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McCain, 2008

September 11, 2008 9:31 AM

As Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin sits down for her first media interview today with ABC News' Charles Gibson -- 13 days after her nomination was announced -- it's worth mentioning that the man on the top of the ticket, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., hasn't had a press conference in almost a month.

He used to be the most accessible presidential candidate in modern American history, and he prided himself on that.

No longer.

The last time he took questions from his press corps was on Aug. 13.

The calculation seems to be that the media is against McCain, anyway, so what's the downside in avoiding the questions reporters have, or even in saying things that are demonstrably false?

- jpt

September 11, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (106)

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Obama's dream of coloring all the states to his color has fallen flat on it's face. He's now pulling his troops out of most states because he doesn't have a chance. He's concentrating on the same states all presidential candidates focus on and he's slipping in those. Even his numbers in his home state are slipping and Indiana, which he took for granted, is now heavily McCain.

So, what's that flushing sound we hear?

Posted by: dl | Sep 11, 2008 12:07:00 PM

How do I start this? I have been observing the Political Climates since after the convention and I have come to the realization
that Americans are in the process of making the same mistake three times.

The most confusing of all is that the rest of the World can see it but Americans appear to be blind to it.

Americans are being taken for a ride. Mccain's Campaign is twisting facts and People are gullible enough to buy into it.

Why must a Person aspiring to lead a Country bring down his opponent with falsehoods?

Why must he cash on the innocence and the ignorance of the People he seeks to lead, to get the that position?

I get miffed when I see all the lies going up in the name of Campaign Ads and the MSM is not doing enough to debunk the false allegations.

Is the silense conspiratory?

Why is Mccain's campaign on the Offensive when it come down to discussing Gov. Sarah Palins' records? Is there something they are trying to hide?

It would be a disservice to the People of America if this antic is used again and it will be a disservice to generation yet unborn if the election is allowed to be won and lost on the alter of race, sex, fear and lies.

A Country that refuses to learn from the mistakes of the past is doomed to repeat it.

It appears that no lesson has been learnt and the mistake is about to be made.

I hope and pray that the divine hands of God will help to put things right.

I pray that the Person that will eventually win will be he that the heaven has destined to bring succour to aching hearts.

But as things stands, the elections is fact becoming personality based instead of issue based.

May the good Lord help us.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 11, 2008 12:06:21 PM


Amazing.. a liberal journalist that actually understands the heart of a matter and is able to say it in less than a million years.

Jake you are right. The media is against McCain and Palin at the moment. Anything they say WILL be used against them.

So why should they step into the lions den? What does it accomplish except to feed the enemy?

Posted by: reason | Sep 11, 2008 12:05:15 PM

"The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person..." -- Barack Obama

Barack Obama. Because Only A Racist Would NOT Vote For ME

Posted by: A Guy Named Keith | Sep 11, 2008 11:59:31 AM

I've been watching this campaign since January and the disgusting liberal preferential treatment towards Obama has been disgusting and unprofessional. Media has lost all credibility, so I'w with McCain. While Bozo's world tour was being covered like he was the second coming, McCain was taking care of business as usual....HE'S A DOER AND NOT A TALKER.
McCan is the man, so screw the press that has been treating him like he's old news....Obama's new car smell is gone and now he's just STINKY.
HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN, BEFORE THE PALIN PICK!

Posted by: Debra | Sep 11, 2008 11:59:27 AM

It's his campaign and he'll run it on his terms. The media aren't entitled to anything.

Posted by: John | Sep 11, 2008 11:55:00 AM

Tom Friedman:

I confess, I watch politics from afar, but here’s what I’ve been feeling for a while: Whoever slipped that Valium into Barack Obama’s coffee needs to be found and arrested by the Democrats because Obama has gone from cool to cold…

Somebody needs to tell Obama that if he wants the chance to calmly answer the phone at 3 a.m. in the White House, he is going to need to start slamming down some phones at 3 p.m. along the campaign trail.

Posted by: dl | Sep 11, 2008 11:54:10 AM

Obama: "OK folks - here's how to solve the global energy crisis. Just wrap your lips around all your valve stems and breath hot air into the tires until they're properly inflated. Worked for me".

Posted by: dl | Sep 11, 2008 11:50:07 AM

"Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they’re charging a lot of money for this stuff." -- Barack Obama

OBAMA 2008 Fighting for your right to buy organic. Change you can believe in. Even if you were already doing this before he came along.

Posted by: A Guy Named Keith | Sep 11, 2008 11:46:55 AM

Karen just because you can Google something and come up with some hits doesn't make the information true Your smarter than that! As you know a very small percentage of what out on the net is true from either side You can pick and chose what you want to believe

In 2000 you Dem love McCain every time he went against the Republican party You was quick to tell the world Now you want to dismiss because it the Democrat talking points. During the primary it was ok for Obama comments to be to the far left so he could secure the nomination but now it ok for him to come to middle Do you know which way he is going govern to the left or to the middle Just the other day he said if this country was in a recession he would not change the tax rates but still give he’s tax cuts (How is going to be paid for) Well if the tax hike is bad when we're in a recession then why is good when we're out of one? He policies does not make sense
Do you really want to pay and have the government run the health care If you believe national health care is good Go to Canada ask them what they think about theirs . There you have the wealthy people coming to the US get good care Do really think the government can run it better than private. Lets see Bush spent 40% more in Ed than Clinton and it still sucks, SS is underfunded, mid care is going broke All these are ran by the Gov Do want these programs because you can’t make it in the real world or you one of those just want to redistribute the wealth of this country We can make the school system look good to if we take all the grades of the students and average them Then everyone would be equal The people making F’s would make C’c and the ones making A’s would be C’s Then the government can tell us that we have to drive certain cars so the caboose in Alaska can have a good life Then we need to be sure that no one has a house more than a 3 bedroom and by the way you can only have 2 children and they need to be boys

As for as the convention speech goes McCain had the courage to stand up and tell his party that there were thing in party that needs changing Obama never did has stood up to the left he voted 128 time present so we wouldn’t know where he really stood He is to far and is not what this country wants If does get elected the good thing it will be for one term He need to be run for office in EU

He own VP pick said he wasn't ready to be President and now he say it is (Which is it is he are isn't he)

Posted by: Wayne W | Sep 11, 2008 11:44:03 AM

Jake: Obama only just appeared on O'Reilly after 18 mos. he conducted one photo op with Olberman and had one semi real interview with Steph, after how many months?

When was Obambi or Biden's last full blown presser?

Posted by: JAZ | Sep 11, 2008 11:41:34 AM

Obama: Number one choice for those who feel victimized.


Posted by: dl | Sep 11, 2008 11:39:19 AM

McCain/Palin: Good for America
Obama/Biden: Good for nothing

Posted by: dl | Sep 11, 2008 11:36:41 AM

Just so you know Johnny boy we know that behind your curtains stands Phill Gramm and he's still on your staff. The very person most responsible for the turmoil in our fincial markets you think is so economic guru, he's a selfish pig out for whats good for Phill Gramm just like when he was a Senator.

Posted by: QuicksdrawMcGraw | Sep 11, 2008 11:31:15 AM

So if she don’t think like you it's wrong Where are you differant

Posted by: Wayne W | Sep 11, 2008 11:28:42 AM

Reason number one for dodging the Press by McCain/Palin no issues to talk about just smear speeches and TV ads. All blow and no go as they say. Thats the McCain/Palin ticket all blow no go. No substance to have any talks about so they hide from the media.

Posted by: Lukeskytalker | Sep 11, 2008 11:28:12 AM

A Guy Named Keith

Google Palin and pot she was for it and says herself she was a pot smoker for years with her husband! But says it wasnt against state law then it was just illegal under federal law!

She wanted alaska so succed the US remember!

Posted by: Deb | Sep 11, 2008 11:19:11 AM

AMERICANS, PLEASE DON'T BUNGLE THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

IT WONT COME UNTIL ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THEN.

USE YOUR HEADS AND NOT YOUR HEARTS, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I AM BEGGING, THE WORLD IS BEGGING.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 11, 2008 11:14:46 AM

AMERICAN, PLEASE DON'T BUNGLE THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.

IT WONT COME UNTIL ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

AND YOU CAN IMAGE THE DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY THEN.

USE YOUR HEADS AND NOT YOUR HEARTS, PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I AM BEGGING, THE WORLD IS BEGGING.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 11, 2008 11:09:16 AM

Sarah Palin has been abusing her power since Wasilla. Did you catch the ABC/Brian Ross investigation of her book banning attempt in Wasilla?

She fired the Wasilla librarian who was the Head of the Alaska Library Association because like a real American, she told Palin to her face that she wouldn't ban books, ever. So Palin fired her.

But the Wasilla townspeople stood up to Palin and said no way, so Palin had to flip-flop and put her back in her job.

Even John McCain stood up to Palin on at least 3 massive earmarks she tried to get for Alaksa. McCain said Palin's earmarks were responsible for the Minneapolis bridge collapse.

Then he hired her as his VP!!!

Just like McCain hired the Bush campaign official, Tucker Eskew, who made racist smear attacks against McCain's own daughter, Bridget.

McCain won't even stand up to the guy who made racist smears against his own daughter. He hired him and has him working for Palin!!!

McCain and Palin--I can't tell which is worse.

Posted by: Danny | Sep 11, 2008 11:02:04 AM

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