John McCain Gets Incoherent In Bailout Defense

Look, I'm just going to level with you. I have not got no explanation for what could possibly be going on in this clip of John McCain on today's Morning Joe. McCain came on the show today and riffed through a lot of his standard talking points and one liners: "BLAAARGH EARMARKS...YAAAHH PORK BARRELS! MAKE THEM FAMOUS! INSANITY, OBSCENITY, CORRUPTION! WASHINGTON CHANGED US! I AM THE SHERIFF." I'm sort of paraphrasing! But then, Mika Brzezinski asked McCain to put his vote for the bailout package into context with all of his anti-Washington ravings: "Given what you've been just saying on our broadcast right now, why then didn't you vote against a bill that is corrupting, and stand up to pork and all this spending during an economic crisis that some say puts this country on the brink of economic disaster?"

McCain responded:

Because of what you just said, Mika, that this bill is putting us on the brink of economic disaster there were plenty of other bills that I fought against, voted against. Well, the bill that the medicare prescription drug program, I voted against it, because it didn't -- because of the fact that it wasn't paid for. We're laying the cost on to future generations of Americans. I fought against plenty of bills. I am proud of my work, suspending my campaign, coming back to Washington, getting the Republicans at the table, which we were not, improving the bill, and I believe it will pass. Senator Obama phoned it in.

So the basic translation is: Barack Obama failed to put forth an effort to pass a bill that I hate because it "lays the cost on...future generations" and puts us on the "brink" of "disaster," but I am proud of the work I did to ensure its passage.

What? Is Sarah Palin Interview Syndrome communicable? Is this secret code for "We are going to bomb Pakistan?"

[WATCH.]

RELATED:
McCain on the bailout bill he supported last night: "This bill is putting us on the brink of economic disaster" [AMERICABlog]
McCain Says Bailout Bill He Voted For Is "Putting Us On The Brink Of Economic Disaster" [TPM Election Central]

Comments

[DeeBee2]

AN exerpt from: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/9


Privately, McCain brags that he was the "original neocon." And after 9/11, he took the lead in agitating for war with Iraq, outpacing even Dick Cheney in the dissemination of bogus intelligence about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. "There's other organizations besides Mr. bin Laden who are bent on the destruction of the United States," he warned in an appearance on Hardball on September 12th. "It isn't just Afghanistan. We're talking about Syria, Iraq, Iran, perhaps North Korea, Libya and others." A few days later, he told Jay Leno's audience that "some other countries" — possibly Iraq, Iran and Syria — had aided bin Laden.

Later that month on Larry King, McCain raised the specter of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction before he peddled what became Dick Cheney's favorite lie: "The Czech government has revealed meetings, contacts between Iraqi intelligence and Mohamed Atta. The evidence is very clear. . . . So we will have to act." On Nightline, he again flogged the Czech story and cited Iraqi defectors to claim that "there is no doubt as to [Saddam's] avid pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. That, coupled with his relations with terrorist organizations, I think, is a case that the administration will be making as we move step by step down this road."

Check it out...

[pomawg]

Give until it hurts, if McCain wins we'll feel real PAIN. DONATE: http://www.barackobama.com

[John51]

I think we are all in for real pain regardless of who is in office next year but I think that Sen. Obama has a better sense of fairness. I believe Sen. Obama is more in touch with the middle class and really cares more about our country than does Sen. McCain. There are limitations to what any president is capable of accomplishing and remaining in office without an electorate willing to get involved and work hard for their president. I honestly believe it is going to take an electorate willing to make hard choices and sacafices, to effect real change. The corruption is deeply embedded within our system and the corrupt will do everything possible to remain in control. We will have to fight hard and smart to keep America alive. What does it say about our character and strength as a nation that we allowed someone as openly corrupt and crimal as President Bush to rob and destroy America. What does it say about our judgment that we elected representatives that enabled President Bush's continued lawlessness. Electing a new president isn't enough to produce change.

[ominous]

So they voted yea on the same bill but McCains vote don't stink.

[LeawoodKansas]

McCain Campaign Alert: McCain answered a question and did not mention the surge. Quick get the 3 x 5 cards for him. Have him read the answer. He forgot the surge. Where is Romanowski? He needs steroids .. er, herbs. Get him the liquid herbs. He forgot to say the surge worked.

[JustSpeakingMyPeace]

Or that he was a POW!

[DiBaskin]

Or POW

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

If I voted for the bill, it was the right thing. But if Obama voted for it, it was bad.

According to McCain and all Republicans - two worlds and sets of rules, one for Republicans and one for Democrats.......do as I say, not as I do.

If McCain believes what he says, he is compoletely crazy.

If McCain is simply spewing nonsense, then he is lying about straight talk.

Either way, there is no way an intelligent person can vote Republican.

[BIG JOHN]

YOU VOTE REP. ONLY IF YOU ARE FOOLED BY THE JEDI MIND TRICKS OF THE MCSAME CAMPAGIN THAT WILL NOT EVEN SAY THE WORD REPUBLICAN.

JOHN MCCAIN AND PALIE ARE REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY WHO HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. NO MORE MCSAME/BUSH

IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE.

[OBXartist]

Apparently, McCain's only goal was to somehow navigate to his talking point that "Obama phoned it in." Unfortunately, he should have had an aide pull up GoogleMaps for him because he obviously had no idea where he was going.

[MICHB]

why are journalists in our country such idiots? Why are they afraid of confronting idiots like McCain with the truth, instead of letting them lie to the country over television. Shame on American Journalism.
This is not reporting, this is a propaganda machine.

Journalists have to bring the truth out, instead they care only about numbers and interviews. Shame on this old idiot. He may be to many an American hero, but to me he is a despicable human being, a liar, a manipulator, a desperate man who would send all to hell just to be president.

How ignorant we have become not to see the great evil that is upon us on electing this old fool.

[simkmer]

McCain is still a " crasher" I look so forward to seeing the debate tonight!!! Honestly, I think the Palin hype was the result of the media only and NEVER supported by the amount of Americans they led us to believe.

[okayigive]

Mcc can be mind boggling. You can guarantee that his surrogates will be on to try and explain the unexplanable if MSM pick it up. My question is if he's so sincere about pork then why did he vote for bill, bill passed overwhelmingly without him. I guess it boiled down to his image as a presidential candidate, and he was afraid to stand alone, what a "maverick".

[StateofTaxes]

I saw this when he was on with Mika this morning; but it was very early for me, hadn't had enough coffee yet, so thought it was just me; now that I watch it again, Huh, what'd he say??

[pychicfakes]

what tha....h.e. double hockeysticks is this man talking about

[whit4brains]

What? So he just said he voted for a bill that puts us on the brink of economic disaster?


I think he forgot to take his herbal supplements this morning.

[anaicram]

I love my friend Francis. She's 72 and fiesty. I'm in my 40s. I like picking her up, but the more I wash McCain, the more I realize why Francis gets on my last nerve sometimes. She repeats everything. "Did you know your car window as a little crack?" she keeps asking. The more I listen to Francis, the more I realize I need to take it easy on McCain. He can't help it. Cranky, fiesty, yup...it comes with the terriority. Ready to lead? Hell no! I can affort to list to Francis repeat everything, but can't afford McCain taking me to hell in a basket.

[BabsfromKansas]

Bottom line - how is Francis voting?

[windyYooper]

word

[anaicram]

now she may get on my last nerve, but at least she can't stand McCain! LMAO! and I'll make sure she get's to the voting station when she's ready to go vote!

[BabsfromKansas]

BREAKING NEWS

McCain and Sarah EX.POSED!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/01/02/2004104798.jpg

[BIG JOHN]

HIS LEFT EYE LOOKS BAD IN THIS PICTURE.

[MsBrina]

How sad, this man is tired. He should retire completely and enjoy whatever time he has left.