Town Hall Heat in Cedar Falls
Town hall meetings can be dangerous places for a presidential candidate.
Take John McCain's appearance at one this afternoon in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Among the questions asked was one by a man who identified himself as "part African American" about McCain's commitment to guaranteeing fathers equal access to children in divorce cases. McCain used the opportunity to offer some "straight talk" saying he would not as president get involved in court cases like that.
"I'm not going to overturn divorce court decisions. That's why we have courts," he said.
But a few moments later he added: "We are getting into a tar baby of enormous proportions. I don't know how you get out of that."
Later, in a session with reporters, McCain acknowledged that he should not have used the term "tar baby," a term that is used to mean "sticky situation," but also is seen as a derogatory comment about blacks.
He said it was an "unfortunate" word and should not have used it.
-- Michael D. Shear
By washingtonpost.com Editors |
March 16, 2007; 3:16 PM ET
| Category:
John McCain
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Posted by: William | March 16, 2007 07:28 PM
Tar baby! This is news? What about McCain continuing his on-going efforts to suck up to the very hate-mongers of the Religious Right who he verbally smacked down only a few years ago?
Posted by: mikeasr | March 17, 2007 12:18 AM
Not really, William. "Tar baby" is a big deal, whether it's Tony Snow or John McCain. My first question to the Post is why is this news burried in a blog? My second is why an equally interesting, if not more damaging, story was not reported? I'm referring to McCain's response to the question of whether condoms help prevent the spread of the HIV virus. McCain: "You've stumped me."
If this NYT story can be confirmed, it should be in the news, not just the blogs.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-prevention/
Posted by: skelleyphoto | March 17, 2007 10:26 AM
skelleyphoto, Intended meaning in language is all about context. Not merely lexical, but time, place, attitudes of the speaker, and the audience. Making much of this "tar baby" utterance qualifies as a cheap dig. McCain has real political shortcomings worth criticizing, even exploiting. This is not one of them.
Posted by: Jonathan | March 18, 2007 07:15 AM
It would be more honest and accurate if
Sen Amnesty John McCain were to rename hi
so-called Straight Talk Express, by instead
calling it,"McCain's Double Talk Express"
since all McCain wants to do these days is
spread his bosum buddy Liar in Chief George
W Bush and Vice Liar Dick Cheney lies about
Bush and Cheney Lie Based Phony Lost Iraq
Civil War,and brag about his co-sponsoring
with Teddy Kennedy "The George W Bush and
Amensty John McCain and Teddy Kennedy Leave
No Illegal Alien Amnesty And Giveaway Plan!" And those two reasons are exactly
why McCain will not even win the Republican
Nomination for President in 2008! Your doing a heck of a job,of becoming a politcial has been here Amnesty Johnny!
Posted by: Sandy | March 18, 2007 08:37 AM
I can't listen to Sen. McCain anymore. Every time I do, his position on issues blows in whatever direction the political wind is blowing that day. The man stands for nothing, but claims to be for everyone.
No backbone + No conviction = No Presidential candidate I would even consider
Posted by: Looter Skibby | March 18, 2007 10:18 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
"Tar Baby" is not a big deal, but 9/11 families "Swift Boating" Rudy Giuliani is: http://www.solidpolitics.com