. However, McCain has the better short term outlook. Taxing people into submission is not the answer. We have to get a "take care of your own house" mentality in the US and break the entitlement movement that has taken it over. If you get a dime from our government, you should have to work for it. We have multi-generational families on welfare with no incentive to get off of it. We spend millions on pet projects with little or no public benefit. I have paid my whole life into a social security system in which I probably will not get a nickle worth of reimbursement. Times are tough now but I am still saving a substantial part of my earnings instead of cleaning my savings out because I made irresponsible decisions. I consider myself lower middle class but see no real increase in income because if I make a little more, the taxes go up diproportionately. If the Liberals had their way, they would cap your earnings at a certain rate and take every cent of the rest. We are a capiatlist economy and I think the greatest in the world. If we keep leaning socialist, however, the capital is just going to go elsewhere. Probably a big reason that so many jobs are going overseas. Enjoy your Kool-Aid...

re: McCain's '$5 Million' Mistake

msmithjr50 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:41:15 GMT

And alsreaction, you have the most intellectual arguement of all. Kool-Aid for all I say!