Flashback:McCain And His Top Adviser Decried Robo-Slime Against Him This Year
It never ends. Michael Cooper of The New York Times reports that John McCain and his advisers complained about robo-sleaze earlier this year, when the tactic was used -- natch -- against him.
Cooper writes that this past January, McCain and senior adviser Steve Schmidt were exorcised by calls that were directed at McCain, as part of the GOP primary in South Carolina. Cooper took down the quotes at the time; it's unclear if they were ever published until now.
McCain called the calls "scurrilous stuff." And Schmidt described robocalls as "slanderous and smearing."
But that was then. As Cooper notes, the McCain campaign's current robocall campaign is "just the latest instance of Mr. McCain embracing the very kind of negative or misleading campaign tactics he once denounced." Just the latest, indeed.
Is anyone watching Hardball right now? My god it's getting crazy out there.
October 17, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's happening on the Tweety show?
John
October 17, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was watching for a second. Are you talking about the KKK/Weathermen discussion? That was strange.
October 17, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. But it started with a Republican congresswoman from MN basically asserting that the media isn't doing enough to uncover who in Congress and the Senate is anti-American. Tweety just about lost his mind at the new McCarthyism.
October 17, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
By chance was that Congressperson Michelle Bachmann? She's completely out of her mind.
October 17, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
She has that creepy Katherine Harris look as well.
October 17, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
O she's the one who came running the aisle in Congress as Commander CooCoo was making his way out after the SOTU and she grabbed him, spun him around, planted herself on his lips and liked to never let go - o I remember her now.
Repug bimbos - they all dream of black patent thigh boots.
October 17, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL You are just too awesome, Tena
October 17, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do like Tweety lately. He is more willing to let it fly now that he has been branded part of MSNBC's liberal wing. He also (sadly) is one of the best defenders of our Consitutional Democracy on mainstream TV. He really gets going over the guilt by association stuff, and I kinda love him for it.
October 17, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
God I hate to say this.
I called him names for years.
And now I have to co-sign your comment.
But I still hate Kristol, Bobo is still an ass ("We have been watching Obama for some time now...and in the end he's possibly so serene he's dull. In the first place, Bobo, using the royal "we" is really pretentious and you also just proved you don't know many African Americans), Nooners is still nutso, Krauthammer is still and obnoxious twit,...
October 17, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, some people can never get back on our good side, no matter what they do, right? I feel that way about Fred Hiatt.
October 17, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Some people are going to have to bring a lot more atonement if they really want to be taken seriously by me - and I doubt most of those people care.
;)
October 17, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. And his rage at her was barely contained. He turned it all into a very sardonic interview, let her just dig a hole and step right in.
October 17, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm watching it MPCBoston. Usually I'd be mad, but when you think about Pat Buchanan and that steaming pile of shit in the form of Michele Bachmann spewing that drivel simply because Obama is ahead - it just seemed like desperation on their part.
October 17, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's definitely desperation, but I found all of it, the conversation, pretty intense. And Matthews, who I usually don't have much use for, really nailed how dangerous this most recent robo-call is, how it seems to imply that Obama actually took part in terrorist activities. I have to admit, he did a good job of explicating the text of it.
October 17, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a question for you. If you were standing up to your neck in a pile of Michelle Bachman (a.k.a. steaming pile of shit), and somebody threw a bucket of McCain's puke at your head, would you duck?
October 17, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is root canal surgery without anesthetic an option? I'd go as far as spleen removal if necessary.
October 17, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can I sign up for proctology study instead?
October 17, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR MCCAIN!!!
October 17, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cool... it's in the NYTimes, which means other parts of the Village will pick it up.
John
October 17, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, how is this different from any of the other things McCain has totally flip-flopped on? He hardly says anything at all, without saying the precise opposite somewhere between 5 seconds and 5 years later.
October 17, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell on MTP this weekend with Brokaw:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608
Is this where Powell comes out with an endorsement?
I still think Powell is too gutless every to take a risk and a position. He sold us down the river with that UN speach. He wasn't willing to resign before the 2004 election when he could have put a big hole in the Admin's credibility with the War, only leaving after it. At the times that he could have stood up, he hasn't.
John
October 17, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm really a little nervous about the Powell endorsement. I do believe he sincerely believes Obama is the better candidate, but seeing that he came out this month as a character witness in the Stevens trial saying Stevens' word was "sterling," it's clear that he still hasn't found his integrity. I am afraid that McCain may have bribed or otherwise coopted him into an October surprise--an endorsement of McCain.
I personally don't think a Powell endorsement of Obama would mean very much--people who dislike Obama would dismiss it because of Powell's race or because of his past betrayals. But I think a surprise Powell endorsement of McCain would be devestating.
October 17, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I at least partially disagree. I agree his defense of Stevens shows he still has character issues, but I don't think the country at large knows anything about it.
What Powell could do is give Obama some of the military vote, and help him with men. To some people, Powell remains untainted, possibly because he dropped out of the Bush administration (at least as far as anyone can see) fairly early on.
Not untainted to me, mind you.
October 17, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good work Greg.
TPM has been on the frontlines of this story more than anyone. No one is too naive to be surprised of McCain's hypocrisy, but the story needs to become mainstream, and TPM are the ones who are helping it to become one.
October 17, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes -- and TPM also helps the Obama camp, like the ACORN Probe US Attorneys Scandal link. Superb job.
Thank god for the power of internet community. They may have gotten away with their robocall or mailer crap ten years ago, but they can't anymore. We won't let them. We will expose them, we will.
October 17, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Greg. They were "exercised" about it. Exorcism is what we should do to McCain to banish the demon that has lived inside him since "Barry" took the lead.
October 17, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
My wife just asked...
Why can't we be put on 'do not call' lists for robocalls from any campaign we chose, as we do for other annoying sales call. Shouldn't the same laws apply?
If they don't, shouldn't some enterprising lawmaker introduce one that takes care of this?
October 17, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Typical Obamabot. Wants to pass a law and "change" things. So naive.
When will you liberal elites wake up and realize that it is hardworking unlicensed plumbers like Joe that built this country, not you and your precious "laws".
October 17, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 17, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
An exception was written in to the DNC registry law that excludes political calls.
I really think McCain is going to further hurt himself with this. I have never met anyone who likes robocalls.
October 17, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
R2D2?
October 17, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! You're on a roll today!
October 17, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been away for a few days. Clears the head, and recharges the snark-o-matic.
October 17, 2008 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robocalls are always scary and annoying, but this one takes the cake.
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/33868/John-McCain-Robo-Call
October 17, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Predicted here:
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/impulsively-unreflective-duo-inmccain.html
The Impulsively Unreflective Duo In..."McCain Goes Negative"
In our last episode, we saw the indomitable, impulsive duo suspend the campaign to take on the Crisis on Wall Street! Now, watch, as, in our next episode...McCain Goes Negative!
McCain paces the floor in the Fortress of Irritability. He is cracking walnuts.
A walnut slips to the floor.
McCain: Damn nutcracker!
Sarah Palin is sitting in a chair at a desk. She is writing on a piece of paper: "J.M + S.P." This is then crossed out and replaced by "S.P. + J.M.". These alternating versions , the one before it always crossed out, continues down the page.
McCain: Well, the first plan didn't work. We tried to put them in a trance with the folksy ray, but they had their deflectors halfway raised. If only you hadn't called the commander in Afghanistan "McClellan"
Palin: But...didn't you say they were fighting a civil war, Sir?
McCain stops pacing, looks at Palin silently. He is smiling through tight lips but he is holding back anger.
McCain: "I think the time has come. We have to call in...Dr. Negative."
He pushes a large black button, which is the only button on a red phone on his desk.
Dr. Negative immediately bursts through the door. He is carrying flyers, masking tape; telephone wires are wrapped around his arms hanging in every way; a tattered copy of the book "Accusations of Fascism, Communism, Terrorism, Drug Use, Pedophilia, Islamism, Adultery, Pandeism, Cannibalism, Cubism, Miscegenation, and Spousal Abuse...for Dummies!" is rolled and stuffed in his left pocket, filled with bookmarks; he is dragging a Robocaller behind him, leashed to a chain.
Dr. Negative (quickly, eagerly): Did you hear? Obama was born in Bin Laden's subterranean bomb making factory, outside of U.S. lines. He was born on a pile of cocaine and dynamite--and the midwife was a Trotskyite!
McCain: Not yet, Dr. Negative. I want you to meet Sarah.
Sarah: Oh, we've already met.
Dr. Negative: That trooper went down! He poisoned the salmon milk at the Wasilla Bible school! With drugs made at a Leftist Satan worshiping collective! That you could see from Russia!
Sarah: You betcha'!
Sarah and Dr. Negative give each other a high five. Dr. Negative's telephone wires rattle on his arm as he does so, triggering the Robocaller, which starts playing "...illegitimate babies made in test tube factories in North Korea and sent to Chicago by Bill Ayers..."
Dr. Negative shuts off the Robocaller with an embarassed smile.
Dr. Negative: Just practicing.
There is a pause.
McCain: That's fine, Dr. Negative. That's fine. Because, now, I have a special job for you. An important one.
Dr. Negative leaps into the air with excited glee. As he does, detritus falls to the floor--buttons reading "Election Day: Remember, the 3rd Tuesday in November!"; business cards, reading "Push Polls Anonymous--We Call, They Fall" and "Mongers On Call-No Rumor Too Far fetched"; Bandaids with purple hearts; mangled and dirty chads.
Dr. Negative: A new job! A special job! Oh, Mr. McCain! I'm ready! I'm ready!
Sarah watches from her chair, filing her nails.
McCain: Now, Dr. Negative. You have to make him seem radical...
Dr. Negative quickly pulls a can out of his right pocket, emblazoned with the word "Radical" He opens the top. Red and Black snakes fly out.
Dr. Negative: (eagerly, expectantly, hungrily) Yes...Yes...
McCain: You'll have to start rumors that are so inflammatory that they will spread like wildfire, and that will be started too late to stop them with the actual truth...
Dr. Negative pulls a gigantic grinder out of his left pocket. It is labeled "Rumor Mill". He turns the crank a few times. Hamsters, syringes, and Peace symbols fly out.
Dr. Negative: Yes...Yes...
He is salivating.
McCain: They will have to be so incredible, so over-the-top, based on such tawdry and poorly sourced evidence, yet riddled with tempting minutia--bullet gauges, Google maps of supposed meetings and the like, that the right will eat them up, and start analyzing the minutia with adolescent glee.
Dr. Negative (Very calmly, matter of fact): Oh, that's easy. They'll eat anything.
Dr. Negative reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a manila envelope labeled "Minutia: So-called "Proof" for the Right". He empties it to the floor. Bullet gauge measures, outdated copies of Photoshop, paperbacks entitled "How to Use the Insane as Competent Witnesses", "The Faked Moon Landings! Roswell! And Other Believable Phenomena!" and "You TOO Can Be A Warrior--From Your Own Couch!" fall to the floor.
Sarah plucks out the "Faked Moon Landings" book. She starts reading.
McCain: We know how our girl loves to read.
Sarah stops, and begins fixing her hair in a hand mirror.
McCain: Now, Dr. Negative, there is one final task.
Dr. Negative: Yes, Mr. McCain?
McCain: It is very difficult. Very...dark.
Dr. Negative: (Leaning forward expectantly, his voice quivering with excitement): Yes, Mr. McCain, Yes?
McCain: You will have to play the card that they played against me. Do you understand?
The room becomes silent. Sarah stops looking at herself, and looks towards the center of the room where McCain and Dr. Negative are staring at each other.
Dr. Negative: You mean...(eyes widened with disbelief. His telephone wires are quietly shaking as he shivers).
McCain (nodding): Yes.
Dr. Negative slowly removes from his jacket pocket what seems to be an ordinary pack of playing cards. They are labeled "Joker" brand. He takes a penknife from his pocket, and slowly slices the covering cellophane. There is a slight and distant roar. He looks at McCain.
McCain nods.
Dr. Negative then slowly removes the red ribbon encircling the cellophane at the top of the pack. He inserts the penknife--holding it from it very farthest end--and flips open the top of the pack.
Smoke begins to pour from the top of the pack, thick, acrid smoke. It quickly fills the room, covering all that is in sight.
McCain (shouting amidst the sound of smoke rushing into the room): And remember--no fingerprints!
Next episode: The smoke is cleared.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/10/impulsively-unreflective-duo-inmccain.html
October 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink