2008-09-26

Letterman on McCain

On Wednesday, McCain claimed he was suspending his campaign because of the challenges facing the economy. He felt he needed to go to DC to work on the issue. Of course, as the Obama campaign pointed out, their candidate can multitask, which is really what a President should be able to do.

But as part of this suspension, McCain decided to cancel his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. According to Letterman, McCain canceled so he could rush off to DC. Of course, he didn't do that. He went to an interview with Katie Couric instead.

But Dave's reaction to McCain Wednesday night made headlines. Dave went on one of the funniest rants I've seen in ages. You can see the video here.

Dave made two points. First, he showed how the McCain staff way lying to him about rushing off to the airport.

But on the bigger question of suspending the campaign, Dave pointed out that if McCain had to run off to DC that's fine, "but you put in your second string quarterback." You don't quit.

Why didn't Palin step in and campaign? Why didn't she take on the high profile McCain appearances?

It seems like McCain would rather suspend the campaign in this tight, important race than trust it to Palin. How can he claim to trust her to be President, if he won't even trust her to run the campaign in his absence?

This is from a Thursday article that appeared in the Seattle PI:

Letterman unloads on McCain for not showing up

Letterman called McCain "a true American hero" but told his viewers: "This is not the John McCain I know, by God. It makes me believe something is going haywire with the campaign."

Instead of suspending a campaign, Letterman said, a presidential candidate should go to Washington to deal with a crisis and let his running mate shoulder the burdens of politicking.

"That's what you do. You don't quit. ... Or is that really a good thing to do?" Letterman said, a reference to McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. "What's the problem? Where is she? Why isn't she doing that?" he asked.

...

McCain told the CBS show that he was immediately flying back to Washington, Letterman told his audience. Then Letterman showed a TV feed of McCain being made-up for an appearance on news anchor Katie Couric's "CBS Evening News."

"Doesn't seem to be racing to the airport, does he?" Letterman said. "This just gets uglier and uglier."

... More

This whole campaign suspension was handled terribly by the McCain campaign.

6 comments:

michaelwilson said...

I couldn't agree more. It seems that McCain doesn't trust Palin! How can the US public ever vote for a guy who isn't capable of multitasking? - and in addition, is capable of selecting a VP that can take over in his absence?
This is going to show in the polls!
The US public has to notice this!
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Karen and Gerard said...

Very interesting! I stumbled this.

Anonymous said...

This decision makes me fear the thought of McCain and Palin in office. I had respected him at one point. Not that I would vote for him, but I respected him. Some of the things I have learned during this campaign in addition to his choice of Palin and now this have made me really question who this man really is. What I have seen in the past and what I am seeing in the last few months shows me 2 entirely different men. Which is the real McCain?

I don't think he is fooling many people doing this. It is obvious he is hiding from the debate. He bowed out of debates and other appearances during the primaries. I guess it is his thing to just not do what he said he was going to do.

~Kelly
http://www.30somethingandsearching.today.com/

Anonymous said...

Yes, they just handled it SO BADLY! I have to wonder what/how a McCain Administration would handle emergent crises. So sad. He (McCain) just seems so "in over his head." I think it is age plus a poorly organized staff. You can see some of my other articles on the campaign at my political blog Election Issues Decision 2008

Anonymous said...

Here's what I think, take it or leave it. I think the GOP told McCain that he was going to be the poster boy, like it or not. He took it on because...well, who knows why? But then, they trotted out Palin as his running mate and everyone knows but Palin that she is out of her league with these DC people, including how McCain feels about her. She was foisted on him. As always, there is an "October Surprise"...wonder what that will be. :) BTW, I live over in Port Orchard.

Book Calendar said...

Palin is my boogeywoman or my skeleton in the closet. She scares me deeply. Her fundamentalism is very much like bewitched. Here she is having the witches driven out of her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAWM7E_WMfo