McCain Camp: Tough Questioners Of Obama = ‘Regular’ Voters; Tough Questioners Of Palin = ‘Gotcha’ Media
McCain Camp: Tough Questioners Of Obama = ‘Regular’ Voters; Tough Questioners Of Palin = ‘Gotcha’ Media
Today on Fox News, Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds launched a defense of Joe the Plumber, criticizing the media for scrutinizing “an everyday average voter that asked Barack Obama a question on a voter.” He also compared this “average” citizen to Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), who also “dared” to question Obama:
BOUNDS: Just like we’re seeing with Joe the Plumber, the same thing is happening to Sarah Palin. She dared to test and ask questions of Barack Obama. She was a threat to Barack Obama and Barack Obama’s campaign and his allies in the media attacked her background, attacked her standings just like they’re doing with an everyday average voter that asked Barack Obama a question on a voter — on his own doorstep basically.
In an earlier Fox segment, host Megyn Kelly similarly went on tirade against “left-wing blogs” who have supposedly besmirched Joe, saying he was just a “regular American citizen who asked a question of a presidential candidate.” Watch the two clips:
Conservatives’ embrace of Joe the Plumber stands in stark contrast to their treatment of average voter Michael Rovito. Last month, Palin stumbled while visiting a cheesesteak joint in Philadelphia when Rovito asked the governor about her thoughts on the situation in Pakistan. In an interview with Katie Couric, McCain called Rovito a “gotcha” journalist:
McCAIN: But, look, I understand this day and age of “gotcha” journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn’t hear…the question very well, you don’t know the context of the conversation, grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don’t announce that you’re going to attack another country … Before you say, “is she sorry she said it,” this was a “gotcha” sound bite that, look —
COURIC: It wasn’t a “gotcha.” She was talking to a voter.
McCAIN: No, she was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth.
So voters grilling Obama on his economic policies are just average citizens wanting answers to legitimate questions. But voters trying to question the elusive Palin are “gotcha” journalists.
Transcript:
KELLY: Here’s the problem I have, Howard. This is why I get upset with what you said. These left-wing blogs have come up swinging against Joe the Plumber. It is the most ridiculous outcry. This is just a regular American citizen who asked a question of a presidential candidate. And now you’ve got the left-wing blogs — which I won’t give the dignity of naming on this broadcast — reading his divorce papers and suggesting terrible things about him. … All of which is beside the point. The only point Joe the Plumber has served is to ask a question about where the candidates stand on an issue that’s important to Americans.
—-
BOUNDS: Just like we’re seeing with Joe the Plumber, the same thing is happening to Sarah Palin. She dared to test and ask questions of Barack Obama. She was a threat to Barack Obama and Barack Obama’s campaign and his allies in the media attacked her background, attacked her standings just like they’re doing with an everyday average voter that asked Barack Obama a question on a voter — on his own doorstep basically. And what did we see this morning in the papers? We’ve got reporters. We have Joe Biden last night on national television questioning Joe the Plumber is a plumber, which he in fact is a plumber.
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It’s always the questioner, its never the question….
October 17th, 2008 at 11:54 amIgnorant Joe the fake plumber was trying to spew Repukian Talking Points and it didn’t work out so well for the fake plumber who owes back taxes…when you are a LIV then just maybe you shouldn’t open your clap-trap.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:55 amNovember 4 can’t come soon enough.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:56 amHave these idiots/liars not heard that Joe isn’t named Joe, isn’t a licensed plumber, doesn’t own any business and isn’t realistically ever going to buy one, and doesn’t earn 20% of the $250K income he alleged he would soon be receiving?
October 17th, 2008 at 12:00 pmRight wingers whine too much.
What a bunch of babies.
(no offense to actual babies)
Progressive Jazz:
October 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pmhttp://ere.digi-one.com
Its not Obama whos using Joe the Plumber as a campaign centerpiece. Its McCain. He brought him up in the debate and then mentioned him I think 15 times, and likely planted him to question Obama. The so called “attacks” is what reality based people call scrutiny and its perfectly warranted. And as the scrutiny shows apparently Joe the Plumber would benefit more from the Obama plan than McCains.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:02 pmRepublicans are the poor, downtrodden, average voter-type victims. Pity them, defer to them, because nothing that is wrong or bad is their fault. They are perfect, and it is others who victimize them. They are the eternal victims. “Oh, woe is us,” cry the poor little republicans as they strike their best Jesus on the cross pose.
I’ve seen more integrity and personal responsibility from children. How has the republican party become the party of self-styled martyrs, swimming in adolescent angst and denials of all responsibility to anything at all? Pathetic excuses for adults.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pmI wish the candidate would discuss global poverty more. According to The Borgen Project:
October 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget
Guido the Loving OBGYN Says:
Next? Shall we talk some more about Rush Limbaugh’s huge breasts?
_____________
Huh??? Wha…??? Gee, t’anks, Guido… years and years of expensive therapy down the drain, just like that… I’m talking to a PI lawyer, and TODAY.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pmmarisha30_1984 Says:
I wish the candidate would discuss global poverty more. According to The Borgen Project:
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget
____________
Sorry, marisha, but we all know hungry people work harder…
Especially when you’re holding an F-22 on them…
October 17th, 2008 at 12:11 pmMeanwhile back on planet earth, the rich get richer and poor get poorer and all we get is Kabookee theatre for the masses.
I think I would rather talk about the Coyote and the Road Runner and how we might find away to end the tensions that have resulted in the mass destruction of Arizona Highways.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pmI would like to say we are all a notion of whiners but I can`t.The REICH is whining because of Gotcha journalism, come on, get some brass and tell it like it is.You are getting your hats handed to you and you can`t take it, stop the hypocrisy!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pmAwwwwww, poor widdle misundestood wepubwicans!!
Quick, somebody, call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHmbulance!!
*eyeroll*
October 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pmSen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds
– - Or as he’s known to most of the media, Tucker “out of” Bounds.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:16 pmI have to take issue with this headline.
What tough questions has Palin been asked? “What’s your opinion of the situation in Pakistan?” That’s neither a tough question nor a gotcha question. That’s the most basic question imaginable on perhaps the most critical element of U.S. foreign policy. If she can’t formulate a coherent answer, she’s an unqualified idiot.
But we knew that already.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pmNovember 4 can’t come soon enough.
I agree. This month is going by so slow!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pmGuido; Is Trannie Coulter’s Adam’s apple is larger/smaller than Blush Limpdick’s boobs?
snark
October 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pmmarisha30_1984 Says:
I wish the candidate would discuss global poverty more.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
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No argument here. Both candidates have been very quiet on domestic AND global poverty, as well as the global food crisis which is about to get much, much worse as it dovetails with the credit crisis. I’d really like to see Obama at least mention these issues.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pmBOUNDS: Just like we’re seeing with Joe the Plumber, the same thing is happening to Sarah Palin.
Hardly he’s not trying to be VP of the USA.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pmIf we talk issues, we’ll lose. if we let sarah palin(in experience) answer questions, we’ll lose faster.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pmKatie Couric: Ms Palin, what newspapers do you read?
October 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pmMoose-Barbie: Oooh, that’s a toughie. Can I get back to you on that? I need to check with my staff?
If the votes are counted and barring some election disrupting event, then Obama will be the next president. At that point, he will be given the wheel to the Titanic and the folks that brought him to the dance (Wallstree/Pritzkers – google and learn!) will get their “get of out jail free card, do pass go, do receive $200.
You will be left with your Sarah Palin dart board and a box of stale pretzels.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pmgalmud, I think McCain used him 21 times in the debate. He does not have a license. He earns $40,000 a year, is nowhere close to buying the business, and would be better off with Obama as president.
marisha, we spend about $950 billion every year on our military, because there is much outside the Pentagon budget.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:25 pmWe would all be better off with Ralph Nader as president. If you think Ralph had anything to do with John Kerry losing the election, tune into HBO and watch:
http://www.hbo.com/films/recount/
October 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pmCorrection . . Switch Al Gore with John Kerry . . I get confused about all the stolen elections
October 17th, 2008 at 12:34 pmThe lying right wing republican crime syndicate are dangerous to America and our future.
THEY MUST BE STOPPED and NEUTRALIZED!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pmSarah Palin is vacuous and Tucker Bounds is a dip shit.
Let’s put Sarah’s qualification to a test and to rest once and for all. Someone as Jeff Foxworthy to invite Palin to an episode of Smarter Than a Fifth Grader – prior to the election. Better yet she should appear on Jeopardy.
Wow, can you see her just ducking an weaving to turn down those invitation.
PALIN IS NOT QUALIFIED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:41 pmI really do think that the Republicans don’t understand the word “vetting”. Joe the Plumber is not being slandered, he is being vetted. And he is proving himself to be a liar, a tax cheat and possibly a crook (doing plumbing work without a license).
Those poor Republicans, everyone is picking on them. Do you think if we give them some cheese to go with their whine they will shut up?
October 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm#galmud Says:
Its not Obama whos using Joe the Plumber as a campaign centerpiece. Its McCain. He brought him up in the debate and then mentioned him I think 15 times, and likely planted him to question Obama.
I truly believe that this was a setup. It happens that ‘Joe’ is a well known caller to a local right wing talk show. What I think happened was that the radio host called ‘Joe’ to let him know that Obama was going to be in his area and suggested he ask Obama questions that can possibly be used by the RNC.
I’m sorry Republicans, I don’t think a skinhead, unlicensed plumber, tax cheat and liar is someone you want to hold up as your “average American”.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:46 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I really do think that the Republicans don’t understand the word “vetting”. Joe the Plumber is not being slandered, he is being vetted. And he is proving himself to be a liar, a tax cheat and possibly a crook (doing plumbing work without a license).
October 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
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By the looks of it, they spent just as much time vetting Joe as they did vetting Palin.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:46 pmTucker Bounds ought to head back to the teeball leagues, as had Mrs. Sarah Traitor, who makes babies with a secessionist whose fearless terrorist leader got blown up by c4 while plotting terror attacks.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pmradiodujour:
We would all be better off with Dennis Kucinich as president, too.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to write him in on the ballot when my vote could go to Obama, which to me is as much about preventing a McCain/Palin administration as anything else.
But oh well, do as you will.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:49 pmNot to mention someone who it looks like might be at least tangentially related to the Keating 5 scandal…
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/joe-plumber-more-joe-keating-family-
October 17th, 2008 at 12:52 pmWho knew! Thanks to David Letterman last night we learned from John McCain himself that he is close friends with G Gordon Liddy of Watergate scandel and he gets campaign money from his good friend. When asked about Obama’s meeting Ayreas at the age of 8 years old McCain said well he knows terrorist. McCain also cleared up the fact for those who didn’t know this, Alaska is the largest State in the USA, Sarah Palin was and is the most famous Govenor and he gave Sarah’s qualifications for VP spot highlighting she was a PTA member, City Council person, Mayor and now Govenor of yes the largest State in the United States of America. I’m sure our kids will get lower grades listening to John McCain’s views of our country.
As it stands now most immigrants testing to become American citizens know more about the United States then Americans born in this country. When I saw the test questions they have to pass it should be used in our schools and by every adult.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pmWhat is these people (and I use that term loosely when referring to the McCain campaign and their apologists) don’t understand about the probing into the fiction called “Joe the Plumber”? The Obama campaign and even much of the press/media are not dummies. This guy approaches Obama on a rope line with a rather implausible personal scenario. (What $40,000-60,000/year plumber could afford to buy a $250,000-280,000/year business in these times?!?!? The purchase price would be in the neighborhood of $1 million!!) Yet, Obama politely takes the time to give him a detailed (and sympathetic) answer laying out his tax plan. The, lo ‘n behold, this “Joe” becomes the centerpiece of McCain’s Debate III attacks!! Sorry, Mr. Tucker Bounds, but 2 + 2 still equals 4, dots still beg to be connected, and alarm bells going off in our collective head need responding to — even in the Alice-down-the-rabbit-hole world of John McCain and his lunatic campaign. The ordinary “Joe” on the rope line starts looking like just-another-plant “Joe” when McCain starts tossing his name around like a combination hacky-sack and grenade. The press/media (and the trusty blogs) would be remiss in not raising questions about “Joe the Plumber” and getting answers!! (I agree the media’s 24 hr. news on-screen obsession with the guy went overboard but a fact-finding foray was more than warranted.) And guess what, Mr. Tucker Bounds, “Joe” didn’t stand up to the scrutiny, did he? The man was a fraud! Whether Joe planted himself or the McCain camp did the planting, he wasn’t who he claimed to be and his situation wasn’t what he said it was. Now, under scrutiny and the glaring light of truth, he admits that “Yup, Joe the Plumber” would fare better under Obama’s tax plan!”
October 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pmRe #36 — Let’s try that opening line again: “What is it with these people…?
October 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pmWhen will the “journalists” and Repugnicans remember that they live in this country too, and we all sink or swim together? They need to look seriously at what they are putting out about these candidates. They must look beyond the next sound bite or controversy they can conjure up, because whatever happens to us, happens to them!
October 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pmPoor Tucker Bounds. His career will be over once McSame loses. He has nothing else going for him but his unique skills with respect to delivering lies, innuendos, and ignorant generalizations. Sorry Tucker Bounds! It’s hard to be that stupid and then get hung out to dry.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pmWhen will the “journalists” and Repugnicans remember that they live in this country too, and we all sink or swim together? They need to look seriously at what they are putting out about these candidates.
February 16th, 2009 at 8:48 ammirc
sohbet
Just like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. toki This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch
of stupid politicians araç sorgulama were sure the NVA
was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). ssk sorgulama You would think he would have learned from others’
mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. key ödemeleri This
century it apparently will be all Muslims, kredi all of whom must
be alQaeda operatives.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:49 pmWhat exactly is her argument here? ..
March 11th, 2009 at 9:53 ammirc
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