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

[MANK]

Oh, I thought I said don't press the button.

[southloopchick]

Looks like we have another George W. on our hands...shame if this is who represents our country come January.

[Wonder11]

"...and this was from a teleprompter" More evidence of sabatoge, or just the truth bubbling up to the surface? LOL

[piquet]

TAPOUT!

[KNadine]

The media is giving McCain a pass on this one. It is too embarrasing and they probably feel like they'll be criticized for beating up on him.

[golgibody]

Oh God...hang it up.

[mmfleming]

On so genteel with the comments. Call it what is is: an ongoing senior moment.

[Obama4Life]

Lmao, look at the look on Cindy's face.

Pricesless! :D

I bet she was thinking at the time "What are you doing John! You blew it you incompetent old fool, why did I ever marry you!"

I think McCain deep down believes that Western PA is racist also, however he desperate and needs to capitalize on their hate for votes.

[SMP]

I cant believe McCain is getting a free pass on this. He clearly didnt realize he spoke the truth. Then fumble bumbles his way out of this Freudian slip.................He speaks the truth and gets it called an "accident"


I feel a PA commercial commin on



CNN edited its original version, reported by Dana Bash, of this statement by McCain....hmmmmmmmm he got a free pass..........Obama wouldnt have!!!!

[VotingisReform]

Several of my friends have frantically emailed me confused about this campaign because of the negativity, and I try as I might to send them facts on the candidates and have them to research and investigate the candidates themselves and not rely on the negative remarks or stories that scare them. Of course, none of us know what the outcome of this election will be, but I tell them I am going to vote for Obama/Biden because of my research about him, my gut feelings about him, and my the two gut feelings I had about past elections. My gut feelings told me that one would embarrass the nation and the other would put some in soup lines. I tell them I am batting 2 out of 2 and am proud of my record. And I have voted Republican in the past.

Obama/Biden - '08

[payos]

plenty in soup lines now, and will be more if tout the rethugs win. they don't care about the soup lines as long as they don't have to see them

[SOLERSO68]

How inspiring. couldnt you just FEEL that he meant every word of it?



****unfortunately ppl on here dont seem to get irony so.. IM JOKING GUYS****

[strength]

SLIP OF THE TONGUE HUH...

[Ozarks]

Freudian slip more likely

[jsloo]

Insert "I'm With Stupid" T-shirt

[Seldomright]

Absolutely my favorite moment yet - better than his press conference in front of 20 people outside Schmidtt's Sausage Haus in Columbus on the same day Obama spoke to pretty much everybody in Germany.

It's really bizarre that a guy who can be so genuinely funny when he's talking to the top 1/2 of 1% crowd and political mega-movers like the attendees of the Al Smith dinner in New York last week can't see the humor in such an incredibly stupid gaffe like this one. Anyone with any common sense would have called a time out, made a self-deprecating joke about what he just said and then started all over. Instead the "other MCain" who doesn't do very well campaigning among the proletatiate (I guess we should start dusting off the old Soviet terminology if we're going socialist) tries to patch up the gaffe with some even stupider babble that 'sounds like it was straight from the Palin Primer of Ad Libbed Communication (See the chapter on Talking to Katie Kouric). Who the hell went to his beloved town hall meetings - robber barons and the Tweed Ring?

[wahooligan]

John McCain was too old to be president eight years ago.