McCain Accidentally Agrees: Western Pennsylvania Is Racist

Sen. John McCain offered, on Tuesday, what may go down as one of the more awkward moments of this campaign cycle, in which -- speaking in Western Pennsylvania -- he declared he 'couldn't agree more' with the sentiment that some of the people from that region were openly racist.

"You know, I think you may have noticed that Senator Obama's supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about Western Pennsylvania lately," McCain told the audience in the town of Moon Township. "And you know, I couldn't agree with them more."

Oops. It was, in many ways, a reflection of how tired these candidates have become as this nearly two-year-long campaign hits its final strides. And, to be fair, the crowd eventually got the point; booing at the reference to John Murtha, who said last week that some of his Western Pennsylvania constituents were racist. But there was a stunned silence after the gaffe.

For political humorists it is gold, made even more potent by McCain's botched attempt at a recovery. "I couldn't disagree with you," he declared (referencing what, no one knows). "I couldn't agree with you more than the fact that Western Pennsylvania is the most patriotic, most god-loving, most, most patriotic part of America, and this is a great part of the country."

The line was reminiscent of Sarah Palin touting the pro-America parts of the country. And actually could be just as politically dicey than the inadvertent labeling of Western Pennsylvanians as racists.

Either way, the video is worth a watch... or three.

ABC News catches McCain flubbing another attack line, this time on Joe Biden:

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., this week has been flubbing not just parts of his speeches, but the pivotal attack lines his campaign prepares reporters to film and record.

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In Belton, Missouri, Monday, McCain was supposed to say, "Just last night, Senator Biden guaranteed that if Senator Obama is elected, we will have an international crisis to test America's new President. We don't want a President who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars."

What he actually said, per ABC News' Bret Hovell: "Just last night, Senator Obama (sic) guaranteed that if Senator Obama is elected, Senator Biden said, we will have an international crisis to test America's new President," etc. etc.

He flubbed it again in the extended version of the attack.

"What's more troubling is that Senator Obama (sic) told their campaign donors that when that crisis hits, they would have to stand with them because it wouldn't be apparent Senator Obama would have the right response."

And this is from a Teleprompter!

Comments

[Shieldmaiden]

He sounds more and more like Bush every day. America, wake up and vote Obama for peace of mind.

[Two Three Four]

How the Base was Won
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=114&ArticleName=How+the+Base+was+Won

Massive Minnesota Polling Analysis:
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=116&ArticleName=Minnesota+Meta-Polling

[Jmaan33]

ROTFLMAO! This is just unbelievable stuff.....­.talk about some material for SNL this weekend right here

[cherlybear]

This morning on the Today show, Andrea Mitchell played the clip that McCain agreed western Penn is racist -- but the part that he agreed was cut out to go to McCain saying they are the most patriotic, god-loving, blah, blah, blah. Why edit that out, NBC?

[SMP]

CNN yesterday did the same thing...bu­t today on the Rick Sanchez show on CNN..he played it..then laughed and said we can give McCain a pass because he is tired..lon­g campaign..­..........­.....BULLS­HIT.......­I live in PA...and this should be a commercial here... looped over and over and over again and again.....­..........­..

[alexiscarr]

You know what, the rnc should be ashamed of themselves for letting this go on. It's like watching two kids home alone playing with fire and going nuts. It's really sad and it should be stopped.

[nvzephyr]

Totally Bush-ian.

Eight years of this sort of slapstick political humor has been more than enough.

[DingoDave]

Does not compute. Does not compute.
Danger Will Robinson!

[fumerunner]

I've watched this a few times and it cracks me up every time. It's so pathetic and transparent. And for a short video clip, it has great moments like when McCain is starting to get into it---right before he says 'Obama'---he gestures angrily to his right at someone in the audience. Then there's the young Asian girl behind McCain whose countenance slowly turns to embarrassment. And then there's Mrs. McCain, who looks existentially bored, possibly wishing that she could astrally project herself into some other dimension.
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With every day, the McCain appearances have taken on an air of overt desperation and dwindling relevance. It reminds me of the last days of the Smell The Glove tour of Spinal Tap---each performance seeing the once-mighty act degenerate in laughable settings.
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[Palmz]

But he can say c*nt and rac*st!

[Yarrr]

Selling his soul has prolly been tough on the old maverick.

[topkatnc]

I like to watch Spongebob with my grandaughter and it finally hit me who Mr. Plankton reminds me of. john mccain!!! Just like Mr. Plankton mccain just cannot get it RIGHT !!

[latina1]

Senior moment, Senior moment!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08*

[WasteNJ]

Wow. He sounded like a bumbling old man who can't get his thoughts out. Oh wait, that's what he is. He's flipped so many times, he probably doesn't even remember what he thinks.

[rustyaustin]

Nothing I do would be good enough for you so I will be good enough to do nothing for you.

Morey Amsterdam

[Rawkcuf]

Whatever McCain had to bring to a presidency, he spent it all on the campaign.