Senator John Complain

Wow.

So, Senator McCain goes on national television and lies to a pastor, pretending that he was in a "cone of silence" holding room during the Saddleback Forum where he couldn't hear the questions that he would be asked that were also being posed to Senator Obama, gets called on it, and then lodges an official complaint with NBC News because Andrea Mitchell was one of the many reporters to report on it?

To quote Grandpa Simpson, the Senator's alter ego, "Oh, Bitch Bitch Bitch..."

First off, let me tackle this insane notion that Andrea Mitchell is someone in the bag for Senator Obama, because she dared to report on what was happening. Anyone who watches MSNBC knows that Mitchell has a virtual bat-phone to Carly Fiorina, the Senior McCain advisor, and has her or other McCain surrogates on many more times a day than Obama people. Secondly, it wasn't even a month ago that Mitchell was under heavy criticism from the left for making the contention that Senator Obama was asked "fake questions" while in the Middle East. I don't say any of this to complain about Mitchell, just to point out that she's managed to make both sides angry, which, to me, says that she's been playing it down the middle.

Secondly, let's note here that the McCain campaign OPENLY ADMITS that he wasn't in any "cone of silence" at the forum, but does not say whether the candidate was passed on any info, on his way to the event. (Oh, and by the way, if you dare ask, the campaign will say you're questioning a former POW, which is relevant... how?)

Finally, let's get back to the real issue here -- John McCain lied to and embarrassed a pastor on national television. Pastor Warren made clear in his opening, and reiterated to CNN's Rick Sanchez, that he was under the belief that Senator McCain had abided by the agreed upon rules, and was in his so-called "cone of silence" when the show started. McCain let Warren believe that, until afterwords. That Warren is trying to salvage the legitimacy of the forum by giving McCain a pass is irrelevant.

The fact still is that Senator McCain and his campaign lied to a pastor, by agreeing to rules and breaking them, and not telling him until after the fact.

Sorry, but that's news and deserves at least a mention, so those who viewed the event know all the facts surrounding it.

Senator Complain's whining not withstanding, of course.

Comments

[navy62802]

Oh yeah, and while he was supposed to be reading his flight training manuals, he was instead diving into a copy of The Rise and Fall of Rome! Now if that doesn't smack of irresponsibility, I don't know what does! I mean come on people. This tiny example is only one of many, so how, pray tell, is he going to be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces if he doesn't even have the responsibility to learn how to fly his own plane?!? If he gets elected in November, I hope the USA doesn't crash and burn like his plane in Vietnam!

[navy62802]

So let's go defeat evil!!! At least McCain was specific with his answers! I can't believe people have given him so much credit for his supposedly good responses. It befuddles me...I am befuddled.

[SoCalCatholic]

Rick Warren has millions of followers and was well-respected. It is relevant that he is giving McCain a pass on this fraudulent "cone of silence" baloney. Warren admitted to Rick Sanchez that McCain was 30 minutes late, approx. 2/3 of the way into the Obama interview. Warren to Larry King admitted to 10 minutes. I have no doubt McCain directly or indirectly was informed of the questions AND ANSWERS. Warren sold tickets, something like 5,000 at $500, $2.5 million? I'll bet he is laughing all the way to the bank!!

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

I saw with my own eyes. I know what happened. Why is the story over with? The man got an unfair boost. He actually showed an arrogance, a flippancy, as he answered questions HE'D BEEN PREPPED FOR! Journalists should still be asking hard questions and challenging evasive or incomplete answers. But there aren't any investigative reporters anymore.

[JoanAustinblack]

I agree with OpusUnder the Bed. McCain cheated and he lied. I don't know about you but I don't want a man like that anywhere near the White House. We've had enough of that the last 8 years. It's so frustrating to read the Huff post and get the skinny on the story behind the stories, but then no one has guts to report about it on cable news. Kieth Olberman comes the closest but how about CNN chiming in. Are people afraid they are going to go to hell if they expose an X POW for the lying hound that he is? McCain made up his own cross in the sand story or I should say plagarized it to suck up to Rick Warren and his innocent flock. His flock and he were hoodwinked and so were the American people. Trouble is only people like me and OpusUndertheBed and a handful of others hear the truth.And Andrea Mittchell probably the best in the business gets accused of being false and unfair.
that's scary. They'll probably call her a Nazi next.

[SoCalCatholic]

If Warren doesn't acknowledge his error in assuming McCain was sequestered, and if Warren doesn't apologize, it makes me wonder if he and his flock were "hoodwinked" or if he was part of the plan to do the hoodwinking.

[jazzman]

Here's the difficult part for Warren. Having blown it, he needs to stop defending or giving McCain a pass and just say, "I blew it. I'm sorry. I don't know if McCain took advantage or not but it should not have happened. I apologize to Barack Obama and to anyone who mistakenly thought, as I did, that there was no possibility of McCain having access to the questions."

That's all Rick. Be a man, confess your error, repent, and receive forgiveness. It's the Christian way.

[Mattjoe]

Having a Republican 'do well' in front of an audience of the evangelical right should be about as difficult as breaking an egg. In addition to his 'blinders on' yes/ no, mail-it-in 'directness' that has the Repug media shills praising his Red state appeal, he more so re-enforced the 'don't confuse me with the facts' response to Obama that he banks on the electorate doing as well.

Shock over McCain's alleged success and the collective 'patting on the head' by the media, (acting as if your grandfather had just won a game of shuffleboard, over your grandmother), is only outdone by its broader insignificance to the country.

[mmmd]

Has anybody asked the McCain camp why they were late?

[Forest]

McCain's emotional maturity seems stuck in adolescent mode which obviously appeals to those who've come to expect easy answers in a complex world.

[Americanium]

Lied to?? It was an agreed upon convenient event. WHy would Obama agree to appear before an audience that is hostile to him? What could he have possibly gained? Nada zilch nothing squat . What could he lose. Everything!!!.

No matter how he answered, they were bound to call his answers calculating. Why would anyone who want to see Obama win encourage such a forum?

[Kwaayesnama]

In my bible the fifth commandment reads simply and clearly: "Thou shalt not kill".
Rick Warren a imaginary man of God should have questioned John McCain and Barack Obama if invading a country in false pretenses and killing and maiming thousands if not millions of people is MURDER.

[Brillig]

It is a pity that America adopted the multiple choice method of testing. It makes people impatient with reading, conversing, and disseminating facts thoughtfully.

What they do is cram the subject then pick a number.

The sound bite is the the new multiple choice answer.

" Does evil exist and must we do with it - defeat it, confront it, coexist with it?"
A) Ignore it
B) Confront it strongly while realizing it also exists in our own best intentions
C) Defeat it and remember that evil is the Muslims so defeat them and we defeat evil
D) Hide from it.
E) Embrace it

Obama answered B

McCain answered C.

What is your answer?

[Forest]

Our nation is peddling backwards fast when its presidential candidates must grovel in a "public" forum for religious favor. Lions may be next.

[Otaku1031]

So McCain gets busted lying to a pastor on national television. Apparently the pastor propagated the lie by implying that McCain was in the building when he KNEW that he wasn't. Mr. Warren's credibility (along with McCain's) goes right down the drain. It gets reported by NBC, McCain cries foul and files a complaint. What was he complaining about - the facts being honestly reported? So much for the "Straight Talk Express".

Perhaps this is why the MSM won't go after McCain's lies and flips - who wants to hear this whining from a petulant crybaby every other day as his lies and contradictions are given some serious scrutiny. Obama needs to use this - highlight McCain's fear of the truth being told about his campaign.

[Grunty1]

I find it very strange that the Pastor didn't think to verify with his own eyes that Mc'Cain was in the 'cone' or that the audience (TV if not live) was not shown video of him in the 'cone'

That none of this happened, I can only assume that the Pastor is lying as well: he knew that Mc'Cain was not present or that it may have been pre-planned as such.

[mmmd]

The way Mccain was tossing out answers without even hearing the questions made me think he was coached to the eyeballs. Was that why he was late? They got their hands on the list of q's two hours before the forum started? Has the mcCain camp given any explanation while they were late?

[pakaal]

McCain was a prisoner of war, he doesn't have to answer questions like that. And don't bother responding to this comment, McCain was a prisoner of war, you're answers will be wrong anyway.

Oh, and did I mention McCain was a prisoner of war?

[plainthoughts]

thanks for the most frank and true statement issued about the fanatics who claim that they love god. They will never see beyond their hate filled minds. the same kind of tactics are used in other parts of the world to deny freedom to the masses. they don't believe in freedom of any kind other than the ones they want to impose upon you. beware of the fanatics they will cause the end of mankind.