The REAL McCain

Press Still Fawns Over McCain

2007-06-10T13:21:56Z

During the "All-Star Panel" segment on the June 6 edition of Fox News Special Report with Brit Hume, Roll Call executive editor Morton Kondracke asserted that during the GOP presidential debates, Sen. John McCain "was the truth-teller about the war in Iraq." Yet during the debates, McCain stated more than once that "they" -- Al Qaeda or other terrorists --"will follow us home" if the United States withdraws from Iraq, an assertion that is widely challenged by security and terrorism experts.

]]> Outside the debates, McCain recently claimed that Americans "could walk through" some neighborhoods in Baghdad, to which CNN and Time magazine Baghdad correspondents responded, respectively, that the claim that "an American can walk freely [in Baghdad] is beyond ludicrous" and that McCain "needs a reality check." Is Morto just mixed up because he spends more of his time at the pigs-in-a-blanket circuit in DC than ever talking to a real person? Yes. But Gloria Borger, Joe Klein and many other members of the press, from whom we expect to get unbiased information about our leaders, have said the same thing ad nauseam. Make sure to get your shots this summer. The new strain of Potomac Fever out there seems to particularly degrade short-term memory and having more common sense than a horse's ass.

Remember: Bush, McCain and Lieberman Support The Troops

2007-05-28T05:33:57Z

Can't you tell? (h/t Matt Ortega): ]]> "In 2003, 2004, 100 percent of the soldiers wanted to be here, to fight this war," said Sergeant First Class David Moore, a self-described "conservative Texas Republican" and platoon sergeant who strongly advocates an American withdrawal. "Now, 95 percent of my platoon agrees with me."

Even poor representation is better than "no representation"

2007-05-28T05:30:42Z

Pearce calls for McCain to resign By Daniel Scarpinato arizona daily star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.23.2007 PHOENIX — A Phoenix-area Republican legislator called on Sen. John McCain to resign from his seat Tuesday if he continues to miss votes while campaigning for president. ]]> According to the Washington Post, McCain has missed 43 votes, nearly 50 percent of the current Congress' votes. In comparison, Hillary Clinton has missed less than 2 percent of votes and Barack Obama has missed 6.4 percent, according to the Post. "We need a senator," Pearce said. "I think if McCain wants to be a full-time candidate and not be at the Senate, he ought to consider resigning." Asked if he would prefer a Napolitano appointee over McCain, Pearce said: "Even poor representation is better than no representation." Wow, so this Republican legislator is saying he'd rather have a Democrat in Washington than McCain. Mr McCain, you may have a home base problem. Hint: Go visit your peeps some more. In fact, You may remember some guy named Bob Dole resigned his Senate seat to run for president--if you can't make it back to vote once in a while...well, it's just a thought.

McCain Pulls a Cheney

2007-05-21T05:19:09Z

I guess those immigration negotiations get rather tense. Senator McCain and Senator "Box-Turtle" Cornyn apparently got into a dispute. Cornyn questioned McCain's commitment to the bill, in light of his recent proclivity for not showing up for votes. ]]> including an F-Bomb. But hell, I guess that's better than the kind of ordinance he's been singing about dropping on Iran. For more on this and other stories go to cliffschecter.com

Probably A Bad Idea When Running For President

2007-05-21T05:12:26Z

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is the only presidential candidate in Congress to have missed a major vote on the Iraq war this year, and his absences are not sitting well with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). War Candidate McCain Didn't Show Up For Four Out Of 14 Latest Iraq Votes The Hill | Sam Youngman | Posted May 18, 2007 08:58 AM Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is the only presidential candidate in Congress to have missed a major vote on the Iraq war this year, and his absences are not sitting well with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Liz Oxhorn, a spokeswoman for Reid, told The Hill, "Sen. McCain has spent considerable time defending the president on Iraq and catering to the Republican base on immigration, but has only managed to show up for four of the last 14 Iraq votes and parachute into [yesterday's] immigration press conference at the last minute. Right there are about 10 campaign commercials waiting to be made. For more on this and other stories go to cliffschecter.com]]>

General Batiste Calls Out John McCain For Covering George W. Bush

2007-05-15T19:22:41Z

Last week Maj. General John Batiste made headlines for saying that George W. Bush refused to listen to him and other Generals on the ground in Iraq. Now he is calling out John McCain for protecting Bush: ]]> As for McCain, the pro-Dem VoteVets group will air an ad tonight featuring retired Maj Gen. John Batiste, the former commander of the First Infantry Division and a tough critic of the Iraq war. "Senator McCain, protect America, not George Bush," says Batiste in the ad, to air on FOX after the debate. It's one thing when liberal MoveOn.org attacks McCain on the war, but the Straight Talk folks could have a tougher time pushing back against a retired two-star. Cross-posted at Cliff Schecter

Will McCain Be Able

2007-05-10T05:30:15Z

Note: This piece was first published in the San Francisco Chronicle As members of the GOP gathered for their first presidential debate this past Thursday, at what can only be described as the Mecca of Republican presidential politics, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, one member of the party-of-the-Gipper proved he still has his work cut out for him. That is, if he wishes to re-establish himself as the odds-on favorite to win the party nomination. ]]> Cliff Schecter is the author "The Real McCain," to be published by PoliPoint Press in September

McCain Leading in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina

2007-05-08T19:27:08Z

It has become popular to dismiss McCain because he has fallen behind Giuliani in national polls. But, at the risk of sounding like a broken record on this, McCain has the Bush Team that did him in in South Carolina in 2000 on his payroll. is still leading this thing based on the aformentioned polls, and is still the most likely of the current crop of contenders to get the nomination. Keep that in mind my friends. For more on this and other stories, go to cliffschecter.com.]]>

When this man is making fun of your candidacy...

2007-05-06T01:18:56Z

You've probably got some campaign issues...

Saved by the bomb Senator McCain has hit upon a solution to all the Republican party's woes: a nuclear war with Iran Terry Jones Saturday May 5, 2007 The Guardian Campaigning in Oklahoma the other day, the Republican senator John McCain was asked what should be done about Iran. He responded by singing, "Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran", to the tune of the Beach Boys' Barbara Ann. (Join the hilarity and see for yourself on YouTube.) How can any thinking person disagree? I mean, any country with a president who doesn't shave properly and never wears a tie deserves what's coming to it - a lot of American bombs, with a few British ones thrown in to ensure we don't miss out on the ensuing upsurge in terrorism. (snip) In 1955 Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell said the world was faced by a "stark and dreadful and inescapable" choice: "Shall we put an end to the human race; or shall mankind renounce war?" Senator McCain wasn't bothered by such questions; the human race may be standing on a precipice, but the Republicans have a chance of permanent re-election.

Cross-posted at cliffschecter.com.]]>

I Feel Safer Already

2007-05-05T17:41:30Z

McCain: I'll Follow Bin Laden "To The Gates Of Hell" Romney: Bin Laden Is Going To Pay And "He Will Die" Hmmm...Where have I seen this before, um...That's right: "Wanted Dead Or Alive." Here's the not so funny thing. He's alive. And we don't have him. So please Mr. McCain and Mr. Romney, enough with the John Wayne talk, while the head of your party you're so hesitant to criticize by name continues his six-year record of failing to catch the man who pulled off the single most deadly terrorist attack against the United States in our history.

More On McCain's "Conversion" On Foreign Policy

2007-04-28T18:29:50Z

It really is sad to see a guy who once was deemed the "straight-talker" so exposed in this way. I wish he would come out and explain his foreign policy conversion, sans cliche (9/11 changed everything, etc.). Judge for yourself: AND This kind of transformation in your thinking obviously needs a bit of an explanation. Unless you're trying to win the prestigious Brittany Spears Clarity Of Thought award. Furthermore, you can't go charging people with emboldening the enemy on Iraq, unless you want to say you were doing that very thing for two decades. What happened to ya John? Do tell. ]]>

Stewart and McCain Reunited...and it doesn't feel too good

2007-04-25T19:37:34Z

Check out Crooks and Liars' video of McCain's recent trip to the Daily Show. Here's an excerpt: Stewart tries to explain a few things to St. McCain about fighting a civil war: "…but that assumes that we're fighting one enemy—they're fighting each other. We're not surrendering to an enemy that has defeated us. We're saying, how do you quell a civil war when it's not your country?" McCain got very angry that Stewart called them out for using the " you're not supporting the troops," theme and was trying to filibuster the segment…He tried to use the troops as a wedge. Stewart got hot and fought back…McCain started to stutter. (rough transcript) ]]> Crooks and Liars' video of McCain's recent trip to the Daily Show. Here's an excerpt: Stewart tries to explain a few things to St. McCain about fighting a civil war: "…but that assumes that we're fighting one enemy—they're fighting each other. We're not surrendering to an enemy that has defeated us. We're saying, how do you quell a civil war when it's not your country?" McCain got very angry that Stewart called them out for using the " you're not supporting the troops," theme and was trying to filibuster the segment…He tried to use the troops as a wedge. Stewart got hot and fought back…McCain started to stutter. (rough transcript) Stewart: All I'm saying is you cannot look a soldier in the eye and say questioning the president is less supportive to you than extending your tour for three months when you should be coming home to your family. McCain: Every American.. Stewart: And that's not fair to put on people that criticize… McCain: Jon… Stewart: And you know I love you and respect your service and would never question any of that—this is not about questioning the troops and their ability to fight and their ability to be supported. And that is what the administration does and that is almost criminal.

McCain's incendiary Iran comments

2007-04-20T19:03:38Z

Watch as John McCain manages to offend all the people of Iran, the Beach Boys, and almost everyone else in twenty seconds. ]]>

McCain The Imus Enabler

2007-04-19T12:55:41Z

Max Blumenthal has a great piece on Imus' number one fan. Yeah, you guessed it. Senator John McCain. To quote Max:

Last week, as public pressure for the resignation of Imus increased in the wake of his characterization of Rutgers University's women's basketball team "nappy headed ho's," the I-Man received a much-needed boost from an old friend. "He has apologized," Sen. John McCain ☼ said of Imus. "He said that he is deeply sorry. I'm a great believer in redemption."

But as often seems to be the case, McCain had an ulterior motive:

For decades, Washington's political class has relied on Imus and his massive audience of politically independent white males for notoriety and book sales. McCain is no exception. He has been one of the most frequent and favorite of Imus' guests since his maverick 2000 presidential run earned him national name recognition. Imus' impending departure from the national airwaves threatened to deprive McCain of a key platform going into the '08 primaries. McCain was determined to protect that platform, whether or not it simultaneously served as a constant launching pad for the crudest of racial slurs.

Max goes on to name other enablers of this rather unfunny, racially insensitive if not outright racist man, but the crux of it is that McCain was Imus' number one guy. And visa versa. How surprising. For more on this and other stories, go to cliffschecter.com. ]]>

Senator Webb Slams McCain's Hypocrisy

2007-04-15T20:05:13Z

Former Secretary of the Navy and decorated Marine veteran Jim Webb is not happy that John McCain pulled him aside on the Senate floor and said he did not want to see one side impugning the other's patriotism, when McCain turned around and did just that:]]> I’m disappointed in John McCain. I’ve known him for many years. The day before we begin the debate on the Iraq bills, he pulled me aside on the Senate floor and said, Jim, we do not want the situation we had in the Vietnam War. We do not want one side impugning the patriotism of the other side, and John McCain has been doing this consistently since that time. I don’t believe that it is in anybody’s interest for members of the Senate to be impugning the other side’s patriotism, or by the way, to be hiding behind the troops as political justification for what we’re doing.