“I’M MAD AS HELL . . . AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!”: How McCain Lost His Integrity in Dishonest Political Trick Against Romney
(Apologies to the film Network for borrowing the headline above . . . YouTube here–a great moment in cinematic history and worth the 4 minutes)
Much has been said on Romney blogs and elsewhere expressing outrage at McCain’s desperate tactic to dishonestly smear Gov. Romney’s stance on “timetables” and the Iraq war. It’s blatantly apparent that McCain only did this to bring the issue of “Iraq” back into the race. McCain knows (and has repeatedly admitted) that “the Economy” is not his strong point, and that he’ll lose to Romney in a head to head fight when that is the #1 issue. So, McCain’s solution is to invent a controversial position for his main rival that plays to his own strength. Pitiful politics at its worst.
I’ve heard this false “timetables” accusation once before (good old Huck), so I was initially willing to believe that McCain was maybe just going off of bad information–that he would correct the situation once he realized the context. But when Romney’s recommendation for a McCain apology was met with a “Romney should apologize to the troops for being willing to abandon them” (paraphrased) rebuttal I started getting downright angry.
When I realized that yesterday McCain said “My friends, I was there — he said he wanted a timetable for withdrawal” my anger turned to OUTRAGE!
Then on Meet the Press this morning, Tim Russert went softball on McCain on this issue with no follow-up, allowing McCain to repeat his position unchallenged with the follow-up of “please read on Senator” when Romney says that he would, like President Bush, veto any legislation setting timetables for Iraq. That’s either biased or shoddy journalism folks.
McCain is LYING! He’s inventing this pseudo-smear to bring back his preferred issue into the limelight . . . Iraq. Then I find out that, last year, McCain recommended a similar strategy (and his would have been PUBLIC . . . in contrast to Romney’s) of benchmarks that, if not met by a certain date, would lead to pulling out of Iraq before success was achieved!! This took my OUTRAGE to the next level . . . the “I’M MAD AS HELL! AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!” level.
Who’s with me here?
I’m sure every Romney supporter is at least outraged. Most may be outraged enough to make it harder for McCain to count on any significant support from Romney’s base if he were to get the nomination. I can tell you that I’m mad enough that I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES AND I’LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO INFLUENCE OTHERS TO WITHHOLD THEIR SUPPORT AND VOTES FROM HIM AS WELL. Romney has always supported the troops and the war, even while governing liberal Mass. For McCain to imply otherwise is sickening (McCain went further and actually implied that Romney’s position was the same as Hillary Clinton’s on timetables!).
Beyond Romney’s supporters “McCain Disdain” should be felt by every conservative and pro-Military American, who should view him with much less respect for dragging the American soldiers into this contrived controversy. Utterly shameless Senator McCain.
I know a lot of conservatives with influence see how dishonest McCain is being. But even the liberal MSM is calling this “scuffle” for Romney. This isn’t just a nuanced misunderstanding, this is dirty politics full of tricks and lies, and it’s pretty easy to see where the facts stand.
The evidence:
I’ve documented before how slanted the AP has been in their pro-McCain/anti-Romney bias.
So when the AP sides with Romney over McCain, you KNOW it’s iron clad and there’s no way for ANYONE to honestly see things from McCain’s point of view.
The Arizona senator stood before a crowd in Sun City, Fla., and said he was quoting Romney as favoring a ”timetable for withdrawal.” However, quotes circulated by McCain’s campaign didn’t show Romney making that comment.
. . .
By raising Iraq, McCain sought to shift the campaign in Florida back to his strength, national security, and away from Romney’s, the economy.
. . .
During the campaign stop later in Sun City, McCain clipped three words from a quotation of Romney’s last April, saying the former Massachusetts believed the country should set a ”timetable for withdrawal.”In an interview with ABC News last April, Romney never uttered those words
. . .
Romney aides labeled McCain’s charge ‘’stunningly false” in an e-mail to campaign reporters.
Other liberal sources that see McCain’s misleading dishonesty include the New York Times (yep, the same paper that just endorsed McCain again . . . and yes, McCain sought out that endorsement), and Time Magazine (yep, the same magazine that just ran an incredibly positive cover and story about McCain being the “Phoenix Rising” in the race).
And CNN legal analyst calls it right in the YouTube below:
Text here:
JEFF TOOBIN: Speaking of straight talk, no American politician has gotten more adoring press coverage than John McCain. But let’s be clear about what John McCain is doing about Mitt Romney. He’s lying. He’s lying about Mitt Romney’s position, no question about it. And you know I think that — this idea that Mitt Romney supports timetables, in fact most Americans support timetables to get out of Iraq, Mitt Romney doesn’t happen to be one of them. That’s really outrageous what McCain is doing bringing up this ancient interview and distorting it at the last minute so he doesn’t have to talk about the economy.
Among conservatives there’s plenty of displeasure with McCain’s tactic as well:
Brit Hume flat out said that “McCain was dishonest” on this issue on Fox News Sunday this morning. Hume said it TWICE! He was even exasperated that Chris Wallace was trying to present McCain’s side of it by rebutting (paraphrased) “Chris, as journalists we have a duty to try to present things accurately . . .”
Sean Hannity was railing on McCain for this tactic last night on a special Saturday edition of Hannity and Colmes. Expect more of it from Sean on his Radio and TV shows tomorrow (not to mention what Rush will have to say tomorrow!!)
“The Great One” Mark Levin, has seemed to make somewhat of a personal crusade out of this issue. See here, here, here, here, and here.
Center-Right influential blogger Ed Morrissey has plenty to say about the whole affair, but even his title “The Low Blow” pretty much sums it up. (BTW, he just endorsed Romney over at Captain’s Quarters)
Katherine Jean Lopez of the National Review has chimed in too.
Powerline’s Paul Mirengoff blast’s Lindsey Graham for trying to defend McCain (and mis-characterize Romney) on this issue.
Bill Bennett (a strong McCain apologist and friend) said on CNN that McCain’s Iraq hit on Romney [was] “below the belt” and said “honor has been McCain’s watchword” — he should admit that was wrong to do.
Mark Steyn gets in on the act at NRO’s “The Corner” by calling McCain’s petty attacks unseemly for a candidate trying to give the impression that he always “takes the high road of honor”
Hugh Hewitt presents the Romney Campaign’s defense.
Andy McCarthy also chimes in with a little sarcasm directed McCain’s way (saying he should follow his own Campaign Finance Reform guidelines and not drop baseless bombshells within 30 days of an election)
By contrast, Huckabee (on Fox News Sunday) said that McCain has NEVER been dishonest, and sided with the Senator’s opinion that Romney really did support a timetable for withdrawl. Big surprise there, eh?
If Romney survives this tag-team from his two main GOP rivals in addition to the nearly incessant negative media coverage (present topic excluded) he’ll really be “The Resilient One”–a nominee we can put up against the Dems and their MSM machine with no fear of whether he can survive such a media/DNC onslaught.
Jeff Fuller
Update: Adding to the sources above, Kyle Hampton’s post adds some more confirmatory evidence of McCain’s lie.
Quin Hillyer: John McCain today flat-out lied about Gov. Romney’s position on the troop “surge,” etc. This is no surprise. McCain’s “straight talk express” has been anything but straight for quite some time now. He has been making false claims about what his position on immigration was just last summer. He has been making false claims about why he opposed Bush’s tax cuts. He has been making false claims about Romney’s stance on “torture.” He has made misleading (not exactly false, but certainly misleading) representations about Giuliani’s position on the line item veto. He has misrepresented his helpfulness on judicial nominations. And I know I am forgetting some of the other things he has not been exactly straight about.Allahpundit: Yeah, pretty egregious. He never said he “wanted” to withdraw or that he wanted a date set, and it’s patently clear he doesn’t want any timetables publicly announced.
Kathryn Jean Lopez: It’s a reminder — like the McCain campaign’s dishonest line of attack this weekend — that as admirable McCain is as both a hero and a politician, he is not irreproachable even on national-security issues. McCain is fond of saying he’d rather lose a political campaign than a war; he now seems to be swimming close to using the war to win a political campaign in the most dishonest of ways. It’s conduct unbecoming a man we all respect.
Marc Ambinder: Then he was asked to justify his contention that Romney once supported a withdrawal timetable for Iraq. (I wrote this morning that McCain “stretched” history with the remark, and a few moments before this particular question received a stern talking to by two McCain aides and one reporter.)
David Freddoso: McCain’s unfair stab at Romney this weekend may not cost him anything. The endorsement from Florida’s popular governor, Charles Crist, came at just the right time to bury the item in the local news. And if he does win the nomination, this moment may not even be remembered. Unfortunately, the truth is always too complicated for a quick explanation.
January 27th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Thank you Jeff, you are not alone. This correct information can be found elsewhere. I am with you, NEVER a vote from me for McCain.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Jeff, My wife and I would never vote for McCain because of this issue and many others. John McCain does not have the integrity or temprament to hold the highest office of the land. Senator Thad Cocharan summed it up very well speaking about his endorsement of Mitt Romney over John McCain. The Senator stated “The thought of John McCain as President sends a cold chill down my spine”.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Doesn’t McCain remind you of Rumpelstiltskin, hopping around like a mad little elf? How can anybody take this guy seriously, who managed to run his entire campaign into the ground back in July, and now is expecting us to trust him with our money? What a joke he is. I will be proudly voting for Obama in 2008 if republicans are stupid enough to nominate this numbskull.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
McCain is now slime in my eyes and I will never vote for him, no mater what. He is a liar and a hypocrite. He says he is a “candidate of integrity” but in reality he is a coniving, truth distorting, smear artist. Romney is a far better man than John McCain or any other politician running in this race. I am hoping above all hopes that Romney can see this through and win this nomination and the presidency. We need his leadership, integrity, values, and judgement to lead this country the right way. Thank you Jeff. I, too, share you passionate anger towards that man from Arizona. This was a great post.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I once thought that John McCain was simply unfit to be the Republican nominee for President because of his past positions and alliances constantly at odds with conservatives. After this recent incident, I believe McCain is unfit to serve in the U.S. Senate.
McCain’s lying about Gov. Romney’s position on timetables and benchmarks for progress in Iraq was bad enough, but then stating that Mitt owed our servicemen and women an apology is one of the most despicable and dishonorable acts I’m seen in 35 years observing politics.
McCain has lost my respect and vote forever. If we have the terrible misfortune of McCain as the GOP nominee in 2008, that line on my ballot will remain blank regardless of the Democrat opposing him. McCain doesn’t belong in the Republican Party, and with this most recent demonstration of his lack of character I don’t believe he is worthy of the honor of serving in the U.S. Senate.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Don’t republicans think it just a bit odd that he is campaigning with, of all people, Lieberman, of the Gore/Lieberman team of 2000? I can’t believe it! It’s shocking, and yet people are turning a blind eye to this. Let’s all just kidnap Mitt Romney from this race and create our own country.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Well folks, as a 30 year navy veteran, the former sailor (McCain) embarasses the hell out of me. I would never lie and expect the same in return from my shipmates and brothers/sisters in arms. I have contacted the Senator’s campaign and told him in no uncertian terms, he’ll never get my vote. I quite simply, cannot back a liar. I couldn’t let it go, so, I contacted the campaign. My additional question to the senator is a simple one, how on earth can he face any member of the military, look them in the eye, and tell them he wasn’t lying? He can’t. In addition, I personally could not face my mother or father having them KNOW that I lied about something as important as “timetables” especially since he grew up in a military family? Code, Honor, Integrity? What happened to them Sen. McCain? Have you abandoned them for the sake of POLITICS? You my friend, are no longer the “warrior” you once were, you’ve morphed to your disadvantage, you are now a politican. Very very sad day for us all, and a disgraceful one also…………Boats
January 27th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Excellent post and comments. I replied to a commenter to my post on the same subject that I would have hoped that McCain had conducted himself based on Gen MacArthur’s motto: DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
I don’t think McCain realizes the seriousness of his blatant lie. I used to have a soft spot for the old soldier. This episode, unless he apologizes, has lost any support whatsoever.
January 27th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Thank you Jeff for expressing what most of us are feeling. Unbelievable low ball from McCain. Heretical or not, I have now added McCain’s name to the list of “Republicans” I simply can no longer vote for (Huckabee was added to the list last month.) I’m so upset by this antic that I would vote dem over republican should McCain get the nomination. We can only hope the media treats this fairly and exposes it for what it is - a flat-out lie.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
P.O.W? Now…who cares? I used to. I actually had respect for his service and sacrifice. Now he’s just burning all of that good character credit with me. Next to Huckabee, this guy is one of the most devious, weasely little men I’ve ever seen. If Mitt doesn’t make it, I’m for Obama.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
The prophet of the Church Mitt Romney is a member of has just died, Gordon B. Hinckley. I am sure this will deeply affect Mitt.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thank you for this post! My husband and I both lost sleep over this last night, we are just so incredibly disgusted! We are hoping and praying that people can see through the liberal media and the McCain/Huck liars. Dick Morris is on Fox right now saying that Romney can’t win against Hillary, ugh! I’ve become so disgusted with Fox, too, and they used to be decent. How many time have they interviewd Crist over the endorsement, not to mention their constant scroll quoting McCains lie. I’m so sick of it all. Will good prevail??? I hope so, as I look at my 3 children. It’s hard enough having to put up with the dems, but I’ve lost faith in my state’s Repub voters (in IA) and now the Repubs supporting McCain and Huck are so sad. If Mitt doesn’t make it, we will never vote for McCain and my party support is going to be greatly diminished.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
If in November we vote for John McCain who holds many of the same liberal positions as the democrats we will be doing it because we want to keep the White House, no matter what. By placing our desre for winning at all costs over our principles then we are no better than the Clintons and we would deserve to loose them.
I am still confident this is not going to happen. Here in FL things seem to be trending Mitt’s way. I expect a victory this tuesday. If he wins FL he will the nomination. The other cash depleted candidates including McCain will not be able to keep up with Mitt.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am
McAmnesty has got to go! I have gotten to the point that I cannot even look at a picture of this little weasel of a man … ummm errr weasel.
Mitt has got to Win Florida for all of our sakes. Our once great nation is going to hell in a hand-basket. We need someone who has the good character and smarts to lead this nation. Mitt is the man who can give the tough love we need to work our way out of the mess we are in.
Many of the other leading nations are starting to learn the lessons of the past and are moving towards lowering taxes, opening up their markets, etc. We had better get a clue and FAST!!! McCain is as bad if not worse than the Clinton Machine.
We all need to do all that we can to WIN Florida.
Go Mitt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I don’t think John McCain understands the enormous mistake he is making by turning Mitt into the enemy. The entire Southwest is full of Mormons. Most will stay home, vote another party or write in Mitt’s name on the ballot if McCain is the nominee. They will not forget his lies. It will be funny when John loses his own state, Arizona, because the Mormons stayed home. I will be laughing so hard. I will be rolling on the floor laughing if it’s a McCain/Huck ticket. The Mormons may even turn to Obama, whom I’m feeling will be the eventual deomcrat nominee. Go Obama 2008!
January 28th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Jeff, great post. You hit the nail on the head.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:14 am
By the way, I think a very valid case can be made for not voting if McCandidate is our nominee. If we have a Surrender-crat president, at least whatever Republicans are left in the House and Senate will fight that person tooth-and-nail. With McCandidate, he’ll push 80% the same ideas that a Hillary or Obama would push, and the Republicans in Congress would go along like sheep in the interests of “Party Unity.” It’s sort of like what’s been happening for the last 7 years with Bush and the Republicans which led to the mess the party is in today standing for big government, profligate spending, and amnesty.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Thanks for all the comments.
McCain has no idea what he’s unleashed.
He must apologize immediately to stop the mounting outrage among Mitt supporters (and Rassmussen tells us today that there are more of us than for any other GOP candidate . . . OK, McCain’s tied)
Even if he does apologize now (which I predict he’ll NEVER do) so much damage has been done that McCain will lose much of the hard core LDS Mitt supporters.
Let’s remember that if it wasn’t for the 130,000 LDS in FL in 2000 we’d have had President Al Gore and that in 2004 if the 60,000 LDS in OH had stayed home we’d be currently complaining about President John Kerry.
McCain has no idea what a hornet nest he’s kicked.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Sorry Jeff, I have already decided that I wouldn’t vote for McCain under any circumstances. I admit lying could be justification, but for me the fact that his has no emotional control is disqualifying. Anyone who looses control in the Senate cloakroom and profanely berates his peers in the Senate, or who is so clearly revengeful and vindictive, has no business being the Commander-in-Chief with his finger on the nuclear button. I will throw away my general election vote on the American Independent candidate if McCain is the nominee, but not for the reasons you cite.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I don’t see this as an LDS issue. There is enough outrageous here to go around.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Very thorough post Jeff!
McCain: No Apology, No vote (if you are the nominee). Period.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Just say NO! to McAmnesty!
I will NOT vote for John McCain - NO MATTER WHAT!
Go Mitt Go!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I will not vote for John,
I will not vote for John,
I will not vote for John,
I will not vote for John.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This may just turn out to be the straw that broke mccains back.most of the pundits even David Schuster have come out and stated that mcCain was dishonest on this one.and mitt never gets a good word out of him.Also if anybody saw morning Joe today McCain was telling people how under him there will be even more wars than what we are fighting now,as if he is trying to scare people into voting for him.well I know he scared the hell out of me so much that I could never vote for mccain ever.mitt is the only one who can keep the party together and the country moving foward again.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:15 am
McCain is an embarrassment - a sad, sad little man. As a South Carolinian, the dynamic duo of McCain and his sidekick Graham make me vomit in my mouth. I knew Graham was garbage, but McCain has managed to outdo even him. I didn’t think it was possible.
McCain will never get my vote - under any circumstances.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Saint John’s halo is gone. St. John of Arizona’s crooked-talk claim in Florida was that Mitt Romney wanted to “surrender and wave a white flag, like Senator Clinton wants to do” in Iraq because Romney “wanted to set a date for withdrawal that would have meant disaster.” See George Will, Running Against Clintons
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/OPINION/801290304/-1/LOCAL17
http://politicaljunkyfood.blogspot.com/
CNN & New York Times say McCain’s claim is a lie since Romney never supported any date for withdrawal. Bob Bennet also repudiated McCain’s lie as ‘below the belt’, quite an understatement! “honor has been McCain’s watchword — he should admit that was wrong to do.” Washington Post give McCain “three pinochios” or pinocchio’s
http://elderscapes.townhall.com/Default.aspx?mode=post&g=e2d4a8e9-609b-41fc-9aaf-e77f0d81b6a1