John McCain Jokes Debate Moderators Are ‘Communists’
EmailLAKELAND, Fla. – Sen. John McCain joked Friday morning that the moderators of the Republican presidential debates are not only a part of the liberal media but also communists.
“They have turned into performances. I wish they hadn’t,” said McCain of the debates. “I wish that the moderators, and it’s mostly liberal media as you know.”
A member of the audience turned to the row of cameras stationed across from McCain and said, “Sorry, you guys.”
“Communists, most of them,” responded McCain, to chuckles in the room.
ABC News’ Jake Tapper noted that in 1999 and 2000, McCain regularly referred to his traveling press corps as “socialists,” “Bolsheviks,” and “communists.”
Throughout the day, McCain deplored the amount of debates this campaign cycle and the tenor each of them has cultivated. During a stop in The Villages, Fla., several audience members expressed discontent with the topics that the debate moderators have covered.
“When you talk to Mitt next time, you tell him to stay on the subjects people want to hear. We don’t want bickering during the debate. I want to know what you’re gonna do,” said one audience member.
“I’ll tell him, but Mitt’s response will be he doesn’t control the agenda. The moderators are controlling the agenda,” said McCain. “I think I’ve had enough debates.”
“I hope that those who do the questioning would understand what the American people want to hear about because they’re making a judgment,” McCain said later.
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Regarding Newt and the story today about the Chinese mob, here is a comment. What hasn’t been covered is how in the Clinton Administration that the Chinese were taking our warhead designs out of Los Alamos, tips were being fed into Justice Dept with the last Democrat vanguard of law and order, Janet Reno, and she ignored them, sat on them, quashed them, and it was SO bad that Louis Freeh a fellow Clintonite dupe wrote a letter to Janet Reno and said “what in the tarnation is going on over there”. Well, since the Chinese were putting millions into Democrat bank accounts, it was all covered up. BUT, it was so bad that Republican senators indicated that treason charges against Janet Reno were justified, but no charges were pressed since Democrats always oppose law and order and patriotism and justice and anything that undermines Democrat power since Democrats are the party of Powermadness, Powermadness, but definitely they are not AmericaFirst. Why does this channel never ever say anything about this?
Posted by: LogicNotHuff | January 27, 2012, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Oh please. If the candidates wanted substantial debates they could give moderation back to the League of Women Voters like they used to be. They obviously enjoy the attention it gets them, so it’s a little disingenuous to complain about it.
Posted by: Sam | January 27, 2012, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Not enough girly lobbed softball questions I guess . Cue right wing establishment whining in 3…2…1 Opps too late !
The Maverick whined first !
Posted by: davem | January 27, 2012, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Considering how poorly John McCain did in the 2008 debates, i.e. referring to BO as ‘this one’ and annoyingly pacing around the stage while questions were being asked/answered by his opponent, it is no surprise that he’d blame the media or anyone else. Would he feel more comfortable choosing the questions himself? Ah, of course, then they call that something else, ‘communiism’; choosing the agenda and giving the people only what you want them to hear/know. I respect McCain for his accomplishments but he is out of touch with not just the MS media but with the MS public as well. And so very impatient as well.
Posted by: Rob Dent | January 27, 2012, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
If there is anyone more “prickley” than Newt, it’s McCain and apparently both think Palin is the best thing since sliced bread.
Posted by: Tim C | January 27, 2012, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Communist debate moderators? WOW… that has to be the dumbest thing he’s said this week.
A year from now we’ll look back and say this last full week of January 2012 was when the Republican party imploded.
Posted by: Grace | January 27, 2012, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
I agree Sam. The League of Women Voters, with high integrity and careful deliberation, not only handled debates well but also were outstanding at voter registration drives. Unfortunately, LOWV put themselves in the target of Republicans who are folloiwng an agenda of who is able to vote and if you don’t fit the Republican criteria, then sorry, no ballet for you. It really borders on voter fraud done at the legislative level. If voter laws change any more to get young, low income and the elderly out of the polling stations, our system of balances will be so far tilted to the right we might not be able to correct the listing.
Posted by: Rob Dent | January 27, 2012, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
Is it just me or are Newt Gingrich and John McCain starting to sound and act alike? Same history with wives (gives new meaning to MoveOn!), finally settling on a younger, more beautiful wife, one with money preferably; attack the media when things don’t go well instead of accepting personal responsibility; find their wealth through or by using government; go on the defensive if accused or questioned about your behavior garnering a following of non thinkers that like to hear someone angrily push back at the status quo….when in reality, they are the status quo. And most of all, they both bless the ground that Sarah Palin walks on. Maybe McCain is hoping for a VP slot with Palin Secretary of State in a Gingrich administration!
Posted by: Rob Dent | January 27, 2012, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm