Media Blindly Pick Up McCain’s Talking Point That Town Hall Meetings Are His ‘Strength,’ ‘He’s At His Best’
Media Blindly Pick Up McCain’s Talking Point That Town Hall Meetings Are His ‘Strength,’ ‘He’s At His Best’
Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to invite Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to join him “in participating in town hall meetings across the country to discuss the most important issues facing Americans.” Later today, McCain told reporters that he “prefer[s]” town hall style discussions, saying he “would never have been able to win in New Hampshire if we hadn’t have conducted 102 town hall meetings.”
After learning of the proposal, media figures took him at face value, simply repeating McCain’s claim that he is well-suited for the town hall meetings:
– MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: “One of the points there is to take advantage of McCain’s presumed strength in the town hall format and in loose conversations.”
– MSNBC’s Monica Novotny: “So it seems that these town halls would work to his strength.”
– Fox News’s Juan Williams: “That’s his strength. That format, when you get John McCain doing town hall meetings, he’s at his best.”
Watch it:
Really? Are town hall meetings really good for McCain? Does the town hall format create space for the presumptive Republican nominee to shine? Not exactly. Here are some lowlights of McCain “at his best” during various town hall meetings this GOP primary season:
– QUESTION: “How do we beat the bitch?” McCAIN: “That’s an excellent question.”
– SUPPORTER: “Another man — wondering if an attack on Iran is in the works — wanted to know when America is going to ’send an air mail message to Tehran.’” McCAIN: “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran.”
– QUESTION: “President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years — [cut off by McCain].” McCAIN: “Maybe a hundred.”
– Student on McCain’s position on gay marriage: “I came here looking to see a leader. I don’t.”
– McCain called a student asking about his age “a little jerk,” adding, “You’re drafted.”
The media has seemed to be operating in the “if McCain says it, it must be true” mode for most of this campaign season. McCain has not only benefited from “very friendly” press coverage over the years but numerous reporters have said they’re unsure when they’ll start scrutinizing his record and what he says.
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The MSM has made it easy for McSame. No question. But that was then, this is now. McSame has had the benefit of watching the Dems implode, but now that is over. Obama will target McSames weaknesses and flip-flops, and there will be nowhere to hide. The public will see the difference between them.
The debates will remind me of the Nixon-Kennedy debates. Kennedy looked regal and effective, Nixon looked like warmed over roadkill.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:01 pmGuess we all know where those rover talking points go first, huh?
The BushCo Official Propaganda Outlet, Faux NoNooz.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:02 pmJohn McCain:
“I can bench-press 1000 pounds.”
Punditocracy:
June 4th, 2008 at 6:03 pm“Clearly, McCain’s bench-press is among his strongest assets.”
“John McCain is banking on his powerful bench-press to score points with working-class voters.”
“Free weights play into McCain’s strengths as a campaigner, as opposed to the elite exercise-machine culture that Obama represents.”
The media is in favor of MCCain. They are giving Obama a hard time.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:03 pmMcNutzi may or may not have won New Hampshire without doing the town meetings but considering his primary competition he basically outran the kid in the iron lung. His competition in the general is smarter and more polished than the gomers in the gop field and ol’ John really doesn’t speak that well no matter what the format. This is just a discussion of how and where he gets toasted, not if.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:04 pmWell I think that is great. Because when he deos it, and fails miserably, the expectations were high so he will look worse.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:05 pmMcCain’s in for an ass-whipping
June 4th, 2008 at 6:09 pmhow dare he even joke about drafting? is that some kind of sick joke?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pmAfter learning of the proposal, media figures took him at face value, simply repeating McCain’s claim that he is well-suited for the town hall meetings…
The national news media have become nothing more than stenographers rather than investigative reporters, and not very good stenographers at that.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pmif it’s Russert, Mathews, etc. acting as the moderator, McCain would look great. the members of the pundit class are his base–what are the chances that they would move past their current obsessions and on to real issues?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:16 pmTown Hall Meetings? With real people asking real questions of both candidates?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pmOh, Yes, please, one a week till November.
Interesting that the new idiot troll has a dual purpose racist name.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:21 pmPaul W Says:
After learning of the proposal, media figures took him at face value, simply repeating McCain’s claim that he is well-suited for the town hall meetings…
The national news media have become nothing more than stenographers rather than investigative reporters, and not very good stenographers at that.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
Paul W, that is really good. I agree with you. and what the hellis Mukasi doing anyways, picking his nose or something???
June 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pmoops, I meant Mukasey
June 4th, 2008 at 6:24 pmI smell a fake-progressive troll on this thread…
June 4th, 2008 at 6:27 pmRUC says
Town Hall Meetings? With real people asking real questions of both candidates?
Oh, Yes, please, one a week till November.
RUC, I’ll lay odds McInsane wouldn’t do all 20.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:28 pmSt Auggie, after having his ass handed to him in the first three, McIIIrd pretends to have won them all and declares victory, no need for further ’shaming’ Obama.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pmThe reality is that meeting with people in town halls may be “False Claim” McCain’s actual strength. What else has he got? Facts – no. Debate skills – no. Speech making skills – no. Consistency in message – no. A record to run on – no. All he can do is show up, announce himself as a GOP who used to be a POW who wants to be POTUS and hope people don’t think he’s a POS.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pmRalph, I’m stoned and can’t smell, who do you smell?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pmRalph, isn’t it wonderful how trolls can manage to put together racist words like *igger and *igaboo and nto get banned instantly?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:32 pmnto=not?
June 4th, 2008 at 6:32 pmJigga is Jay Z’s nick name. He’s the greatest artist ever. He had a big hit called Jigga dat Nigga. This is not a racist term. Anyway I’m a Progressive so I’m not racist. I beleive in Progress and hope for nothing but progress.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:36 pmThe pundits may have a point here. McCain demonstrated last night that actual speeches are reallllly not his strength. Even the propagandists at FoxSnooze had to concede that he was terrible, and the clips of him demonstrating his death rictus of a smile are truly creepy. He makes the Crypt Keeper look healthy and animated.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:36 pmAugie, ask RUC. He knows.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:38 pmgummitch, that may be true, but McIIIrd matching wits in a one on one, non moderated environment with real people?
I’ll take Obama and give the point spread +10.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pmRUC, I would enjoy watching Johnny boy implode slowly before he explodes in a fit of self-importance. Maybe the old man fell for the kool-aid drinking, worship the leader lackeys that goosed-stepped for Herr Chimpy. That will sure show up daddy and granddaddy, they were only Admirals.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pmHey Ralph, I’m not stoned, just wishing I was!
June 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pmJayZ my ass. The new troll is progressive like a certain insurance company, and we all know how progressive corporations are, right?
St Auggie, perhaps McIIIrd could bring their ash urns up on stage for moral support.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pmI have heard McNumbNuts give speeches and I have heard McNumbNuts in town hall settings. I think the media got it right — “he’s at his best in town hall meetings”. The only problem is that “his best” is very, very bad but still better than his speeches.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:42 pmIsn’t it all about perceptions? If the media want to make Johnie McBush the “Master” of the town hall meeting, I say fine. Build him up, watch him fall.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pmAh, a changeling troll – one of the smelliest and least intelligent.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pmOkay, I’ve made a pot of coffee and a caffine jolt gave me a moment of clarity. My goodness I’m surprised at how young this one sounds. Maybe this one is a five cent per post newbie.
Now it’s time for another swigga coffee.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:45 pmMy guess is a freelancer, hoping to impress the big boys at the RNC and get his big break.
The funny ting is, with the quality of talent they seem to be putting out on the field these days, he just might have a shot.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:52 pmActually, the town hall format is McCain’s strength. OH GOD, is he in trouble.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pmA veritable Pee JR…
June 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pmMcSame is going to put all the ‘townspeople’ to sleep as he speaks. Nighty night….
June 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pmThe funny ting is, with the quality of talent they seem to be putting out on the field these days, he just might have a shot.
At least some of his words were multi-syllabic. That, I guess, is a start.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:02 pmOf course the media is “nice” with McCain. When was the last time the media “got tough” on any senior citizen who f-cked up?! These people play demolition derby in supermarket parking lots and the issue isn’t “take away gram/gramps license”, rather we hear how “disoriented and confused” the parking brake made them after two people become a new shade of paint for the wall and three people meet the back bumper after they’re confused for Nazi’s.
McCain wants his town hall meetings so he can lie, lie and lie some more. Then look like the “hero” to his retirement constituents who don’t want that “nicely dressed, well mannered black man” to take away the $40 a year in taxes they have planned for two extra Dean Martin roast VHS tapes.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pmHOPEFULLY, Obama will tell McSame and his lobbyist to blow it out their ears.
The repuglicans DON’T control the discussion anymore. The Dems do. HOPEFULLY the people surrounding Obama are smarter than to let the repugs try this.
We’ll see..
June 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pmJohn perceptions are addled, age and whiskey have affected his grey matter. Town Hall meetings with kool-aid drinkers asking pre-arranged questions won’t cut it on a National stage.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pmThing is, for the media, none of those comments are negative.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pmObama should agree to do it IF McCain agrees in writing to do all of them and not back out after he see’s how outmatched he is.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:27 pmWhat exactly was it that gave me the creeps last night during MyCane’s speech? It sounded like he was reading the grandkids a bedtime story…all that nauseating false inflection and the 34 words he stumbled over along the way. He’s quickly approaching doddering old man status…should be a fun summer ahead.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:29 pmThis is not a bad thing! Obama would look gracious and regal, and McCain like the petty jerk that he really is. Let them push this meme and let Gramps fall on his face. Obama is already saying they are open to this, because I think they know how bad Gramps is in these forums.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:29 pmMcCain thinks he can pull his tough guy bully stuff on Obama and Obama will freak out. But Obama is a black man, he’s been talked down to before, and he didn’t get where he is by losing his temper with stupid people. It should be a blast to watch.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pmMcCain supporters wake up, there will be a draft if you vote him in, where do you think you will get all the soldiers needed to keep invading ? Our present military will have to be let go sometime.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:41 pmTown Halls have been berry berry good to McBush. But when you put Obama next to the fartful codger, something very bad will happen to him. He will be seen as a senile wife-abusing turd who cant control his temper. And look ancient and dull next to the sharp, alert and vital young man.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:43 pmThe McCain Campaign is tired of witnessing the massive draw to Obama events, and the terrible performances of McCain in larger settings. Proposing townhall debates may be one way they feel they can address this problem.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:05 pmI can’t imagine a more stark contrast between the two candidates in a town hall meeting. A tall young attractive man standing next to a shorter older grumpier man. The image will be seared into voters’ minds.
And as for town hall meeting gaffes on McCain’s part, what about his calling out a 14 year old girl in a town hall meeting for saying that he didn’t speak for her…
June 4th, 2008 at 8:06 pmThe koolaid pundits are spreading the koolaid love for Teflon John. I saw McSame’s Nyquil speech on You Tube today. It was a trainwreck speech.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:13 pmOn the other hand, perhaps the town hall meeting format IS McSame’s strongest point — if you compare it to his podium format.
Personally, I find that he looks quite uncomfortable either way. I thought he looked most relaxed and at his best when he appeared on The Daily Show during the years he wasn’t running for anything.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pmMcCain’s campaign is going to be a trainwreck of epic proportions. His time has passed, but nobody close to him has done the right thing.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:14 pmThose two crazy kids, Karl and Georgie gave the old man an atomic wedgie in South Carolina back in 2000.
Those two crazy kids went on to trash the Federal government and completely discredit the Republican party.
Now all the top GOP rats are fleeing the ship to sign on as lobbyists before the tsunami hits.
The old man is going to get swamped.
There’s no fool like an old fool.
Maybe MyCane wanted to get out in front of Obama on this one, figuring that Obama would propose 20 of these town hall meetings, Gramps does early damage control and sets the bar at 10.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:01 pmIt would be like Kennedy v. Nixon, although you’d have to have the crash cart at the ready when McCain would presumptively “lose it”.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:44 pmI lean Republican (cannot see a third party Libertarian with a chance). I’m fairly frustrated with some of the antics of the Religious Right and big spenders. HOWEVER – I start following the other party’s sites, platform deliveries, etc…
listen to prominent Democrats, then read the general comments on liberal sites like this, and think:
I will walk out to sea before I could align with these people.
Most of the progressive sites are filled with ignorant, hateful name calling, exaggerations, rhetoric I expect on American Idol and similar election sites, NOT the forum where people discuss the direction of this country.
People like me may not rally around McCain, but if this the character of the folks supporting Obaman, rest assured we will support him before we put our support behind this “CHANGE”
June 4th, 2008 at 11:40 pmTexaslady – you may want to check the re-up numbers
June 4th, 2008 at 11:41 pmMoondancer…”fartful codger“??
OMG. That’s the best yet!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
I give it three thumbs up! ;O) Thanks for the great giggle!
~A
June 5th, 2008 at 12:16 amYo, Janh64 – so um, don’t tell us that you haven’t visited Redstate.com lately, eh?
*eyeroll*
Nice try, but no cigar.
If you don’t understand why we’re all totally PISSED OFF after EIGHT long, nightmarish years of Herr Boosh and his fascist gang of neo-con thugs, well, that makes you dumb enough to be a good little Republican.
Now, I believe there are some boots to lick over at the RNC – so you had better get busy.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:20 amObama is a publicity juggernaut compared to McCain. He can’t get the exposure that Obama gets on his own so he wants to mooch of off the hottest ticket in politics without having to work for it.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:21 amkungtruth Says:
——————————————————————————–
Obama is a publicity juggernaut compared to McCain. He can’t get the exposure that Obama gets on his own so he wants to mooch of off the hottest ticket in politics without having to work for it.
Right on. The only way McShrub can draw a crowd comparable to Barack’s crowds is to appear on the same stage. Since he has no mass appeal, he will use the opportunity to appear viable by sharing the stage with Barack. Sort of a “popularity by association.”
Until he opens his mouth and sh*t flows out, of course.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:36 amjanh64
Don’t feed me “some of the antics”, leave the door open for a political epiphany and close it when you can’t stand some opinions on sites like this. If the opinions on progressive sites make you cringe, I can think of some nice YouTube vids of Glenn Beck and Billo that will make you vomit and wonder aloud why you are still a member of the GOP. Bush and all the sellouts are the reasons why I re-registered as a Democrat. The words “honorable” and “Republican” are as rare as the California Condor right now. If you can’t bring yourself to vote for Obama because of some of the opinions above, well you’re just another part of the problem. A close-minded problem. Maybe a troll as well. So, prove to me you can change.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 am.
Damn Liberal McCainStreem Media
.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:07 amMy hope and dream is grampy McLame plans on bringing his traveling salvation show somewhere to New England. I would give my eye teeth for tickets to grill the old codger and no, I wouldn’t roll over and play dead if he fired back one of his flippant retorts my way. He’d be on the receiving end of a good old fashion tongue lashing.
June 5th, 2008 at 6:01 amAny time we get McLame in front of a camera, it is good for Dems. The guy scares little children.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:28 pm