McCain Goes Vindictive On CNN, Cancels Larry King Live Appearance

Remember how yesterday night, CNN's Campbell Brown asked McCain flack Tucker "Anchorman" Bounds a simple question, then chortled and smiled at the sight of Bounds struggling to not answer her? Well, John McCain remembers! And as punishment for CNN daring to impose some level of journalistic rigor, McCain has abruptly canceled a scheduled appearance on Larry King Live tonight. Via TPM:

Wolf Blitzer just reported that the campaign has canceled a scheduled interview with Larry King due to an unfriendly segment last night on CNN -- the segment we flagged last night where the network's Campbell Brown grilled McCain spokesperson Tucker bounds over Sarah Palin's lack of foreign policy experience.

...

Blitzer said the McCain campaign complained that Campbell Brown's grilling of Tucker Bounds over Sarah Palin's lack of foreign policy experience was "over the line."

"Over the line?" Really? What would have been in bounds? Repeating the words "war hero" until overcome by the vapors?

Oh well, the joke will be on McCain once he finds out that the only unfouled restroom at the convention site is at the CNN Grill.

Comments

[DaOne]

C'mon folks don't you know he was a POW?

[tea in the harbor]

This is about more than McCain's little hissy fit, choosing surrogates is like choosing Ambassadors, they are the public face of the organization. This is a preview of the level of competence we will see in a McCain Administration. I have a feeling that a Russian Arms Negotiator will be a little tougher than Cambell Brown!

[Noratruth]

How dare she is questioning Sarah’s experience? How rude! Didn’t she get the memo? Though questions are for Dems only! Of course she is experienced. She is more experienced than the whole senate combined. She is overqualified for the VP job; she should be the one on the top of the ticket.

McCain does not have the temperament to be president.

[janinius]

I'm sorry - where did she get this experience from? A lifetime of public service or the PTA?

[relentless63]

Congratulations to Ms. Brown! She did her job. She asked questions that I. for one, want the answers to. No one else dares!

The McCain camp seems determined to get through this whole election process without being challenged, no matter how outrageous the decisions. And most of the 'reporters' allow these rehearsed and quite insulting presumptions and erroneous conclusions to stand.

It is clear that the Republicans are prepping this woman like an actor is directed for a role and while Dave was a charming film, at no point was Kevin Kline or his director delusional enough to think that he was ready to actually mount the steps of the White House and assume the role of Presidency. The emperor wears no clothes.

[jriegel]

What wimps. When you think about the scrutiny Obama has dealt with in a totally professional manner and now this immature and embarrassing tactic from the McCain camp. I hope the media continues to ask the tough questions so we, the American people, can get the answers.

[riley85]

We'll see how fast CNN backs down when they realize they only have the Obama camp to talk to.
When CNN realizes they will start to look as biased as MSNBC.
When CNN realizes Palin won't give them an interview.

Cambell Brown is looking pretty stupid to me saying what kind of mother puts her children through this.

Did she ask Pelosi the same question of her five children?

[tea in the harbor]

The question that offended had nothing to do with her children, the guy said Palin had made all kinds of military decisions concerning the National guard and Cambell asked for an example, ONE EXAMPLE! He didn't have one. It was his poor preparation that made him look bad, not the question. Asking someone to back up their assertions is VERY basic journalism!

[Banji81]

Pelosi didn't have a brand new baby, with down syndrome to boot, nor did she have a 17 y/o going through the most emotionally and physically taxing stage of her life, while she was campaigning. Make accurate comparisons, pls, otherwise, your whole argument just seems like a noise making. Friendly advice.

[Synergist]

No this hit on her daughter was solely Obama camp and his left wing media sponsors. She didn't even say anything in the beginning about her daughter being pregnant. Any questions about any of her kids personal lives should of never arisen. By media coverage I couldn't even tell you how many or what kind of kids Obama has. This is exactly how sick and perverted the left is. Photo shop bikini photos and all. It is and will continue to mount an enormous back lash from grass roots America that is fed up with the corrupt media giants. The issues Obama stands for are constantly kept low key. Most blacks in America do not support live birth abortion and destruction of the defense of marriage act. But all the ones I've talked to didn't even know that was where he stood.

[missjulz]

The point of the interview, which caused the cancellation by McCain, was the question put forth to his surrogate (Tucker whatever) as to what foreign policy experience she has. Brown asked repeatedly for him to name just one thing she had to do in the name of national security. He could not answer. That is extremely relevant.

It had nothing to do with motherhood and everything to do with asking McCain's camp to make their case on her national security/foreign policy credentials. Very legitimate questions. All unanswered. And now they had their second chance to address this more successfully and instead, they CUT AND RUN.

[cariboubarbie]

i'm confused--did nancy pelosi trot her pregnant 17 year old daughter out on the national stage...shoving a blanket or a newborn baby in front of her stomach and praying no one would notice?

[Noratruth]

I remember when John Edwards was running for Presidency people were asking the same question. How could he run for presidency with Elizabeth’s cancer? It was a legitimate question then and it is a legitimate question now. America’s future depends on this election. McCain camp better have some answers ready. Changing the subject to Dems and bullying the media is not going to work forever.

[Aby]

McCain was right to have canceled the interview. He wouldn't have survived it.

[arthur2008]

America does not need to elect John McCain to learn the tragic consequences of handing the arsenal to the inadequate son of a powerful father.

[Synergist]

They definitely don't need to hand over the sanctity of marriage and live abortions to a perverse and sick generation. The last thing I want to see is my Country going the way of Sodom and Gomorah. Obama wants to take us there at full speed. Sick.

[janinius]

do you inner urges hurt that bad that you seeth hatred out of your very pores? jesus said - he who has no sin, cast the first stone.

and by the way, syn, it isn't just YOUR country.

[MamaBird62]

What generation are you referring to? Obama and Palin are the same age. It's your boy George whose reign has brought the greatest expansion of gay rights in US history. That anti-gay thing was never his issue, he used you people.
Looks like McCain and Palin want to use you again. Doesn't it get old?

[cariboubarbie]

strange how you can't stick to FACTS, you have to keep throwing out "live abortions" to try to distract people.

it's sad when a party is reduced to using wedge issues to divide people. it's your only hope. you can't go on experience (since the palin pick takes that off the table for most rational people) you can't go on the record of the current president, you can't go on mccain's plans to move us forward...you can only resort to bible thumping and fear tactics.

it's not going to work this time.

[cobaltblue1975]

Synergist, you are nothing but a coward and a hypocrite. If you don't like Gays then man up or woman up and say it. Stop hiding your hate and bigotry behind your religion and code words like "Sanctity of Marriage".
The very senators, congressmen, and preachers that spout this trash are the same ones with 2 and 3 wives under their belts, and boyfriends on the side who happen to be their drug dealers too. It doesn't look like they hold marriage too sacred to me. It’s almost comical that you really want to sit here on some kind of high horse. Where is your perfection? What has made you qualified to look down your nose at anyone?
It seems as though you are simply angry because you drank the kool aide your parents fed you when you were too young to do anything about it. Now you're grown and realize that your parents have guilted and brainwashed all desire for exploration, diversity, Joy and adventure out of your life. So you are bitter towards anyone else who has had the courage to be who they want to be with no guilt, regrets or regards to the pathetic opinions of people like you.
My only hope is that you aren’t keeping this cycle of hate going by passing it on to some defenseless child. At least have enough decency not to do to them what your parents did to you.

[DAdvocate123]

Here is the issue:

1) That guy never should have been on television:

2) She did deal with the National Guard with Wildfires in Alaska (he just wasn't prepared to know);

3) She did take down corrupt Republicans and caused one guy to pay a fine of $12,000 (he just wasn't prepared to know)

It was Cambell Brown embarrassing a kid, who never should have been on television, she knew very few people know the details of a Governor, and was quite rude.

[cariboubarbie]

she was interviewing TUCKER BOUNDS. he's not a kid, he's a mccain spokesman!

shouldn't the mccain team be ABLE to answer questions about palin's experience? why is it rude to ask about her experience? if she has such a great record, they should be proud to answer the questions.

[risdmom]

Their choice of spokespeople does not bode well for them

[janinius]

if the mccain people want to hire "kids" to be their spokespersons, that is their fault, not campbell brown's. it is her job as a journalist to ask tough questions and to press the matter when those questions are being dodged. that is what she did.

[Synergist]

Bingo!! She just got on the scene and he couldn't possibly know enough about her and all her past activities and experiences to be doing that interview. All the interviewer did was try to find a spot where he was not fully informed and attack that same issue. Very lame. He should of just backed off and said look I'm not her biographer and I think it would be best for you to ask Sarah these questions.

[MamaBird62]

"She just got on the scene." That's the basic problem. McCain nor anyone else bothered to get to know this woman before deciding should be next in line for POTUS.
The McCain campaign put the line out there that her experience with the Alaska Nat'l Guard counted as "commander in chief" type of experience, Campbell was just asking him to explain that. It should have been obvious to the McCain campaign and to their spokesman Tucker that this very basic question would come up?
Why is he so unprepared to lead? McCain keeps acting like the kid who never does homework but wants an A anyway.

[Noratruth]

So this should be a perfect opportunity for him to come on TV and explain Sarah's qualification. "(he just wasn't prepared to know)"? Is McCain prepared to know? Why doesn't he take this opportunity to explain to American people why Tucker was wrong and why Sarah is the most qualified person in the country to be his VP? Why blame Campbell for Tucker’s ignorance, cancel a scheduled TV interview and whine like a baby? He needs to grow up.

McCain does not have the temperament to be president.

[MamaBird62]

"That guy" is a paid McCain campaign spokesman, so we can only assume that this is the best they can do. None of the information you provide anwers Brown's question either.
It's not rude for reporters to ask questions about the people who want to run our country, it's their duty as Americans.

[DPonyourset]

She didn't go far enough. Im sick of republicans never answering the questions as asked. They immediately switch to a party talking point. Expose them as frauds.

[Stonepig]

Campbell Brown...yea...guess the media aka mainstream is starting to find their voices. GREAT BIG WHEW!! Maybe they watched Amy Goodman and fellow journalists lose their Constitutional democracy -lives rights in Minny...great big whew!! SO much so fast.

[kimberbrooks]

WAY TO GO CAMPBELL!!! I was watching this live and I actually stood and cheered to my TV when I saw her actually QUESTION their justification. It is so obvious that this was a very last minute pick to try to appease the Hillary women. They just didn't think that women are very intelligent and won't fall for their little right wing trickery. Now, had they picked a more liberal woman, this may have worked better! Maybe McCain thinks that they can mold her into whatever THEY want. I don't think so! This has really blown up in their faces!

And the irony is that she is all for teaching ONLY ABSTINENCE in our schools... How's that working for her and her family? I bet she wishes her daughter and future son-in-law knew a little more about contraception. And, how could she, as a mother, subject her daughter to this scrutiny? It's one thing to throw yourself into the media circus, but it seems as though she gave little thought to how her daughter would feel when the baby news went national. They are touting her as a good mother, but I am not seeing it! She risked the life of her 5th child by flying from Texas to Alaska, after her labor had started. She flew out 3 days after giving birth to a child with special needs. WHAT? SERIOUSLY!!!??? Woman or man, that is cold hearted!

[LeftCoastLefty]

Who knew Campbell Brown had 'nads of steel??? That was the best example of pursuing a question and not taking a pile of blather for an 'answer' I've seen from a TV journalist in a LONG time. She's my new hero.

[Heavy]

What cracks me up is hearing repubicans try to tout themselves as the party of real change. Give us one more term and we'll actually do some of the things that our party has been instrumental in suppressing for decades. Like a spoiled child saying "this time I'll be good, I promise. I won't lie any more" The most astounding thing about it, the intentional bubble one must live in to still believe in them. I am tired of seeing boosh, che ney, ro ve et al walk around with smirks, still trying to blame democrats for all of their failures. They deserve a fair trial, nothing more, nothing less.

[tgimacb]

...We give you impartial interrupted coverage of the Republican national convention...

By the way, the story of the convention is, Palins 17 year old unmarried daughter is pregnant!!

National Enquirer? The Globe?

Nah, that's CNN=Politics!!

[pattio66]

Go get 'em, Campbell - it was quite refreshing to see a talking head asking actual questions. Not at all like Stephanopolous with Cindy Lou on Sunday morning, he let the little wifey say Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because Alaska is close to Russia and didn't call her on it. What a joke. And the Brokaw on Meet the Press said at least twice that Hillary Clinton had been treated poorly by the Obama campaign. Apparently Brokaw is trying to pass off someone's opinion as fact. Also, we know what happens to REAL journalists when they ask questions of the Republicans, they get thrown in JAIL like Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! But Johnny Mac and his staff can't handle questions from a sympathetic news network? How will they handle runninng this nation?

[IowaKid]

Exactly and don't forget the Librarian his campaign had jailed for carrying a sign that read McCain=Bush.