The Coming Storm (or, why McCain as Nominee is Great for Democrats)

Several weeks ago, I was clicking through John McCain's presidential campaign website. In the "Events" section I found a listing for a June 13 Townhall Meeting in Pemberton, New Jersey; I decided to attend.

McCain did not pick me out of the crowd to ask a question on live TV, but I was able to speak with him as the event wound down.

This is how it went:

Right after the speech, I knew McCain would work the rope line. Since I was in the front row, it only took me about three steps to get there.

I spoke loudly:

"Senator McCain - I noticed you aren't wearing your flag lapel-pin. May I give you mine?"

McCain: "Yes, sir, you can" (what else was he going to say? - he really wasn't wearing a flag pin.)

now I had him front and center...

"Senator, I spent four years in the Marines"

McCain: "Thank you for your service."

"Oh, no sir, thank you for yours. I have a feeling this is as close as I will ever come to pinning a medal on you." (said as I'm fastening the lapel pin) "Senator - you know our motto is Semper Fidelis - always faithful?"

McCain: "Oh yes, I do"

"Well have you always been faithful to Cindy McCain?"

Deer-in-the-mother-fucking-headlights.

McCain: "Oh no... that's not what I'm going to talk about."

"Have you been faithful to your wife? You won't answer? C'mon - how 'bout a little of that straight talk?"

(crowd beginning to get angry - hissing)

McCain: "Young man, I will tell you that I have a son serving in Iraq in the Marines."

"Yes - I know. I know a lot about you. Have you cheated on Cindy McCain? Why won't you answer?"

McCain turned away.

(All of the aforementioned was caught on film and microphone by the networks. As far as I know, it has not been released and probably won't be. [When I asked Senator Allen - after the macaca incident - if he ever used the word "nigger" and why he kept a Confederate Flag and noose in his office, the NBC camera guy caught the whole exchange. It, to this day, has never aired in its entirety. The only reason I know it exists is that the video (without the sound) was shown to provide context to the later incident in which Allen's goons threw me to the ground.])

Of course, I could have asked any number of other questions. I had thought of a few:

"Senator: there's been a lot of media chatter about Barack Obama having difficulty wooing women voters that formerly supported Hillary Clinton. The unspoken assumption is that they will cross over and vote for you. Do believe this assumption holds water considering the fact that you left your first wife - a former swimsuit model - after she was disfigured in a car accident and put on a few pounds?"

"Senator: You've pushed back against the assertion that you want to stay in Iraq for the next hundred years. You've said that as long as we aren't taking casualties, a presence like that in Korea or Germany is fine with you. You've said the surge is working, that casualties are down, that we are winning the war in Iraq...

In the end, it sounds to me like you are saying that if we win the war in Iraq, if we aren't taking casualties... we stay... (after all, according to you, bringing the troops home isn't important...)

But...

If we get our asses handed to us in Iraq - if we suffer a lot of casualties - we must win the war, so... we stay...

You haven't shared with the American people what conditions must prevail for American troops to come home. Can you set forth the conditions you would require to pull all combat and combat support troops out of Iraq?"

I chose to forgo these questions in favor of the one I asked because once I decided to attend the event, I reached out to contacts in Washington for advice. After several conversations, a pattern emerged.

Not long ago, the New York Times reported the story of McCain's relationship with the sultry lobbyist, Vicki Iseman. McCain surrogates furiously denounced the story, but oddly, John McCain never brought it up.

As I made the rounds in Washington, several people mentioned the story. A theme developed. None would go on the record, but more than one suggested that fidelity in the McCain marriage was not a priority for either partner. I was told that reporters know a lot more than they let on, but they are reticent about bringing it up.

After chewing on the situation for a while, I decided to ask McCain a question about fidelity for two reasons.

The first has to do with raw politics. I don't believe for a second that John McCain will beat Barack Obama in November. Obama draws tens of thousands to his rallies; McCain is lucky if a thousand people show up for his. Barack has a cash machine that shames anything that came before it. McCain's campaign can barely afford the gas for his Straight Talk Express. Barack is inspiring, McCain is tiring...

But...

Down-ticket races need to be considered as well. Again, almost nobody doubts that Democrats will pick up a substantial number of seats in both houses of Congress. The pressing question is how many seats will flip. Will Democrats get to 60 seats in the Senate?

Every election has its close races. In Virginia, Webb beat Allen by fewer than 10,000 votes. Many, many House seats were determined by fewer than 5,000 votes. Every single vote counts.

I've seen analysis that the evangelical Christian community constitutes 30% of the Republican base. These fundamentalist voters drove the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Republicans are more than capable of reading polls; they knew that the majority of Americans just wanted to MoveOn... Republicans found themselves between a rock and a hard place. The impeachment route made them look partisan and petty to the majority of Americans, but their base wanted it more than anything else...

They decided to dance with who brung 'em. Evangelicals elected them so evangelicals would get their scalp. And Clinton was impeached. (McCain voted in favor of impeachment).

McCain is already on thin-ice with evangelicals. James Dobson won't take his calls. John Hagee's followers still smart over McCain's condemnations. He famously disparaged Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell in the 2000 campaign and he renounced mega-church Pastor Rob Parsely this cycle. McCain's support of embryonic stem-cell research, limited environmental protections and campaign finance reform have each generated withering criticism from the religious right.

The last thing the Republican paryy needs is a John McCain adultery problem.

Check that.

The second to last thing Republican party needs is a John McCain adultery problem. The last thing they need is a John McCain cuckold problem.

And the buzz in Washington is that he's got one.

The second reason I decided to ask McCain about adultery has to do with the way the press has treated the issue. That's the topic of another post, coming soon.

Comments

[snarkopolitan]

Don't like it. He stoops to conquer.

[Incredulous]

There's a certain amount of satisfaction to be gained by beating them at their own game.

[Liberoservative]

Yes there is....

I love it!

We Swiftboat with TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!

They Swiftboat with LIES!!!!

There is a HUGE difference there..... and the moral high ground..... :)

DEM 526''s get to work!

[bbbear]

True.

[pithy]

We are in the fight of our lives to wrest our country away from the dangerous, obnoxious, truly moronic neocons - was it Stalin who said Fascism will arrive wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross? Well, that's where we are today - at the brink of no return.

As a Democrat, I'm not comfortable down in the muck - but I'm willing to go there, to do anything, to get our country back.

I'd much prefer the high road - but I'm seriously worried that road will lead to another Repug administration.

[punkingale]

I believe Sinclair Lewis said that first about fascism.

[bbbear]

Reluctantly, I fully agree.

[noneIn2008]

We can not afford for McCain to win. But, DO NOT underestimate the enemy. The history of war is replete with cases where the stronger force gets whooped by an inferior force by underestimating the danger of the inferior force. The largest current threat to the Huff Obamniacs is this arrogance. You don't understand the horrible threat of an inferior force, they are actually more dangerous. Never underestimate the depths to which the McCain camp will sink to try to win. Eternal vigilance is required.

[berkawoo]

I agree with noneIn2008. In My view The DNC and the Obama campain continue to underestimate what the thugs behind the McCain camp will stoop to. The thugs I am refering to specifically are that nefarious bunch from the PNAC. That bunch is still around. The DNC underestimates how powerful they still are along with the conservative think tanks such as the Heritage foundation. Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld and their ilk can still do alot of damage and have more influence and power than is realized. Add to the mix the powerful media shills such as Fox News O'Rielly Hannity and the Fox News boss Roger
Ailes along with Murdock. Then you have the radio broadcast shills like Limbaugh, Savage, Glenn Beck and the NeoCon poster thug Ann Coulter. I also believe the good folks at HuffPo don't realize how powerful and amoral the above mentioned are. Wake up!

[PuritanDescendant]

Fine enough. I'm all for hitting back hard if someone hits first. But not with suckerpunches and groin kicks. There is so much fact-based material to work with for McCain, there is no need to resort to inuendo.

[VicksieDo]

I disagree with this kind of grandstanding, attention grabbing stunt. It's time to move on from this kind of politics, fun as it can sometimes be, and discuss issues, where McCain STILL LOSES to Barack, and that is how Barack wants us to behave as well.

[bbbear]

Unfortunately it seems the majority of Voters are either unable or unwilling to "hear" the issues... But they sure seem to love their smut... So, to most of us, if the McCain's have an open marriage, so what? It's their business.
But since the repubs are so hypocritical regarding "family values" then we'd simply be more spineless fools such as Gore in Fla, etc., not to use it against them...

[Liberal2]

"...So, to most of us, if the McCain's have an open marriage, so what? It's their business....." But, but, but, it will sully the White House. At least that's what Gingrich said it did ten years ago.

[StandUpAmerica08]

I did the happy dance when McCain won the nomination.

It's like taking your children to the park and finding a-zillion-a-trillion-a-billion dollars......

[bbbear]

I hope you're right... But look at the polls... That lying SOB ing fascist is still only running 5 to 6 points behind Obama!

[Kire]

I clicked on the edit menu in my Internet Explorer, then I clicked on Find, then I typed in the word "evidence" and it says "text not found".

[anon004]

I'm not is favor of this. Unless there is some illegality involved (e.g., abuse of children or women), or there is some serious hypocrisy (i.e., calling for legislation that discriminates against LGBT because of so-called family values while engaging in these behaviors on the down-low), I just don't want or need to know. None of us is perfect in our private lives, and I don't think anyone but masochists will be willing to run for public office unless we agree that some things are private and off-limits. I support Obama because he seems to be above this sort of attack (while fiercely defending himself and his family when others engage in these attacks). I think he gives up the high ground any time he doesn't stick to that. I am perhaps naive, but I do want politics to be about something more than character assassination.

[janeb]

I would agree with you if the republicans played the same game as the democrats. Let this election be decided on issues, not character assassination. But they don't play that game. They play dirty and the press of this nation helps them. Why? I do not understand. The press knew George Bush was a spoiled rotten brat. Yet they helped him get elected. Al Gore tried everything to play fair and run on issues. I remember both he and Kerry begging people to not vote against their own economic interests. But everyone would rather have a beer with Bush. The man's an alcoholic, he can't drink. Look what a stupid beer got us.
Now Obama and his supporters are supposed to stand by and let McCain use his surrogates (FOX & CO) to attack him, his wife and his advisors unfairly. If Obama doesn't fight back he will be accused of being a wuss. If he does fight back then he is a hypocrit. What a choice. If his supporters just tell the truth about McCain then they are bad. I think republicans want us to just lay down and give the election to them. Not this time.

[candyc]

We need to help Obama. Please start writing to all the media outlets, demanding that McCain receive the same scrutiny as Obama gets.

[bbbear]

YeeeeHaaaaw! You da boss! This is war! This is the life or death of our country. Give `em hell and don't stop until Obama stomps the tar out of McSame the fascist neo cons he represents.

[JimR]

What many nonpartisan Americans will think, if...

- they see Republicans playing dirty and Democrats taking the high road: "I've had enough of sleazy politics. Democrats are actually offering hope that things may change. I'm voting Democrat."

- they see BOTH Republicans and Democrats playing dirty: "They all suck. Democrats have nothing new to offer. I might as well go with the experienced guy."

[Johnnn]

I agree. This kind of ambush is dishonorable. This is McCain's business and I don't care.

[devadasi]

Johnnn, Dishonorable? Do you remember how veteran John Kerry was swiftboated and lost the election? Obama doesn't have to get down and dirty but his supporters will and should. We want to win....We want Obama in the White House by whatever method it takes. Plain & Simple.

[Sneedsnood]

Your innocence is sweet and sad. Wouldn't we all love to live in a country where honor and decency were justly rewarded! Unfortunately, since the advent of Ronald Reagan and his ilk, politics has been about nothing but who can fight the dirtiest. And that is why the Democrats will, tragically, find a way to lose another election -- or so I fear after reading some of the above comments. Some of us are old enough to remember the Kennedy years, when one felt PROUD to be an American. I haven't felt that in decades.

[VicksieDo]

I agree 100%

[rosal]

This is why Kerry lost. They treated a war hero like a clown. So for you, they can do and say anything, but we have to keep silent. Right? This is not character assassination. This is one episode in the life of McCain. Do you react the same way when they smear Obama?

[bbbear]

You're absolutely correct! These A holes want us to roll over and play the game with one set of rules for Fascist repubs and another for spineless democrats.. Well, for a change democrats such as yourself are not taking it anymore.
Lead on!

[Sioen]

Thank you. We are all better than this. Anyone who thinks we need to play this way -- please go join the Republicans.

Because if history has taught us anything, it's that the means become the ends. If you engage in corrupt behavior to achieve a higher end, you are corrupt and you never achieve your higher end. You lose.

The Clintons showed us that in stark, certain terms. Were you all asleep, or are you just being ignorant now?

[bbbear]

What planet do you live on?

[tcatt57]

The GOP, Bush, and McCain

The GOP its representatives, John McCain & George Bush, have abandoned Democratic values, permitted their alliance with corrupt corporations in the; Oil, Insurance & Drug Industries; to influence legislation and policy based on those industries interest, it enabled a wealthy class to prey upon our entire middle class, causing the loss of millions of homes through Banking policies created by Phil Graham, John McCains economic advisor, and allowed a war policy based on lies to protect oil company assets. Now the GOP continues with more lies; misrepresenting that the surge is working. They fail to mention a major component the policy in Iraq that pays out millions of dollars each month to the different terrorist factions not to fight , and pays millions more each month to other terrorists so they don’t steal the materials and allow work to be performed for ongoing construction projects. The added military part of the surge only partially stopped the fighting. The embezzlement and outright fraud of millions of taxpayer dollars every month has a lot to do with it! The GOP has become a rogue entity doing anything to sustain the oil companies assets, except follow Democratic principles. The soldiers that died in WWII would be ashamed. Eisenhower would say "I told you to watch the Industrial Military Complex!" The GOP will bomb Iran, Iraq, or allow a bomb in Los Angeles to continue to overthrow our Democracy, which is hanging by a single vote by the Supreme

[bbbear]

Yep, and most democrats, as represented here, will merely continue to wring their fat, soft white hands and moan, "Ain't it awful!" and, "Well, we're above all that!" At the same time sticking their heads in the sand as their politicians join with the fascists and sell our country to the highest bidder.

[xhibi]

Mike, good work but, why oh why didn't you have someone of your own videotape the event? Next time please do bring someone with a camera along to tape it and put in on Youtube.

I hope people can inspired by you, grab a friend with a camera, and go attend McW events :-)

[bbbear]

There you go! Spoken like a person with some real guts who truly cares what happens to this country!

[TooDarkMark]

If the situation was switched, there is no doubt the Republicans would be attacking Obama. Just the nature of Democrats, especially Obama's campaign, to not look petty. If they didnt mind being petty, Bush might be in impeachment proceedings.

And you got to love Hillary supporters for McCain. Not only is he against the rights of a woman to choose, and for the war in Iraq to continue without any benchmarks, HE VOTED TO HAVE HER HUSBAND IMPEACHED. Hilarious if you ask me. How short sighted can you possibly be.

[idabamaho]

I have no idea why McCain wants to stand next to Obama and answer question. He'll get slaughtered.

[bbbear]

He wants it only when his staff have chosen the guests.

[paragrafH]

Oh goodie! What a pleasure to read! Well done, sir! You continue to serve your country with imagination and courage. Thanks.

[enoughalready]

It seemed the press couldn't get enough of Bill Clinton's gal pals but when it comes to McCain they simply will not report it if they know for a fact it is happening.

McCain has the press in the palm of his hand. He can do no wrong and I really wonder why the press covers for him. The religious right should know who they are voting for. The GOP values - what a crock.

[surferbuoy]

Just for the record not ALL Republicans are from the religious right anymore then all Democrates belong to the Hollywood liberal left...just some food for thought. Most Americans have opens minds...guess some of you have forgotten the BH obama says we are all Americans FIRST.

[GLaB]

This is utterly idiotic and hypocritical. McCain's skirt-chasing is no more relevant than Clinton's was and belongs well OUT of the presidential campaign.

[devadasi]

GLAB, No Way! We will use whatever it takes to get Obama elected. Get used to it. We will not allow Obama to get swiftboated. Plain & Simple. The repungnuts have take the gloves off and so will we.

[Sioen]

Then we have already lost our democracy, and you are as repugnant as the Republicans. There is a difference between not allowing Obama to be unfairly attacked, and unfairly attacking someone yourself. If you can't see that, you have no morals.

[rosal]

Dream on. O. can take the high road, like he always does. But, we don't have to. Repugs like to play dirty games, we will do the same. Repugs better get used to it. We we won't act like sheep. NOT THIS TIME!

[PuritanDescendant]

I so agree with you. I am so ready to saturate the airwaves with McCain flip-flops, stories about his first marriage, or stuff on Parsley/Hagee (McCain can renouce their endorsements, but he can never undo calling Parsley a great american leader ... that's a McCain judgement he is stuck with).

But what Stark did is the moral equivalent of lying, because there is no basis for asking the question. The palette is so full of true facts to paint McCain attacks there is no need to resort to sheer thuggery.

[axt113]

Obama is the one who should stay above the fray, its up to us the dem supporters to get into the muck and bring down McCain in any way we can

[AuntSally]

Mr. Stark,

Your heart's in the right place, but you wasted your question.

For the reasons you listed and many more, McCain is in serious trouble. As a result, we know what's coming: a colossal muck storm, unequaled in scale, unleashed by a desperate and dying party. The more mud they throw, the more they make the point about the fundamental choice: yesterday or tomorrow. Above all, we need to stay out of the gutter. Marital infidelity is the gutter. I don't care that he cheats; I care that his leadership would be disastrous for the people of this nation and those around the world. It is a mistake for Obama and his supporters to focus efforts on the moronic segment of the voting public (read "evangelicals"). I say forget them, they make themselves more irrelevant every day.

[peterdangit]

I understand where you're coming from. I'm torn between turning the other cheek and a tooth for a tooth. From a purely idealistic view you are right. However, reality taught us that the Democrats lost quite a few elections because they chose the high road. I hope you're right this time that choosing the high road will be enough. We'll see, but I know for a fact that the Republicans wouldn't think twice.

[devadasi]

peterdangit. Let Obama take the high road. His supporters don't have to and we won't.
John Kerry was swiftboated. Remember the repugnuts will do whatever it takes to win. We have to do the same and more. Think of the reprecussions if McCain wins. It would be a nightmare.

[surferbuoy]

Republicans wouldn't think twice...& how do you know this for a "fact"? All statements should be followed with proof...I know that is a strange concept for some here, but it would be interesting to see proof to some of these outlandish statements that have been made on this site

[Sioen]

The Democrats lost because they didn't respond forcefully enough to attacks (and a myriad of other reasons) -- NOT because they failed to engage in repugnant attacks of their own.

One thing doesn't equal the other, peter. Don't fall for this Clinton-style politics. If you play, everyone loses in the end.

[JimR]

"However, reality taught us that the Democrats lost quite a few elections because they chose the high road. "

Oh what a bunch of B.S. They had weak candidates! Dukakis? Kerry? Even Gore, as much as we all like him now, ran a godawful campaign.

In Gore and Kerry's case, they should have responded more quickly and forcefully to attacks, but that doesn't mean they or we would have been well-served by throwing their own feces back at the GOP candidate.