Truth Alert: McCain's Freudian Slip is Showing (and Very Telling)
At the same time that former West Wingers Brad Whitford and Richard Schiff were stepping forward to say that they too had heard John McCain say that he didn't vote for George Bush in 2000, McCain was grabbing a shovel and digging himself deeper with yet another denial.
Appearing on The O'Reilly Factor, McCain told O'Reilly, "I voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004."
But on the way to that unequivocal refutation, his unconscious mind jumped up, started waving its hands and yelled: "Not so fast!"
O'REILLY: Did you vote for President bush?MCCAIN: Of course not. I campaigned all over this country for him.
As dear old Dr. Freud would tell you, the unconscious is a powerful thing. And the new, do-and-say-anything-to-be-president McCain clearly couldn't keep the old, give-it-to-you-straight McCain - and the truth - from slipping out. "Of course not."
There was another interesting wrinkle in the McCain/O'Reilly Bush vote exchange: after asserting that he'd twice voted for Bush, McCain added, "And not only that, far more important than a vote, I campaigned everywhere in America for him." [emphasis added]
Do I see a fallback position coming? "Okay, look my friends, I was angry, I was contemptuous of him, I knew I was better than him, he'd attacked my family, and I couldn't bring myself to pull the lever next to his name. But I campaigned everywhere in America for him - and that's far more important than one little vote, right? Right? Isn't it..? My friends..?
Check out the video and transcript below.
UPDATE: I've said before that when it comes to the love affair between John McCain and the media, old loves die hard. The latest proof of this comes courtesy of The New Republic's Michael Crowley. Faced with the mounting evidence that McCain is lying about not saying that he didn't vote for Bush, Crowley scrapes the bottom of the logic barrel and wonders: "Is it possible McCain was talking to Arianna about the Arizona primary?"
Talk about bending over backwards to give McCain some wiggle room! The media-McCain dynamic is pure high school: the nerds are always so grateful when one of the jocks is nice to them.
Transcript:
O'REILLY: OK. Arianna Huffington says you didn't vote for Bush in 2000. She's one of these people who is going to come after you.
MCCAIN: Yes.
O'REILLY: On her website yesterday, somebody blogged that you collaborated with the North Vietnamese, and they didn't torture you. This is Arianna Huffington. Now Arianna Huffington flat out said you did not vote for President Bush in 2000.
MCCAIN: What can you say?
O'REILLY: Did you vote for President bush?
MCCAIN: Of course not. I campaigned all over this country for him.
O'REILLY: So you voted for President Bush.
MCCAIN: Of course. I mean, that's a ridiculous question.
O'REILLY: So she lied?
MCCAIN: Well, I don't -- frankly, I do not read Huffington Post. I spare myself from having that experience.
O'REILLY: You voted for Bush in 2000?
MCCAIN: I voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004.
O'REILLY: OK.
MCCAIN: And not only that, far more important than a vote, I campaigned everywhere in America for him.
O'REILLY: (INAUDIBLE).
MCCAIN: I enjoyed it. I campaigned with him. I did everything I could to get him elected and reelected president.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
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Print Your Own Sign Telling Senator McCain To Sign the GI Bill
Print up this sign and post it in a place that people will see it.
Show your neighbors and friends that you support our veterans, and want Senator McCain to do the same, by signing onto the 21st Century GI Bill. Send us a picture of where you post it, and we might just feature it on our blog!
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forpeace, perhaps you have not read Double Talk's amendment to the proposed GI Bill - He calls for any veteran, combat or peace time, to receive discounts of at least a twenty five cents off on any Anheuser-Busch product.
I had to replay the video several times before I caught the Freudian slip. McCain has his own Rev Wright problem. Bush has to be freaking out over his anointed presumptive nominee. I wish Bush ulcers for the Spring and Shingles for the Fall but most of all In the winter that he freezes his cojones.
Seriously do you think bush freaks out about anything? He has no clue as to what is going on. That is what years of booze and drugs do to someone that didn't have much to work with to begin with. He has been an embarrassment every time he opens his mouth.
The scary thing is that somehow that clod got "elected" twice, so even an old demented, lying McCain stands a chance.
You'd think he'd be distancing himself from Bush, now that he has the nomination sewed up. I thought that's what he was doing when he made his remarks about Katrina, but apparently not. Or does he think people want more of the same for the next 8 years?
If McCain is elected (and I really, really hope not), I doubt he would be in for 2 terms.
At his age, he would not be alive through two terms.
You undoubtly didn't watch the interview, when he said we made 4 years of mistakes under Rumsfeld. That sounds like he is distancing himself, since Bush put up with that crook for 4 years. I agree with part of what you all say on here, especially Rumsfeld I think he was the worse Secratary of Defence we ever had, also Colin Powell although he was a war hero was terrible, But I really think Bush is a good man, and really wants the best for this country, he just gave Rumsfeld and powell to many chances.
"MCCAIN: Well, I don't -- frankly, I do not read Huffington Post. I spare myself from having that experience
Spare US McCain!
Sic him Arianna!
This is such a huge issue. It is so so so important. Thank you HuffPost for bringing it up. The Democrat Party once again going down in defeat.
Hey Kundera, the point is that McCain is a continuation of George Bush. And yes, that IS a huge issue. Are you always this dense? Or are you so blinded by your party that you have forgotten how to think and interpret what you read? Go back to Faux, you belong there.
Kundera wants four more years!
We'll see.
McCain will do or say anything to win the presidency. Now, I used to be kind of ambivalent toward McCain, and was even feeling sorry for the old guy who is not going to get to be pres. even though he spent those years in the Hanoi Hilton and is a viet vet. But then, it has just now become known to my little ol' self that McCain has a $100 million (and countin) dollar wifey, who now obviously is not going to settle for just being married to an ordinary fellow and who just knows from her family's rich dynasty and history that she is entitled to be the First Lady of the Whitehouse.
Arianna wrote:
“As dear old Dr. Freud would tell you, the unconscious is a powerful thing. And the new, do-and-say
John McCain as multiple personality Sybil, now that's a scary presidential scenario!
My take on this flap is John McCain is not who he wants people to think he is and that comes as a surprise only to those who would do-and-say-anything to have their misguided political ideology validated. McCain has been a charlatan for the longest of time and I am not trying to disparage him but clearly identify him in stating this. His record speaks of split personalities manifesting political quandary and political compromise (thus his maverick image) based on a constant and deep seated flawed premise of inevitability (thus his reputation for rage). The man believes he was born to be president and he is not going to let a little thing like the truth or ethics derail that divine promise of ascension to the seat of power. He will do anything and say anything and is not to be faulted for adhering to the sickness of his disorder. We the people however will be at fault if we turn the asylum over to this obvious inmate and allow him to run amok all over America and the world as the leader of this nation.
"I campaigned with him. I did everything I could to get him elected and reelected president.
Just that clip alone will cook his goose if the Dems use it
All the Dem have to so is who, with video, how little he campaigned with bush in those two elections and he'll be called out as a lier. Come on Dems get with the program, take no prisoners.
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New CBO Report Proves McCain Is ‘Full Of It’ In His Opposition To Webb-Hagel GI Bill
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the Pentagon have voiced their opposition to the bipartisan Webb-Hagel GI Bill by spouting fears that “too many will use it,” and it will therefore “harm” the military.
A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report analyzing the impact of the GI Bill shows that McCain is indeed “full of it........
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McCain: Embattled U.S. attorney has done a ‘good’ job.
Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) spoke in New Jersey, confessing to reporters who pressed him about local issues that he knows little about the state. “I’m not that familiar with the political situation on the ground here,” he said. Asked about New Jersey’s U.S. attorney, Chris Christie, McCain simply claimed Christie has been “good”....
http://thi
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If Hillary tried the Sybil thing-- playing off of different personalities trying them on in front of different audiences-- then McCain is playing a similar game-- he was a media darling way back then-- but they fell for the perception of a man who mavericked-- and not a man who morphed into different personalities at a Sybilian rate...
McCain had every right to withhold his vote for Bush. It would have been disgraceful to vote for him after what Rove did to McCain. The problem is that McCain 1.) didn't have the intestinal fortitude to reject the Bush people after what they did to him, and 2.) he doesn't have the courage to admit that he didn't vote for Bush (if he in fact did not vote for him). With three witnesses testifying that he said that he did not vote for Dubya, it is reasonable to conclude that he did not in fact vote for the man.
It appears that bravery in battle does not, in this case, translate to honesty in the political arena.
I respect McCain's war record, and do not choose to cast doubt on his behaviour in that area. However, I have serious reservations about his behaviour since he got back from the war. He has my compassion, but not my vote.
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McCane is too old and Mentaly Disturbed, he keeps forgetting everything, He thinks Bush is still running in 2008, he might even vote for Bush Again!
Say NO to McBush, he is Dangerous.
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It's almost sad to see an old rich man grovel so. Boy he really wants to be president at any cost.
Does he think that having voted for Bush is a good thing...? Wow this is almost scary.
Tell us more about his black kid--- that's far more interesting, courtesy of GWB.
I have a very different take on this situation. I believe McCain when he says that he voted for Bush both times. He had no reason not to stay straight Republican in 2000, and even after the vicious Bush campaign against him in 2004, he gave W. that famous hug (nor did he come to the defense of his good friend Kerry when the SwiftBoat ads were aired or threaten to speak against the party if they were not stopped). He's a pure Republican despite the Maverick persona he cloaks himself with.
However, I also believe Ariana when she says he told her and others that he didn't vote for Bush, that is just the kind of attention-getting thing he would say, feeds his persona, makes him look cool, gets the attention and admiration of those he is talking to at the time. Typical McCain behavior that he displayed every time a controversial issue arose in DC, speak out against it (e.g. torture) and then go along with the program once the press broadcats the phoney Maverick image (sucking up to the religious right). This is the behavior that so exasperates party line Republicans but the MSM eats up and spreads.
There is no contradiction, it's just McCain, being McPain. Who else would joke about bombing a country when running for office just because he wanted attention from the people at a very small pre-Caucus gathering?
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