Former McCain Strategist Blames Charlie Black’s Gaffe On ‘Tremendous Reporter Cleavage’
Former McCain Strategist Blames Charlie Black’s Gaffe On ‘Tremendous Reporter Cleavage’
In a new Fortune magazine article, Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) chief strategist Charlie Black claimed that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be “a big advantage” for their campaign. On Dennis Miller’s radio show today, former top McCain strategist Mike Murphy attempted to explain away the gaffe with a crude joke:
MURPHY: Well, he’s an old friend of mine, so I’ll defend him. I don’t know what happened. I think there must have been tremendous reporter cleavage involved or something.
MILLER: hahahahahahaha
MURPHY: Charlie got off his focus, he’s a good guy, he’s apologized for it.
Listen here:
In fact, the reporter who wrote the Fortune story was a man — editor at large David Whitford. Despite his friend’s attempts to explain away his mistake, Black has already admitted that his statement was wrong and “inappropriate.”
McCain has distanced himself from Black’s statements, but continues to stand by him. MoveOn is now calling on McCain to “fire Charlie Black once and for all.” Even Murphy, later in the interview, suggested that Black should step down if the story doesn’t go away: “I think he’s gotta look in the mirror and get out the old…sword and make a decision.”
Transcript:
MILLER: Charlie Black, the aide decamp for McCain who gacks it here, does he have to go, do you think?
MURPHY: Well, he’s an old friend of mine, so I’ll defend him. I don’t know what happened. I think there must have been tremendous reporter cleavage involved or something.
MILLER: hahahahahahaha
MURPHY: Charlie got off his focus, he’s a good guy, he’s apologized for it. I know, Charlie’s a patriot, he’d call for anything that, you know, was bad for the U.S. I think it was just a case of…
MILLER: No, I don’t believe that Murph, I just believe that these guys around him, around both candidates should zip it now because they’re both trying to say candidate things or to look wittier than thou in the moment and it’s ended up costing them their jobs.
MURHPY: Yeah, I think Charlie is catching some hell over that and, you know, I think it’s one of these things where if you can apologize enough to get it out of the headlines in 24 hours, that’s one thing. But if it won’t go away, I think he’s gotta look in the mirror and get out the old…sword and make a decision.
MILLER: Now, Murph, how hands on are you with John, or are you not at the disposal to tell us, because I know you met with him not long ago, or talked to him at least, I saw it in a…
MURPHY: The McCain campaign said I had a double secret meeting, I had to like sneak in with the Abe Lincoln beard and glasses in the backdoor and I read about it in the New York Times the 24 hours later, they cracked security, so they’re handling the secret foreign policy plans a little better there like British intelligence, you know? Ah, the answer is, he’s a good friend of mine. I ran his last campaign and we talk a lot. I just talked to him a day or two ago. And I’m giving him free advice from the peanut gallery and I’m ready to do whatever I can to help him out. I mean, he’d be a great president, he’s a great American and he can win this election. He just needs to, you know, step up his game a click.
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Jesus f_cking christ…
June 25th, 2008 at 5:02 pmTo rogerse…
Yes. See here:
http://thinkprogress.org/ wonkroom/ 2008/ 06/ 24/ would-mccain-really/
June 25th, 2008 at 5:02 pmCan’t a man have cleavage? I’ve seen plenty of plumber’s with “Tremendous Ass Cleavage”
June 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pmPerhaps this is what was distracting?
rogerse Says:
In a new Fortune magazine article, Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) chief strategist Charlie Black claimed that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be “a big advantage” for their campaign.
Is that inaccurate…
- - Accuracy isn’t really the point. But since you went there, how did a terror attack help the incumbent party in Spain? Or Tony Blair’s government in England. Yeah, not so well. Truth is, no one can tell how a terror attack would affect our politics. But if the Republicans wanna hold out hope that we get smacked once again under their watch, so be it.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pmrogerse Says:
Yadda…yadda…yadda…
Is that inaccurate…
- - Accuracy isn’t really the point. But since you went there, how did a terror attack help the incumbent party in Spain? Or Tony Blair’s government in England. Yeah, not so well. Truth is, no one can tell how a terror attack would affect our politics. But if the Republicans wanna hold out hope that we get smacked once again under their watch, so be it.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pmHmmmm….sorry for whatever happened up there.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:06 pmThat’s it Republicans, keep digging.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:08 pmMURPHY: Charlie got off his focus, he’s a good guy, he’s apologized for it.
- - Keep in mind that Charlie Black is the best and most senior adviser McCain has. Confidence inspiring, eh?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pmI buy it!
I’ve always felt that the people from the Bush Admin have been distracted by an oversized johnson.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pmtremendous reporter cleavage involved….????
So they are explaining it away with a SEXIST JOKE? Well, that sure is telling.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pmZooey Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 5:10 pmJesus f_cking christ…
Zooey,
be careful. I think TP got mad at me for using the f. thing.
I’m trying to figure this “cleavage” thing:
I don’t know what happened. I think there must have been tremendous reporter cleavage involved or something.
It always boils down to sex, homophobia, religious zealots, and signed, Dear Abbey.
Maybe he was distracted by Katherine Harris…She’s an adviser to McSame.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pmSo they are explaining it away with a SEXIST JOKE? Well, that sure is telling.
He’s working the refs already. His good buddy probably put him up to it.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:13 pmOh My God, it just gets worse and worse! When I’d read that maybe McSame might not get the Republican nod in November I’d really doubted that story, but this makes me think that it Really might happen. The Three Stooges couldn’t screw up a candidacy like this! McSame is obviously Curley, but who should Moe and Larry be? Whichever it is, the coconut-like sound of their heads butting together is priceless.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:13 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Terrorists take note!
June 25th, 2008 at 5:13 pmThis is how you influence McCain’s people.
rogerse Says
June 25th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Is that inaccurate…
_________________________________________
Is what inaccurate? That Charlie Black didn’t actually say what he did? If he never said it, and the Fortune story was a lie, then all Black had to do was say so. Instead, he apologized for what he said, essentially admitting he said it.
On the other hand, if you are questioning whether or not it’s inaccurate that a 9/11-type terrorist attack would be beneficial for McCain’s campaign, it would be beneficial and we all know it — even though it would be a truly awful thing. Even McCain and all his staffers know it (even though there’s no reason to believe they would ever support such a thing). But no matter how much a tragic event would benefit somebody’s cause, that person would never admit such an awful thing unless he was a really sick person (most people wouldn’t even want to think such a thing).
June 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pmGee, just imagine what he might have said had a woman been breastfeeding nearby.
Idiots.
PEACE
June 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pmDarn — I think they’re onto us. We women have been using our cleavage to get men to do and say stupid things for eons now, but now that they know about it, the jig may be up…
June 25th, 2008 at 5:16 pmrogerse Says:
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Faiz Says:
tp is not a reliable/unbiased source…
June 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
So why are you hanging out here, halfwit? Do you actually think you’re having any impact on anyone’s opinions — other than the opinion that you’re inarticulate, uneducated dingleberry?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:18 pmSo if there is a terror attack that benefits McCain, the terrorists must want McCain as president. Therefore, McCain is aiding and abetting terrorism.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pmDennis Miller - Used to be funny…no longer…he’s just a fascist scumbag now!
Mike Murphy - Never was funny and is a fascist scumbag just like the UNFUNNY, BITTER, TOOL — DENNIS MILLER!!!!!
June 25th, 2008 at 5:23 pm“I think he’s gotta look in the mirror and get out the…old sword and make a decision.”
The “old sword” is the pathetic little thing between McStupid’s legs , btw……………..
June 25th, 2008 at 5:23 pmrogerse Says:
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misshusseinmolly Says:
Yeah, obviously harsh facts aren’t good in politics..
June 25th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Got that right ; just ask the unintelligible imbecile you still blindly and stupidly support that has a 19% approval rating.
You don’t get a number like that by even remotely associating with facts………..
June 25th, 2008 at 5:25 pmrogerse Says:
boobz are too cleaveland like Bill Kilton and his boodz deressed, tp anot there so to that ale culd be a carde.. the dems are pander too so culd what that has been over to bcause..
June 25th, 2008 at 5:26 pmTypical neoclown, clinging to guns, mazterbation and cleavage.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:29 pmOh, and if Blackie’s looking for a sword to fall on, he can borrow my ceremonial saber.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:30 pmrogerse Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 5:30 pmMei es blanc win I les brain es funkchun.
How could there ever be another terrorist attack? Faux and the AM hate radio mongers tell America everyday that herr dubyah has won the GWOT and that Iraqnam is the happy, fun-fun, good times war.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:31 pmAnd does anybody know why Murphy is a FORMER advisor to McIIIrd? Did he actually give him some GOOD advice at a point in time in the past? Or was he caught up in the lobbyist of the day purge a month or so ago?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:32 pmNext week they’ll be “The Family Values” party again.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pmdumbstruck Says:
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Next week they’ll be “The Family Values” party again.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Yeah
If their entire constituency consisted of the Manson Family alone…….
June 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pmIs rog serious?
Is rog incapable of using Teh Google?
Here’s what I found by clicking through the links provided by TP:
The assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December was an “unfortunate event,” says Black. “But his knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who’s ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us.” As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. “Certainly it would be a big advantage to him,” says Black.
That’s from the Fortune site, by the way.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:43 pmZooey - I was going to say the same thing that you posted…jes*s chr*st
Not only does McCain disrespect women, so do the people around him. They make me think of old men sitting in private clubs smoking cigars and drinking brandy while planning on how to hide more of their money and avoid taxes and save money on labor costs.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:43 pmCome on, Zed, admit it… you’re Billy Hill, ain’t ya?
June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pmAll Republican Operatives think politics is a fun grown-up game where you can act like bullying kids on the playground, lie at will, cover up those lies, make oodles of money, and laugh at the poor suckers who actually believe in the Bill of Rights even as you court them…
None of them have an ounce of integrity in them, and they all have that frantic look of the hunter/hunted in their chubby, Rovian faces…while they spout locker room cleavage jokes…
This pathetic guy is no exception…
June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pmRepublicans = GHOULS.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Darn — I think they’re onto us. We women have been using our cleavage to get men to do and say stupid things for eons now, but now that they know about it, the jig may be up…
Nope. Its magic, works even if we know about it. =D
June 25th, 2008 at 5:46 pmImagine that, a sexist joke to cover up fearmongering. What is up with these REICH WING kooks and the spew that comes out of their PIE HOLES…….
June 25th, 2008 at 5:46 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Is rog serious?
Is rog incapable of using Teh Google?
I am wondering if he ties his own shoelaces.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:50 pmLooks like this may be an all time record for McIIIrdian dumbfu(kery.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:51 pmFaiz, ‘rogerse’ is not going to read your link. I respectfully ask that you instead block his IP from TP’s server.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:54 pmYou’re a very handsome fella, Zed.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pmrogerse Says:
Yeah, obviously harsh facts aren’t good in politics..
Without that other roger, you are less than a half-wit. This isn’t just about politics, it’s about national security and being careful about how our words can be interpreted by others. Did you ever hear the phrase “Loose Lips Sink Ships”? Our government representatives should not be outing CIA agents, saying “Bring ‘Em On”, or suggesting to terrorists how they might have an effect on our elections. I don’t care if a reporter might have asked a leading question, there are diplomatic and subtle ways to respond. OK, I realize that therein lies the problem, but if the neocons knew how to lie about WMD, torture, spying procedures, etc you’d think they could wiggle out of a reporter’s question about an issue this important.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:00 pmYeah, that’s a good defense!
June 25th, 2008 at 6:05 pmRepressed Repugnicans, so obsessed with sex that they think of nothing else — so a reporter’s cleavage distracted Black’s train of thought.
Yeah, right! That’s the ticket!
Just wondering, is it possible that Ralph Reed is Charlie Blacks’ love child? They look a awful lot alike?
June 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pmSo Black was distracted by a male reporter’s cleveage. Nothing wrong with that. We are all adults here. Well most of us, anyway.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:10 pmLessons of the day:
(1) Republican strategy for excusing inexcusable comments equating the death of Americans in terrorist attacks with electoral success involves sexist jokes;
(2) Charlie Black apparently gets distracted by man-boobs (another Log Cabin Republican is born);
(3) The resident troll o’ the day on this board is too freakin’ stupid to refrain from the “harsh facts aren’t good in politics” canard despite the fact that his own candidate recoiled when confronted with his advisor’s comments;
(4) The wingnut wet dream of another 9/11 saving the day proves that the Republican base is as clueless as it is evil. The only thing the chimp has left is the hollow claim that nobody has attacked us since he got caught with pet goat around his ankles on 9/11 (because, you know, over 4000 war dead in Iraq don’t count even though Iraq is, you know, the central front on the war on terror). If AQ scores in this country again only the secret service is gonna stop chimpy and The Dick from getting full Mussolini treatment.
Other than that, just another day at the office.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:15 pmpaleolib Says:
(4) The wingnut wet dream of another 9/11 saving the day proves that the Republican base is as clueless as it is evil. The only thing the chimp has left is the hollow claim that nobody has attacked us since he got caught with pet goat around his ankles on 9/11 (because, you know, over 4000 war dead in Iraq don’t count even though Iraq is, you know, the central front on the war on terror). If AQ scores in this country again only the secret service is gonna stop chimpy and The Dick from getting full Mussolini treatment.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
But. We’re “fighting them over there” so they don’t need to attack us over here. Wait. That don’t make sense.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:21 pmMaybe he confuses cleavage with the reporter’s ass crack?
June 25th, 2008 at 6:45 pmceltic cynic Says:
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Maybe he confuses cleavage with the reporter’s ass crack?
June 25th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Then he needs to invest in a human anatomy book and a compass……..
June 25th, 2008 at 6:54 pm#54 cc
June 25th, 2008 at 6:56 pmYou frequently make me chuckle. :)
Marie Says:
Yeah, that’s a good defense!
Repressed Repugnicans, so obsessed with sex that they think of nothing else — so a reporter’s cleavage distracted Black’s train of thought.
Yeah, right! That’s the ticket!
A male reporter,at that.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:56 pm/snicker
Wayne Says:
I am wondering if he ties his own shoelaces.
You didn’t get the blast email; Roger2’s mom got him/her/it a pair of those cool shoes with velcro straps and light up when he/she/it walks on them.
Unfortunately, that last feature has totally flummuxed him/her/it. Still trying to figure out hoe that magic function works.
Might explains SOME of the troll dropping being left here by Roger2.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:20 pmrogerse Says:
misshusseinmolly Says:
Yeah, obviously harsh facts aren’t good in politics..
No, it’s not good for REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS, it’s why you ALL RUN FROM THEM, and LIE THROUGH YOUR TEETH as REPUBLICAN VOTERS!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:39 pmA free pass for Teflon John’s buddy Charlie Black and blame Black’s idiotic comment on a boob. Yet, if Obama or his advisers sneeze the wrong way, the media become judge, jury, and executioners.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:09 pmWell I wouldn’t be surprised if he got distracted by a tremendous bulge in some guy’s pants.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pmTo answer Rogerse post;
One of the biggest things I hear from die hard republicans, is “Bush has kept us safe”. In my opinion, a terrorist attack would hurt McCain, primarily because it would indicate that the Bush policy is not keeping us safe.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:20 am.
I still didn’t hear Mike Murphy’s explanation as to why an attack on this Nation is a good thing…
I just heard an excuse as to why Black said what he said.
I heard NO repudiation of Black’s comments, wishing America had been attacked again.
Oh, I see… These people are Newt’s kids…
“JOKING” about wishing an attack upon one’s Nation… ?
.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:07 amIf Gramps and his stooges were elected and we were to be attacked by terrorists and Charlie’s Angels reruns were on TV Land would we be SOL?
June 26th, 2008 at 6:59 amMcCain, in the past, has had his own issue with cleavage. Does this mean that a McSame presidency could be infiltrated by a spy with a little cleavage and America would be less safe? This kind of “joke” certainly does not help either Black nor McSame.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:42 am