Cindy McCain Mother Teresa Story Fabricated

Christian Science Monitor:

Gilding the lily is nothing new to politics. From the 1840s when William Henry Harrison claimed to have been born in a log cabin (it was actually a Virginia plantation) to Ronald Reagan's reminiscing about flying over Germany in World War II (he did, but only in a movie), politicians have taken perfectly good stories and embellished them.

...

The latest embellishments come from the McCain camp. Cindy McCain has repeatedly referred to herself as an "only child." This week came news that she actually has two half sisters, although apparently she had very little contact with them.

The McCain campaign had also put out the story that Mother Teresa "convinced" Cindy to bring home two orphans from Bangladesh in 1991.

Mrs. McCain, it turns out, never met Mother Teresa. (Once contacted by the Monitor, the campaign revised the story on its website.)

Read the whole story: Christian Science Monitor

Comments

[Noratruth]

Tomorrow at 2 pm, NPR's Talk of the Nation will be producing a story on John McCain's life story (following a program on Obama's on Tuesday). We have an opportunity to insist some kind of reporting on these issues by simply calling and pointing out the unreported and unpleasant facts of the media's coverage of McCain.

Lets bombard them with the calls!

[olivia]

What is notable is that this article is from the Christian Science Monitor, the most unbiased publication in the world.

It's not a religious newspaper, but it exists for the purpose of being objective, reporting the truth, and doing no harm - in keeping with that religion's principles. It's a very fine paper.

[VOTER]

No Kidding!

This is BIG TIME!

I do hope we hear from Pastor Rick tomorrow.

Has his faith in the McCains integrity changed a bit?

[happypup]

You make an excellent point. This paper has an excellent reputation and is renowned for its honesty and total lack of hypocrisy.

[akw]

Could the title of this story be a little bit more twisted? The ONLY thing that appears to be untrue is that Mother Theresa PERSONALLY met with Cindy on THAT PARTICULAR trip and PERSONALLY asked her to take those two babies home. And, I have never heard or been able to find one quote from either of the McCains where those words were spoken. Perhaps the story could have also emphasized that Cindy McCain did go to Mother Theresa's orphanage, and was implored by nuns there to take the two dying girls home with her. If you can find a quote that says otherwise from either of the McCains, post it.

This is no different from flogging her for saying she was raised as an only child and then finding out that she has two half-sisters that she barely knew! She WAS essentially an only child, as she NEVER was close enough to them to even be involved in their lives. That's pretty evident by the fact that when her father died, he left his fortune to Cindy, as she was the child he raised. That may not seem fair, but it certainly wasn't Cindy McCain's fault.

[goldnchyl]

Twisted? How so? She fabricated the story.

I would agree that this is a non issue. But, it's the pattern of lying that's the problem. Capeesh?

[Noratruth]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/cindy.html

[VOTER]

John McCain told the lie at Saddleback on Saturday.

Read on for a poster has given the quote and link.

Also, this was written in the All About Cindy page of McCain's Campaign website.

This myth/lie has been given life by two .......... John and Cindy.

Keep up............. Cindy has known her two half sisters her entire life. This wasn't news to her now.

You have a great deal of catching up to do.

[jethrock]

"While working at Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Bangladesh in the early 1990s, McCain said, “I stumbled upon the most beautiful little girl I’d ever seen. She had a terrible cleft palate. She had problems with her feet. She had problems with her hands. She had all kinds of problems.”

“As only Mother Teresa can do," McCain continued, "she prevailed upon me to take this baby and another baby –- get them out of the country and take them to the United States for medical care.” On the flight from Bangkok to Los Angeles, McCain said she realized, “I couldn’t give this child up.... She had chosen me. That’s just as simple as it was.”

--- Cindy McCain

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/01/cindy.html

[goldnchyl]

save that story. it's been scrubbed from many sites, particularly the McCain site. I read it before with my own eyes. I know what I saw. But it says something different now. Another disturbing development. It's the pattern people. Do you really want 4-8 more years of being lied to?

[TN]

I'm sorry, I don't want a bleach blond, anorexic, potential topless contestant at sturgis, supposedly reformed pill popper, as first lady. Just look at that broken wrist - there are only two possible reasons for that. Pills and temper.

[johnnygoodwud]

lighten up on the pancake make-up, you're beginning to look like some of the characters on six ft. under.

[AgathaX]

I agree with the comment that said if Michelle Obama did anything like this the MSM would crucify her. The full article quotes an "expert" saying that everyone tells white lies. There are no white lies here. "Everyone" does not tell the sort of lie that this article addresses.

On the off chance that someone is going to say that this is a matter of neglible importance and not worth reporting, I only half agree. In some sense it is of neglible importance. However, some of the most frightening people I have ever met lie about ridiculous things. Things that don't matter. Things where there is no reason at all to lie. I went to law school with a guy who couldn't be trusted on any topic, no matter how insignificant. If he said a lecture was going to be at 4 pm, you could pretty much guarantee that it was not at 4 pm. And that was just for starters. Fortunately, I never saw saw his name listed with people who passed the bar.

Cindy McCain is racking up quite a history of embellishments. Things that don't matter. Family recipes taken from the internet. Being an only child when she wasn't. Talking to Mother Theresa when she didn't. If these are the only three, she'll slide. But its enough of a record that it will make people keep looking. And if there are a lot more, that's significant.

[Cynth]

From the original article: “You always have to look for a pattern,” says political analyst Larry Sabato, at the University of Virginia. “If it happens once, you can say it’s a memory problem, but if there’s a pattern there, there’s a problem.”

Stealing recipies and presenting them as her own, neglecting to mention the existence of half-siblings, and now this...I'd say there's a pattern (and an embellishment problem).

[pupbayer]

I've read many times tonight that this lie was told at Saddleback so I searched the transcript. McCain said, "17 YEARS AGO CINDY WAS IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH. SHE WENT TO MOTHER TERESA'S ORPHANAGE. THE NUNS BROUGHT HER TWO LITTLE BABIES THAT WERE NOT GOING TO
LIVE. CINDY CAME HOME... "

NO where did he say Mother Teresa was present at any time. It says she went to Mother Teresa's orphanage, meaning an orphanage that Mother Teresa was involved in, created, etc.

Why do you lie about things so easy to check?

[CindyM2008]

It was on her Contact me page. It has since been removed.

[pupbayer]

Since it's been removed, I can't count that one either. Any other proof?

[Xenopus]

Pastor Warren told Larry King that McCain had tears in his eyes when he told the story about Cindy going to Bangladesh and there were two twin girls, and Mother Teresa asked Cindy to save them by bringing them back and Cindy came home with one and said meet your new daughter. Now that is what Pastor Rick said.

[MidwestMomma]

OMG! They split up twins? What happened to her twin sister? As the Mother of twins..I think it's horrible they where split up. Geez! They could surely afford to care for them both. I am really starting to dislike these two alot!

[jethrock]

From John McCain's website under Cindy's bio:

"On one of those missions, Mother Teresa convinced Cindy to take two babies in need of medical attention to the United States. One of those babies is now their adopted daughter, 15 year old Bridget McCain."

They have scrubbed the site but here is the cached version:

http://web.archive.org/web/20071106065930/johnmccain.com/About/Cindybio.htm

[goldnchyl]

I'm an Obama supporter and I'm always open to real debate about issues. I do not think Obama is the second coming or anything of the sort. I see Barack Obama as an extremely capable leader whose basic desire is to make America great again. My biggest frustration during this presidential season is the double standard consistently used by the M S M. If Michelle Obama had lied as much as Cindy McCain, the M S M would crucify them and he would be done. And the fact that M.O. has led such an exemplary life gets very little attention. I'm really sick of being manipulated by the media but I'm even more sick of people clicking off their brains and falling for the same tricks over and over and over again.

[UnbiasView]

"I see Barack Obama as an extremely capable leader"

Based on what in his record?

[pupbayer]

What record?

[goldnchyl]

Look, John McCain, from what I can tell, is a decent guy and has done some good things in his political life. But the McCain of 2008 is not the McCain of 2000 and it is clear that he will only continue the failed policies that have us in the position we're in today. He's continually spoken, even joked, about starting new wars, blatantly ignoring the facts on the ground. His actions are out of touch with the troops, indicated by his voting against over $4bil of military support which is why troops overseas support Obama overwhelmingly.

http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/our_troops_support_obama_6_1_over_mccain

[goldnchyl]

Based on his work in Chicago where he empowered poor people to help themselves. Based on this historic election year where there have already been over 4,000,000 new voters added to the rolls because they've been inspired by Obama to get involved in the advancement of their own lives. Based on his successful and faithful marriage of 16 yrs. Based on his willingness to work with people across all lines of culture, race, politics and because of this, their willingness to work with him on common causes. Based on the people I work with on the Obama campaign, from every single background you can imagine, giving their all because, in Obama, they see their own abilities to make a difference for the betterment of this country. Based on the fact that the past eight years of "experienced" leadership has sent us straight to the crapper, economically, militarily, and internationally. Based on the fact that when you choose a candidate because you'd most like to have a beer with him, rather than examining whether he'll help to make your life better, you end up having to repair extreme damage in the end.

[hudsuckerproxy]

I have a feeling the MSM will ignore this along with all the other negative McCain stories.

[thundermummy]

Lying liars and the liars who marry them.

[UnbiasView]

The 90s were OK with the Clintons . . . huge liars.

[goldnchyl]

exactly what is your point?

[Jeff1958]

That's so last century. We're talking about the CSM article (mostly) on the McCane's. Grow up.

[schicklett3]

Will the McLie family ever tell the truth? They're so busy trying to paint themselves as the perfect, pious, righteous, family that I'm beginning to wonder if anything they say is true.
Cindy is a Princess Diana wannabe (she basically said so herself), and I'm sick of her and John being treated like royalty while Michelle and Barack are treated like poor white trash.

[sheikwil]

Obama hasn't lied about his brother. His father deserted him and he didn't know about his half brother until he himself was and adult. Even the brother tells people they are not related. So Obama half brother and Cindy McCain and John McCains out and out lies is totally different.

[Plumbervip]

Breaking News: John McCain wants to Bring Back the Draft

This is serious Everyone!!!!!!!

John McCain wants to send your Sons to War

John McCain wants to bring back the Draft to help fight a War with Russia he is recklessly provoking.

John McCain wants to bring back the Draft to continue fighting in Iraq for a 100 years

Please take his words seriously because it will be your Sons Lives you put on the line.

[Daly]

Are you surprised? Every chance he gets McCain says he thinks that young people should serve.

What makes you think he would only draft men?

Given how old his a$$ is he probable thinks that the cut-off age should be 40 or so.

[VOTER]

The MSM should be asking Pastor Rick from Saddleback Church if

he still believes in McCain's "honesty and integrity."

[Daly]

Ricky is all about expediency of the GOP; he never even pretended to be fair and his audience were not of open mind - just a large congregation of town-hall meeting (hand picked) folks.

[goldnchyl]

and they wonder why O didn't go with the towhall debates. His mama didn't raise no fool

[VOTER]

I agree with you however if he wants to continue trying to get others "to believe"

in his Christian values and ethics showmanship then HE REALLY MUST MAKE A PUBLIC

STATEMENT AFTER THIS RECENT NEWS FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

MONITOR.