Is the McCain Camp Spreading Smears in the Name of Fighting Them?

This is quite possibly the worst run campaign in recent memory.
Why would you issue a denial for a tabloid story that has yet to even run?
Why dignify it?
Take a good look at the future McCain administration: secretive, anti-press and always reacting instead of anticipating crisis.

one answer….
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES.

Sarah Palin is in way over her head. I think anyone with any intelligence knows that. Some are trying to lie their way through to a Republican victory, but I think they know she should never have been the VP pick. If Palin had run for president in her own right she would have received less than 1% of the vote in any primary or caucus, probably including Alaska. Yet she ought to be number 2 in the nation? John McCain should stop insulting the American public with this nonsense. The “pushback” by McCain’s campaign on all the media investigation is desperate and hypocritical. I’m sure the Republican party is all about fighting sexism. That must be why when Palin was first named McCain’s running mate Newt Gingrich was falling all over himself calling her a “babe.”

Anybody remember “Men In Black” and the “hot-sheets”?
The McCain campaign probably thinks we are all so dumb that we DO get our news from the hot-sheets.

The Republicans would have us believe that the Mayor of Moose Jaw (who had to hire a City Manager to handle the complexities involved in running a town of 7,000 people) and the twenty-month Governor of a state with a population the size of El Paso or Charlotte is the best choice to be second in command in “this dangerous world.”
If McCain had properly vetted this woman, this excruciating stream of stories on her background and family would never have happened. McCain manages to screw up the most important decision of his candidacy. He handles his own screw up by blaming it on the media and Democrats, and then lying, distracting and dividing. Sound familiar? McCain really is Bush’s third term.

Apparently, many other journalists are secret fans of the National Enquirer.

“Sarah Palin runs the largest state in the union as governor.”
Yes, she runs the state with the largest land area.
I love these Orweillian talking points from the McCain campaign.

Julian,
“Apparently, many other journalists are secret fans of the National Enquirer.”
It was all the rage with right wing bloggers just a month or so ago.
Its funny how the press is blamed for this when the McCain campaign were the ones calling it to the press’s attention.
Same with the daughter pregnancy revelation. Crazy internet rumors are responded to by the campaign with the pregnancy admitted. Suddenly the press is invading the Palin’s privacy.
Republicans have no shame.

If the VP post is one foot over Palin’s heaad, the P post will be a mile over Big O’s head. Big O camp calling Palin unqualified is akin to a tar pit calling a glue stick too sticky.

“So by saying the largest state in the Union, when in fact it is, it’s Orwellian?”
Yes. Orwellian deals with the manipulation of language to present an image that does not match reality.
Claiming she runs the largest state in the union without the qualifier that you are referring to land mass vs population is dishonest since the overwhelming majority of people saying largest state are referring to population rather than size.

Hmmm. Could it be that the press is actually beginning to realize when it’s getting played by the rightwing scream-machine?
Hopeful signs….

Here are the words of Meg Whitman, McCain Campaign National Co-Chair (on Fox News no less):
“I actually think it’s completely fair for the media to vet Sarah Palin,” Whitman said, adding that it was “the right thing to do” for the media to dig into the background of someone who is “running for the highest office in the land.”
Asked directly whether there had been any media sexism, she replied: “I wouldn’t say there really has.”

As long as we are talking about this small stuff, another day can pass without dealing with the real issues. Very clever strategy indeed.

also, wouldn’t it be reasonable to just allow Palin to answer question since she and her views are so unknown. This would push all this other stuff aside. But would that work for the Republicans? What is being hidden here ?

Jake Tapper
You make an interesting point.
I heard another call this “a rovian” tactic.
Remember the exploitation of the media during the run-up to the war in Iraq?
i.e.: Plant stories in the media and then reference them in your own defense.
It’s brilliant just so long as the media doesn’t catch on.

“Take a good look at the future McCain administration: secretive, anti-press and always reacting instead of anticipating crisis. ” — Ryan C
Great post.. my thoughts exactly.
I don’t really care about this woman’s personal life. That her daughter is pregnant. That her sister has 9 children and is divorced (9 children because they make her around 20 grand a year). What really bugs me about this choice is that picking Palin is an obvious pander for votes. He expects women who he obviously thinks are idiots will roll over for this woman. Just because of the significant amount of die hard Hillary fans. Hillary at least acts the part of a leader and understands the US’s place in the world.
This woman just really doesn’t fit the part. Its like picking a pee-wee league QB to be the next 49′ers QB… she just doesn’t match up on a national scale.

Maybe if the McCain camp had vetted their candidate weeks, instead of 24 hours, before we wouldn’t be wasting our time.
I’m sorry … but mayor of a town of a few k and govenor of Alaska (which has less pop than my town) does not make a candidate that is second in line for the presidency.
I like my president to be smarter and more experienced than me. I respect McCain, but this candidate is not qualified to be a seat away from President.

Concerned,
Looks like you got angry.
“So, is saying Lugar-Obama is an example of bipartisanship when it passed unanimously by voice vote Orwellian?”
The response of Lugar-Obama and Coburn-Obama was prompted because another poster said Obama never works across the aisle. That was untrue and those are just two examples.
If working with Republicans to pass legislation is not bipartisanship than what is bipartisanship?
“Is stating unproven accusations as fact a manipulation of language to present an image that does not match reality?”
Yes I consider most of your posts to be quite Orwellian. But why the admission are you taking the McCain path?

{something untrue}
The point isn’t that it’s untrue – it may be true. The point is that it’s nobody’s g*dam business but the Palins. It has absolutely nothing to do with Gov. Palin’s performance as an elected official.
Of course, us Dems tried making the exact same point during the various Clinton sex “scandals,” but nobody listened.

John McCain: “We’re not answering any more questions about Sarah Palin’s background.”
Let’s see…..where have I heard someone refusing to answer questions and telling his subordinates didn’t have to either………..mmmmmmmmmm…..
Oh yes, I remember…….George W. Bush refuses to answer questions that are uncomfortable. John McCain is more of the same.
Sorry John McCain you are really just John McBush with a history of cancer.
VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN TAKE AMERICA BACK

Jack Thompson,
Adding attorney to you name doesn’t add any authority.
It just makes you look silly when you fall into rw talking points.
Fact: The McCain campaign contacted the press to tell them about this story. The Enquirer has yet to publish it.

I demand a paternity test for Palin’s 5th child. No woman looks that svelte at over 7 months pregnant. No woman has her water break in Dallas, then gives a speech, flys coach-class for 8 hours back to Anchorage and then drives another 45 minutes to her home town to deliver a premature baby. Pointing out the obvious is not a smear. The story proves that Palin will lie about serious issues, even the maternity of her own grandson, just to earn political favor.
Palin’s involvement with the Alaskan Independence Party proves that she is insufficiently patriotic and unloyal to the United States.
McCain’s choice of Palin proves that he can’t be trusted to make well-informed decisions. He’s all gut, no brain.

Concerned,
Is the API funded by a Texas billionaire who was part of the Swift Boat ads?
Yes.
Are they currently spending money only on political ads disqualifying them from 501 (c) status?
Yes.
Are they using copywrighted material without permission?
Yes.
Those are the facts.

Tip. Read Drudge more often.

I take it you’ve had a chance to look over their disclosure forms, right? Because if you haven’t, then you’re just stating Obama’s unproven accusations as fact.”
The lawyer for AIP is well-known conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell, who says that she expected this.
The intricacies here are substantial, to say the least. At the simplest level, AIP has tax-exempt 501(c)4 status, which it picked up from a conservative organization that had gone defunct.
AIP is using that tax exemption, even though it’s less than a month old, and its first action is this big campaign ad. With this tax status, AIP’s primary purpose can’t be political. Lawyer Cleta Mitchell says they have the rest of the fiscal year to balance things out.
Mitchell says she told AIP’s leadership, “If you want to do this, you have to make a commitment that you’re going to be active, certainly for the next two or three years,” Mitchell says. “And so, don’t just think this is going to be some flash in the pan over Nov. 5, because that doesn’t work.’ And they went away and came back and said, ‘We want to do that.’”
Like I said the only money they have spent is on political ads. DOJ should investigate. But its nice to know you condone scummy activity by your fellow Republicans.

“EXECTUTIVE experience”
Now that’s funny. Smearing themselves with that one. You wanna see some real smears?
WHAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM BEST SAY ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN…….
“He is a vicious person”
Former representative Charles LeBoutillier R-NY
“An embarrassment to the party”
Arizona GOP state senator Susan Johnson
“There is nothing redeeming about John Mccain…he’s a hypocrite”
Former house GOP whip Tom DeLay
“The thought of him being president sends a chill down my spine. He is erratic”
Senator Thad Cochran, R- MS
“Hard headed is one way to say it. Arrogant is another way to say it. It’s a quality about him that disturbs me”.
Larry Wilkerson, former chief aide to Colin Powell
“What happens if he gets angry in a crisis…? It’s the president’s job to negotiate and stay calm. I just don’t see that he has that quality”.
Former Arizona GOP chairman John Hinz
“His temper would place this country at risk…and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind that should disqualify him”
Former Senator Bob Smith, R-NM
“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, R-NM
Pete…..that is mad funny!!!

ApostasyUSA,
Great find!

Apparently freedom of speech is a theory around here, huh?

I couldn’t agree more. As a woman I feel insulted that the mccain campaign would even begin to think that Hillary supporters would be swayed by this selection.

I can’t believe you care so much about his running mate. Female or not, pregnant teenage daughter or not, who cares?!?! The real issue is, what is going to happen to the country if we continue in the same direction we’re going….which clearly is the issue, NOT whether or not some lady that just entered the campaign has pregnant teenage daughter or not.
What we need is a complete U-turn from the destination where we’re headed.

At this point nothing is protecting us from the government. But, dully noted!

Protection from the government??? I’ve never even heard from the government on any issue of my life. What I want to know is, who is going to protect me from the IRS taking all my hard earned money just to send bombs towards some irate iraqi’s?

It is the Obama campaign who is planting the rumors, starting with the fever swamps of the Daily Kos, with whom Obama has a chummy relationship, knowing that the msm will then take it and run with it, in their determination to see their ONE elected. No one is allowed to stand in his way.

Now how in the world do you KNOW that Obama campaign is spreading rumors about anyone? Did you talk to Obama? Do you work for Obama? Did you spread the rumors yourself? Quit saying so and so did this, that, or another when you don’t even what you’re talking about. The Vice President isn’t even an issue, they don’t make any decisions whatsoever. The elected president keeps them on a leash and feeds their opinion to them for breakfast.
The real issue is….WHO IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY, FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR US AMERICANS??? Who cares about some pregnant 17 yr old and her opinion fed mother.

THANKS TO JOHN McCAIN FOR SENDING OBAMA HIS EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!! SARAH PALIN!!!! Of all his possible VP picks.. this idiot takes Palin???? Ummmmm ok…good one John. You definately are not getting my vote for President. You are George Bush all over again, you DO NOT THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!!!!

Really. When I heard who he had chosen I was on my knees thanking the political Gods! The next couple of months will now simply be a formality until Obama can get in there with the disinfectant and start the clean up.

Hell hath no fury like slime masters on whom the tables have been turned. After months of sliming Obama and outright lying about his tax and energy proposals, the McCain people are all incredulous and sputtery that the media has the temerity to question McCain’s judgment and vetting process and Palin’s qualifications, experience and extremist politics!
Also, if Palin’s seventeen year-old daughter’s pregnancy is a “private matter,” why was Baby Daddy trotted out to greet McCain at the airport in St. Paul? You can’t play this both ways.

No wonder the media has been slandering Sarah Palin. They’re scared to death Republicans are going to have the first woman president.
She was awesome!

She doesn’t even believe global warming is real. Well did you read today’s news? North pole ice cap now an island.
Are we really going to put someone in office like this while the world goes to hell? And did you see how much respect she showed Al Gore. The subhuman basically called him a hypocrit because has a private plane. More jealousy from the right because he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Who is the real hero here. Someone trying to save the planet from ruin, or some jerk that left his wife when she was crippled in a car accident for Millionaire Cindy McCain so he could persue a political career? Stop using your POW torture years as a crutch Johnny, save it for your brainless grandkids so you can tell the what a hero you were and continue to glorify war for your little Republicanites that I’m sure will grow up to be War heros just like you.
Screw the polar bears right Sarah? Let them die. That’s how you handled it in Alaska right? Who cares if we kill off one of God’s great creations. Right? Now who’s the hypocrit?

I wouldn’t put it past the McCain camp..they are deserately trying to manage McCain’s and Palin’s image in the media….They think attacking the media makes points. Vetting a candidate’s truthfulness and asking tough questions is the media’s job! By the way, Republicans keep pointing to Palin’s 80 percent approval rate after less than 2 years on the job. Might I point out GWB had an approval rate of 80% after two years as well and we all know how that turned out. The fact is she is one bad decision away from turning her popularity in the opposite direction. Palin does not have the experience to be VP and no amount of image making by Republicans is going to change that.

Republican strategy is to hit the news with Palin. Keep the spotlight. AND STAY AWAY FROM THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. AS A FEMALE I AM INSULTED MCCAIN CAMPAIGN IS CLAIMING “GENDER BIAS” WHEN NO GENDER BIAS HAS BEEN SHOWN. I SAW OBAMA WAS NOT DOING – THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN QUITE GRACIOUS. MEDIA HAS BEEN VETTING, BUT HAS DEFINITELY NOT SHOWN ANY GENDER BIAS. THIS IS AN INSULT TO ALL WOMEN! REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID WE WOMEN ARE TOO STUPID! WE ARE TOO STUPID AND WILL JUMP ON THEIR BANDWAGON BECAUSE THEY ARE CLAIMING GENDER BIAS. I HAVE READ THIS BOOK AS WELL – USE OF THIS “POPULIST” PSYCHOLOGICAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN APPROACH FOR ALL VOTERS IS ACTUALLY REPUBLICANS ARE DEGRADING THE INTELLIGENCE OF ALL VOTERS – MEN AND WOMEN.

A question for all the Republicans out there?
Is she really the best & most qualified Republican VP candidate that you have?
I could name at least 3 Republican candidates that still has the respect and trust of the general population.
McCain has clearly shown that he wants to win at all cost, even if it means sacrificing America.

Keep an eye on the McCain Campaign. They have nothing to run on so what they are doing is setting up anti-Palin strawmen so that they can knock them down and run against the media.

She’s boring me already. Can we talk about the issues? They seem to be protesting to much. It makes me wonder what she does have to hide. A simple DNA test conducted by an independent third party could clear all this up.
When is the McCain camp going to get a reporter close enough to her to ask which books she wanted banned?

What’s going to be difficult for the McCain campaign is all the right wing pundits(such as the National Review) praised the National Enquirer and blasted MSM for not reporting on the Edward’s affair.