Finally! John McCain Stars In His Own Robo-Slime Call
It's the perfect coda to robo-slime-gate.
John McCain has now recorded his own robo-slime calls, several readers report, in which he uses Joe Biden's recent prediction that Obama would be tested by a foreign policy crisis to hit Obama as unprepared to combat terror.
Sharon Smith, a software exec in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, reports to us that her answering machine recorded the call this afternoon. She transcribed and sent in the script, which was delivered by McCain himself:
Hi. This is John McCain, and I'm calling today because while much of this election is focused on fixing our broken economy, we must also remember that dictators and terrorists worldwide are still plotting America's destruction.Joe Biden has said that the election of Barack Obama as our president would invite a major international security crisis that Senator Obama would be unprepared to handle. The fact is that such a crisis doesn't need to occur.
I've prepared my entire life to understand what is needed to keep America safe in a dangerous world. I ask for your vote today. It couldn't be more important. Paid for by McCain-Palin 2008.
Several readers in other states report McCain's voice appearing in other robo-slime calls, too. It's funny that the McCain team apparently waited until the last day to do this.
Too late for this gimmick to have any meaningful effect, but how very sad --- he's got nothing left.
Honor, integrity, principles --- all gone.
November 4, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
all gone
November 4, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
gimmick is such a great word here - the whole McCain campaign was a series of gimmicks. And they didn't string together into any kind of coherent anything, really.
November 4, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so hoping the Senators won't welcome with open arms the grumpy, mean-spirited, delusional, woman-hating, confused small old man when he's back to the Hill. He's doing everything to lose everything, so that's what he deserves.
November 4, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
My coworker reported that he received this call in Michigan.
November 4, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/4/153043/224/133/652783
I am calling people and it is fun. 4 for Obama in Ohio. If you have unlimited with cell phone, this is well worth the effort.
November 4, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bye John. Here's hoping the doorknob gets rammed up your ass when the door hits you on the way out.
November 4, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Diet Mountain Dew is all over my screen now.
November 4, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thread drift...
We've talked a lot about early voting in places like NC and FL and CO. Check out the numbers in GA:
http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html
20% early vote in 2004.
61% of the total vote from 2004 was reached by early vote already in GA. 3 times the number.
The splits look good for the Dems as well.
I'm feeling enthused about our chances in GA of all freaking places. Perhaps Obama only "comes close". But that's going to be good for Chamblis, and if it ends up a run off, we can go to Ground Game full scale there and grab that seat.
John
November 4, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will be very surprised if there's not a runoff for Chambliss' seat. The libertarian candidate is apparently polling quite well, so it is doubtful that Saxyby will get the requisite 50%. All hands on deck for the runoff!!!
November 4, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn the torpedoes!
Full speed ahead!
What a sad shell of a man he has become.
November 4, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious. McCain would love to use the example of 9/11 of what happens when you don't have an experienced or prepared President, but unfortunately he received a full-throated endorsement from and lovingly embraced the guy in charge on the day of the worst terror attack this country has ever seen. So, it doesn't get mentioned, and the robocall just becomes another in a long series of late, desperate, hogwash campaign stunts.
I can't wait for this guy and his ignorant cheeseball running mate to go away.
November 4, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
"MOMMY, THERE'S A GRUMPY OLD MAN ON THE LINE CALLING ME HIS FRIEND!"
"Just hang up, son - change is here!"
November 4, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi. This is John McCain. Vote for me or you will die. Paid for my McLame-Failin '08.
November 4, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even now, I have to ask, who is the real John McCain?
We can't ask him. He doesn't know anymore either.
November 4, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN to release first set of exit polls at the top of the hour.
November 4, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did you all see that thing on HuffPo about FOX & FRIENDS today accusing Obama of showboating for camera face time for taking so long at the polling booth today?
Later on, someone showed the size of the Illinois ballot in Cook County, the same ballot I used to vote earlier this week - the mofo is about 2 ft. long! It takes forever to fill out.
God forbid those Fox idiots should vet before they...oh cripes, look who they support for Prez - the vetter himself!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/fox-friends-host-gretchen_n_140989.html
November 4, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
O shit don't tell me we're going to be paying attention to exit polls.
I don't know if my nerves can take exit polls -
November 4, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol
November 4, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nate Silver at 538.com gives 10 good reasons to ignore exit polls.
November 4, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
No exit polls! Ignore the exit polls! Boycott!
November 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
no kidding--especially after the Kerry/Edwards ticket did so well in the exit polls and they turned out to be wrong. I'm not sure I can go there again--but I probably will.
November 4, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
GOTV: I just called a woman in Virginia, in her 50's, screamed at me that she had four of these f**king calls today and take her name off the list, wow. I had to hang up........
November 4, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch. That's why I've been hesitant to call... I know that would be my reaction, too.
Does anyone have research on how effective human calls are? We know that robo-calls for any purpose simply don't work. Ever. We know that face-to-face contacts via doorknocking and whatnot can have tremendous impact. But I haven't seen research on human GOTV calls. I'm personally very dubious, but... I don't have data, so that's just a gut feeling based on my own biases.
November 4, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was you?? :-)
November 4, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny Joe :) WOW. She just called me back, OMG. But after all that, and she was still very pissed due to all the calls, yet she had voted for Obama, and said she was sorry she did if this is how he is running his campaign. I therefore explained how there are city and county lists, etc. that Senator Obama could not control. I also explained that I informed the national GOTV not to call her, and apologized. Freaked out when she called me, I don't have blocked ID on my cell.
November 4, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blocked the caller ID now for sure.......
November 4, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good for you! Sometimes it takes an extra push to make a difference and you're doing just that! Keep it up...all of you!
November 4, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's 5 o'clock. Why the fuck are Scarbourough and Buchanan on my teevee?!
November 4, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Buchanan can tell you how wonderful Palin is and Scarborough can cry some crocodile tears over her sexist treatment.
November 4, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This just in! Lieberman claims FEAR at the thought of Democrats taking Senate 60 seats.
Two things the Dems need to do right off the bat:
(1) demote Reid and put Hillary as Senate Majority Leader
(2) dump Lieberman and all of his leadership credentials. This guy would make Benedict Arnold cringe!
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/04/lieberman-caucus-dems/
November 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't hate Reid as much as a lot of people do, but he's anti-choice and that makes me nervous no matter who it is.
From my view, anyone who is anti-choice is anti-woman because it's really about women owning their own bodies in the same way men do.
The other side decided to make it about babies. It's not. But I guess I should get back to Reid - I'd prefer Senator Clinton myself.
November 4, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait. Doesn't he caucus with the Democrats? Jeez, he's just done. Adios seniority!
November 4, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"So the filibuster is one of the important protections we have," Lieberman.
"We" means him and the Republicans. Time for him to be let go.
November 4, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes, I bet there's plenty of joementum to get him out.
November 4, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a piece of crap he is. What a traitor. I. HATE. HIM.
November 4, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand that Lieberman has gone all in with his endorsement of McCain, but I have to say that it freaks me out a little bit that they are ALWAYS together. Every single time I see McCain at a rally, there's Joe standing right behind him. It's a little creepy.
November 4, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Hillary would be terrific as the Senate Majority Leader.
November 4, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
She would!!
November 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meh. I'd prefer someone with more experience.
(Is it too early to start with these types of jokes?)
November 4, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN's has some really nice graphics. MSNBC graphics looks ok, but CNN has that magic board so they win.
November 4, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is saying he's feeling momentum.
I'm guessing it's the Metamucil kicking in.
November 4, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exit Polls
They are starting to roll in on CNN and they're looking real good for Barack.
By the way, McCain's 527 group is still rotating that Rev Wright spot on CNN in the DC metro area!
Sitting on pins and needles in Maryland! Shyte!!!
November 4, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
We actually got off easy with Lieberman - had Gore won in 2000, we may not have Barack Obama today AND Lieberman would be a Democrat with a Republican agenda on the ballot.
So, let Lieberman do what he wants - he hurts nothing but his own political future!
November 4, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Going out in a blaze of shit.
November 4, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ben Smith has a good update on the Black Panther.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1108/Panther_vs_Obama.html
November 4, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyway, I'm outtie - walking down the street to Grant Park in a little bit. It's pretty crazy down there right now - imagine it a few hours from now!
November 4, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think John McCain knows he's going to lose, and he's trying to retain his image. He held back on Wright until recently. Like Palin, he looking past this failure to the future.
What do you think Palin and McCain are going to do after the election?
November 4, 2008 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink