Shuster, McCain Flack Battle Over Palin, First Amendment

Here's a video of David Shuster battling with a McCain campaign flack named Ben Porritt over the fact that Sarah Palin doesn't understand the basics of the First Amendment. Porritt, who's showing up late in the game because the starters, having been routed, have all been pulled in favor of the bench, has little choice but to dodge and deflect the question, because Palin is horrible and everyone knows it.

Anyway, you can watch this at your leisure, but I'd suggest you view it with a bit of nostalgia in mind. You see, we've been bringing you these on air battles all year. Remember back in February, how Chris Matthews made Obama spokesman Kirk Watson look like a complete idiot? If you don't, you might remember Rick Sanchez, just last week, straight up PWNING McCain campaigner Michael Goldfarb. That's been the story of the past year; flacks and spokespersons coming on the teevee and frequently having their asses handed to them.

It's been enjoyable, but have some perspective: Watson will probably never appear on television outside of Texas ever again, and Goldfarb, prior to hooking up with the McCain campaign, lost many jobs to houseplants and particularly aggressive airborne diseases. In short: it hasn't been a fair fight. But after this week, the election year is over, and the cable news talking heads will have go back to speaking to competent people, instead of "strategists." That, and struggling to describe what's happening in car chases. So, enjoy these on-air battles while they last, because after Tuesday, they'll be over.

Also, I'm guessing that all this interest in Bill Ayers might diminish as well. We shall see.

Comments

[Xysea]

Funny, but didn't McCain's campagin ban two reporters, too? I know Maureen Dowd was one... They're still a bunch of hypocrites. News at 11.

[greenwl]

Until the Republicans release Sarah Palin's medical record and her reason on addressing the Alaska Independent Party....u­ntil that happens, the republicans who support them are a fraud.

[bobbyd4999]

Anyone wanna guess what she's trying to hide? I'm leaning toward herpes.

[jobecky20]

I would guess that they're trying hard to hide her lobotomy procedure. The prank phone call is all the proof you need.

[Susej]

Baby Algebra, or whatever his name is, is not hers.

[jellybeanaddict]

They are clearly hiding her psychological records which show her sub-prime (haha) IQ!

[vote the issues]

and what ever happened to her releasing her medical records, i thought she had agreed to that?

[mocha59]

DAVID ~ YOU ROCK.

[bobbyd4999]

MSNBC better be careful, or their going to get kicked off the island.

[bobbyd4999]

Anyone know what the antithesis of "mainstream" is?

Radical extremism.

[lewes17266]

backward

[NamelessGenXer]

EPIC FAIL. Never forget: McCain is the Chief Executive of this operation and the blame for all of it -- ALL of it -- lies squarely on his shoulders.

Vote like your life depends on it.

[DBsez]

It does!

[mafina]

But this man has no clue as to what is going on within his campaign. A review of his medical records should be done. Clearly, the fringe elements have taken over his campaign and turned it into the rogue express.

[Marmann]

I really like David Shuster, but he missed an opportunity here, since McCain kicked Joe Klein and Maureen Dowd from his plane FIRST, and David should have immediately shot back with that fact.

[abby4ever]

test

[AnAmericanWoman]

Sarah PALIN HAS never READ THE CONSITITUTION nor does she have CRIB notes of it. she is as DUMB as anyone be in public office! She has NO right to be where she is - NONE!

[kaygee]

Groundless comments which Sarah Palin would undoubtedly defend your right to make.

[osalover]

No, my dear. Palin does not know what the word "defend" means. She only knows "attack".

[RoloTomassi]

I doubt that; she doesn't seem keen on rights unless they have to do with her own in regards to self-incriminating testimony.

[HighInfoVoter]

The evidence doesn't support your defense of Palin. She considers fact-based criticism, protected by the First Amendment, as infringing on her rights. She only wants to lie, lie and lie without being questioned. That is the hallmark of totalitarian regimes, not a democracy.

[BaltimoreSteve]

David,
Thank you. Thank you for doing your job. Thank you for standing up for the 1st Amendment. Thank you for exposing that Palin does not know, or understand the Constitution.

[jellygraph]

*facepalm*

[bellabeach]

McCain kicked Maureen Dowd and another reporter off his plane...wh­y is it so hard for them to tell the truth!!!

[suuzie]

Thank you David, let intelligence reign upon us and ignorance not prevail.

[longislandlol]

Keith started this accountable responsible journalism and he gets mocked and not pulitzered?

[UkieOlie]

Mocked with love!

[mady]

I hope this means the media is going to start taking their responsibility seriously and stop distracting us with Paris and Britney. A whole generation has missed the concept of media questioning politicians and then following up.

[TKFraz]

Saturday in South Carolina at the Elections Commission = 5 hour + wait for me:

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Do NOT get discouraged. Hang tight!!!

Prepare for the longest, amusement park-like wait ever.

Bring:
1. FOLDING lawn/park CHAIR (a must!!!!)
2. Fruit, snacks, water/fluids.
3. Something to read
4. Something to hear (audio book; iPod)
5. Something to do (Game Boy; Knitting; etc.)

***Remember this while standing there: This is your service to our nation. Non military or military, young or old, rich or poor, gay or straight, white, black, latino, asian, native American, able or disabled

--- You do this this for all of us, so thank you in advance!

(***Be patient with this, it's important I blast this periodically today and tomorrow to catch and encourage even one additional voter)

[AnAmericanWoman]

You are teriffic to post this! What a great American you are!

[Susej]

Thank you for these encouraging notes.

[ClevelandTom]

Wow, five hours. I do hope the SC election authorities will be taken to task for this before the next presidential cycle.

Ohio also has early voting with a fairly limited number of voting centers where you can do it. But Ohio balances that with "no fault" absentee balloting so it works out pretty well.