Tucker: ‘I Instinctively Jump To The Defense Of Anyone Whose Private Life Is Violated’
Tucker: ‘I Instinctively Jump To The Defense Of Anyone Whose Private Life Is Violated’
After the New York Times released a bombshell story on Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) cozy ties to a telecommunications lobbyist, MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson engaged in a full-throated defense of the senator. This morning, Carlson boiled down why he thinks the story is all hype, claiming it’s just about “sex”:
Well, look at the lede! It’s about sex! It’s about John McCain had an affair! That’s what this story is about, which is actually a pretty outrageous nail upon which to hang a story, it seems to me, in 2008, at a time when we’ve all sort of agreed that true or not, it’s none of our business. I mean that is the contract in journalism we all sort of signed after Monica.
Taking the moral highground, Tucker said as a reporter, he shies away from exploring people’s private lives:
I’m not flacking for McCain. I instinctively jump to the defense of anyone whose private life is violated.
Watch it:
Similarly, when Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) was revealed to have solicited escort services, Carlson accused a guest of “holding up this guy’s sex life to public ridicule.”
But in reality, Carlson only “jumps to the defense” of fellow conservatives subject to allegations of impropriety. When President Clinton came under such allegations, Carlson beat the drums incessantly. Some lowlights:
– Bill Clinton…took advantage of her. [CNN, 12/29/98]
– There it is. There’s his legacy, Monica Lewinsky. [CNN, 3/9/01]
– MATTHEWS: I see we’re changing the subject again. Is the question of their [the Clintons'] marriage an issue or not in this campaign?
CARLSON: Of course it’s an issue. [MSNBC, 5/26/06]
Contrary to what Carlson thinks, the Times’ story is important for revealing McCain’s close ties and favors to lobbyists, whom he repeatedly admonishes on the campaign trail. “He’s been in bed with lobbyists for quite some time,” notes Christy Hardin Smith.
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77 Responses to “Tucker: ‘I Instinctively Jump To The Defense Of Anyone Whose Private Life Is Violated’”
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Bubba Clinton was pilloried for his serial sexual battery of women, because of his hypocritical stance that he is an advocate for women's rights.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:41 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — February 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Bullsh!t from Hendler, what a surprise.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pmUm, Uh, er, Tuckie? It's about peddling influence. And inappropriate contact with a lobbyist. Perhaps very inappropriate contact. So much so that his aides had to intervene.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pmWhy are these pundits so hung up on sex?
So predictable its not even entertaining any more. I want another Tucker v Jon face off like back from the Crossfire days!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:43 pmTucker: ‘I Instinctively Jump To The Defense Of Any Republican Whose Is Caught Screwing Around On His Wife’
February 21st, 2008 at 1:45 pmYeah, and I'm sure he was the first one screaming that Bill Clinton's and Gary Hart's sex lives were no one's business. Right?
Another conservative hypocrite. No real news here.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:46 pmThat's odd, I instinctively shudder whenever I hear anything about Tucker.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pmAnd this guy's opinion matters because...?
February 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pmCarlson made the saem argument with Giuliani, media matters called him out on that baloney:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200710240003?f=s_search
February 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pmgoon_golly is off the rails!
Obama isn't desperate, you fool. He's already polling well ahead of McCain.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pmBubba Clinton was pilloried for his serial sexual battery of women, because of his hypocritical stance that he is an advocate for women’s rights.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Daddy Bush had an affair with his SECRETARY.
TRAITOR Junior, 25, got his girlfriend Robin Lowman, then FIFTEEN, an ABORTION.
Talk about HYPOCRITES...
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:49 pmgg fears Barak Obama. good.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:49 pmLOL yeah they see it as about sex.
Normal people see it as lobby corruption.
What's on your mind, Tucker?
February 21st, 2008 at 1:51 pm**Read between the lines**
"Oh, Sh*t... I'm about to be outed for something very, very embarrassing!!!"
February 21st, 2008 at 1:51 pmhypocritical? Is that like voting against a bill that would have banned the very thing that McCain said was torture?
Or is that like accepting Rove into your inner circle even though he manufactured lies that destroyed your candidacy for president in 2000?
Tucker is a partisan hack and is caught lying here. Plain and simple.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:52 pmComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
This one needs to be tested for drug and alcohol problems.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pmgg fears Barak Obama. good.
Comment by hellinabucket — February 21, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
TRAITOR Bush and his PNAC WAR CRIMINALS better FEAR their new
PRESIDENT Barrack Obama.
Because their trials for TREASON against the USA and WAR CRIMES will begin shortly after President Obama takes office...
God Bless America and to hell with TRAITORS Bush and the PNAC!!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pmIt's only OK if a Republican does it. The hypocrisy just doesn't end with these clowns.
Spend 70 million going after Clinton is just fine, but don't expose Republicans, yeah, real fair and balanced there Phucker.
Kiss our collective asses GG, scum sucking tard.
Buck Fush
February 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pmI'm hoping this story does dig into the lobbying questions. that is where the real meat is.
I don't give a rat's a$$ about the private sex lives of any politician. I do care about how my tax dollars are allocated and that is the story here folks.
So gg and hendler, focus.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pmgg fears Barak Obama. good.
Comment by hellinabucket — February 21, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Yeah - it's so cute when the conservatrolls get scared and the best talking point they can come up with is "Barack Hussein Osama Obama."
February 21st, 2008 at 1:54 pmSince gigi is repeating his war hero McCain crap, let me repeat my post from yesterday.
McCain was shot down over N. Vietnam and was a POW. I received a Bronze Star. Neither of us is a war hero.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pmCan the Republicans win in November. YES WE CAN!
Comment by good_golly
Only if you grow a brain and vote for obama.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pmRight-wingers should fear Obama. Their racist attacks will not be viewed kindly by the general electorate.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:59 pmI mean that is the contract in journalism we all sort of signed after Monica.
- - -
Let me guess, the contract expires as soon as we have a Democratic President!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pmTP - You Obviously misquired him...
‘I Instinctively Jump To The Defense Of Anyone Whose Private Life Is Violated IF HE or SHE IS A CONSERVATIVE'
February 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pmi just learned something, somewhat related to this mcCREEPY/lobbyist
story... heard on ed: he was flying in a jet owned by rupert murdoch...
at the same time, senator clinton was working on some telcom (?) thing...
what would that have been? ... anybody into connecting dots?
i can't get my thoughts straight, but i wonder about the worries
concerning the FCC, the net neutrality, the corporate take over...
just wanted to put that out there...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pmComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
this the third time gg cut and paste this comment. does she still get paid for it?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pmBobwurst:
Nice one. :)
February 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pmOnly if you grow a brain and vote for obama.
Comment by Bobwurst — February 21, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
And a pair, Bobwurst. A brain w/out a pair won't do that much good.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pm.
But WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING AMERICANS is not an invasion of privacy that needs discussion... NO?
.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pmTucker: ‘I Instinctively Jump"
How high?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pmComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
"It looks like Barak H. Obama is continuing to use his surrogates at TP to try to try to smear a war hero."
-- This story appears in the New York Times. I saw no evidence that the story was planted by either Obama or ThinkProgress. If you have such evidence -- by all means, enlighten us. Oh, and since you are all about not smearing war heroes, I assume you were the first person to criticize the swift-boating of Kerry four years ago?
"Things must be really desperate in Camp Obama to continue on with the politics of personal destruction."
-- Again, please provide evidence that Obama is employing the politics of personal destruction against McCain. If you don't have any, you are just smearing by innuendo.
"I had HOPE for a CHANGE but he is no better than CLINTON."
-- This sentence implies that you had hope for and supported Obama, but you are now disillusioned. I'm having a hard time believing that you ever supported Obama. As far as "he is no better than Clinton" -- please indicate which Clinton you are referring to, and what specifically you find objectionable about him/her in this instance. Otherwise, your phrase is a meaningless one meant to sound negative (sort of like Reagan's "there you go again" line).
"Can the Republicans win in November. YES WE CAN!"
February 21st, 2008 at 2:04 pm-- Theoretically, any candidate can win in November. A lot can happen between now and then. But right now, the odds are in our favor. And McCain is digging his hole deeper. Not because of a supposed scandal years ago (I doubt the voters will care much about old news like that), but because he is so obviously pandering to the far right and flip-flopping his own once tightly-held principles.
My private life felt violated when I was home watching tv and saw tucker's lumpy ass on dancing with the stars. oh the humanity.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pmI'm still hearing calls to talk radio in this region, asking if Obama is Muslim, if he was schooled in a radical Muslim setting, if he refuses to put hand on heart during the National Anthem, etc.
These calls are to Progressive radio programs. Rove's dirty little tricks are alive & well, folks.
Get ready for outright lies, innuendo & rumors to really elevate from now until August.
Scared Rodents drop turds of misinformation as they scurry toward darkness.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:06 pmBubba Clinton was pilloried for his serial sexual battery of women, because of his hypocritical stance that he is an advocate for women’s rights.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
ROTFL!!! Pilloried? You mean FALSELY ACCUSED? If you CAN'T PROVE IT, it's a SMEAR - You ASSBURGERS BRAIN DAMAGED POS! Although the IRONY is that YOU HAVE SUCH A HATRED OF WOMEN and are PRETENDING to be DEFENDING THEM! See THAT'S THE FUNNY PART!! ROTFL!!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pmI believe this story was originally brought up by the Drudge Report. And we all know how Matt Drudge is deep in Obama's pocket.
Good Golly, you read much? Or is your whole life one continual knee jerk.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pmCan the Republicans win in November. YES WE CAN!
Comment by good_golly
Probably only if the Republicans nominate a Democrat.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pmFace it. GWB screwed it up for the GOP this time around.
And a pair, Bobwurst. A brain w/out a pair won’t do that much good.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 21, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
I don't know about that -- I have a brain without a pair and I do all right.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pmAmerican don't mind Republicans having affairs or lying as it's part of their God and Religion. Now Bill Clinton is a different story he sinned against the real God and had to get forgiveness. Values are as seen with Senator Obama just words used when needed to get a vote. Mrs. Obama was quick to talk about Family Values as she puts her Family as the Model to use by all Americans. We're seen those who put themselves higher then others only to see them fall just as low. This election is about qualification and experience not who slept with who. Yes Obama is going to use anything and anybody to get what he wants. He got a 1.6 million dollar home by giving favors to Renzo a now indicted criminal, but Obama called it a misstep. The voters of Illinois have Nuclear Waste because of another misstep by their Senator who wouldn't listen to a proven case decided by the Supreme Court that was given to him by Hillary. Obama listen to the Nuclear companies and then Bush who told him to drop it. As it stands today the voters of that area are living with Nuclear Waste because of their Senators misstep and as for the weak Bill well it's buried for good. Obama told the voters of New Jersey he would save them from having their homes in foreclosure if they voted for him, even Romney used the trick in Michigan he would bring back the Car Industry if he got the votes in Michigan. Well hope and change can't even buy you a cup of coffee, but it sounds good.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pmIf he's been finagling sweetheart deals and earmarks for the profit of his mistress, it's not a private matter.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pmMy private life felt violated when I was home watching tv and saw tucker’s lumpy ass on dancing with the stars. oh the humanity.
Comment by clb72 — February 21, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Not to worry -- Tucker was so incredibly bad, he was the first one eliminated that season.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pmThis is absolutely about influence peddling.
McCain's background is with the Keating 5 scandal.
On a personal level, McCain had many affairs when he was married to his first wife, Carol, who raised his children. He married Cindy when he had been divorced one month from Carol. Cindy is rich, well connected and could aid his political career. That, coupled with evidence of past corruption, says more about McCain's' character and his potential to compromise any principles or ethics he may have had.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pmTucker..why have you not called me since our last meeting in the YMCA mens room? I know you acted like you wanted to fight but your lips said kiss me. I think what Tucker and I do in the "Mens" room is our business as well.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pmBubba Clinton was pilloried for his serial sexual battery of women
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 21, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
"Pilloried", not found guilty, even remotely.
Using the "pillory logic", I suppose we can conclude that George W. Bush hates America because he butchers her language so readily and jokes about doing so.
Now, back on topic. The issue with McCain is less about any possible sexual relationship outside of his marriage. The issue is whether or not he had a favor swapping relationship with a lobbyist, particularly one whose clients included telecom companies. Hhhmmm, how DID McCain vote on that immunity?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pmWhy does GG continue to blame Obama's campaign for this news about McCain? No one else is making such claims; there is no evidence, no proof, nothing but his own impaired imagination.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pmOh wait, I forgot, GG and trolls like him don't need anything EXCEPT their impaired impaginations to start rumors and innuendoes.
When I heard Tucker make that comment I had to rewind my Tivo.
The GOP should really be Glad there is no God or there would be a whole lotta dead GOP members dying from lightning bolts sent from the heaven by Zeus.
That was a definite if lightning could strike you down moment.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pmJebus, GG, get some new material, wouldja???
February 21st, 2008 at 2:19 pmI don’t know about that — I have a brain without a pair and I do all right.
Comment by missmolly — February 21, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
You have a pair, missmolly... ovaries!
What good is a brain w/out a pair of oves to go w/ it?
February 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pmWhy does GG ...
Comment by Marie — February 21, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Why does a bear ...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:21 pmTucker is Coulter sans dress, although mAnn does have a bigger Adam's apple.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pmWhat good is a brain w/out a pair of oves to go w/ it?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 21, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
Oh geez -- I hope this means that now that I'm post-menopausal that my brain won't atrophy...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pmComment by PatrioticLiberalChristian — February 21, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
YES! This smells like another republican 60 min. sucker. Leak the truth, but emphasize the wrong angle and then claim it was all an attack job and fabrication thereby obscuring the truth with "truthiness"...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pmWhen Tucker has ONE set of standards for everyone, rather than double standards (one for con's, a different one for libs) THEN he can claim to 'Jump To The Defense Of Anyone Whose Private Life Is Violated’.
Until he can have a single standard for everyone, he's nothing but another whore for the right-whiners.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pmNeither of us is a war hero.
Comment by RUCerious
You are a hero to me. People who criticize their govts in this paranoid culture is a hero.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm#5 - "Can the Republicans win in November. YES WE CAN!" Comment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Only if you rig another election!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pmComment by missmolly — February 21, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
With proper diet and exercise...
You appear to be doing quite well, missmolly.
Brains, and other body parts, only atrophy from a lack of use. As far as some of the trolls, and many, many members of Congress, go... alas, the future looks bleak...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pmYour a hero to me to RUCerious..Blessings
February 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pmYet another nail in the GOP's coffin.
I feel sorry for good_golly, actually. It is grasping at straws, and it knows Obama is coming for its god-sent candidate. Massive outvotes of its fellow neocons. Loss of 80% of the independent voters. Loss of moderate Republicans and Libertarians. A recession or even depression it can't blame on Clinton. Like Gul Dukat after the loss of DS9 and the blocking of the Dominion Reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it's screaming "We were so close! Victory was within our grasp!" Permanent Republican Majority, anyone?
It's got nothing on Barrack Obama. It really wanted Hillary Clinton, still does, but reality, that dispised thing that has stood in the Neocon's way from day one, is insinuating itself between good_golly and its desired outcome.
President McCain won't happen.
Republican Candidate McCain will sink the chance of taking the polls in November.
Doing a pretty young blonde lobbiest is just the tip of the iceberg. We've not even begun the campaign to hang Iraq around McCain's neck. Nor have we begun the campaign to show McCain's first disabled wife and his new pretty young thing, that he's now two-timing on with ANOTHER prettier younger thing. Nor have we begun to hang this economy around his neck.
Good_golly wails with anquish, knowing that its candidate is going to go down hard. It tries to demoralize us so we don't go out and vote, because it knows that's the only way it can win.
I hope it's ready to eat crow for the next four years...
February 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pmNeither of us is a war hero. -RUCerious
You are a hero to me. People who criticize their govts in this paranoid culture is a hero. -Juan C.
Agreed, Juan.
RUC, my Dad didn't get his Bronze Star until 1981...he left WWII in '45. He also had 3 Purple Hearts. He was a radio man; first on the beach to help guide in the landings. The Bronze Star was awarded due to the fact he was the only one in his company to survive the beach head. He refused it until our family encouraged him to do so.
He never considered himself a hero, either, but he was to us.
Thank you for your service to your Country.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pmi'm in and out... surely this has been brought up, but,
mcCREEPY was messin' around with cindy while married...
least i'm guessing, since he married cindy one month
after he divorced that first wife... the one, i hear, who was
waiting faithfully for her "war hero" husband while he was being
imprisoned and tortured and such...
later...
i got barack on the phone line... he's telling me things he wants me
February 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pmto feed to the trolls here at TP...
i'll tell him you all say "hi!"...
i'm sure he'll send his best right back... such a gentleman...
Juan, WitchyOne, thanks. It takes a lot to earn the 'hero' badge, in my book. My father in law was locked up in an NVA prison camp for eight years after 1975. He doesn't consider himself a hero either.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pmWhile all this crap surfacing about McCain is tittilating (gotta love that word), I'd like to see the campaign(s) focus on the issues like war and peace, the economy, the undocumented worker issue, how to restore the Constitution. The real stuff.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:52 pmTucker's still on teevee? YAWN!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:56 pmIt looks like Barak H. Obama is continuing to use his surrogates at TP to try to try to smear a war hero.
The troll forgot to spell out Barak Obama's middle name. Must be slipping. We, on TP, don't need to smear McPander, he's doing it to himself. Don't you love the right, McCain is a "war hero" because he got shot down in Vietnam and survived captivity. He never did anything actually heroic, though.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:57 pmhear hear!! Ms Joanne.
someone pull the plug on that priggish little fop.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pmJuan, WitchyOne, thanks. It takes a lot to earn the ‘hero’ badge, in my book. My father in law was locked up in an NVA prison camp for eight years after 1975. He doesn’t consider himself a hero either.
Comment by RUCerious — February 21, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
Um, just out of curiosity, what was your father-in-law doing in Vietnam in 1975 that got him interred in a prison camp? (We pulled out of Vietnam in early 1975, and I was under the impression that all POWs were supposed to be released from Northern prisons by the end of 1976 and that the big hold-up with normalized relations with the unified Vietnam was due to the large number of unaccountables. Vietnam claimed all POWs had been released*; the US claimed the number was far short of military claims of known POWs combined with MIAs and presumed KIAs.)
*Well, all that Vietnam claimed *wanted* to be released. The Vietnamese government claimed that a sizable number (though an overall minuscule percentage) of POWs had "defected" or had been assimilated into (North) Vietnamese society (even to the point of raising families).
February 21st, 2008 at 3:16 pmTucker is Coulter sans dress, although mAnn does have a bigger Adam’s apple.
Comment by Zimzone — February 21, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Do you know for sure Tucker doesn't wear a dress?
February 21st, 2008 at 3:38 pmOh geez — I hope this means that now that I’m post-menopausal that my brain won’t atrophy…
Comment by missmolly — February 21, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
I feel better when I blame it on mad cow.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pmI don't like the "instinctively". Is Tucker a newsman or just some guy? It's not his job to tell us what his "gut" feels, but to report the facts.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pmI feel better when I blame it on mad cow.
Comment by Shayne — February 21, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
oooo! Great idea! Thanks!
February 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pmJMH = SERIAL IDIOT
Pure and simple. Sexual Battery, means "non-consensual touching of the intimate parts of another".
Bill and his partners were consensual adults.
JMH, PROVE your allegation!
Can't do it? Then STFU.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:24 pmComment by good_golly — February 21, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
Where were you GG, when McCain was being SMEARED MERCILESSLY by the Bush /Rove spin machine in South Carolina in 2000? Where was your outrage then? Where was your "war hero" talk?
February 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pmIf it's merely a "question of character" for the media to poke its collective nose into the sexual behavior of Bill Clinton, then it's equally a "question of character" with regard to McCain or Giuliani or any other Republican -- PERIOD -- and possibly even more so, since the Republican Party touts itself as being the party of values and personal responsibility.
Fair's fair. If it's a sign of poor ethics and untrustworthiness for a Democrat to have an extramarital affair, then it's also a sign of poor ethics and untrustworthiness when a Republican has an extramarital affair -- and anyone who attempts to say otherwise is nothing more than a shameless, self-serving hypocrite. Then again, why anyone in his/her right mind would expect anything different from Tucker is beyond me...
February 21st, 2008 at 4:55 pmI feel better when I blame it on mad cow.
Comment by Shayne — February 21, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
boston legal fan?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pmI heard a distant "popping" sound. At first, thinking it was gunfire, I was nervous. Then? I realized it's just Republican's heads exploding.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:11 pm"Heroes" do not cheat on their wife , especially when she is cancer-ridden , much less leave her ........
McInsane is nothing but a concocted figure , by the same group of losers who have tried to deify Ronnie Retard's garbage presidency .........
February 21st, 2008 at 6:48 pmJoseph, my father in law was a captain in the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army). My wife is, of course, Vietnamese, came over in 1991.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pm