McAuliffe Says Russert's Dad Is 'Watching From Heaven' -- He's Alive (VIDEO)

In perhaps one of the more uncomfortable moments in recent Meet the Press history, Clinton campaign co-chair Terry McAuliffe insinuated on Sunday that host Tim Russert's father was dead. He isn't.

Expounding -- for the tenth time during the interview -- the virtues of Hillary Clinton's political tenacity, McAuliffe suggested that both his and Russert's dad would be watching her admirably from heaven... perhaps drunk.

"But it's not impossible for Hillary Clinton to win," said McAuliffe. "A lot of people have said that. Big Russ, if he were sitting here today -- nothing's impossible. Jack McAuliffe, if they were with us today, they're probably both in heaven right now Tim, probably having a scotch, looking down saying, you know what: this fight goes on. It's good for the Democratic Party. Millions of people coming out to vote, it's exciting."

Not missing a beat, Russert quickly corrected his always genial guest.

"Big Russ is in the Barcalounger still watching this," he said. "God bless him."

And god bless McAuliffe as well.

Comments

[glaze]

I make my living (?) caring for elderly people. Once again, reading articles like this about those who labor in The Fluff Machine, makes me realize I am astronomically underpaid.

[panderwatch]

Maybe McAuliffe thought that by resurrecting Big Russ he could also resurrect HRC’s chances. Besides the gaff, ironically McAuliffe is demonstrating why Hillary should not get the nomination: every week the campaign comes up with a new reason for her to be the chosen one. The only consistent thing about her campaign is the inconsistancy of the message. Hillary changes her core values to suit each race. Sorry Terry, but this time Hillary is not like Big Russ with a hope and dream. She was the anointed who lost her bearings (no age bias intended) and ran a sloppy campaign. She is the establishment at a moment when the people are clamoring for change.

As we’ve said here before on this blog, Hillary has every right to continue campaigning through the final primaries. She’s worked hard and the remaining states deserve a chance to cast their vote. But her campaign is so desparate to win us over they keep digging deeper for reasons for her continuted presence.

I have a recommendation: instead of pushing their candidate so hard, keep the “talking points” related to the rights of the voters and the process. Stay in because your supporters want you to stay. Give something back for a change.

To paraphrase the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA,” we can wait for June.

panderwatch.com

[courgood]

The most egregious part of this - aside from the death faux pas - is that MTP is the premier Sunday political talk show - watched by politicos everywhere. And anyone who watches regularly or even semi-regularly hears Russert mention his ALIVE Dad every other week in some way - only second to his Buffalo Bills. Anyone knowing of these regular shout-outs would also know that the day Big Russ does pass, Russert would likely devote a significant mention of same. HOW ON EARTH DOES A TOP POLITICAL OPERATIVE NOT WATCH MTP ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS?!? Especially one who pandered by claiming to have read the Russert books that address a lot of time to Big Russ. There was a double faux pas - in that, in the same breath as not knowing Russert's father was still alive - Terry was also saying that he doesn't watch the show much. Even those in the political biz who may not like Russert have to make it a part of their regular viewing to be competent. Jeez - embarassing on so many levels.

[Eddieboyd2001]

"hard for Obama to get the hard working Americans, White Americans to vote for him". I guess the rest of us are lazy good for nothing nonworking UnAmericans. And Clinton suppporters wonder why she is losing? Now who is playing the "race card"

[mshinbone]

I recorded MTP yesterday and watched it after I put my son to sleep. Normally I would be screaming at the TV when Terry tried to bring us along on his alternate view of reality. All I could do was laugh and take comfort in knowing that it's over. Further, while he was saying the right things about getting behind Obama, I realize his moment in the sun has come and now gone. He and the rest of team Clinton will bow out and hopefully say the right things. Then they're going to have to disapear as they've lost all credibility. I would not want this guy out there giving talking points on behalf of Obama. I pray it does not come to that.

[Braves71]

And darn glad Big Russ IS upstate in his barcalounger.
Those guys should never go. Wish my WWII Dad were still here.
Keep watching, Big Russ!

[Eckfan]

Just one more example, as if we needed any more proof, of the Clintons hiring those loyal to them, instead of those most capable of the job, just like the Bushies and the Repub Party. Mark Penn being another example, not knowing about California's Democratic delegate rules and thinking it worked just like the Republicans and then not giving a damn after he was corrected. Thus, you had all the bs about "winning the big states" and the "small states don't matter." This fact alone disqualifies Clinton for the presidency. McAuliffe is a lying big money scumbag, he's no Democrat. He should be run out of the Democratic Party along with all his DLC cronies. Yeah, that's just what this country needs, another president that only cares about loyalty and big money cronies. It astounds me the number of "Democrats" that believe Clinton is the best for the job. She hired the biggest union buster in this nation's history as her top dog, because he's a loyal dog. You Hillary losers should really explain this because it defies common sense.

[donttasemebro]

Terry reminds me more and more of "Baghdad Bob", the Iraqi information minister, who claimed steadfastly that there were no American soldiers in his country, even as the tanks were rolling by him in the background.

[dm92]

He has always reminded me of a snake oil salesman..­.

[repuglycon]

After watching his rant I got the same feeling as I get from watching republican senators giving speaches on C- Span. Both should require a spew alert warning.

[panchovilla]

I'm no fan of McAuliffe, who I believe is the face of big-money special interests in the Democratic Party. That said, I don't like it that we take snippets of somebody's public statements (a la Rev. Wright) and make a big deal out of them. I'd rather have the Huffington Post or anybody else from the press conducting a thorough investigation of the connections between big money interests and the policies the Democrats promote while in power. That'd be great.

[MainSpark]

panchovilla wrote:

"I don't like it that we take snippets of somebody's public statements (a la Rev. Wright) and make a big deal out of them."

That makes two of us.

Did McAuliffe come off as clueless? You betcha! Deservedly so. Did the remark have anything to do with the campaigns? Not in the least. Does it speak poorly of Hillary Clinton? Just as much as the uproar over Rev. Wright said anything about Obama. That's to say, nothing.

What's next? Will one of the Obama children be disciplined at school, thereby causing the mob to denounce him as a lousy parent? Will Hillary's dog bite the mailman, signaling to the world that she can't exercise control over a pet?

Too petty. Too shallow. Too immature.

Oh, sorry. I was thinking about voters from another party.

[ObamaEdwards]

There you have it. Out of touch with reality. That is the Clinton World for you. They'll say anything to win, whether it's true or not, without fact checking or talking to the people around them. Hillary Clinton is living in her own fantasy, and her people are right there with her, sipping the blue Kool-Aid.

[TotobiAyokoh23]

With Hillary's campaign in distress, that guy is a dead-man-walking and therefore, thought everybody is dead! Poor boy.......

[KyleCope]

LOL - Check out this funny Hillary spoof before she orders a hit on me!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wGMgxFE6bms

[Gumby123]

This incident should not be turned into a wedge in dividing the Democratic Party.

[ruthinking]

Terry Auliffe seemed to be on "something" yesterday. He had a mad-dog appearance, couldn't quite focus and very unwilling to listen.

[hbw3]

I think it's a Kool Aid/Crown Royal cocktail.

Not his fault - the campaign is so broke that he's being paid in cocktails.

Does he realize there's a Republican to run against in November that he needs to help the whole of the Democratic Party now?

[MyNameIsJames]

Ha Ha Ha - Good one!

[seenitall]

too much time in the Clinton vacuum...

[whatsmyname]

ru thinking..­..EXCELLEN­T Observatio­n.........­.and wish more people were that honest and aware. I'll bet he believes in Clinton's camp motto; Better Life Through Chemistry. Salute....­.....

[dm92]

I think it was a simple case of too much coffee - he looked a little wired.

[Bluedog12]

I was saddened to hear of Big Russ' s passing. Reminds me of an old Mark Twain quote.