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McCain to Letterman: 'I Screwed Up'
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ShareOctober 16, 2008 7:43 PM
ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: "I screwed up," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told David Letterman this afternoon as he taped an appearance on Letterman's CBS program, "The Late Show," explaining his cancellation a few weeks ago. McCain originally was scheduled to appear on Letterman's late night talk show on Sept. 24, but canceled after he announced the suspension of his campaign to focus on the nation's troubled economy.
At the time, McCain said he needed to return to Washington to help bring forth legislation to address the Wall Street meltdown. But that evening, McCain ended up staying in New York for several more hours including agreeing to an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric.
After the presidential candidate sat down at the taping, Letterman jokingly asked, "Can you stay?" McCain replied that he had asked his son, who is serving overseas, if he could send over his helmet and flap jacket, but it "didn't arrive on time." So, what exactly happened?" asked Letterman, who has made McCain’s cancellation a running joke on his program since it occurred. "I screwed up," McCain said. "Look at all the conversation I gave you."
Letterman, not satisfied, pressed the issue further, saying when McCain canceled, he told him he had to go right back to Washington, "but then you didn't go right back to Washington." Again McCain implored, "I screwed up. It's only Dave Letterman, there is only a few million people who will be watching,"McCain joked, referring to the advice he was given from his advisers.
Several other subjects were covered over the three-segment interview scheduled to air Thursday evening, including:
Joe the Plumber, Governor Sarah Palin, R-Alaska., and her comments about Barack Obama "palling with terrorists."
On Joe the Plumber, McCain took the opportunity to apologize for the media circus he had a hand in causing since last night's debate. "Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry," said McCain. "From what I read he is taking it pretty well," he later added.
Discussing his choice of Palin as his running mate, the Arizona senator said she was "absolutely" his first choice for vice president. He went on to say that he "didn't know her well at all" at the time he decided on her, but added he was familiar with her reputation as a reformer. When Letterman asked if Palin was ready to become president if events forced that to occur, McCain emphatically answered, "yes."
The comedian host also mentioned that the selection has been criticized and wondered if McCain had been approached by staffers or members of his party to drop Palin from the ticket. Again, McCain answered emphatic, saying "no."
When Letterman jokingly asked whether Palin really did make the comments that Obama had "palled around with terrorists," McCain initially said "no" (she didn’t say Obama palled around with terrorists), but quickly caught himself and corrected his statement in midsentence, saying "yes," making note of Obama's relationship with William Ayers.
Letterman followed up this question asking if McCain was friends with G. Gordon Liddy, apparently hinting that one of the masterminds of the Watergate break-in could also be described as a terrorist. Asking whether he attended a fundraiser at his house, McCain said, "I've met him," but laughter ensued, followed by "I object, your honor," screamed off-camera from Paul Shaffer, Letterman's band leader. The show then went to commercial break after which the subject was dropped.
After weeks of making McCain the butt of jokes for not appearing on his program, the two seemed to get along quite well. When the interview ended and Letterman thanked McCain, the senator seemed anxious to leave, half-standing up before sitting down again. The cameras then went to commercial.
McCain then left the studio, ahead of the Alfred E. Smith dinner he is scheduled to attend tonight along with Senator Barack Obama, being held in New York City.
October 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (483)
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What an idiot McCan't is! After WEEKS of getting made fun of by Dave, he actually goes on there and gives him huge ratings.
Obama/Biden!!!
Posted by: JoeDplumber | Oct 16, 2008 8:16:56 PM
come on dems. lets not sink to the level of mcshame and palin. let keep it civil, or we will look like a tired, angry, washed up old man.
Posted by: jimt | Oct 16, 2008 8:16:58 PM
Hey, Clintonite for McCain- either you carry a grudge beyond any reasonable level, or you're cutting off your nose to spite your face. In either case, you remind me of my ex............:-)
Posted by: Richard | Oct 16, 2008 8:18:50 PM
McCain won all 3 debates. Obama Lies, McCain can admit a mistake. Obama Lies.
Posted by: Voteing McCain In Ohio | Oct 16, 2008 8:19:02 PM
i would like to ask any of the republicans in this site, Do any of you think "W" was a good president. just wonderin.
Posted by: jimt | Oct 16, 2008 8:19:11 PM
Your biggest screw up John was picking Palin as VP, after that nothing else really matters.
Posted by: GR | Oct 16, 2008 8:19:27 PM
Amen "GR"
Posted by: jimt | Oct 16, 2008 8:20:07 PM
Wow, this was the 2nd time i asked this question, no takers about "W". I dont blame you.
Posted by: jimt | Oct 16, 2008 8:21:09 PM
McCain to the American people when he loses on November 4: "I screwed up." Boy, did he ever.
Joe the plumber? A republican plant who used to live in McCain's home state of Arizona. A republican plant who is a family member of the criminal Charles Keating, who McCain choose to defend even though Keating's criminal acts caused hundreds of thousands of Americans to lose their life savings in the S&L crisis in the '80s. A republican plant who is deliquent in paying back taxes. A republican plant who is illegally running a plumbing business without the proper license.
Here we go again with McCain, republicans, and their LIES. It's so unAmerican. It's so unpatriotic. It's so beneath us all.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!
Posted by: Republican Christians for Obama! | Oct 16, 2008 8:22:43 PM
The real reason Letterman doesn't like Sarah Palin is because her daughter is getting married as a result of her pregnancy.
Letterman, in stark contrast, refused to marry the mother of his son when he got her pregnant.
The morals and ethics of the Palins are so far superior to those of Letterman that the only way he can stand it is to mock them - in a pathetic effort to try and make himself feel better about his own lack of basic morality.
Posted by: Jake Long | Oct 16, 2008 8:23:56 PM
Oh great JR's been censored by ABC again, guess I'll have to use some other name, how about GOPsucks.
I guess I offended some neo-con, you konw how sensitive they are.
Posted by: AR | Oct 16, 2008 8:24:34 PM
damn jake long. you should go on letterman, or snl, or some other comedy show because you are a hoot. sarah palin has moral. damn that is funny.
Posted by: jimt | Oct 16, 2008 8:25:11 PM
Letterman should have utilized the time to have some real questions answered, but instead took McCain's responses of Yes or No and left it at that. Come on Dave, I had greater confidence in you than that! Disappointment!
Posted by: Ak Resident | Oct 16, 2008 8:25:43 PM
"Republican Christians for Obama"
"for Obama" is the only true thing in your post.
Posted by: geevill | Oct 16, 2008 8:25:50 PM
Lee wrote;"The USA had a $5 trillion surplus. And yes my taxes were considerably higher. I also made nearly double the money I do today. The taxes were not even relevant."
REPLY: Clinton used the peace dividend to build that surplus. That was before 9-11 That day the world changed.
But we have been safe from atack since 9/11/2001. That safety is expensive. There are people fighting for our safety that we should thank and pray for.
Posted by: jjerro | Oct 16, 2008 8:25:54 PM
Sen. Obama must have gotten a personality transplant recently, but he isn't the honorable person he is making himself out to be during the campaign. I was looking forward to voting for him Nov. 4, because he was trashing the Clinton years for the national disaster that it was. I thought he was going to bring change; instead, he is promising more of the same of the last two years. I can afford to listen to his Axelrodian tactics for 2 more weeks; we can't afford four more years of the disastrous policies of the last Democratic Congress.
Posted by: Obamacrat for McCain | Oct 16, 2008 8:25:55 PM
What's a "flap jacket" and who is "Gordon Libby" anyway? It's a "flak" jacket, and the man they are referencing is "G. Gordon LIDDY".
This blogger is an idiot, just like all of the Obamaniacs. Why would anyone vote for a candidate who our enemies cannot wait to gain office?
Posted by: Phil | Oct 16, 2008 8:26:44 PM
Did Letterman actually say "Libby" or did the reporter screw this up the same way he/she screwed up "flak jacket."
Or did McCain screw up and say "flap" jacket?
Libby flapjacket NorthFork nucular cuber
Can we please send politicians, reporters, and talk show hosts to school to learn how to properly pronounce English words?
Dear Lee:
Do you realize that a recession began in first quarter 2001 just as Clinton was leaving office? You do realize that was caused by HIS policies, not the man who hadn't even warmed the seat of the Oval Office yet? You realize that growth in entitlements, the Clinton Recession and rebuilding the decimated US military killed the surplus, don't you?
Posted by: R. Miller | Oct 16, 2008 8:27:04 PM
Forget the politics
Letterman alienated his loyal fans
Look at the Polls 49% are republicans
Guess he may have lost some viewers.
Posted by: Dee | Oct 16, 2008 8:27:07 PM
Socialism versus Capitalism. That is what this election comes down to. Are we ready to throw away 200+ years of history for an unknown?
Posted by: Bob | Oct 16, 2008 8:28:06 PM
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