Saddleback Burns: McCain Wasn't in "Code of Silence"; McCain Camp Complains to Media for Passing On Allegation He Heard Questions Ahead of Time

McCain just gave scripted answers from his stump speech. I doubt he'd have changed even if he didn't know Obama's answers ahead of time.

As I watched McCain's 'turn' at the questions, I thought it was remarkable that he gave almost no pause for thought before answering...now I understand why, he already knew the questions.

This ties in neatly with the news that he also 'borrowed' the story about the cross in the dirt from an account originally written by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

I wonder what other stories Mr. McCain is telling?

McCain was supposed to be in a cone of silence, in the church. Not riding around in a convoy with the ability to easily get the questions. I know a lot of you support mccain however turn on your thinking caps. We can disagree on politics, however honesty and fairplay is not the mccain campaign strong suit. lie to yourself, but not to me . i have my doubts about mccain.

As anyone who ever watched the original "Get Smart" TV series knows the "Cone of Silence" was not a isolation chamber to keep someone from hearing what is happening.

It was a device to allow two people to share a conversation privately. (It never worked, btw)

That all being said, I suspect people are taking Rick Warren's Cone of Silence remark too literally. What he most likely meant was that the candidates were not given the questions ahead of time.

As to the charge from the Obama campaign that McCain somehow cheated, they've presented no actual evidence, other than the fact that McCain outperformed their candidate.

McCain admitted many years ago his failings duing his first marriage. He isn't denying it. Bill Clinton and Edwards both lied (and are still lying) about their involvement with other women.

Either way -- it doesn't make it right.

As for Obama he lies about facts regarding his father and his past. I wonder what he is hiding.

Has McCain exhibited the traits to give him the benefit of the doubt, he came in the room very confidant as if he knew the questions. I remember McCain being asked one questions and given the answers for the very next two. When has McCain acquired the powers of mind reading. 1 + 1 = 2. Revieiw the video it's at the point where Warner gives McCain a bonus question. Fact is Fact, shows the character of mccain.

When are you going to pull out the RACE CARD.

Posted by: cryer | Aug 18, 2008 6:36:06 AM

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We don't do the Obuma race thingieee, BO is his own worst enemy.........he is the master of race baiting!

Kevin wrote: "I didn't think McCain cheated until i saw how angry his campaign seems at these trivial allegations. Wow. If they didn't cheat, why are they so angry? Secondly, how many times is the McCain camp going to play this POW card?"

Precisely Kevin! Why not laugh it off, if they didn't have something to hide.

Likewise, why on earth would the campaign pull the POW card? What does McCain being a POW have to do with his veracity? It certainly didn't elevate his morality to such an extent that prevented the lapses of judgment that destroyed his first marriage.

Obama should call Wesley Clark from the Siberia he's been sent to to being relitigating how his POW experience qualifies him to be President.

It's not like the McCain campaign isn't willing to use the POW card for political gain.

Angelina

Very good point. When Warren cracked that joke, why didn't McCain say he wasn't in a cone of silence? This entire episode just smells to high heavens.

I didn't think McCain cheated until i saw how angry his campaign seems at these trivial allegations. Wow. If they didn't cheat, why are they so angry? Secondly, how many times is the McCain camp going to play this POW card?

Karen said, . . . . when Obama does poorly, he blames 1) race, 2) the Clintons 3) the questioner 4) his preacher 5) his grandma 6)everyone else. Karen, that pretty much sums up the man completely. I couldn’t have said it better myself!

We don't know if he heard the questions or not, or if his aides were prepping him while consulting their Blackberries or whatever possible cheating scenario. What we do know is this: at the beginning of his interview, Rick Warren asked McCain, "Where you comfortable in the cone?" and McCain joked back, "I had my ear to the wall, trying to listen," rather than acknowledge that he had not, in fact, ever been in this cone that Warren was oh-so-proud-of. My friends, the man lied in church during a faith forum. Amazing.

The problem here is credibility.

We were led to believe that the candidate not on stage was sequestered in a Fortress of Solitude, presumably so that the appearance of impropriety was maintained. That one candidate couldn't gain advantage over the other by virtue of knowing the others responses.

That is now called into question. Whether McCain heard Obama's responses or not is immaterial. He wasn't where he was supposed to be during the forum, and as a result, these questions arise.

So let's get this straight, because we all heard Obama say he "cheated" by looking into the adoption question before-hand. Both candidates were apparently provided a list of topics/questions that would be brought up.

But the Obama camp claims that on the off-chance that McCain was able to hear Obama's rambling answers, he was then able to craft his own answers to be superior.

The problem with that logic is that anyone who watched the forum knows that McCain's stances on the issues have absolutely nothing to do with Obama's rambling answers.

The Obama camp is mad that McCain was prepared for the forum while Obama, who has been on vacation for a week, was not. I want a president who takes the issues and the voters seriously. I don't want an empty suit who thinks that looking good and reading a teleprompter well is qualification for the highest office in the land.

By the way, how'd you like Obama's answer to the Supreme Court Justice question where he started to say he wouldn't have picked Thomas because he didn't have enough experience. Ouch!

Oh! Now I get it! These claims are all just a smoke-screen to take the focus off Obama's answers. Another lame attempt to fool the voters!

I believed McCain cheated!

There having said that it does not matter if he cheated, He still has the monumental problem of explaining his policies and solutions. In the light of day McCain's solutions are bogus.

Obama 08

I am kind of ashamed that Rick Warren told everyone that they had done a coin toss and placed McCain in the Cone of Silence.

1) If they had done a coin toss, McCain wouldn't have been at his hotel or in his limo... he would have been there.

2) If he hadn't been placed in a cone of silence, he shouldn't have said it.

Given the vociferous nature of McCain's protests... and the wimpiness of his non-denial (McCain did not see or hear the broadcast)... they expect everyone to take it on trust that McCain's campaign managers and speech writers weren't listening. Of course they were. And of course, even unintentionally, chatter about what your opponent is doing at a very important event is going to get to McCain. Even if it is by accident.

The worst part is that everyone thought McCain was sequestered... and he wasn't. Warren gave his word on national TV... and he fudged it.

The way Obama portaits McCain as old and senile. McCain couldn't remember the questions even if he heard them.

Andrea Mitchell said, “What they’re (the Obama campaign) putting out privately is that McCain . . . may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were . . . ” Of course, that’s what they’re saying! Obama didn’t do as well as McCain. No wonder he doesn’t want to debate McCain in town hall debates. Leave it to Obama and his supporters to whine, whine, whine. I wonder how long it will be before they’re accusing Pastor Warren of being a racist?

If Obama had the guts to sit on the stage at the same time as McCain and answer the questions....without a teleprompter.....there would be no need for a "cone of silence." The same lack of guts causes him to keep running from the town hall meeting style debates. McCain isn't afraid of answering questions face to face, man to man. I'd like to see both candidates answer twenty questions that can only be answered yes or no. No explanations or clarifications. No excuses. Obama wouldn't have the guts for that either.

Rodney
Those people in the audience at the pastors forum are mccain supporters But what i cant understand is thats all they agree with is abortion, and most likley agree with obamas policies i say it again ITS A WOMANS RIGHT TO CHOOSE NOT MCCAINS OR THE GOVERMENTS,The republicans cry they want small goverment but yet they want the goverment to tell the woman what she can do in regards to birth control abortion its THE WOMANS CHOICE!!!! NOT THE GOVERMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!