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

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

[hbw3]

can't..... stop.... laughing...

[Chas53]

Where is tne neuropsychiatric testing? Obama should welcome these town hall format debates, to be started out with a ten minute extemporaneous introduction by each candidate. Watch McCain experience a Captain Queeg (Caine Mutiny) moment. He will need to bring his own ball bearings.

[diddith]

I love this... it's not even half way through June Grandpa keeps digging his own grave deeper and deeper

[vshdst]

If you are a true American and love this country, please, please, please, please don't vote for this man. He is not very intelligent and would put our security and welfare in deeper peril.
If it weren't for his father and grandfather and cindy's money, he would have never come this far.

[lisac63]

On the bright side, if McCain wins, we can look forward to four more years of "Great moments in Presidential Speeches" on Letterman.

[clearthinker2008]

He scares the dehydration out of me.

[conscioushope]

Clear thinker~

How about a hot bottle of beer???

[NotFooledByDistractions]

We don't need another C- legacy student as president. Wise up America.

[pupbayer]

Maybe along with that hot water we can give kids with asthma the breathalyzers Obama wants to give them.

We can laugh at McCain so I assume it's OK to laugh at Obama and all the stupid stuff he says, too. Right?

[lisac63]

Of course....I was there at that town hall meeting where he said that and it was too funny. Obama was actually laughing at himself. He has a great sense of humor. And I'm sure he won't try and deny he said it.

[vshdst]

big difference!

O has been campaigning, against an opponent, non stop for 16 months.

JM has been resting for the last couple of months. He should be more alert and prepared. Obviously, he's not.

[mgray34]

Right, that's fair game. The only thing is Obama caught his breathalyzers gaffe when he said it and made fun of himself in regards to that comment. McCain was being very honery and emphatic about denying the gaffes he made.

[PioneerKing]

Why would any woman who supports Hillary vote for McCain?
McCain allows his supports to call Hillary derogatory names and even posted the video on his website.
McCain spews profanity on his wife in public.
McCain is not pro-choice.
McCain has made numerous ribald jokes about Hillary and Chelsea.
McCain has no qualms about committing adultery and treated his first wife horribly.
McCain is against middle class tax cuts, which the greatest beneficiaries would be single moms and their children.
McCain behaves pretty much like the definition of a misogynist.

[debrouillard]

Front page on McCain website,Hillary is refered to as the Bitch. Now Hillary supporters explain to me how a vote for McCain is in support to Hillary.

[jack1105]

I agree. I don't understand how any woman could posibly vote for this man. His record on women's issues is HORRIFIC, and he's proud of it.

[clearthinker2008]

Because of anger?... just tossing it out there...

[vshdst]

yes. I don't understand why these rabid supporters of HRC would rather vote for JM. It doesn't make sense since most of them are feminist. They would be voting against their own interest, as well as the interes of daughters and granddaughters.
You can take bitterness but so far.

[conscioushope]

vsh~

Dare we mention that there is a "layer" of HRC supporters who may be low-information kinda people??

And, we have some intelligent women who may have their "feminist" viewpoints overshadowed by their own illogical logic that we gotta have a woman in the White House NOW .

I don't really know for sure. But, I have some friends who were active in trying to get the ERA ratified many years ago, and they equate that kind of push for "equality" with HRC.

[anotherobamamama]

The only thing I can think of is they aren't actually true feminists? If they were then they'd vote on actual issues. At any rate they'll do a number on feminism and women in politics for generations to come.

[DoTheMath]

It is so unfortunate that Clinton supporters were led to believe that they were robbed. Sure, they have now been encouraged to support Obama, but that's quite a leap to expect them to make without first explaining that the popular vote argument, for example, was actually a bit of a stretch (or perhaps "not the only way to look at it" - there must be some way it could be explained).

It may also be helpful to hear that although sexist remarks were a lamentable part of the campaign, as were racist remarks and garden variety smears, there was no vast sexist conspiracy afoot. In fact, if anything, the sexism expressed in the campaign served to energize women and probably increased support for Clinton.

[Jess27]

I can not wait for the debates. It will be comical to listen to McSame.

[Relax08]

Don't get cocky Progressives! Remember America elected George W. Bush TWICE!!!!!!!!!

It can happen again, and in fact, this may all be some plan to make everyone feel so so sorry for McBush that they vote for him out of pity and to provide a easy contrast with Obama for those who will approach the election without much in depth analysis- ie. the vast majority of American voters.

The plan may be to accept the fact that McBush is a lousy candidate, a bumbling idiot, but that Obama is just a smart elite car salesman who will steal America blind and who is unlike most American's because he doesn't have any flaws, he's god like or audacious or whatever.

Don't laugh, this works in the legal field where trial lawyers who are bumblers get huge verdicts and trial lawyers who are seen as slick are rejected by jurors.

The theme of the old guy just trying to do the best he can with all of his war injuries and all his scars of life who wants to bring his great wisdom to the aid of the country during his last years will in fact appeal to some people- especially those who aren't ready for a young uppity "negro" to be President..

Obama has got to watch out for any sign of arrogance on his part or the candidacy's part. It could kill the election!

[theMightyT]

The only problem with this argument is that it's Bush's failed policies, and McCain's championing of them, that are what Obama is arguing against. Today the Republicans blocked taxing the oil companies. Who's robbing who blind?

There's no way an educated voting population could be taken in by the pathetic attempts of the Republicans to make this about anything other than 4 more years of the same lousy policies and "leadership", versus a new way of doing politics and a return to responsible governance.

[phal4875]

Relax08 is very much on target. Few objective voters could compare Obama and McCain and not see a huge difference. It is nearly impossible to finish 894th out of a class of 899 without being very limited intellectually or very lazy. That might not matter at all to a group of voters who twice elected a man who has done nothing in life without his daddy's friends' help. McCain can be seen as an old man who only wants to help us in our hour of need. He may be a fool, but he was a prisoner of war. Let's elect him for that alone. He should be honored for serving this country, but the presidency is not the appropriate reward.

[glaze]

Whatever your faith or non-theological viewpoint, please join me in the fervent hope that John McCain stays well... AT THE VERY LEAST up to and including election night and the following day. For the very future of our country, He MUST continue to be his party's candidate.
The DTS (dirty trick squad) never sleeps, has as much tenacity as Senator Clinton and more, and frankly I wouldn't put it past them to maneuver some crisis to thwart the legitimate election results.
Plenty of time to party after November and even more in January. I'm buyin'!

[zizyphus]

I think if the Republicans become convinced McCain won't win, they plan to bomb Iran if necessary, declare martial law after the ensuing riots, and cancel the election. Does anyone put that past them?

Are there any laws they haven't broken yet?

[Chrys]

People should not be worried about McCain so much. As it is said in German he is an OPA. In the german Language OPA would translate as "Grandfather".
Its perfectly understandable when he behaves as one and would want to be the President of the self acclaimed Super Power (USA).

Just watch here what a future American President says:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ENwej0fpc

Can somebody tell the GOP Nominee John McBushCain, that President Putin as at that time was the President of Russia and not Germany.
Grandfather its time to retire.

[jpcline004]

The Pleasant Valley nursing home is proud to present Wacky Mac's Gaffe Attack!

See Senator John "Wacky Mac" McCain croon along to the greatest hits of all time, like "Moon River", "Copa Cabana" and of course "Mac the Knife"

This week only in Reno, NV.

[TrevorAlan]

His method of finding a vice president is to do an internet search??? He's been in the Senate and an important playier in party politics and he doesn't just know some people? He doesn't have a group of people to do research more extensive than their MySpace profile???