McCain: No, Obama Didn't Call Palin A Pig

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Did Barack Obama really call Sarah Palin a pig, as a John McCain ad leads people to believe? "No," McCain said Monday. The Republican presidential nominee defended the ad anyway, saying Obama "chooses his words very carefully."

The implication: Obama was slyly up to something when he said McCain's call for change in Washington is "lipstick on a pig," days after Palin made a lipstick joke at the Republican convention.

"He's very eloquent," McCain told The Associated Press and Florida newspapers in an interview, and "it was the wrong thing to say."

A day earlier, hard-nosed Republican tactician Karl Rove, a former adviser to President Bush, said some of McCain's ads were not truthful and both sides should cool the attacks.

McCain said of Obama's comment: "I didn't like it. So we respond. I think the American people will judge as to whether he and others have treated Governor Palin fairly or not." But he said he won't let attacks go unanswered.

McCain stood up for Palin at other times in the interview.

He was asked about nearly $200 million in congressional pet projects Palin requested for 2009 for her state, despite her boasts that she opposes such projects and his claim that she didn't ask for any. McCain responded by criticizing Obama for seeking more than $900 million in these earmarks, by one count.

"That's nearly a million every day, every working day he's been in Congress," McCain said. "And when you look at some of the planetariums and other foolishness that he asked for, he shouldn't be saying anything about Governor Palin."

Did he call her a pig?" McCain was asked. "No, I but know that he chooses his words carefully, and it was the wrong thing to say," he responded.

McCain cut off a question about the "Bridge to Nowhere," which Palin claims to have killed in Alaska even though Washington pulled back money for the project before she turned against it.

"The important thing is she's vetoed a half a billion dollars in earmark projects _ far, far in excess of her predecessor and she's given money back to the taxpayers and she's cut their taxes, so I'm happy with her record," McCain said.

In addition to her current requests, state budget documents show Alaska requested 52 earmarks worth $256 million for 2008.

Comments

[whitegoldwielder]

08:17 PM on 09/16/2008

Unless Obama is totally out of touch with current events he was treated to the lipstick on a pig remark by Palin. When he made the same remark within a few days it wasn't a mistake. It was disingenious.
Then he played the victim.

[mnyobpres]

07:40 PM on 09/16/2008

John McCain is a LIER!!!!!!!!!! which is the new McCain today.

What torcher!?!? - Watch the video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXjWguoFbpI&feature=related

[LAB11]

02:46 PM on 09/16/2008

So Mac approves of lying, why are we not surprised.

[ceeenbee2]

02:29 PM on 09/16/2008

So, Obama "chooses his words very carefully." according to McCain. And was speaking in code, calling Palin a Pig.

Hmmm.......

That would imply that McCain

1.) is either a liar for making this statement but not believing it.
2.) is a cynical political opportunist for using his argument--again without believing it.
3.) also thinks that Hillary Clinton is a pig since he used the same analogy regarding her. Or....
4.) does not choose his own words carefully and shoots from the hip like his predecessor. This is not a very good quality considering he will need to deal with a host of problems and world leaders and we see where not choosing your words carefully has gotten us in 8 years with shrub.

*# 4 isn't totally out of the realm since he and shrub are joined at the hip.

[Sparklez]

11:07 AM on 09/16/2008

From reading that, it seems as though he is dancing around questions

He'll say one thing, and then try to justify it by saying another

If u didnt think he meant it, then why even go on to say he chooses his words carefully.
But....He didnt mean to say it right?

Bottomline, you basically admitted that you attacked him unfairly and you in your heart, dont even believe he meant it. You just want to fire up the American people to believe what you want them to believe, even if you dont believe it yourself

[freebird67]

03:13 PM on 09/16/2008

Sparklez,

Don't you know that John McCain was a POW and because of his war injuries he can't dance. And you just have to rub it in his face. :-)

[one4obama]

03:34 PM on 09/16/2008

Heh, heh!!

[Javier72]

10:30 AM on 09/16/2008

Democrats were banking on the fact that the economy is bad to win this election by a landslide...Bush sux and his ratings show it. Open your EYES - They have simplyfied the issues to " Get angry! Show this adminstration how pissed you are" and " the only way you can show your frustrations is to vote Obama" ..Now if this isnt a POLITICAL strat I dont know what is. Guilt by association " Bush Bad = McCain Bad..Fire good "

With all due respect...I simply ask that you Understand the fundamentals of both men. Don't VOTE against Bush and/or use your vote to show your frustrations

[one4obama]

03:37 PM on 09/16/2008

Huh? Are you really that stoopid?

Without even taking into consideration what either candidate has said or done, are you not fired up and hot under the collar at the financial situation you are in today? Do you think that with all these major financial institutions folding left and right and the stock market plummeting that we could be headed for another Depression?

NOW ask yourself which direction you want this country and your own personal life situation to go.

Then ask yourself who is the person that can really make the changes needed. Forget about who SAYS they are for CHANGE and are the real reformers.

Who do YOU think can get this country back on track?

[wilray]

02:30 AM on 09/17/2008

By "fundamentals" do you mean "people."

[Javier72]

10:30 AM on 09/16/2008

Obama on the other hand has in my opinion a very shaddy past. He's associated with anti-american extremist. Why is this no longer being discussed in the media??? Rev.Wright..his pastor for 20 years?? Babtized his children, married Obama?? How many "kitchen table" discussion did he and Obama have?? What kind of impact did this man have on Obamas beliefs?? Look at Obamas bio....look into the gardens that grew his beliefs. IT IS IMPORTANT. His past is what makes him the man he is today. Have no doubt. Socialist extreme...wealth distribution? Please take some time to read his books. Understand this mans train of thought before you make a decision.

[Sparklez]

11:01 AM on 09/16/2008

Ok

Call a spade and spade because all of them have shady past including your candidate also

At least Obama has been called out and addressed it all.

Still dont hear a peep from Palin and they have not even addressed some things that involve McCain that he needs to address

[Clemonc]

11:51 AM on 09/16/2008

jAVIER72,
GET OVER IT!!!! YOU ARE THE TYPE THAT BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU HEAR.
I HOPE NONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR ASSOICATES WILL DO ANYTHING WRONG
YOU WILL BE A LONELY SOLE, OH WAIT YOU ARE

[Javier72]

10:30 AM on 09/16/2008

. In my opinion this is evidence that he understands that Americans DO want change and I Believe he is capable of delivering that change ( even if you believe he just figured it out that this is what America wants) I believe McCain will LISTEN to the American people...even if it means he has to change his stance on an issue. The media calls it flip flopping...In McCains case, I call it LISTENING to the will of the people. I say " In his case " because of all the politicians that come to mind, I cant think of another that truly has betters reasons to authentically LOVE his country

[brantl]

04:15 PM on 09/16/2008

Except Javier72, he has only changed his opinions in ways that:

he has previously said would be dishonorable (flip flopping on torture),
that have garnered him more support from the Republican base (flip flopping on support from the religious right (Hagee, and the selection of Palin),
or pandered to a group that he couldn't otherwise count on (the religious right, with pandering to Hagee and his selection of Palin to try to pander to women and the Religious Right).

And those may be reasons to "love his country", but if he loved it, at which of those times when he held mutually contradictory positions was he lying? Because at all of those times, he's claimed to be on the right side , in honor, when he's held to opposite positions. So either he's challenged in his ability to reason out a moral position or he's a scoundrel who will do or say anything to get elected.

I don't care which it is of those things, I think either one SUCKS.

[Javier72]

10:29 AM on 09/16/2008

Folks you are IN for a rude awakening. Initially I was on the fence on this election. As a matter of fact, I was leaning in the direction of Obama. I was born in the U.S. ( father Spanish/ mother Cuban ). My thoughts on Obama included my belief that he would do a great job of mending Americas relationship with the rest of the world. At the time, I felt that this was a very important issue. After MUCH research..I've come to develop a VERY different view. I've read both his books and researched much of his past. I understand that most believe personal bio's are not critical - ,i.e. POW doesnt make you a good leader. However, life experiences DO make a MAN(WOMAN) and will forever effect the decisions you make. The fact that McCain sacrificed for his country and credits his country for saving his life - provides an undeniable TRUTH that he is in this for the RIGHT reasons. I have NO doubt that he strongly LOVES his country and therefore its people. You argue that he is now trying to take the "change" slogan of Obama and make it his own. Well, that maybe true...this afterall is politics.

[Oldchef]

11:30 AM on 09/16/2008

Because Sen. McCain loves his country and suffered in the Vietnam war doesn't mean he'll be a good president. Most of us love this country, many have suffered for this country; but that doesn't mean they'd be good presidents. McCain's views on the economy, relations with middle eastern countries, and his associations with hundreds of lobbyists, all help to make him exactly the wrong choice for president. He has no good ideas to solve the country's problems, just a sense of entitlement because he suffered in the war; "a noun, a verb, and POW". For God's sake, could we please pick the smart guy this time? We need smart choices this time, not the same old same old.

[mnash]

08:51 AM on 09/16/2008

He didn't answer the question on the bridge because she is still working on getting that bridge. She has 73 million dollars put aside from the 230 million dollars from the earmarks. The rest she spent. So when you people hear her say "I told them if we wanted to build a bridge, we would build it ourself, she is lying through her eye teeth. Just like everything else she says

[KiwisCanFly]

08:07 AM on 09/16/2008

How can anyone expect to make an informed decision with misleading information?

Mika asked: the way a campaign is run is indicative of how one would govern. Some of your ads are questionable on the facts. How do u reconcile this disparity? (not verbatim)

Sen McCain said “check our website it says the ads are factual.” Morning Joe, 9/16/08.

Independent and non-partisan sites refute this, as do many journalist. So are they to be discounted?

Reminds me of the incorrect information that led us into the pre-emptive war in Iraq.

Sen McCain didn’t read the Iraq NIE of 10/2002. The NIE effected there is no compelling case that Iraq is currently pursuing the development of WMD.

Meet The Press:
"In hindsight, was it a good idea to go into Iraq?" McCain's reply that the invasion of Iraq "was certainly justified" because "every intelligence agency in the world, not just U.S., believed that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction."

Except the National Intelligence Estimate which was made available to all members of Congress before the vote, according to The Washington Post.

Had McCain availed himself of the information contained in the NIE, would he have voted differently?

[allwrite]

06:02 AM on 09/16/2008

Any Dem spokesperson who does not utter the words deregulation, fiscal collapse and Republican governance in the same sentence when discussing the economy should be fired.

[Scarllatti]

06:03 AM on 09/16/2008

I concur with you pal.

[FidKnop]

03:35 AM on 09/16/2008

Ahh, through the looking glass... Who to believe? Analyze anything long enough and it is sure to turn into exactly that which you are seeking...

[Kiku]

03:31 AM on 09/16/2008

Here's the reality of the earmarks:

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1745#comment-35306

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Ben Vos

Sarah Palin is trying to accuse Barack Obama of asking for too much money in earmark spending.

Let's look at the facts.

1. Obama is a U.S. Senator for a population of over 12,000,000 people. It's the 5th largest state in the U.S. by population.

2. Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. It's one of the largest cities in Alaska. Population? 9,000. 12,000,000 divided by 9,000 = 1,333.33 times larger population in Illinois than in Wasilla.

3. Obama requested $1 billion over three years for the state of Illinois. He didn't receive most of this funding.

4. Palin received $27 million over 8 years for Wasilla. How? She hired a lobbyist.

$1 billion divided by 3 years = $333,333,333 per year, or $27.78 per resident per year. REQUESTED. Not received.

$27 million divided by 8 years = $3,375,000 per year, or $375 per resident per year. RECEIVED. Not requested. RECEIVED. (And actually, Palin's town of Wasilla had a population closer to 6,000 when she stared as mayor.)

That's 11 times more funding RECEIVED by Palin than Obama even REQUESTED!!! And meanwhile, Palin's state (Alaska) makes BILLIONS (with a "b") of dollars a year on oil. Must be nice to have a country full of oil wells. How many oil wells do you have in your neighborhood?

[Kiku]

03:25 AM on 09/16/2008

McCain thinks Obama should choose his words wisely?

I think his campain should not have let Palin use a joke that ties to such a cultural standard phrase. Certainly, McCain at the very least was aware of the phrase, since he used it.

This is just another example of McCain's failed vetting, but it's with a speech.

Palin's joke also called Hockey moms, and by extension, moms who stay home, dogs. She owes us an apology.