McCain vs. the “cable monster”
SAN DIEGO - Sen. McCain took the fight to a new opponent Monday, the “cable monster.”
“Americans have expressed their frustration with the sound bites, the charges back and forth, the cable monster that has to have a news story every hour, the sound bites and the surrogates and all that,” McCain said, taking a slight detour from his prepared speech before the National Council of La Raza–which focused mostly on the economy and immigration.
The presumptive GOP nominee rebuked what some analysts have termed the “A.D.D. election” during his speech, renewing his pitch for Sen. Obama to join him at town hall meetings and allow voters to see a debate on the key issues instead of relying on the sound bite picked out by the press.
“I think Americans deserve better. I think Americans deserve a side-by-side appearance of both of us,” he added, even though McCain has also recently acknowledged that the prospect of joint town halls is essentially zero after what he sees as a lackluster response from the Obama campaign.
In attacking the 24-7 media environment, McCain is also partly pushing back on recent criticism he has faced for being “off message.” A number of media outlets ran stories at the end of last week arguing that his intended message on the economy was overshadowed by misstatements made by the candidate and his surrogates on birth control, social security and Iran, among others.
Though most of those gaffes were short snacks for the hungry ‘cable monster’ and are likely to have little long-term impact, former Sen. Phil Gramm, a leading McCain economic adviser, served up a three-course meal when he referred to the economic woes as a “mental recession” and called Americans “whiners.” The campaign had to schedule an impromptu press conference on Thursday where McCain forcefully rebuked Gramm as out of touch with voters and his message.
The Arizona Senator made a veiled reference to the incident today when he added that voters don’t pay attention to “surrogate” gaffes that are played repeatedly on the 24-hour networks.
“Times are tough…and Americans don’t want to hear the sound bite, they don’t want to hear the misstatement, they don’t want to hear the surrogate who may have made a mistake. They want to know about us,” McCain added.
Tags: john mccain, media, gaffes, 24-7, cable news
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Exactly. I’m tired of someone blowing some stupid comment out of porportion for a quick teaser. I want to know who the candidates are as men. You cant judge our choice of a “date” by the opinions of friends so why does the press think we can judge our choice as president based on that.
Unfortunately McCain spends most of his time apologizing, throwing his own supporters under the bus, and trying not to offend any group. He is turning off alot of people who would vote for him were he not trying to be sooo politically correct. What a sad thing to watch. Pitifull. Weak.
Do i hear a little whining McCain ???
I don’t believe Obama will ever debate McCain without a pre-arranged set of questions that Obama can rehearse the answers for. Obama has shown that he is completely lost on issues when working without a script.
Unfortunately McCain spends most of his time apologizing, throwing his own supporters under the bus, and trying not to offend any group.
Please, McCain threw a supporter under the bus. Obama has rolled over on multiple supporters, his own pastor, and his own grandmother for goodness’ sake. Geo is exactly right, Obama won’t stand up in a debate against McCain because he won’t have the DNC there to hold his hand and spoon feed the answers to his empty suit.
Obama is smart by rejecting McCain in a townhall. Nobody is interested in listening to what McCain has to say and therefore he can’t get his message out alone without attracting millions of more viewers of whom are interested in listening to Obama. When comparing McCain with Obama in regards to their ability to draw interest, I think of McCain being the pile of dun with flies coming to fester, and Obama being the whopper at McDonalds, having billions served. There is a reason why this nation and the entire world holds Obama in high regards. They believe finally, here is a true leader, that will fulfill the promise of for the people, by the people.
McCain seems to be playing the old victim as usual. It’s OK for his wife and him to go around claiming how proud they are of their country, taking cheap shots at Michelle when in fact, Michelle was proclaiming to be proud of the political process taking place in front of her. Nobody can argue politics as of late is pretty disgusting and I stand by her statements claiming to be proud of the movement behind her husband. It’s been a positive movement from people that want a better tomorrow and are willing to sacrifice time, money and effort to make that happen.
Obama ‘08
AMEN…….GEO.
I agree with McCain on the issue of cable news. It has become an oxymoron! The two biggies CNN and FOx are nothing but bloviating heads leaping from one non story to the next. Fox is the worst in my opinion as they tend to make up their news, but CNN is becoming increasingly bad. It appears they are run by their respective entertainment branches.
As far as Obama declining McCain for the town halls, we will just have to wait and see. I’m certain there will be plenty of debates post conventions. In the meantime McCain holds town halls that are by invitiation only. Why would Obama bolster McCain’s appearance in front of a couple hundred folks when he can speak to thousands. It doesn’t make political sense from his persepctive.
As far as oratorical skills and thinking on his feet I believe McCain supporters will be very disappointed when they actually meet head to head jusdging by McCain’s latest blunders and non answers. Not that Obama is without fault, but he’s much more of a straight talker than John ever will be.
Obama can’t perform off script, as to why he won’t answer questions from the public, as to why he won’t go on Fox News, as to why he won’t debate McCain in Town hall type debate, __too impromptu for him. You are right-on Geo!!
Hey Mike,
You are an idiot. The whopper comes from BK not Mcdonalds. You are also an idiot for the fact that you dont know what you are talking about. A great idea would be for you to get your facts straight and then present them. NOBAMA cant debate without his written script. Therefor he will not debate. What a joke, a presedential nominee that wont even debate the issues….Sad days for our political process. Two clowns …one of them our future President.
CABLE MONSTER
I especially dislike the crazy accusations and comments made on the “news” programs by the various pundents that they themselves don’t believe. Most of these comments are contrived lies that cabe and networks allow to be fed to the citizens.
I also greatly dislike the “hard breaks” that limit the thoughts of people being interviewed. Just as they get into their thoughts its “Sorry we’ve got to go”. If you can’t do the whole thought don’t do it at all since we’re not getting it all anyway.
Its the economy, Mr. President: A bite for all of us to consider.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “The president said … that drilling offshore would not have an impact on the price at the pump, and I’m glad he’s finally admitted that to the American people,” Pelosi said. “Our message back to the president is, ‘Its the economy, Mr. President.’ ”
Pelosi and the Democratic House oppose offshore drilling. It’s obvious that her little dig about the economy was meant as an insult. But, as it turns out, it is more than misplaced; it feints humor where an intelligent approach and commitment is needed to address the long-term economic problems that face us.
Who has ever said that drilling will have an immediate effect on the price of gasoline at the pump? No one that I know of. A better question would be: What if anything will have an immediate effect? The answer is not a good one. For us, it means making adjustments and moving ahead NOW with ALL energy actions within our means.
It’s time the Democrats stop obsessively playing the partisan game and consider those whom they so fervently wish to convince: The people who must pay the price.
Obama likes to tell people how things are going to be not have to listen to what the citizens want.
He doesn’t want to have to answer questions from the citizens who he claims he wants to serve. How can you serve someone you refuse to talk with. He will sit and talk to the president of Iran but yet he refuses to talk to the very people he wants to serve.
Of course he will let you sit and listen to him - he will even make sure their are plenty of seats for you to sit and listen to him accept the nomination….even though it will cost the media and the campigan loads of money to have to move everything to a new location. He doesn’t are as long as more of his loyal subjects are there to listen to him.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed but not by the candidate. Bringing this up the way it was gives the power to the media and makes McCain look weak.
McCain needs to get on offense and stop allowing his campaign to be definned by Obama and his supporters which is code for the media.
Mike I think if you look at the polls you will find that Obama,man and McCain are neck and Neck that tells me that about 50% of the people are very intrested in what McCain has to say. In fact if you reall look you will find that most including the Dems. think that McCain is much more qualified as the Commander than mr. ob. Sure there is lots I don’t like about McCain but the important issues I am behind him 100% as is 40 to 50% of the country according to the polls. If Obama is elected, I think it will be a long 4 years before the country votes him out, why: 1. He will raise taxes to a much higher level than we have seen in 20 years, and that is taxes for everyone not just the so called rich. 2> He will take American down a road of appeasment for all these radical countries 3> He will increase the entitlements to some groups which will just cost those of us who work more taxes and keep the ones he says he is helping on welfare since that is the easy road, you want to see people get good jobs and improve their live, cut out welfare and it will happen, funny how people will go out and work when they have no lights, water, food, they get to looking for a job real fast. 4> He will be working on some way to limit or outlaw the ownership of guns, this is a proven fact. 5> The judges he appoints are going to be so far left even Poloisi will look like a Rep. So people really have to decided, do that want America to stay strong or do they want it sold down the tube of Obama man.
From what I’ve seen, Obama is all sound and fury when it comes to many issues. If he really wanted to lend sincerity to his words, he would debate McCain in the same room. But he can’t, because he knows he’ll lose. He’ll have no script, and would be, therefore, powerless.
Tucson, you are right about one thing… Obama will be our next President!!!
For all the reasons republicans will only admit behind closed doors, McCain will lose this upcoming election. Face it, most republicans are more passionate about their dislike/unsurety of Obama then their like for their own candidate. And, honestly, I can’t blame them… McCain has given many reasons for a dispassionate, disappointed, half-hearted following and this will likely not improve now that McCain’s “straight talk express” has been derailed with the likes of not signing his own bill, and a whole host of other well documented “republican issues” that he and his base do not see eye to eye on.
Now add to that Mitt Romney who seems to polarize the base as we’ll. Big business likes him for his business sense and the religious right detests him for his faith. YIKES!!!
take away the lease car free gas the congress and senate get from us.recall them all, may we get some people interresed in our countrys problem instead of becoming rich at our and our countrys expense
FLIP FLOP MCSAME has no idea on what is going on,he now think his problems is the media but the truth is that he is out of touch,he thinks we are whiner and all we been suffering including high gas price is all in our mind.Only God knows what the vietnams did to his thinking mind
Come on there? First, both candidates can debate, we’ve watched them both. Both will debate in the future and to say otherwise is absurd. I have to admit that this election seems to be about the BO lovers versus the BO haters. That should not be the case. It should be about the McCain lovers versus the BO lovers, simple. McCain’s advisors need to get him in the spot light more and stop blaming the networks.
TWO QUESTIONS…….BE HONEST
1. How many things can you list that have gotten worse in AMERICA the past 8 years
2. How many things can you list that have gotten better in AMERICA the past 8 years
McCain is 4 more years of Bush. Obama will beat the pants off McCain in November. Get Ready
Comment by ElectricityOne
July 16th, 2008 at 12:21 am
TWO QUESTIONS…….BE HONEST
1. How many things can you list that have gotten worse in AMERICA the past 8 years
2. How many things can you list that have gotten better in AMERICA the past 8 years
McCain is 4 more years of Bush. Obama will beat the pants off McCain in November. Get Ready
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YOU WANT TO REPLACE JACK THE RIPPER WITH CHARLES MANSON.
NEITHER ARE GOOD CHOICES.