When John McCain And His Sock Puppet Attack! (In This Case Me)

The Week That Was 4/11/2008

Another week. More preposterousness to report.

So I wrote a book. You know, because I had nothing better to do for those nine months. And because John McCain is more dangerous than Mel Gibson at a bris.

So, in any case, here is what U.S News & World Report had to say about the book:

A new book by liberal writer and political consultant Cliff Schecter lays out a detailed blueprint for how Dems can mine presumed GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's political and personal past--including already well-documented incidents of his temper--to defeat him in the fall.

Not too shabby, for a thirty-something, suburban dad like me. The problem is that on a few stories I broke, where McCain referred to his wife as something that rhymes with "runt," and let out his inner pugilist by punching Rick Renzi (in his defense, it was Rick Renzi), I did that crazy thing that right-wing bloggers and the MSM never do! I relied upon thoroughly vetted, 100% credible, yet anonymous sources.

How dare I!?! Because, I have this friend named Max Bernstein, and his dad Carl, well, he never broke a story infinitely more important than this one using anonymous sources. Never. Although, if you watch John McCain's non-denial denial closely here, you might actually see the exact moment when John McCain realizes he's lying.

And he was able to pull all that together after only two cups of Sanka! Wowsers.

Then there is McCain spokesperson, Jill Hazelbaker. She had this to say about my work:

McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker brands the book "trash journalism" and tells us, "The story is completely fabricated."

Which coming from someone naturally imbued with the credibility of a three-dollar bill, really hurts. You may remember Mzz. Hazelbaker from sock puppetry days gone by:

Hazelbaker was caught here at Blue Jersey last year engaged in a variety of blogospheric no-no's. For one thing, she was engaged in an astroturfing campaign to make it seem as if there was a groundswell of Democratic disaffection with Senator Menendez's candidacy. To top it off, she did this by sockpuppeting, or creating a number of Blue Jersey accounts with which to post comments along the same theme.

So there you have it! A woman who is a proven liar is calling me a liar. After much thoughtful consideration, I think I'll choose to believe...me.

P.S. Thank you for the phenomenal response my book has received! We hit #3 on Amazon's political books list and #18 among non-fiction books, but predictably, no TV yet. So you are my source for getting the message out there. It is only $10. Please pick up a copy and continue to make sure The Real McCain is exposed for all to see.

Comments

[4wehttam]

I'd love to see you on TV promoting your book. We need to start attacking McBush.

Hillary is too busy kissing up to McBush, attacking Barack and trying to steal the nomination, and Barack is too busy trying to defend himself from her vile and duplicitous repug style attacks.

[DHeil]

dear cliff:

i agree with the points you are making, but i get distracted by all the self plugging for your book. isn't enough to make your points and then provide a single line at the bottom referring to the fact you are the "author of such and such"?

As the old expression says, "your plugging is so loud, i can't hear a word you say."

[Buddhabman]

Get Schecter on Radio America. The Don Rickles of Punditry. One of my favorites, as good as Stewart and Colbert.

What does it take to get him back on TV, particularly on CNN, he can help Roland Martin who is at least trying to provide balance. Kudos to John King, Jeffrey Toobin and the other ladies on the panel from time to time. Just got to get rid of Wolf.

[wagadog]

At first glance, I thought the opening line was "Another week, more posteriors to report on" implying that McCain is an ass.

So I read on...

[HeevenSteven]

Someone got to the video already; it's gone.

[HeevenSteven]

It's back!

[Madampotential]

Also,

I just heard Scarborough aay Obama accuse Obama of calling Americans bigots b/c of his americans are bittier b/c of immigartion comment,. Cann someone please point out that John McCain called his republican colleagues racist b/c they disagreed with his immigration bill on the Hugh Hewitt Show.

fron townhalldotcom

When Santorum says that "we’re looking at the media trying to make Barack Obama the president, and make John McCain the shill for him," and "I think they know that John McCain can’t win this election," he is exactly on target. I can't find audio clipp but he also said McCAin called them racist.

When Santorum says of McCain that on "the environment, he’s absolutely terrible. He buys into the complete left wing environmentalist movement in this country," he is speaking from Republican Caucus experience.

When Santorum says that about the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill that "John McCain was the guy who was working with Ted Kennedy to drive it down our throats, and lectured us repeatedly about how xenophobic we were, lectured us, us being the Republican conference, about how wrong we were on this, how we were on the wrong side of history," he was there, heard those lectures

[Madampotential]

If the GOP tries to use Wright on Obama I hope l wing 527s don't hesistate to use the incidents in the book against McCain in TV ads... No woman will ever vote for a man that calls his wife these names or assaults people in congress. This is crazy unacceptable behavior and I hope to see it in a left wing TV ad near me during the general election.

A NY congressman lost his seat in 2006 b/c there was an ad about him assaulting his wife.

[bogananda666]

McCain wouldn't even protect his own family in 2000 from the abuse and insults of the Bush gang. Additionally, he's a war criminal for bombing Vietnamese civilians and a traitor for violating the UCMJ, Uniform Code of Military Justice. By not protecting his family, while claiming to protect the universe, is abuse by McCain because he lets his abuse be by the proxy of the Bush gang.

[gonavy]

McCain will not use Wright against Obama. The 527s will. There is no live person or any video of McCain calling his wife those names, so your premise is moot.

This woman has every intention to vote for McCain.

[oldpotsmuggler]

I mean, I have nothing against you writing anything you want about McCain, but it's still astounding to me that a great number of people are uninformed enough about him to need the information you are providing. A standard ordinary run of the mill Republic is not going to get this country out of a pile of problems caused, exacerbated, etc. by standard ordinary run of the mill Republic politics and politiicans. Life doesn't get much more elementary than that.

[desmirl]

And the truth shall make you free. (Along with being a target for right-wing smears.)

[moderate1]

Always the victim eh? I've got to tell you, if I was a liberal, I think that would really start to wear on my psyche. How does one always think they are getting victimized and still have even a shred of self-respect? Maybe you don't...

Anyway, back to the point, so this guy writes a book attacking John McCain's personal life and everyone is shocked...SHOCKED that John McCain's camp calls it trash journalism? Seriously folks, if I were to tell you that I had "thoroughly vetted, 100% credible, yet anonymous sources" who all claimed that Howard Dean routinely has Ted Kennedy over so they can rub mayonaise on each other (could be true actually), you're reaction would be "let's not question it. After all he claims to have 100% credible anonymous sources!" Yes, I'm certain that would be your reaction. Actually forget the sexy Dean-Kennedy image for a second. If any conservative claimed to have sources, such as our friend here claims to have, that said Barack Obama calls Michelle Obama the "c"-word, you would assume its true? If you said yes, then you, my victimized friend, are a liar.

And to the guy that posted this insightful piece, are you so fragile that you need to come to the Huffington Post to describe your dismay at the fact a McCain staffer called you out for writing a book critical of John McCain? What did you expect?