McCain Forgets His Own Sec. Of State Endorsements (VIDEO)

Responding to a question about Colin Powell on "Meet the Press," John McCain responded that he has the support of five former Secretaries of State. Unfortunately, he couldn't name them all. Watch:

Comments

[ECB]

Not ready for "Prime Time".

[DrToketee]

Well, at least we've discovered his approximate memory threshhold. Couldn't remember his 60+ lobbyists working on his campaign, 13 cars and 7 houses, but can remember his 2 wives and 4 of 5 secretaries of state endorsers ... the answer is apparently limited to the fingers on one hand.

[jylnc]

I was watching Meet The Press this morning and when Senator McCain couldn't recall immediately the fifth name, I laughed and thought to myself. "I wonder how long it will take the Huffies on Huffington Post to pounce on this simple mistake.?"

As a moderate, I don't expect the candidates to be perfect nor to traverse through the tough campaign season error free. That's why I didn't hold it against Senator Obama when he messed up in an interview with George S. and said that Senator McCain had not mentioned Barack's Muslim faith during the campaign. He didn't correct it until George quietly suggested the word "Christian". Did that gaffe mean that Barack couldn't remember which religion he calls his own? No and every mistake that McCain makes isn't ammunition for his opponents nor a declaration that his mind is slipping. If that were true, then Houston, we have a problem with the multitude of mistakes all four candidates are making during the 2008 campaign.

[SWZRindependent]

An excellent statement "jylnc" that is exactly how I see it. None of us are infallible and four out of five ain't bad considering how tough this campaign has been. For me the tongue tends to have a hard time keeping up with the thoughts.

I happen to think that the number of endorsements isn't quite as important as who they are or what that endorsement represents.

For McCain to have 5 endorsements from former secretaries of state may not be at all impressive unless at least one of them is a democrat. If they are all republicans, than that is hardly a big deal.

What made Colin Powell's endorsement so hugely important and effective was because of who he is, what he represents and where he comes from. Not to mention what he said in his endorsement and the way he presented his reasoning.

Something that has fallen on the deaf ears of those suffering from cognitive dissonance in regards to their faith in the republican party. To them Powell is a traitor no matter what.

[lmrgreen]

McCain's performance today was beyond just a "gaffe"; forgetting the SOS names was just part of the problem. If you watch him, you can actually see on his face when he is having a "senior moment" - when he forgets what he was trying to say. Then you see him take off in another direction. There was a moment when he was talking about Todd Palin and what he did - and suddenly McCain got this funny look on his face, hesitated, and then went back to Palin having executive experience. Anyone who has elderly family members recognizes this - most of the time they are just fine, but once in a while, it's like the lights are on and no one's home. In our family, my elderly relatives (and I have a lot of them, most who have lived well into their nineties) have always thought it was funny and laughed at themselves. I see this in McCain and while I empathize with him, it is very worrisome that someone with this type of memory loss might be in charge of our country. We just can't take that chance. Gaffes are just that - a gaffe. What I saw today in McCain and have seen throughout this campaign is that he is suffering from some short term memory loss. Do we want him to forget for a moment or two that Spain (like he did recently) is an ally and do or say something that starts a diplomatic crisis

[pir anha]

i agree in general. (though i disagree that george s. corrected obama -- obama's sentence construction was just odd enough that george misunderstood and tried to help him, which ended up calling more attention to the sentence that it would have otherwise gotten. listen to the "my muslim faith" in context -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQqIpdBOg6I it's clear that this wasn't even a gaffe.)

while it's not out of the question that these are "senior" moments on mccain's part, they might also not be. we all have those moments, even if we're not yet seniors. we're just lucky that nobody has a mic under our nose 24/7 while we're answering unscripted questions, thinking on our feet.

i completely discount such mini-gaffes. he clearly did recall the name a moment later, so it's not that he didn't know. we do ourselves no favour to harp and harp on those; it only makes us look petty. we don't need to look for gaffes. his policies, the way he changes them to the prevailing winds, and the utter lack of good leadership in his own campaign, that's all we need.

[qcbucki]

Good bye John and good luck

[valleygent]

The man is a complete boob. Mindless. It is absolutely time to put this man out to pasture.

[ThinkCreeps]

Rumor has it that he used to remember 4/5 items on his checklists: you don't crash 5
planes by accident.

[Lakshmi0000]

To the poster broogha, I have been asking that same question all day, what is the test McCain took?

I've been tested: McCain what was the test?

[Alyscha]

there has been no test. He expects us to believe that he has been tested and passed the test because of his age.

[PAMomma]

And we are to believe he would remember the nuclear code?

[ferdly]

This is a double edged problem: 1. the obvious one we all saw -- cringe-worthy!, but 2. more disturbing is that when offered a chance to distance himself from the Hate Speech of Rush LImbuagh, he skipped past it -- okay, a quick 'No' but that is not sufficient for the incendiary diatribe that this Right Wing "Institution" indulged his little mind with big mouth in spewing. This is the real scandal. (Didn't McCain say in the debate that he renounces these attacks at every turn?)

[broogha]

I keep hearing McCain and others in the party jump on the Biden comment about Barack Obama being tested. McCain always responds, "I have been tested". Could some one please explain to me what test McCain has been through (and it seems he feels he has passed). Is it the POW or being in the service experience? I would say, if that is the case, there are thousands of American soldiers who have been tested--would that qualify them to run for POTUS?
In all sincerity, would some one please explain the test McCain feels he has taken and passed relative to this?

[DosaHut]

He means being a POW mae him ready for anything, including performing brain surgery.

And McCain needs to stop acting like he won a bunch of wars, like he was a commander general leading the brigades on a horse. He didn't win any wars. He was a POW in a war. That's different.

[independent32955]

yea...yea...we're done.

let the old man down easy Senator Obama...he's a war veteran and a hero and quite possibly criminally insane.

[serecovery]

My friends (shuffling note cards)...My friends (referencing note cards)...let me tell you my friends... Sara (again, referencing note cards) Palin and I are mavericks my friends. Joe the (referencing note cards) Plumber is a maverick plumber my friends.

[PamperedHousecat]

YEEHAWWW RAWHIDE!

[anachoret]

What was that thing that always goes first?

[RobinSeattle]

In McCain's defense, George Schultz is pretty forgettable. There are other issues one can take up with McCain (such as how agitated and unfocused he apparently was in this interview), but this names thing isn't one of them.

[Cinnamonape]

And Eagleburger? Most people think that's some kind of exotic meat that only people in Cindy McCain's class can obtain from Sarah Palin's relaxed Alaskan hunting laws!

Sauteed Polar Bear tongue, grilled foreleg of wolf in a cheese sauce, and Eagleburger with a frisson of coco-de-mer!

[YouDisgustMe]

oh grandpa...

[nurseattorney]

When Brokaw asked him a softball question about what movie hero he identified with, and gave him several relatively current options, McCain said he was most like Knute Rockne, "winning one for the gipper."

As they would say on SNL "Oh SNAP!" Way to generate enthusiasm in the youth vote, John. Refer to a movie that's older than YOU are.

[YouDisgustMe]

lol..i had no idea what he was referencing and i still don't...knute who?

[DeeW]

I saw the show, he seemed angry altho I don't know why since Browka didn't challenge him at all.

[Oonagh]

It is really sad watching McCain flub .... but you can see how the campaign is wearing him down... It is unfortunate that he did not win eight years ago, now he is too old.