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

[UWNBM]

I never expect logic to be your strongsuit, Linkins, but this line stands out as a winner for all time:

... because Palin is horrible and everyone knows it.


Horrible TO YOU, and some other wisea--es.­..

[sleek]

No, horrible to anyone... who uses their brain.

[Ethics101]

It must be so depressing at the rightwing sites.

[DBtv]

Still manning the sinking ship, I see.

What does this tell us about your grasp of logic?

[alkamm]

The right wing is being hoisted on it's own petard. They have lived, and are now dying on their reliance on unelightened, uncritical dim bulbs that have graduated, or not, from such less than stellar academic institutions such as Liberty University.
The wide-eyed hillbillies that send their kids to the antithesis of higher learning know it's bet not to educate them if they want to be modern day, latter day Republicans. The Republican administration that has taken to hiring these lame, credulous wide-eyed fools is seeing the cattle come home because Americans actually respect real higher education, science, polite political dialogue, and all the other real values these creeps trample. They've traded our economic wellbeing for economic principles as discredited as fundamentalist Christianist misrepresentation of Christ's message of what amounts to socialism if they could be honest about it.
Those who called Karl Rove a genius for his use of these Christianists to split the nation in a kind of uncivil war are backtracking and wondering how they can get from the poverty of his politics to compete with the new demographics Rove's politics ignored. Small chance.

[Pacojam]

It is a total travesty that "Liberty" "University" has any credentials in this country. A better name would be "Slavery University" for what its' "graduates" have tried to do to the country.

[moreupnorth]

And most of the world outside the US. Yes and some people are gullible and many men think and vote with the wrong head. Lets just hope it is not the majority of voters. Palin has been punk'd by two socialist Canadain radio hosts and also the socialist Canadian TransCanada Group who suckered her into giving them a pipeline deal. That's some right good leadership credentials there.

[osalover]

I heard the entire radio prank; so I am fully aware that it ended with those 2 DJs calling her out on it. And you can hear her in the background saying it was a call from a radio in Montreal, FRANCE!!!!!!

Anyway, just heard on Channel 2 news that it took Palin a few seconds to realize it was a crank call and then she hung up!!! The truth? She wasn't even the one who hung up the phone ~~ it was her aide, Becksy or some such name, who even apologized for having to hang up to the DJs!!!

Please vote! Please don't kill me or my grandchild by letting these brainless candidates win. 'Cuz it WILL kill me!!

[gbrooks]

I'd make a wager that she doesn't even understand the philosophical basis of the 2nd Amendment rights that she so heavily touts, much less the first.

[Kerris]

I don't even think Ms Real America could properly recite the preamble to the Constitution if asked.

My three year old can (because I still have vhs copies of School House Rock) -- but I would bed what is left in my 401k that Palin could not.

[noamjunior]

why dont I just give you the $

[Daw8it]

How come no fellow POW's endorsed John McCain?

http://www.mccainbetrayspows.com/

[LeftLeftLeft]

This whole argument. . . . "does Sarah Palin have a brain -- or are her glasses just the windows of a vacant and abandoned building?" . . . . has grown tiresome. I can't wait until the election is over, and we can get on with solving our bigger problems and dealing with weightier issues. Poor Sarah found out how "hard" it is to run with the big dogs. . . . espeically when you aren't flying overhead, armed with a rifle.

[UWNBM]

Yes, the argument grew tiresome the first time the Obamabots trotted it out...mean­while, they carp, b--ch and moan about any slights directed at The One...a man most Americans still have no clue about, who has the thinnest resume of any Presidential candidate ever, has no true friends, keeps himself in a lofty bubble even among the press corp, who IS this guy?

[Ethics101]

Most Americans have no clue about?
Come on, almost 2 years of speeches and campaigning?
You must be in a bubble.

President-Elect Obama/2days.

[SirHenryClinton]

Go to http://www.barackobama.com and read his resume. It is much more impressive than McCain's or Palin's. You've been very naughty with all the "bearing false witness" stuff. Get ready for a divine spanking in about 30 hours.

[noamjunior]

you could always go to Obama's website and read the detailed explanations of his ecconomic plan-
or just admit you dont like black people and quit fronting that nonsense

[leopoldmozart]

You wrote that Obama is, "...a man most Americans still have no clue about..." You're not serious, right? Obama wrote an AUTOBIOGRAPHY for God's sake, which spent about a YEAR being investigated by the media (including and especially the so-called "right wing" media). How did we know about his teen drug use? His connection to Trinity Church and Jeremiah Wright? His bootstrapping himself from being a colored kid in a single parent home to getting scholarships and loans to Harvard to editing the Harvard Law Review? Do you think Rush and Hannity wikipedia-ed all that? There has never in the history of American politics been a candidate we have known MORE about than Barack Obama.

[DBtv]

This Guy is the leader of the New American Renaissance.

Thank God for him.

Willful ignorance is bliss to republic party brown shirts.

[damnadamson]

For the sake of this election going to Obama I have to say this: Let Palin speak as much as she wants by golly .... she's helping us in more ways than anyone ever dreamed of. GO PALIN 2012 !!!!

[abbeyroad]

well, i know my first amendment rights, and i think she's pigscum.

[UWNBM]

Aren't you articulate­...but then how does this surprise me among those who follow Obama like sheeple?

Who has no mind here? Palin or those who just assume everything Obama says and does is golden? That speaks volumes about the lack of brains so many have in ignoring the empty slate Obama has given us that only ONCE was truly revealed when he talked to Joe The Plumber.

[Ethics101]

Magic 8 ball says the answers are you and Palin.

[noamjunior]

Joe the Plumber, huh?

[DBtv]

Thank you for proving the argument that republic party operatives are obtuse projectionists.

[wiithejury]

Thinking people are enthusiastic about Obama not only because of his obvious intelligence and not only because of his stated desire to roll back the horror of the Bush years. They also are enthusiastic about Obama because he consistently demonstrates through his demeanor and body language that he has integrity.

It would be nearly impossible to be so congruent in speech and comportment if he were lying. If Obama turns out to be the monster you believe him to be, history will have to judge him as an uncommonly gifted faker. Obviously, the majority of Americans believe he is what he says he is and that he will attempt what he promises.

McCain and Pailin, on the other hand, are two of the most transparent and obvious liars ever to have appeared on the national stage. Their message is divisive and hateful. Their demeanors betray, by turns, hatred and self-centered egotism -- he with his fright-mask grins, twitches and smirks; she with her shrill nasality and utter inanity -- they both have screechy voices. And their campaign has been as mismanaged and error-prone as Obama's has been smooth and well-organized.

So, no, we don't assume that everything Obama says and does is golden; we have many articulable reasons for supporting him. The real question is how anyone could be fooled into believing for even one second the lies, distortions and demagoguery of such obvious and apparent fakes, rascals and ne'er-do-wells as McSame/Failin.

[maikonen]

Yeah. That "spread the wealth" statement really showed him up. Why does he think the wealth must be shared? Smart Americans do not believe in wealth-sharing. The rich have worked hard for their wealth, so let the poor work hard for theirs too. We don't have to spread it around! That's socialism!

Is that what showed him up, UWNBM?

[scottbee]

free speech in the bedroom???

check out the

Palin Bedroom Stimulus Package

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUMO6zc27gg

[UWNBM]

Garbage.

[bobbuck]

You call 'em out for deliberately stating thigs that aint true and its Gotcha media.

You bet its GOTCHA media, GOTCHA looking total ignorant of the facts pal!

[answriter]

god, mccain's flacks are as clueless as palin. that this inept bunch of clowns will, in the end, garner 44 - 46 percent of the vote just shows that 44 - 46 percent of americans would vote for a rhesus monkey for president if he was a republican.

[kyvette68]

That would be called 2000 and 2004.

[Pacojam]

The neocons are using the Joe six-packs and "religious right" whom they help to create. Brilliant and devious.

[AlaskanToo]

So, how is this gotcha media if she was the one to bring up the 1st Amendment, not the right wing radio personality she was speaking with. Must be difficult to keep making excuses for her.

[lykitis]

vas dis befoe o avta de sarkozy inte-vu?

[lykitis]

Ouch, Pow!! Would you like me to slap you again? Here...Pow­! He's a good looking young guy, should hold up well for 2012.

[Rapid Ray]

I've notice that the pundits for McCain seem to be those of lesser ability these last few days. Nancy Pfotenhour has virtually disapeared for over a week.

[KathyinCT]

And thank God for that. If I had to see one more interview with her big white teeth and lip gloss and that Barbie Doll smile pasted on her face while she spewed venom, I think I would have put out my own eyes.

Please, Republicans, tell your spokespeople when they are attempting to talk about serious subjects, lose the big GRIN!

[Pacojam]

I did notice that. Maybe her poll numbers went down.

She has the same strange smile as Michelle Bachmann

[charitabledonation]

There are several things at work here. First off, Palin's complete lack of understanding of what the constitution is, does and means to America (maybe we should let Alaska succeed the way her husband is vying for). Secondly, she is -known- to hold grudges, so her lack of understanding of the First Amendment fits right in with her loathing the media "attacks". Frankly, the media has not "attacked" her, they have just been pointing out her ridiculous hypocrisy and idiocy. I guess that is offensive to her, in her little evangelical "bubble". Too bad she can't FIRE them, she can only claim they don't have a first amendment right to SAY ANYTHING. (Remind you of the Bush administration saying that criticism was "un-patriotic". Thirdly, questions are not "GOTCHA MEDIA". They are Questions. Maybe one day, they will quit playing the "we don't own a dictionary" game, and start playing with real definitions, with truth, with transparency. But don't count on it.

This woman is (as one other post-a-commenter put it) an embarrassment to intelligent women all over the world.

[StillAmused]

Now that all these uniformly unpleasant human beings have swarmed to the McCain campaign, the question arises: what to do with them after Tuesday?

Is it possible to "tent" an entire campaign? No toxins, understand­... just move 'em all to Crawford as a gift to Junior from a grateful nation.