McCain Gaffes: A Tough Week In The Youtube Era

John McCain is having a rough week. Not only was he panned for trying to steal Barack Obama's thunder by lifelessly reading a teleprompter in front of the big green monster, but he's introduced a few gaffes along the way. Thankfully, we have the modern miracle of Youtube, so you can enjoy these priceless slip ups again and again. Try to keep up.

Let Them Drink Hot Water

During his New Orleans speech, McCain promised to deliver 'hot water' to dehydrated infants. A quick look at the prepared speech shows that McCain actually inserted the word "hot" on the fly.

The prepared version: "We should be able to deliver bottled water to dehydrated babies and rescue the infirm from a hospital with no electricity."

[WATCH]

McCain's War On Beer

Perhaps thinking of his wife's family fortune, McCain accidentally promised to veto all earmark-filled beers. Actually, I'd support that policy.

[WATCH]

Story continues below

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A Google

Bush taught us how to use "the Google." Now we have the McCain version, which explains his VP vetting process:

"We're going through a process where you get a whole bunch of names, and ya ... Well, basically, it's a Google," McCain said. "You just, you know, what you can find out now on the Internet. It's remarkable, you know."

The Non-Denial Denial Denial

So, first McCain gently chides the press for their treatment of Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary, saying "The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans." No big deal there, until a reporter from Newsweek asks McCain about the statement, which he then flatly denied making:

"I did not [say that] -- that was in prepared remarks, and I did not [say it] -- I'm not in the business of commenting on the press and their coverage or not coverage."

You decide if McCain didn't actually say what he said:

The McCain camp, realizing their candidate had created an elaborate story that hinged on a blatant falsehood, came up with a brilliant explanation: he didn't say, even though we admit that he said it:

Presented with video showing that the GOP nominee did in fact read the remarks as they were prepared, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Newsweek's account of McCain's answer is "paraphrased and unclear."

Rogers said he was not questioning the magazine's transcription, but pointing out that they included brackets.

But, given that he was responding to a direct question about a portion of the speech, it's unclear what else McCain could have been alluding to when noting twice that he "did not." That he also pointed out that the same section had been "in the prepared remarks" only clarifies that he was referring to the passage in question.

Newsweek's Bailey said the McCain quote as included in their Q & A posted online was verbatim.

Comments

[mc]

Anybody know what happened to Minnesota Mike?

[abarafi]

How quickly we forget. When Bush ran for president (twice), he came off as someone barely capable of talking English. But people got ticked off at Gore and then Kerry for making him look like an idiot. All the Joe-Six-Packs in America decided to vote for one of their own. And, these people are still alive and voting. The very things that make Obama so appealing -- he's intelligent, erudite and classy -- push a lot of other peoples' buttons. I wish we had some kind of IQ test for voting eligibility. We make it harder for people to drive than for them to vote! And, we end up with people running this country who no self-respecting corporation of any size would ever pick as their CEO. Think about that! We let people be the CEO of America who no board of directors would ever have on their short list. I'm hoping that I can say what Michelle said, "This is the first time in my adult life that I've been proud of my country."

[debrab]

Forget the voters taking an IQ test, how about the candidates taking an IQ test? Can you imagine if Obama and McCain had to take a battery of exams and the results were made public. Economics, Constitutional Law, International Relations, Logic, Mathematics, History, Government, Accounting and Finance.

[fflores]

As i've said before... do not take lets this pathetic and often laughable man, do not let him take our eyes off the prize... Remember all these gaffe's when its time to vote.. remember all these lies when its time to vote... remember to spread the word about O!!!

O-Yea!

[jupitor]

Oh please , I feel so sorry for this old man! He is a war hero, and days gone by a great maverick for the state of arizona. but , good grief something is wrong with him! Half the time he don't know what he is saying , and denies his deniels in saying them! I just want to ask him to please stop know before he makes more of a fool of himself. He's so hard to watch, from the good man he use to be. It's sad to watch it happen before our very eyes! Some one has got to step in, and put a stop to this terrible desplay of incompensy. This is why this republican is voteing Demacrate this time. This is a poor offer to the american people by the republilcans for President of the United States. I keep waiting for him to pass out, or blow up in anger! He's becomeing a joke, and it hurts to see him being mocked, criticized,joked about and being seen as a senile old fool! It is all over, and I wish it was Nov. So I wouldn't have to see him struggle any longer, or see his desappointment when it comes! This old man will always be a war hero, and deserves our respect, but we can't give him a country to run in this kind of condition!

[lykitis]

I agree. I used to like the guy but became very disappointed with him when he rolled over and took all the crap that GWB and Rove threw at him. Last Tuesday evening I watched all 3 speeches..­.Hillary, Obama and McCain. When Mccain first started talking and doing those grins, I laughed thinking "what a joke!". Then as he went on, I became very embarrassed for him and could hardly get thru watching him. It was horrible..­.the green background, him trying to read the teleprompter. I feel like you do, though...I­'m expecting him to blow, have a breakdown moment. Not good, what are the Republicans thinking? Anyway, welcome to the Obama side.

[GemNY]

The sad thing is...... he's talking out both sides of his face. He may have aged, but that hasn't changed! His land deals stretch well into the past with the Keating 5 and his more recently sell out to the public with the public land in Prescott Arizona.

He may seem laughable.­... No, he just is.... but so was Bush and look how many people bought that act!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[loax]

This man is not fit to be President. Watch for the republican trolls...t­hey are everywhere!!

[Gmoney1]

An old feeble man with no idea of what he says from day to day - he reminds me of an old man who smiles even if you are giving him bad news - he just smiles because he has no idea of what you said - what a shame -

[southafrica4obama]

Oh please, don't veto beer. We cling to that in times of hardship.

[jakie]

THIS OLD GRAND PA IS TO OLD TO RUN THIS COUNTRY HE AS SENILE AS ANYONE CAN BE

[anelder]

Now - now - not that bad.

But speaking from the same generation I will validate that this is not the man for the job. Many of us, at this age, are wiser, have learned to not control but to have eliminated temper tantrums, recognize our speech gaffs, sometimes when called to our attention only, know enough to smile and correct them. Lapses of memoray on specifics, nothing to be embarrased about, science tells me it's because I have too much stored in my brain. Grandchildren tell me I've told that story before, some of them even listen to the stories multiple times. It's true, I half smile at times, usually at jokes I don't get. Or, most likely, at ones I don't find funny. It's a generational thing. I enjoy the young ones calling me babe. The older ones think it's disrespectful. What do they know.

Sooo, what does this mean, it means we've got what it takes to do better with life, but to be the leader of the free world - absolutely not. To advise the leader of the free world. You betcha.

[donttasemebro]

You forgot this one, where he thinks Putin is the President of Germany.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ENwej0fpc

[southafrica4obama]

Nice. First time.

[Grannysue]

Someone needs to adjust that stick up his butt so his body doesnt' move so much like a robot, it's difficult to watch this guy speak without gagging!

[jakie]

THIS MAN IS SO FAKE I CAN'T STAND HIM HW WANT BE OUR PRESIDENT GO HOME MCBUSH YOU ARE TO SENILE TO RUN THIS COUNTRY

[simplify]

McCain doesnt remember what he says from one day to the next. He is an accident waiting to happen

[hstanfill4112]

He reminds me of Mr Roper on Three's Company. He smiled into the camera every time he made a snide remark about his wife. Mcbush has captured that perfectly.­..........­.....

[LWilkinson315]

I thought all parents used a Google while feeding their babies hot water...*s­cratching head* oh well back to parenting 101 for me

[filo]

I'm still having trouble putting food on my family.

[PuritanDescendant]

...and Kerry was ahead by 20 points at this time 4 years ago, against a floundering incompetent war monger.

[chroipahtz]

Keywords: 4 years ago

[realpeace]

The presidency is a very stressful job. McCain already shows signs of mental stress and he hasn't even begun. Because of it being mentally stressful, others around him will run the show. We've seen this before.

Hopefully people can see this and decide taking into account the people he surrounds himself with, (what you see is NOT what you get.) In other words, people will not necessarily be electing McCain, but rather a bunch of other people with whatever ideology. This is very risky indeed.