McCain: Coverage Is "Fun To Watch"

Yesterday, John McCain released a series of ads complaining about the media's fawning coverage of Barack Obama. His campaign mocked the huge group of reporters trailing Obama by handing out press credentials that say "McCain Press Corps JV Squad, 'Left Behind To Report In America.'" On the other side, the same words are in French under a wine-drinking, beret-wearing European.

As the Huffington Post's Jason Linkins notes, media-bashing is an odd line of attack from the man who once courted the press as his "base."

And indeed, McCain couldn't stay mad at the press for long. The Politico reports:

Trying to avoid being portrayed as a whiney spoilsport, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) broke with his advisers Tuesday and told Katie Couric of CBS News that news coverage of the presidential campaign has been fair and even "fun to watch."

...

Asked whether he believes he'd had unfair media coverage, McCain replied: "I don't think so. I think ...it is what it is. I'm a big boy. And I'm enjoying every minute of the campaigning. And I'm certainly not complaining. And, in fact, I think it's fun to watch."

So much for message discipline.

Comments

[RGKahn]

"I'm certainly not complaining..." As noted, his endorsement comes at the end of each McCain for President ad on TV and radio. It is his spokespeople who are doing the bulk of the complaining though. They seem to forget all the ass kissing this candidate has received from the media mob that travels with him. They have become his chorus rather than the truth seekers they should be. He has manipulated and used "his base" for years and there is very little blow back to him. He us truly the teflon candidate in the tradition of Ronald Reagan.

[NickNas]

IS it still lying when you can't REMEMBER what you said yesterday?

[lewby54]

http://www.squidoo.com/double_speak
He's a stumblebum with no vision for America.
If he's elected, it surely will be end in 2012

[laurie91020]

Riding around in a GOLF CART with Poppy Bush (Bush 41) is NOT news.... nor is it newsworthy!
It's ONLY news when 43 rides in a golf cart with Poppy Bush.....

What would be news is if reporters held McCain accountable for all his mistakes, rather than leave them on the cutting room floor. If Obama made the same FACTUAL mistake that McCain has made the last several months they'd still be the first story on nightly news.

Memo to Sen. McCain- "You can have your own opinions, but you CAN'T have your OWN FACTS"! - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

[Canaris]

Jesus, he's even flip-flopping on this? I don't see how Sen. McCain isn't right more often. When you take as many different positions on issues as he has, the law of averages says you have to be right at least some of the time.

[1will]

Is McCain flashing gang signs at us?

[NoSandwiches]

This is yet another example of the incohesiveness of John McCain's campaign. He is his own worst enemy. After the news that CBS edited his interview to make him look better (substituting a factually incorrect answer with a clip from another question) it would be very hard to say that the media gave him any disatvantage. The main problem is that he is...not interesting. Barack Obama on the other hand, is making headlines because he is. The media is not truly about propagating a viewpoint so much as they are a for-profit business that attempts to cater to what they believe their viewer want so that they may boost their ratings so that they may sell more ads. Fox believes that people want to watch blowhards like Bill O'Reilly and his ilk, and they are proven correct by their numbers, and so they continue to cater to their viewers. When people stop watching Faux News, they will change their tune. Obama draws crowds and he draws viewers. McCain's campaing is just unhappy that he gets off the plane and there is only one reporter there to see. We just aren't interested. Obama meets with the troops and they are excited. He makes some three-pointers under enormous pressure and that is impressive and speaks about the man. That's interesting. That sells. John is better off without reporters there to hear him speak about Czechoslovakia for the 5th time in two weeks.

[marc1antony]

L I A R Y O U A R E S O A N G R Y T H A T Y O U A R E A B O U T T O B L O W

[tel8034]

McCain if you' re not whining then explain the 2 ads on your website which speak to the media being in love with Obama ................ Are you not asking us to choose the best one so that it can be aired on television?

Don't both ads clearly show that you're clearly upset that Obama is receiving more attention than you?

Where were these 2 ads when Rev Wright and Bittergate were receiving 24/7 coverage ......... You didn't seem to mind Obama's media attention then.

[tel8034]

McCain if you' re not whining then explain the 2 ads on your website which speak to the media being in love with Obama ................ Are you not asking us to choose the best one so that it can be aired on television?

Dont' both ads clearly show that you're clearly upset that Obama is receiving more attention than you?

Where were these 2 ads when Rev Wright and Bittergate were receiving 24/7 coverage ......... You didn't seem to mind Obama's media attention then.

[GoldenRules]

Now I finally agree with McCain!

The media doesn't pay enough attention to your campaign. I never would have thought McCain could stick his foot in his mouth this much. Yet, the only place you can hear about it, is on HuffPost or Keith O.

I continue to debate (Bang my head against brick wall) my Republican friends on all issues, every day, but every time I bring up a supporting point in the argument. I am asked where did I hearsee this revolutionary ideastatement. I then have to point them to the internet. Their Response "OH THE INTERNETS! I guess that's the problem I get facts from credible sources, not hype on the internets"
*sigh*

Will the Media PLEASE STAND UP!

[UnionJok]

There's a Yellow Teeth ad next to this item on the front page. They've been appearing constantly ever since McVain's Lime Jell-O speech.

[indianadem]

I noticed that too....LOL!

[Pollitrix]

Now that you are paying me some attention, I am not mad at you anymore, so there.

Once a man, twice a child

[GolfingDevil05]

I thought the media was McCain's base. Does this mean he's now lost his base as well?

[RobinSeattle]

Both the Media and McCain are pretty base alright.

[MikePS65]

Well, why shouldn't McCain say exactly what he said? It doesn't matter - he can say one thing, his campaign can say another, and his supporters will pretend that the two reconcile, just like they're pretending his votes and statements from the last eight years reconcile with his claims and statements today.

The only thing consistent about McCain as a candidate is that he's inconsistent.