McCain Borrows From Himself, Glaringly

I, like millions of other people, tuned in eagerly for last night's long-awaited match-up between David Letterman and John McCain. His performance was not quite up to his Al Smith dinner comedy routine — I didn't know he palled around with G. Gordon Liddy! — but that's not what made me double-take.

Early on, McCain deflected Letterman's dogged line of questioning, quipping, "I haven't had so much fun since my last interrogation." I started. I knew that line — it was instantly recognizable to anyone who had watched the many on-screen tributes to the late Tim Russert. In the numerous video montages shown at memorials for Russert — on NBC, MSNBC, other cable news channels, luncheons and award ceremonies — there was always this one moment from "Meet The Press" on April 2, 2006: John McCain deflecting Russert's dogged line of questioning, quipping "I haven't had so much fun since my last interrogation." It may have gotten an appreciative audience laugh with Letterman, but when last we heard it, it was the line that provided a little comic relief during a sad, sad time, and every time it ran it would get one more laugh. It struck me as very odd that he would reuse it.

For those who don't remember the line, well, no wonder it's your takeaway — there it is splashed across headlines all over the web. But for those who do remember it, it must have been jarring to hear it again, reused and in such a different context. It was for me.

Here's the video, courtesy of CBS News:

Also: "There's millions of words said in the campaign?" And that is meant to defend against what, exactly? Sorry if this is a gotcha question. Another gotcha question: "Did you not have a relationship with Gordon Liddy?" "I've met him..." "Did you attend a fundraiser at his house?" "I know Gordon Liddy...he paid his debt...he went to prison, he paid his debt, as people do. I'm not in any way embarrassed to know Gordon Liddy. And his son, who is also a good friend and supporter of mine." O-kay. I see the distinction.

Comments

[Javelin 17]

His re-using the interrogation line isn't such a big deal to me -- it's not plagiarism when you quote yourself, just lack of originality.

I was just surprised he wasted it by throwing it out so prematurely, at a point when Dave wasn't even hitting all that hard, instead of saving it as a trump card to use when the questions got *really* rough.

For example, I bet he wished he still had it up his sleeve when the G. Gordon Liddy question came up.

[bluemonk611]

the "this much fun since my interrogation" line reaches well beyond Russert. He's pulled that card out half a dozen times.... he's said it since the 70s.

He said it for a baseball interview in the 90s.

Just part of the "The POW Card is ALWAYS a great crd to play" strategy.

[susanava]

Please find out if you are eligable to vote early. Many states allow early voting with no questions asked. You may not have to wait till Nov 4. Spread this around to everyone you know. You can get more info here:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/absentearly.htm

Don't help the Repugs steal another election. If you can vote early in your state DO IT NOW!!

[linzy]

The guys McCain pals around with were all sentenced and indicted weren't they? Mr. Ayers has never had to serve a day, as far as I know, yet has owned up to his earlier leanings.

[sunnyokanagan]

WHY did McCain do Letterman's show anyway? His base abhors Dave, and his detractors couldn't possibly be won over by his performance.

Oh yeah.... the "celebrity" thing.

[Beka13]

McCain's base might look at Liddy, McVeigh and Ollie North as heros but to normal Americans they are....TERRORISTS!

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

Hey John... I know you're old enough to have heard this old saying:

"He who lives in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

[hangdogit]

I've heard McCain say several times that he "...doesn't care about an old, washed-up terrorist..." like Bill Ayers. That must be why McCain constantly brings him up -- he doesn't care (this makes perfect sense in the McCain world). Old and washed-up, hmmm, maybe thinking about himself -- narciscissts with a wildly exagerrated sense of their own rightousness and honor do that a lot.

[Opsimath44]

"What's important about Ayers isn't his relationship but that Obama needs to come clean about it."

Uhh... he did. Yesterday. You were there, remember.

And when asked about his relationship with Liddy:

"I met him once."

Did you attend a fund raiser at his home?

"Well, hmmmm... I may have..."

[Dynamohum]

The thing is that Liddy was considered a terrorist for his involvement in the Iran Contra Affair. He also did a number of other dastardly deeds. He also has made extremist comments that could be construed as "terrorist" "terrorist sympathizer" "elitist" "racist", too many to list.