AP Gives McCain 'Cigarettes' Story A Ridiculous Headline

Yesterday, while enjoying a meal at a Pittsburgh sandwich shop, John McCain made a joke about how maybe he could kill Iranians with cigarettes, because that's how people with tremendous plane-crashing leadership roll. But rather than capture what happened with a headline that explained how a grown man running for President thinks the indiscriminate killing of a nation of people whose "affection for the United States" is described as "thriving these days" is funny, the Associated Press instead chose to use this headline:

"Political Play: Wife pokes McCain in the back"

That's right! The AP, in their infinite wisdom, wants your attention drawn to Cindy McCain "jabbing" McCain in the back. And it wasn't even a terrorist fist jab!

Cindy McCain's jab to her husband's back came a second too late Tuesday to keep him from making a wisecrack about the health impact of Iran's main import from the United States: cigarettes.

That's the lede, and even it is stupendously out of whack with what actually happened. McCain did not "make a wisecrack about the health impact" of cigarettes. He suggested that cigarettes might be used to murder Iranians, because that is hilarious.

Don't forget to LOL when cigarettes become a major component of John McCain's plan to overhaul Social Security.

UPDATE: Via ThinkProgress, How are reporters are treating McCain's remarks? Idiotically, if you must know!

NBC's Chuck Todd: That's what makes him real and that's what makes people who disagree with him say "ah, you know what? The guy seems like any guy you'd want to have around the dinner table or the bar stool."

CNN's Jessica Yellin: "People who love him think his a maverick and think he's a real guy who makes a joke off the cuff just like real people do [but] we're all waiting to see if something explodes, this kind of comment doesn't."

Now, I'm a Chuck Todd fan, but you really have to question his judgement. Jokes about genocide are not the sort of things I want around my dinner table or barstool, and I think it's safe to say that it's "jokes" like those that make people who disagree with McCain realize that their disagreements are well founded.

As for Jessica Yellin's comment, I think it's safe to say that if McCain is elected President, topping the list of people "waiting to see if something explodes" will be the Iranians.

Comments

[debrouillard]

NBC's Chuck Todd: That's what makes him real and that's what makes people who disagree with him say "ah, you know what? The guy seems like any guy you'd want to have around the dinner table or the bar stool."

No Todd,I wouldnt want somebody who plans for more sutler ways to murder around my dinning table.If you dont smoke he might consider water or wine. And I do drink both.

[indypete]

Give the old buffer a break, he was cracking a joke. They can't all be gems, you know. (Remember Kerry?) Get him on something real, it's not like we're short on material.

[partyofone]

McCain has cultivated a close relationship with reporters over the years and it is paying off. But any voter with decent values and concern for the future can see that McCain's "gaff" jokes about Iran, and his "slips" on facts about Iraq are and should be very troubling. We don't need another amiable iditor warmonger for president.

[Adiam]

I know that the UPI is owned by Rev. Moon who owns the AP ? Is it still a cooperative between different news agencies? The reporting seems so Fox-esque even during the Obama Clinton run.By the way, McCain is stir crazy.

[DMSmith]

What does 'stir' have to do with it?

[miloseven]

In Pres. Eisenhower's farewell address in 1961, he warned Americans about the evils of the "military-industrial complex", and no one listened. Now, in 2008, we fret and worry about "big oil", "big media", and "big government". No one is going to tell you the truth folks, if it interrupts their grab for more money and power. I love this country but I fear Pax Americana is in its death throes. If you speak up, you're either shut down or shot down. Heaven help us all.

[luckyoldson]

Why do the people running HuffPo always delete comments that are even the least bit critical of them?

Rather gutless.

[indypete]

You must be unlucky, Old Son... I've bellyached at them from time to time and got away with it just fine.

[debrouillard]

You sense of criticising must be to include all the words that responsible media outlets dont tolerate.
Do you criticising by using alternative words to air your point and it shall be displayed.

[Paladine]

I can't wait for a debate. People can see for themselves. McCains' idiocy is sure to shine through.

[HypocrisyAlarm]

Do you think that will matter? Incurious George came across like the idiot he is during the "debates" in 2000, and he still became president. Until the electorate judges these events on performance instead of against expectations, the situation will not improve. Remember: Al Gore was counted a "loser" in some of these "debates" simply because the media expected much from Gore and nothing from his opponent. Since Gore did less than "great" and you-know-who actually made a couple of points (contrary to expectations), the media reported that Gore had LOST the debate, despite his having debated circles around his opponent.

[WKR]

OMG you're right!!! I forgot about those old Gore/Bush debates. And wasn't there a country which he didn't know what continent it was on, or something like that? AND HE WON AND WE WENT DOWN THE WORMHOLE, & THE REST IS HISTORY!

[Unshriven]

Mc Bush gets more "Presidential" every day. He's the perfect choice for America. Bloodthirsty, tin-eared, clueless and nuts.

[closerthanuthink]

Maybe get some filippinos to light them up (remember Dbya and Mme. Arroyo?)! As LTinCali put it, the man is clueless!!

[DanteForClinton]

Didn't Obama call this kind of stuff...the silly season?

The disconnect between Obama's words and the actions of his following is not lost on some of us. Come November some people are in for a hard lesson in political payback.

[NotMcCain]

Watching him snort with laughter at his "kill (innocent) Iranians" comment was even more revolting than reading it.

Is he getting senile? Seriously. I don't think McCain 2000 would have acted like this. He seemed to have a lot more going on mentally back then (he had a half-smile today talking about the "Holocaust"--like he's been told to remember to smile so...he did, a little. Problem is...its NEVER appropriate to smile when talking about a "new Holocaust").

I think he's not all there any more mentally. No kidding.

[happypup]

PUMAs: When you do not support our Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, you are helping to put John McCain in the WH. Is this really what you want for our country? I sure as hell hope not - we deserve better!

[masha2008]

the AP is a joke. they have been getting it wrong since the primary season. who runs that joint?

mccain really represents a backward america. you do not joke about killing people. not ever. especially if you are running for president. the msm really is giving him a pass on a lot of things. seems like a concerted effort which points to a managerial direction of some sort. it is dangerous how the msm distorts news. it shows the intellectual dishonesty of american media as well as its moral bankruptcy. it's the run up to the iraq war all over again.

also, mccain is such a hypocrite trying to claim he is for peace. if he truly is then jokes like that shouldnt even cross your mind. if he is serious about peace then it should permeate your being; thinking of the different avenues where such may reached and the consequences of your words and actions.

he may also have just alienated moderate iranians.

[tesaract]

McCain is always spouting off about how Ahmadinejad calls for the death of Israeli's. Am I wrong, or don't these statements by McCain seem at least similar in their aim?

[BlueOnBlue]

Jason, you know I'm a fan of yours, but it takes incredibly large brass cojones for a HuffPost blogger to complain about someone else's headlines. I'm not saying the AP is right here, but this site is full of over the top, non sequitur and unsupported headlines every day of the week.