McCain Doesn't Name Palin As GOP Leader On Tonight Show (VIDEO)

On Monday's Tonight Show, Sen. John McCain was asked to name the current leader of the Republican Party ("Is it Rush Limbaugh?" Jay Leno asked).

In response, McCain ticked off nearly half a dozen "young and dynamic" Republican governors -- Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Charlie Crist -- but skipped one name in particular -- his 2008 presidential running mate Sarah Palin.

McCain noted afterwards, "I've left out somebody's name and I'm going to hear about it." Perhaps he just forgot. But if the snub was intentional, it would reflect the sentiments repeatedly expressed by McCain's daughter Meghan, who said last week that she doesn't know whether she could vote for Palin if she runs for president in 2012, and has otherwise refused to discuss the Alaska governor.

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Comments

[Lachlan Prescott]

10:31 AM on 04/18/2009

Palin? Leader? GOP? Give me a break!

[redsongia]

01:44 PM on 04/17/2009

So, the base considers him a Democrat anyway. Distancing himself from Palin only helps her with the base.

[deosil]

09:31 AM on 04/21/2009

EVERYTHING helps her with the TEAMSARAHS. They dont have any standards. Their whole shtick is this, TRASH HER AND WE LOVE HER MORE. They aren´t HELPING Palin by ANY means.

[BillMelater]

01:44 PM on 04/15/2009

LOL - he did it on purpose too. What a slam!

[Lachlan Prescott]

10:32 AM on 04/18/2009

Haha yeah

[2008CaliforniaFan]

01:16 PM on 04/15/2009

She's still doing ' crazy stuff ' though. Between her wacko AG appointment she has pulled another one last night. The whole story is good but you have to see the pic with the story...'Naughty Governor'...?

http://www.themudflats.net/

[zeezan]

11:20 AM on 04/15/2009

I guess he has belatedly realized just how much negative influence she had on his campaign. As the saying goes -- too soon old, too late smart.

[Witkacy]

11:12 AM on 04/15/2009

Palin is not in fact a "leader" of the GOP - she's the carved figurehead mounted on the bow of the ship. Old McCain made a huge mistake in caving to Rick Davis et al to put the figurehead on his ticket; but the mistake is compounded by the huge importance of media in this Palin phenomenon (it's a media-borne and not a political phenomenon, after all), and by McCain's profound lack of understanding of contemporary media. He's being watched and analyzed in ways he can't imagine or foresee; and the upshot of his having "issues" with his former running-mate is that it continues the laughable & kind of pathetic media spectacle of the GOP eating itself alive.

[Crowhaul]

07:15 AM on 04/15/2009

The GOP's Empty Vessel approach to politics yet again reveals itself: How could McCain forget his 'partner and a soul mate'?

[Lachlan Prescott]

10:36 AM on 04/18/2009

Yeah, Batman never leaves Robin

[shelchak]

07:10 AM on 04/15/2009

I think he's correct -- and not surprisingly -- Palin has been a no-show from all or most of the GOP leadership conferences, meetings, events. Why should she be thought of as one of the GOP leadership??

[donbrown]

05:03 AM on 04/15/2009

McCain showed extremely poor judgement in choosing Palin, probably at the suggestion of this campaign manager.

I think he realized what a disaster she was after the Couric interviews and started making those embarrassing appearances WITH her on the talk shows. They were clearly uncomfortable with each other at that point.

Given that the (basically stupid) Republican base was all for her -- the same ones behind these pointless tea parties -- he realized there was no turning back. But he must realize in his heart he lost, partially because she alienated the vast middle of the country.

[PatBurns]

01:42 PM on 04/15/2009

Partially ?? McSame would have squeaked out a small victory if he had chosen anyone but PaleOne!

[DFutureIsNow]

12:26 AM on 04/15/2009

LOL. Thats one bitter old man... somethings never change

[disgusted48]

07:31 PM on 04/14/2009

mccain picked her and a capulted her into the limelight. she is who she is, and mccain has no one to blame but himself.

[deosil]

09:34 AM on 04/21/2009

Thanks for being willing to place Palin a heartbeat away, McCain!!!!! Thanks for that, you wont even endorse her NOW. Palin and McCain kind of deserve eachother.

[Indie2008]

07:19 PM on 04/14/2009

This reflects badly on both of them, and rightly so. It shows that McCain's praise and professed confidence in Palin was insincere and that reveals a contempt for the voters, and it confirms her lack of credibility as a serious Presidental contender.

[HC4BO]

06:55 PM on 04/14/2009

Shitstorm alert ...

ALL 5 of Palin's supporters are officially outraged ...

[Moshka]

03:25 AM on 04/15/2009

LOL

[Phxflyer]

06:19 PM on 04/14/2009

John McCain was on the Tonight Show?

Where's the outrage?

[BuzzingAlong]

06:04 PM on 04/14/2009

Has John McCain told the President and the military where to find Usama bin Laden? Or is it still a secret until he wins the next election?

[Crowhaul]

07:17 AM on 04/15/2009

Good point! Where's the press on this...?