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

[zest]

Geez, one slip of his tongue and we could be bombing Iran.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

Wow. Such eloquence and sincerity.­..I know I'm in.

[radiclib]

.
.
I agree with John McCain.
I couldn't agree with him more.
Now, what was it he said?
What is it we believe?
.
.

[SMP]

We strongly believe that Barack Obama WILL be the 44th president of the USA.......­..........­.A TRUE LEADER!!!!

[philosopherkingtomas]

time for the home Grandpa!
depends and gucci

[ChunkyMunky]

I love how quickly that creepy smile is wiped from his face.

[jrbear]

Come on , give McCain a pass on this one. They all are exhausted and should go to Hawaii with Obama for a few days. And besides, even the Gov. of Penn. knows it's true.

[alicetilden]

I'm not giving McCreepy a pass on anything. The press gives him enough of a free ride. Besides, I am sure Hawaii is not American enough for them.

[BeltwayBette]

Gosh, I thought you liked McCain until I heard you wish his grandmother would get really sick. Or were you wishing Cindy's grandmom would get really sick?

I don't begrudge Sen.Obama'­s no doubt stressful two days with his sick grandmother in Hawaii -- why do you?

[acmes]

for a second there, Cindy looked like she was going to throw up in her mouth.

[piquet]

actually she was storing a mouthful of xanex in her cheeks...

[Blackhawk6]

This was funnier than his Southwest Airlines moment in Minnesota when he said "THERE'S NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE THAN RIGHT HERE WITH THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF OHIO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody hear that sound Pac-man macs when the ghost monster gets him? Cuz I do.

[DMHendrix]

Doh! The poor dude behind him had a priceless look on his face. Mrs. Stepford just kept on grinning and nodding.

[Abby1]

Open mouth....i­nsert foot.

[mairs]

It must be hard to lie constantly. When he's tired, how he really feels slips out I guess. That happened to Bush occasionally. You can't lie daily, constantly, for two years and not slip up.

[liberaldemdave]

"and this from a teleprompter"

unable to read, unfit to lead.

[jqcitizen]

One of McCains "Preconditions" to any negotiations with foreign leaders, would be to find someone in the universe that can interpret what he saying.

A few slips of the tongue could like this might cause a real fistfight leaving him wondering what did he say that was so wrong.

[haval2]

She looks baked and he's done! Doesn't even know what the hell he's saying.

[Damaven]

Since everyone talks about how honorable McCain is/was, maybe that was the truth coming out of him, unbeknownst to him. But, alas, too bad, this man could wake up one day and want to know what he was doing in the White House -- errr, "Cindy, did we overstay an invite to a party?"

[BirminghamSam]

I love how "god-loving" is just thrown right in there with patriotism.

How is this something politicians still have to say?

[tgram]

and it's sad because they don't even know the crowds at the rally. these pols just run in and out of these states and tell people anything. i don't understand why the crowd didn't walk out on mccain.