McCain Stacks Fox News 'Town Hall' With Supporters

Tonight was the first in a much-hyped series of 'town hall' forums scheduled by John McCain's campaign, in which Barack Obama had been challenged to show up to discuss the issues directly with the GOP nominee.

Except, as Fox News reported, McCain's campaign misled the public about the nature of the event. The forum was "billed by the McCain campaign as a town hall with independent and Democratic voters," but Fox News noted at the end that the audience was actually "made up of invited guests and supporters," the Democratic National Committee said in a statement.

Here is FNC's Shepard Smith breaking the news:

SMITH: "I reported at the top of this hour that the campaign had told us at Fox News that the audience would be made up of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. We have now received a clarification from the campaign and I feel I should pass it along to you. The McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters, Mayor Bloomberg, who of course is a registered Republican, and other independent groups."

DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"Once again John McCain's campaign is trying to mislead the American people. Senator McCain should understand that after seven years of a President who has divided Americans and pursued a scorched earth policy full of misleading propaganda campaigns, we need a leader who understands he is the President for all Americans not just his supporters. Copying the Bush campaign model of stacking events with his prescreened supporters is not the transparency Americans are looking for. If that is Senator McCain's idea of straight talk, the American people are in for a long and disappointing campaign season."

Comments

[BruntLIVE]

Republicans Town Halls = Fake Show meant to make them seem like everyday people, they are doing this out of desperation, not because they want to.

[damselfly1600]

Why would anyone expect anything different. For those who think McCain is anything different or that he is the "independent" that he'd like people to believe are really fooling themselves. It is no different from GWBush who claimed to be the "compassionate conservative" and all you have to do is look at how he handled Katrina to know the truth. McCain is no different -- he is a republican in independent clothing. Don't be fooled again.

[booker52]

Sounds and looks so much like Bush!!! Don't have a detractor in the bunch!!!

[lthuedk 1]

http://www.light-to-dark.com/Mad_McCain.html

[armadillious2002]

It won't work McCain - this is Rove's bullsh*t and Americans are saavy to it now. People like you and rove have had your day. Now it's time to flush the stinking repub toilet and send you folks down the tubes.

[jackieblu23]

Invited guest & supporters, I thought he hired people them from labor ready. So does McCain think he can set up these "town Meetings" & invite Obama with the decked stacked, or is it just a ploy so he can say I have invited Obama, but he won't show up? Does McCain think he can pull this off with no Obama supporters there, if Obama did show up? Maybe McCain just wants to show up some place with Obama, so he can see what it's like to draw a big crowd? Who knows - but the guys a joke, he's using his clones play -book, fake events, " Mission Accomplished" ! It is obvious McCain is afraid to do a regular debate with Obama. McCain has also been telling everyone Obama is going to be raising everyones taxes, which is a lie! Slime ball express!!!

[cindy4america]

I am glad Obama did not show up for this McCain town hall meeting. Obama may have sent those republicans into rehab and they would have come out of the meeting Obamacans. By the time McCain was able to speak, everyone would have been fired up and ready for vote Obama '08.

[nonconformist2]

The problem with stacking the town hall forums with party loyalists is that they may become confused when McLame isn't sure which flipflop position to take on a particular issue on a particular day. Is he for it? Is he against it? Maybe cue cards about when to applaud will be needed as well.

[cindy4america]

True that. He is enough to make even the strongest republican's head spin around and around.

[THEhillbilly]

This was worth a few chuckles. Your grandiloquent, done-nothing hero should want to talk to the other guy's supporters. However, the fact is that Obama is lost without a carefully rehearsed script. His obvious fear of open discussion has nothing to do with the in-house audience.

By the way, this needs correction: "DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:"

That should have said, "DNC Chairman Howard Dean spewed the following lame, predictable snivel:"

[dhinds]

Troll Alert!

[mari2JJ]

Unfortunately, the facts in this matter are against your tirade. Obama is doing very well. I know it bugs you a lot to have to accept that, but on the other hand our party could have chosen someone more exciting to run against Obama, probably the best and most honest and natural speaker the Democrats have fielded for years. But for your information, McCain himself was involved with these plans and he is the one with problems. I think he was looking for Obama's presence to add a bit of excitement to the gathering. However, Obama already had a scheduled speech and, although Obama will always be polite and respectful of McCain, he will outdo McCain in this sort of venue.. Sorry for you, but those are just the realities.

[Supercritic]

Obviously you are embarrassed as you should be by this clumsy tactic. However I cannot think of anyone with perhaps the exception of your mother, who would think your reaction as more than a high school drop out showing why he really should have stayed in school. It is old, tired nd lame as befitting your chosen candidate. .

[lthuedk 1]

http://www.light-to-dark.com/the_joy_of_a_dictatorship.html

[mortrefuge]

You want a debate? This is the debate I'd like to see. The candidates with or without an audience asking each other questions then rebutting the answers. No time limit. No townhall meetings with pre-screened questions. No moderators asking their own biased questions. Just the 2 candidates.

[dhinds]

"Just the 2 candidates­."

Why only 2? Why not 4, 5 or 6?

[dhinds]

IOW, add Nader, Barr, McKinney and Paul (who just dropped out). THAT would be interesting.

[rosal]

Whas this the plan for the 10 town hall meetings? A room full of repugs?

[girard1991]

One more comment. Why is Shep Smith at Fixed News? He should leave and go to another network. Each time I listen to him or watch his show, he comes across as honest. Maybe this is a reflection of how 'in the can' for Bush and Republicans all the other Fixed News commentators are in their reporting.

[democrat4ever]

I second your question "why is Shepard Smith at Fixed news"!!! I have always felt drawn to him, and the only one I watch on Fox News. I often asked myself, what is he doing here? He definately is in the wrong place....S­hepard, if you ever read this blogs, get out of there, you are too good for them....an­d the most important question, will you marry me Shepard?..­.lol.

[girard1991]

What a mess.

[CrazyDemocrat]

Oh No, McCain is turning into Hillary Lite

[ymax]

No he is McBu$h

[THEhillbilly]

To little kids and assorted cretins, maybe...bu­t only the slowest of them.