This is Not a Gaffe -- This is a Pattern

This is not a gaffe. This is a pattern. John McCain saying that he is "not too concerned" when troops come home is part of a clear pattern of statements and actions by McCain that should cause real concern. He is developing quite the list:

1. Nitpicking -- Randy Scheunemann statement defending McCain's confusion over the level of US forces -- he was off by tens of thousands -- as being "so miniscule, I'm not sure it even rises to the level of nitpicking."
2. GI Bill -- McCain was unwilling to vote for the GI Bill - in fact he didn't even show up for the vote.
3. Academic Argument -- McCain said we'll look back on Iraq as an "academic argument."
4. 100 years -- McCain said that he wasn't concerned if U.S. troops were to stay in Iraq for 100 years or 1000, or 10,000 years.

If a progressive politician were to say what John McCain has said, the right and the mainstream media would be up in arms. Will he get a pass again?

Comments

[RickO]

12:47 PM on 06/11/2008

GOP Thinking: Who cares what McCain says. We're just going to steal the election again anyway.

"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything. " - Joseph Stalin

[peterg76]

12:25 PM on 06/11/2008

I suspect the media will continue to support and enable McCain, but with luck the crypto-journalists will so destroy their own credibility that people will start to pick up that reality is more or less the opposite of whatever appears in the media.

[MoeB]

12:16 PM on 06/11/2008

Of course he will. I'm not sure why the media loves this guy so much, or refuse to really go after him, but my guess would be because they like him as a person. That's great, and all, but the MSM owes the public more than that. I think McCain's "100 year" strategy slip-up is of far greater significance than HRC's Bosnia flap, which got a ton of coverage. After the 100 year thing, he just said that bringing home our troops is not really a priority of his! W.T.F.??? Why is this not headline news right now on every major network and newsite??? Why aren't reporters challenging him on these issues when they ask questions? The democratic primary soap-opera is over, and it is time to expose this flip-flopper!

[hopeless277]

12:04 PM on 06/11/2008

I believe that the 'journalists' who attended his BBQ all signed a pledge not to critize him in public. But man, was that great BBQ! Definately worth it.

[bgregs]

12:02 PM on 06/11/2008

Will he get a pass again?

Of course he will get a pass again. I just hope that it's less of a pass than has been in the last few months. At least I can rest secure in the knowledge that Senator Obama, not having to face attacks on TWO sides now, will at least TRY to bring it up, and will not rest until he either succeeds or completely fails!!