This weekend, John McCain is hosting a group of vice presidential contenders at his estate in Sedona, Arizona, for a backyard barbeque. Reporters — who will not attend — are giddy over the event. They’ve been referring to McCain as a “legendary grillman,” praising his ability to cook baby-back ribs, and characterizing him as “just another grandpa at the grill.” Watch a video compilation:
In early March, McCain hosted a “thank you” barbeque for reporters, which thoroughly impressed the attendees. As one reporter put it, “McCain comes across as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy, not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”

Boy, that should be a real shin-dig. LOL
_AIO_
May 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pmMcCain has charisma, i give him that. its totally insincere and any perceptive person can tell that, but most people will by default beleive if someone is nice to them, it is for sincere reasons, so long as that person has any degree of charisma
May 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pmMcCains party will undoubtedly be full of hotties in wet shirts liek this looker..
http://blogs.trb.com/ news/ politics/ blog/ BeaArthur-thumb.jpg
hope somebody remembered to bring the viagra..
May 24th, 2008 at 12:32 pmRunning a BBQ grill is a lot less work than cutting brush. Both are being done for the same reason, to make a elite Republican rich guy look like common folk.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pmI hope it doesn’t interrupt the BBQ too much when McCain can’t hold back the farting when he starts to walk around.
_AIO_
May 24th, 2008 at 12:44 pmI saw at least two of those clips when they originally ran, and they had *nothing* to do with McCain. The first was the “race to the whitehouse” clip and the second was the clip of Tim Russert.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:45 pmit’s the “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” that is so disheartening…
after what has happened with the other demopublican candidate, i am resigned to the fact that he will be our next dicta-presi-tor…
it will be a complete and utterly non-confrontational take-over of the “election” process, be it the marshall law option or just good ol’ stealing… but, i gotta feeling it’s all a show and the end has been written…
happy memorial day…
thanks to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice…
for this…
i’m so ashamed.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm“McCain comes across as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy, not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”
- - Yeah we elected that type in 2000. How’d that work out?
May 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pmOh man, you NAILED it. To the wall.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:05 pmThe real problem becomes one of strategy for Obama. He needs to reach out to the reporters in the same manner. It may be pandering and inappropriate, but that is how our press corps acts. It would be nice to think that our politics were based on actual discussions of policies and qualifications. Unfortunately, we have to take it for what it has become: The wearing of symbols (flag pins), appearing anti-intellectual (beer drinking), throwing a good party and doing well on late night television.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:10 pmBAdmoodman: You beat me to it. I was going to say we elected a guy based on the fact that one cold sit down and have a beer with the guy, and now the press wants to cast McCain in the same light.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:31 pmJeez, what scares me is 1) The press is giving him a free ride and 2) America may just be stupid enough to fall for it again.
Yes, a what-you-see-is-what-you-get-guy — sounds like a someone who would be perfect to succeed Bush.
Check out the moron’s interview from a couple of years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUibTpSk_m4
Why is it not hard for me to see McCain in a similar way?
May 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pmThe old man can keep grilling because come November, we`ll be saying “can you smell what BARACK is cookin” i.e,Johnny Mcwarmonger………
May 24th, 2008 at 1:33 pmLiterally a pointless waste of time.
Comment by Kilo
Maybe you can waste a little less time and go somewhere else.
_AIO_
May 24th, 2008 at 1:35 pmJews defend Hagee’s words
Washington Times - 1 hour ago
By Julia Duin Evangelist Rev. John Hagee leads a march of Christians in support of Israel in Jerusalem. Jews rushed to the pastor’s defense yesterday claiming the pastor is not anti-Semitic and an ally of the Jewish people.
…
see, like i said…
May 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pmIn early March, McCain hosted a “thank you” barbeque for reporters, which thoroughly impressed the attendees. As one reporter put it, “McCain comes across as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy, not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”
It’s really quite disgusting how these supposedly objective “journalists” cozy up to McCain. The entire campaign season is nothing more than a joyous road trip to these people. Is it any wonder that bowling scores are more important than issues? Or that Jeremiah Wright gets far more press than Hagee?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
May 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pmHe will wrestle and kill a pig with his bare hands then grill it. He’s a truly legendary grill man, you know the kind of guy America wants to drink a beer with.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pmKilo, you’re always welcome to scram.
Unless someone is forcing you to visit this blog — in that case, I could see your consternation.
May 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pmSavage doesnt have any ‘bait’ hes just another controvery creator [hate speech] Hes a political Howard Stern, A Shock-a-tic that bloviates alot but says nothing.
As for this BBQ…people are gullible. Is McCain going to BBQ for the enemies and stabilize the middle east by 2013?
Everybody and their brother in the south knows how to BBQ.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:08 pmGrandpa McCain should be roasting on the spit while the reporters do some real grilling. Flip a filet mignon here and flop a pork chip there. Now that would be a real barbeque to see.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pmKilo Says:
Literally a pointless waste of time.
Yet you are here posting…. wasting time.
“Makes sense to me, don’t it?”– GW Bush 06/06/06
May 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pmAnd really, Brian Maloney is it?, Ted Kennedy isnt running for office, so I have no Idea what ‘rabble’ your trying to ‘rouse’ by rehashing very old news.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:14 pmSorry, pork chop!
May 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pmThe media’s acting like a loyal dog, eager to shower affection on their master the minute he gets home, and nervously waiting for the next moment they can lick his face.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pmHey, I wonder if McSame ‘wet-starts’ his grill.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pmIt should be okay if the press, on occassion, doesn’t portray the republican as greedy or evil.
If we can consider Obama bowling or shooting hoops and Clinton chugging brews, we can consider McCain at the grill.
It’s okay, not a big deal.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:19 pmJews defend Hagee’s words
Washington Times - 1 hour ago
Gee, that just proves that Jews can be as stoopid as the rest of the 23%-ers…
May 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pmIt should be okay if the press, on occassion, doesn’t portray the republican as greedy or evil. -backup
I wouldnt mind if he were grilling for himself or his family, being a regular guy, instead of doing his job in congress [missing many votes] hes BBQing not to relax, but to pander.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pmSo, backup, how about providing a link FROM THE MSM to the effect that a REPUBLICAN candidate is “greedy or evil”…?
Betcha can’t.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pmJews defend Hagee’s words
Washington Times - 1 hour ago
Gee, that just proves that Jews can be as stoopid as the rest of the 23%.
Well, thats because many Jewish people are not ethnically semites.
May 24th, 2008 at 2:45 pmReporters giddy because …why?
Barbeque is just another flip flop photo op for McCain.
And Yes, McCain has a certain simplicity…just like some aged relatives I have known in their predementia states.
A man of such intellect that he graduated at the very bottom of his LARGE class at Annopolis. A man of such apptitude that he crashed some planes and then was captured & imprisoned. He suffered big time as a prisoner, it is true…then he came home and divorced his wife after her disfiguring car crash? Did she suffer too? Then…no…go back….make that BEFORE the divorce he found his next rich wife…then he was divorced.
Millionaires with the common touch spring up like daisies come election time! Just like you and me they are…ROTFL
And whatever happened to that nice looking lobbiest he didn’t have sex with?
May 24th, 2008 at 2:46 pmLeftside Annie.
You’re right. Greedy and evil was over the top. Now, alot of the stories at TP lean that way, but TP isn’t MSM.
I’ll concede that point, but stick with the comparasion to Obama bowling and shooting hoops and Clinton chugging beer and trading shots.
The MSM press has a need (enabled by politicians) to report stories about how candidates are somehow regular people.
Really, who cares. Do we really want a regular person in charge? Or would we rather have someone with superior ideas or superior experience.
If we wanted regular people, we could all vote for you with me as your running mate.
Somehow, I think the public will stick with its politicians, pretending to be regular people.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:02 pmAaaaw…. They’re in love. Ain’t that sweet?
May 24th, 2008 at 3:25 pmAfter that fluff for McBush, they ran the story about Obama running over thousands of adorable kittens with a steamroller.
May 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pmI hope the beef is from China.
May 24th, 2008 at 4:02 pmbackup you are so out of touch. Who the hell cares if the leaders are ‘regular’ guys (gals)? That they are different is accepted. But Christ why make a point of it. It’s what one thinks the promise is that matters. Can they deliver , have they the guts to nix the Columbian “Free Trade Agreement”, that gives the Thugacracy the power over the people, where being a union organizer is a short cut to death. Bill Clinton was given $800,000 to get it through Congress. Our own Nancy Pelosi wanted to wait until after the election to vote it through i.e to ensure its passage,so the Democrats could campaign as,aw shucks, regular people.
May 24th, 2008 at 4:34 pmI only expect our elected leaders to act like Democrats. I don’t want to have lunch with them. Just do the goddam job!
What we really need are NEWS hungry reporters, instead of rib hungry MSN stenographers . . .
May 24th, 2008 at 5:07 pmThis is the problem we have with the press today. Either they’re intimidated by the right’s whiny “LIBERAL MEDIA” canard or they’re sucking up to the elites in order to gain access to prestigious events and dinners such as the White House Correspondents Dinner. This is why you get no objective reporting because you have reporters eating McCain’s ribs and then portraying him in their articles the way HE wants to be portrayed, such as >this.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pmThanks for adding to the waste and proving yourself to be no better than your criticism of TP
May 24th, 2008 at 5:51 pmyeah if the media weren’t so busy mocking Obama for his bowling, then I would see that you might have somewhat of a point, backup…but the media is fawning over McCain because his charm offensive has worked. Did they do the same thing with Obama? Did they portray Obama as a man of the people? Of course not.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pmIf he’s so good at bar-be-que then why don’t we use him where his real talents are ? I’m sure he could open up a BBQ joint. or perhaps host a BBQ TV program.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pmAlso the link you provide mentions McCain 10 times on the front page.
Pot Meet Kettle
May 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pmSomething you had already decided the second he entered the race all those months ago and which has been altered not 1 iota by anything posted here on ThinkMcCain ever since. -Kilo
Puhleeez. McCain was swiftboated then by the same people today that supposedly back him. Its hypocrisy squared.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pmWhat’s worse than reporters talking about McCain grilling? It’s ThinkProgress getting peeved over reporters talking about McCain grilling. Look, I support the Democrats over the Republicans, who have made just about everything worse for Americans and U.S. reputation. But this is ridiculous issue to fret over. You have to understand that news organizations _ especially broadcasters _ need time to fill so they’re going to fill it with crap as well as substantive stuff. ThinkProgress doesn’t have to follow suit, but I guess you have to fill the blog with crap too.
If you’re going to criticize the media for something then criticize them for giving McCain a pass on issues that matter. Because they say he’s a good grillmaster doesn’t necessarily mean they’re infatuated with him. Poor, poor post.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pmable. I didn’t make it clear enough, but I agree with you in #38.
you’re right, it doesn’t matter.
May 24th, 2008 at 6:44 pmA grandpa’s place is on the patio.
Not the Oval Office.
(My sincere apologies to all the capable, alert, and sentient grandfathers out there…)
May 24th, 2008 at 7:16 pm“…not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”
Or cohesive thoughts, for that matter.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:32 pm“…not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”
He just blows a gasket.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:35 pmMCCAIN IS A PHONY GRILLMASTER!
Watch the video with the reporters and listen to his secret recipe while he’s grilling.
HE USES COSTCO PRE-MARINATED RIBS AND JUST ADDS SALT AND PEPPER!
THERE IS NO CHEFING GOING ON THERE WHATSOEVER!
HE’S AS PHONY AS BEER HEIRESS CINDY’S “FAMILY RECIPES” THAT SHE STOLE FROM THE FOOD NETWORK!
WAKE UP AMERICA!
May 24th, 2008 at 8:23 pmtoc001:
“HE USES COSTCO PRE-MARINATED RIBS AND JUST ADDS SALT AND PEPPER!
THERE IS NO CHEFING GOING ON THERE WHATSOEVER!”
It’s just a commercial, after all.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:34 pmCosco may donate more than just the dead pig…
“…his [cough] WIFE’s estate in Sedona, AZ.”
Hagee’s book: “To Serve the Jews”
May 24th, 2008 at 9:11 pmIt’s a cookbook.
I haven’t read the comments yet, but who is that guy with Colmes saying, “You’re on a different kind of list.”?
Strange comment.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:37 pmVincennes Says:
What’s worse than reporters talking about McCain grilling? It’s ThinkProgress getting peeved over reporters talking about McCain grilling.
beats talking about the historical unbelievable undeniable
May 24th, 2008 at 9:49 pmhillary rove cLIEberman “gaffe” …
“It’s ThinkProgress getting peeved over reporters talking about McCain grilling.”
What makes you think we’re peeved?
May 24th, 2008 at 10:04 pmWe’re just having a good time.
Relax, and enjoy the cookout!
Kilo:
“So does anyone know whether he was using gas or coals to operate his BBQ and whether there’s an emission angle here we can get to the bottom of ?
Has any reporter present mentioned that he let slip a comment comparing his ribs to the people of Zimbabwe and their life under a brutal dictator ?”
No, we don’t know.
May 24th, 2008 at 10:28 pmTell us, please, it’s a holiday weekend and everyone’s gone
Just don’t piss off the old coot, or you maybe get served for dinner. And did he serve any trollopyc*nt?
May 24th, 2008 at 10:47 pmJust a note for KIlo. Tonight I BBQd Halibut in orange sauce with herbs, potatoes (served filled with shredded cheese) and corn on the cob (wrapped in it’s own husk with butter).
May 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pmAnd no, I’m not a grandpa.
Are they done yet?
May 24th, 2008 at 11:15 pm“McCain comes across as a what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy, not terribly given to brooding or introspective meditation.”
Really working on that third Bush term…
May 24th, 2008 at 11:26 pmThe presstitutes sold us Bush as “a guy you’d like to drink beer wirh.”
I have lots of buddies who enjoy having a beer with me, but none of them is stupid enough to want me in the White House.
May 25th, 2008 at 1:00 amJoe Lieberman is there. See updates at
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/
A very dry GOP strategy paper by someone called Dou Schoen got reprinted at HuffPost on May 22, arguing for a McCain-Lieberman crossover ticket, and by god it’s convincing.
May 25th, 2008 at 1:50 amHow about you CSers drop to your knees and just blow the man? Get it over with.
May 25th, 2008 at 7:48 amThe propane tank is in the way.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:51 amJust another insane, senile, hateful, warmongering Grandpa.
Just the kind the kids want to snuggle up to
May 25th, 2008 at 12:24 pmWith any luck, he’ll choke on a rib bone.
May 25th, 2008 at 1:31 pmkilo @ 2:30 am - i was referring to TP’s avoiding the subject…
May 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pmNow reporting from Sen. McCain’s luxury home in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
CNN: Pass some of that sauce down here Sen Graham.
MSNBC:Holy Joe I see you got your trunks on.
FOX:Last one in the pool gets a show on Fox.
MSM:
May 25th, 2008 at 3:24 pm“story, no story here.
We’re just too busy eating the Mav Man’s awesome BBQ.
Back to you guys.”
All this is real important, isn’t it?
May 26th, 2008 at 5:10 pm