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

[lissak]

NBC would be wise to consider Shuster for MTP.

[jenrose]

Why does msnbc all have the race so close and cnn giving a more realistic review? I like KO & some others. cnn is also sending out young reporters to the polling places to report the news.

[Gratitudinous]

Sarah Palin has the right to raise the issue of bias in the media. To point out the connection that Obama had with Rev. Wright and how MSM has quietly ignored that, well the MSM should look in the mirror ...
I am grateful for her courage ...

[VivaMariaElena]

OBAMA / BIDEN 2008

[pfc1369]

Ignored it!!

It was on non-stop in the MSM (as you call it) for weeks.

And in these last days is enjoying an encore because, obviously, that's all McCain has!

No one word on why anyone should vote for him.

Just endless attacks on Obama.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Bwahahahaha. The MSM has loudly and proudly aired the twenty second clips of Wright over and over and over again for an entire month. Where the hell were you? Repubs just can't stand the fact that THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

[IcanDreamIn08]

She's an idoit!

[brownforall]

"Judg ment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It's very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Je rusalem he was there to witness some of that jud gment, some of that conflict, when a Palest inian from East Jerusa lem took a bulld ozer and went plowing through a score of cars, kill ing numbers of people. Judg ment " you can't miss it."

Palin was in church that day, Kroon said,

WHAT WAS YOU SAYING ABOUT WRIGHT?

Not to mention her other pastor problems and Mccains as well!

[jannike]

I don't know what's the most scary, that she doesn't understand the first amendment or that she is just trying to fool peoplel into not understanding the first amendment.

[bobbyd4999]

The Bush administration was masterful in their manipulation of the media. It should only make sense that the McCain camp would want to continue that mastery.

[exhale09]

Sara Palin is a perfect example of why Democrats support quality EDUCATION for everyone, and Republicans do not.

[Pacojam]

McCain's pick of Palin is a good example of why McCain graduated at the bottom of his class.

[brownforall]

LOL!!!!

[orianna]

The republicans can rebrand themselves. If they want to remain the religious right, then they could move to create an ethics advisory board which represents the religious agendas of America, the pro-Americans, if you will. The board members can be elected during the presidential elections and be important to help set agendas which the president, a truly qualified leader who is versed in american law and politics, will review with deference to the needs of the people. The advantage to America, is that we can separate out the religion from the governing body, but give it the credence needed to ease the minds of those who would vote for values over leadership abilities. It would make American politics stronger because we wouldn't have a base which votes in someone totally unqualified for office as the GOP keeps trying to do in their attempt to collect votes for the wealthy folks agenda. Futhermore, Britain has a house of lords and house of commons...­.. in America we are all confused as the wealthy which should be known as the house of lords is pimping for the votes of the commonest and least educated of Americans. They are disadvantaged due to conflicting agendas and have to lie and deceive to get these votes... leaving america confused and divided... and our religion which we fought to practice freely, now being used to control us.

[Chumleysmom]

Thanks, David.

I'm still rooting for you to get your own show on MSNBC (preferably in a time slot now occupied either by Joe what's-his'name or David Gregory).

[OhComeOnNow]

Meet the Press comes to mind. If he could continue to ask those hard questions of ALL interviewees, he would be the best candidate for Tim's chair. Todd and Gregory are not up to it.

[brownforall]

You know I think you made a real good point! He would be perfect for it. Because Tim wouldnt never pick sides and he would question everyone fairly!

TODD AND GREGORY NOPE!

BTW am I the only one who thinks Chuck leans right?

So for Numbers I watch Jon king with the "Magic Map" LOL!

[partyofone]

Of course Sarah Palin understands the First Amendment. And as the demogouge that she is, she is trying to twist and distort it for her purposes. Palin has had no problem getting her mean, divisive, dishonest message out to the nation. She has been covered fairly. The fact that a responsibile press questions her message and the majority of the naiton is rejecting it, is not evidence that her First
Amendment rights have been violated. This nation is living with the dire consequences of a press and a Congress that has largely given Bush dishonesty and incompetence a pass. Thank heaven, the press and the voters are questioning Palin-McCain in their quest to continue the Bush legacy.

[Pacojam]

What a liar this guy is.

You have a recording explicitly showing that Palin does not know what the 1st ammendment is, and yet we are supposed to think she knows what it is just because this guy says so. How stupid do they think we are?

McCain, you still have time to drop Palin from the ticket.

[skippy20008]

Well, he's better than Tucker Bounds. For what that's worth.

[likeicare]

Ughhhh! What a creep!! Wonder if his girlfriend­/boyfriend­(?)/wife ever doubt what he tells her/him?

Get 'im, David!

[NtnyLion]

Another flack's career ends on live TV... sigh...

[PT6]

We now KNOW why McCain did not want to bring up Rev. Wright!

He WAS SAVING that for TWO days before the ELECTION to make it "McCain's SW1FT B0AT for Obama". A ROVIAN TRICK!

Obama Loves America and does not have any contact with Wright!
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­____

McCain has his own Pre@cher Problems:

McCain's Preacher Says America's Mission is to "Destroy" Is1am

Here's a Warning - N0N-Arm@gedd0nists Beware the McCain Thing:

During a 2005 sermon, a fundamenta1ist pastor whom Senator John McCain has
praised and campaigned with called Is1am "the greatest religious ene$my of our
civilization and the world," claiming that the historic mission of America is to
see "this false re1igion destr0yed.­" In this taped sermon, currently sold by his
meg@church, the Reverend Rod P@rsley reiterates and amplifies harsh and
der0gatory comments about Is1am he made in his book, Silent No More, published
the same year he delivered these remarks. Meanwhile, McCain has stuck to his
stance of not criticizing Parsley, an important political ally in a crucial
swing state.

[leopoldmozart]

Is your keyboard missing the "L" key?

[Pacojam]

To McCain: YOu still have time to drop Palin from the ticket. Replace with Romney.

[partyofone]

Can Plain drop McCain? :)

[marrig]

Why on earth do the American people put up with this candidacy. We are entitled to examine our candidates. Do you go to a job interview and say "no question, please"?

[kenaijeff]

no, palin sucks. i'm from alaska. i know. she raised taxes on the oil industry - then gave every citizen in the state an extra $1200 (on top of the $2200 we were getting this year from oil revenues already) - and she has the gall to call anyone socialist? she's pretty, she's ambitious, but she aint; no political rocket scientist. and despite all the values crap, her daughter's pregnant, her son went to iraq so he didn;t end up in jail from meth, and she wants rape victims to pay for the tests needed to prosecute violent criminals. so, she sucks.

[ahsaki80]

Good thing he's away in Bush's war. Would hate to him hook up with Cindy and they both OD.

[partyofone]

The re-distribution of oil revenues in Alaka is pure socialism. Why hasn't the media asked Palin about it?