McCain to Imus: ‘Welcome Back, Old Friend’
EmailABC News’ Bret Hovell Reports: Radio shock jock Don Imus returned to the airwaves Monday, and among his first guests was Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain.
"Welcome back, old friend," McCain said, who appeared frequently on Imus’ CBS radio program throughout the years.
Imus was fired from that iteration of his popular "Imus in the Morning" show after referring to members of the Rutgers women’s basketball team as "nappy-headed hos," a comment Imus apologized for and said he regretted.
McCain, R-Ariz., was supportive of Imus from the first days of the controversy, saying at the time that he would appear again on the program.
"He has apologized. He has said he’s deeply sorry," McCain said during a Phoenix press conference in April. "I’m a great believer in redemption."
On Monday’s program, Imus asked McCain about, naturally, politics, and the shape of the Republican field.
“I think most of the folks you have on will tell you it’s probably has unpredictable as it’s ever been," McCain said.
He complimented rival Mike Huckabee, calling him a "very good guy" with a "good way about him," and spoke about last Wednesday’s CNN/YouTube debate, which he said was "kind of weird."
"But it apparently got a big audience and that’s what we’re trying to achieve," McCain said.
Imus pressed McCain on his position on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the military’s policy on homosexuals who serve. McCain said that the military commanders believe Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is working, but Imus twice circled back, saying he wanted to know what McCain felt personally.
"As commander-in-chief I would rely on the recommendations of the military …" McCain said. "If they recommended reversing it, I would certainly consider reversing it."
Imus also asked McCain if he was having as much fun campaigning now as he did during his insurgent run in 2000, when he won the state of New Hampshire by 19 points over then-Governor George Bush.
"Oh yeah, we’re back," McCain said, alluding to problems that had caused his campaign to flounder over the summer.
"Some people had some success in portraying me as something that I wasn’t. And now that we’re back in the town hall meetings the face to face the retail politics, we’re coming on very well. I haven’t changed."
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bravo to those that welcomed i-man back where he belongs.
did he say something stupid? yes, and don’t we all sometimes. but msnbc/nbc/cbs all laid down for two of the biggest racists this country has..that being jackson and sharpton.
again, bravo to abc radio….let the people decide, not two crooks and all the cowards who have no backbone against them. and i’m talking “news” people, advertizers, sometimes “friends” who truly showed what a true friend is. and bravo to mccain. i don’t care where he is on the political ladder, he steps up for a friend. let’s see the colors of the rest of all those “FRIENDS” that used imus to plug a book, a show etc.
Posted by: Anne | December 3, 2007, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
thank god, someone has common sense enough to but this man back on the airwaves where he can do some good.
glad to have ya back i-man
Posted by: ROBERT SANDERS | December 3, 2007, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
McCain is such a sellout and washed up old
man..He has LOST so much credibility. GO
RON PAUL……………
Posted by: Mike | December 3, 2007, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
For those who are not doing well in the race for president, doing things to get in the news are no surprise to me…….
Posted by: tony | December 3, 2007, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
This is too funny. McCain’s answer to the “don’t ask, don’t tell was almost word for word as Romney’s in the last debate.
Read this, copied from this story:
“As commander-in-chief I would rely on the recommendations of the military …” McCain said. “If they recommended reversing it, I would certainly consider reversing it.”
I almost choked when I read that, LOL…
McCain you are a warmonging Bush II.
Posted by: Terry | December 3, 2007, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
I was mistaken about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” Romney actually said that in response to the torture issue, so I am guessing it is a generic answer when a candidate doesn’t want to answer a question. Its easier to say:
“As commander-in-chief I would rely on the recommendations of the military …” McCain said. “If they recommended reversing it, I would certainly consider reversing it.”
Posted by: Terry | December 3, 2007, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
I AM SO GLAD THAT IMUS IS BACK. IMUS IS SUCH A PLUS IN A WORLD THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING BACKWARDS. I HOPE IMUS SOMEDAY COMMENTS ON THE PEOPLE WHO STUCK BY HIM IN HIS TIME OF TOTAL CHAOS. DID CHUCK?? CHRIS??? AND MANY MANY OTHERS THAT LOVED HIM WHEN THEY WERE ON HIS PROGRAM BUT JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THEY KEPT IN TOUCH WHEN HE WAS AIRLESS. BUT AGAIN WELCOME BACK IMAN YOU ARE A PLUS TO SOCIETY. AND A VERY CARING MAN.
Posted by: george norman | December 7, 2007, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm