McCain: Coverage Is "Fun To Watch"

Yesterday, John McCain released a series of ads complaining about the media's fawning coverage of Barack Obama. His campaign mocked the huge group of reporters trailing Obama by handing out press credentials that say "McCain Press Corps JV Squad, 'Left Behind To Report In America.'" On the other side, the same words are in French under a wine-drinking, beret-wearing European.

As the Huffington Post's Jason Linkins notes, media-bashing is an odd line of attack from the man who once courted the press as his "base."

And indeed, McCain couldn't stay mad at the press for long. The Politico reports:

Trying to avoid being portrayed as a whiney spoilsport, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) broke with his advisers Tuesday and told Katie Couric of CBS News that news coverage of the presidential campaign has been fair and even "fun to watch."

...

Asked whether he believes he'd had unfair media coverage, McCain replied: "I don't think so. I think ...it is what it is. I'm a big boy. And I'm enjoying every minute of the campaigning. And I'm certainly not complaining. And, in fact, I think it's fun to watch."

So much for message discipline.

Comments

[skooby]

I'm sorry but I cannot see how this old fossil can become president in these changing times.

[williamg]

For Christ's sake, this guy doesn't even remember his campaign's strategy -- from yesterday. This man is unfit for the Presidency.

[DesertLight]

I didn't know he had a campaign strategy? Did I miss something?

[rontun]

For a campaign that accused the American people of being whiners for complaining about the sorry economic mess the GOP has created, it should be ashamed of its unbridled plea for pity. I must say, however, that McCain's "Obama Love" video may have backfired. From the feedback I'm getting at our website http://www.laconiademocrats.org from people who are watching the video prominently displayed on the front page, McCain's merely reinforcing America's fondness for Senator Obama. One 68 year-old regular reader e-mailed me this morning "You know, maybe if McCain would fall in love with Obama he's stop being so grumpy and trying to make everyone else miserable."

[hjo4]

Please focus on him, make us aware of his gaffes and his wrong statements. Give him what he wants.

[littlepuffycloud]

I can't help but compare McJerk to my 74 year old father and YIKES! Yes, his body is old and rickety and looks every bit almost 72 years old. But his capacity to lie or forget is chilling. In any other person his age, his "mis-statements" and forgetfulness, and out right lying would be held in suspicion of being a condition formerly known as old-timer's syndrome. He is too old, rich and conservative to be POTUS. I pray our nation sees this and does not put this man in the White House.

[whiteboyblues]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Hey everybody look at me!

[lennix]

i think not this time we need change and mccain is to set in his ways to change war war war people are tired of this lets us with the rest of the world go after the bad guys with smarts and corner them in thier holes and get them there and stop killing tons of people with our bombs that had nothing to do with this madness and please america lets stop living in the past of hate and race this is the 21century it's the dawn of a new day we are the leaders of the world but every body else get it but us

[mistlesuede]

That close up picture of his hand grosses me out. That is an old, old, old man hand.

[Gina322]

You're crazy! He is so hot. We should change his name to McSexy. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!

[ChakraKhan]

Of course he's not complaining about the media. With the exception of Meredith Viera's recent slamming of him during an interview, he has been getting a free ride from them

[kellygrrrl]

That Claw is scaring me

[Grunty1]

Mc'Cain is even more bipolar than B'ush was.
He flip-flops at break neck speeds, usually in only a matter of hours.

[JJ30]

Honestly, I think the Republicans nominated him just to make a mockery of him. His entire campaign is just (how do I say this nicely) "jacked up". I mean day after day he lies and misspeaks and his staff has to run around and clean up his mess. I have never saw a presidential campaign run this bad and the candidate is even worse.

I mean is anyone serious about him becoming our next President???? I mean seriously????? I just don't understand..

[SpoxLogic]

JJ30, you may be onto something. As for me, I think they nominated him to be the sacrificial lamb. Think about it, a billy goat running against any Republican stands a good chance of winning the GE - just pointing out how screwed the GOP think they are this election cycle - not that the Dems are goats.

So, why waste whatt hey consider to be a "good young" candidate. They trot out McCain since he is so old and hope for the best. If he wins, gerat. In 4 years they would put up their "younger and better" candidate and hold on to the White House for another 12 years at minimum.

If they lose, they hope Bush will leave such a mess, that any Dem POTUS couldn't possible clean it up in 4 years, at which time they run saying the Dems can't clean up the mess and hopefully win in 2012.

At least, taht is what I think.

[memphispaul]

John McCain. The leader of the double talk express.

[southernfried]

pwned

[Mogamboguru]

He's embarrassing.

[DMHendrix]

Totally and unequivocally!

[JJeff88]

Many say McCain made a strategic blunder when he "goaded" Obama into traveling abroad. (At least so far, this strategy has backfired, because of all the favorable publicity Barack is deservedly receiving).

Ironically, McCain may be completing a second strategic blunder when his campaign complains to the media about lack of attention -

This is because closer scrutiny may further expose him for what he is: A grumpy old man with a comb-over living on his past laurels, taking negative potshots from the sidelines, committing gaffe after gaffe and offering little if anything new or different from the Same Old Republican playbook. Is that all he's got?

Til now, McCain's strategy has been to (a) ride on his past reputation and (b) negatively define Obama. Since Obama apparently isn't "negatively defining himself", McCain may finally have to try to redefine himself - a strategy fraught with danger. If John McCain wants more media attention and scrutiny, I say "bring it on!"