Arizona DOT Official to Speed Racer Roberta McCain: Get a Driver
UPDATE: We found a record of one traffic citation against Roberta Wright McCain in online Arizona courts files, dated Sept. 30 2002, but it didn't specify what the traffic violation was for or -- if it was a speeding ticket -- how fast Mrs. McCain was driving. Our request for more information from the local court in Seligman, Ariz., where Mrs. McCain was issued the citation, went unanswered.
All we know is that Arizona has two categories of speeding tickets: 1) civil, for anything less than 20 mph over the legal speed limit; and 2) criminal, for anything more than 20 mph over the legal speed limit. State transportation officials say the highest legally allowable speed limit on the highways in Arizona is 75 mph, which, of course, would put Mrs. McCain's 112 mph speeding ticket often mentioned by her son in the "criminal" category.
Regardless, we thought the 96-year-old would-be first mother could use some tips on how to avoid the blue lights in the future. So we turned to fellow lead foot Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), a McCain presidential supporter who, like Mrs. McCain, is known for his proclivity to put the pedal to the metal. (Davis brags about his "spotless record" of dodging radar-toting police, and confesses to two speeding tickets in the last 25 years, though none since 1998.)
Beyond his own credo of "never speed if you can spot a police car nearby," Davis suggests Mrs. McCain should follow this three-point plan for avoiding tickets:
* "Don't run a red light in the District, those cameras will catch you."
* "Drive at rush-hour, you won't have to worry about speeding because the traffic is so bad ... Or drive on I-95 anytime of the day between Richmond and Dale City."
* Take Metro, we just authorized another $1.5 billion for it here in the House."
But here's the advice from the Arizona Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Division spokeswoman Cydney DeModica: "I'm thinking she needs to get a driver."
Continue reading our original posting below.
***
Even skyrocketing gas prices aren't slowing down Roberta McCain, the indefatigable 96-year-old mother of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
Roberta McCain.
The would-be first mother -- and yes, she fully expects her Johnny to win the presidency in November -- is still speeding around like a NASCAR driver on the last lap.
At a cocktail party held at the luxurious home of GOP super lobbyist Wayne Berman recently, Mrs. McCain gave the Sleuth some advice: "Don't speed up there (in Chevy Chase)."
Really? "Yes, I got a $40 speeding ticket there a few weeks ago," she said with a wry smile and a twinkle in her eye that suggested "I've still got it!"
Did the cop know who she was? "Well, it was written right there," she said, referring to her driver's license. "But they'll sure know who I am when he becomes president."
And if that happens, Mom can certainly take credit for having won the NASCAR vote for her son. Her $40 ticket in Washington recently was about her umpteenth speeding ticket. "I know she has gotten a bunch of speeding tickets," McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers acknowledges.
Sen. McCain often invokes his mother's spotty driving record on the campaign trail. One of his favorite stories is how Mom, about two years ago, got a ticket for going 112 mph in Arizona.
Another time, when Roberta was traveling in Europe with her twin sister, Rowena Willis, a worker behind the counter at a rental car place in France told Mrs. McCain she was "too old" to rent a car, Rogers says. So she simply bought a car and drove all over France, which can be terrifying, especially in the south of France, where death-defying turnabouts and curvy cliffs abound.
Asked whether the campaign is relying on the senator's mother to help the senator woo the coveted NASCAR constituency, Rogers said, "Absolutely! And Mrs. McCain really likes NASCAR. She's even taken classes for race-car driving."
Well, to put it in NASCAR lingo, Roberta McCain is really hitting her marks and running wide open on the campaign trail, even if her son is getting hung out to dry a bit, at least on this week's lap of the high-stakes race.
By Mary Ann Akers |
June 25, 2008; 6:53 PM ET
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Posted by: B-Mac | June 27, 2008 10:56 AM
And the purpose of this story was.....what??? McCain's mom is cute so vote for McCain? This isn't news....How is it that you pressmen can continue to give this LIAR McCain "THE FREE RIDE", and live with yourselves? McCain is about as old as his mom. They look like brother and sister. McCain is NO MAVERICK, NO STRAIGHT TALKER, AND DEFINATELY NOT SANE AND LOVING. Why aren't you people reporting THE FACT that McCain suffers from untreated PTSD. This is a Post Alzheimric, trigger happy, blunderring, forgetful, cretent. He isn't even intelligent. Oh but can he Wine and Dine the Presscorp into to a stupified drunken slumber.......Tell us the truth about McCain. Quit trying to pass him off as some American Hero.....He is in need of Therapy and mayebe some truth serum.....WAKE-UP......
Posted by: need4trth | June 27, 2008 5:59 PM
If you vote for McCain, you guarantee 4 more years of the Shrub's policies and incompetence.
Posted by: Henry | June 27, 2008 10:37 PM
Need4trth: Mary Ann isn't a pressMAN.
And the story adds a bit of color and humor to things. Not every post needs to be politically charged criticism or endoresement of a candidate. Lighten up.
Posted by: SJones | June 30, 2008 11:04 AM
Ah, the left is never short for hatred for that other half of the country. The woman got a speeding ticket six years ago. I hope nobody actually pays this person to write.
Posted by: BraisedEndive | June 30, 2008 11:18 AM
Ah, the left is never short for hatred for that other half of the country. The woman got a speeding ticket six years ago. I hope nobody actually pays this person to write.
Posted by: BraisedEndive | June 30, 2008 11:18 AM
I plan to stop driving long before I reach 96. Mrs. McCain should take the bus. She doesn't have to worry about her son winning the election...ain't gonna happen.
Posted by: Marv Kennebeck | June 30, 2008 2:34 PM
Get this woman off the streets-- she can afford a chauffer. Her attitude towards her driving is irresponsible at best, and potentially fatal to others, at worst. She's making a mockery out of responsible driving.
Posted by: Moose | July 1, 2008 12:51 PM
No one should be allowed to be that old. No doubt she is drawing Social Security and contributing to the banruptcy of America.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 1, 2008 1:06 PM
"No one should be allowed to be that old."
Let us know your feelings about that, and if
they change, should you be blessed enough to
live that long.
I'd say if she's drawing any government
money it's widow's pension from her husband
the Admiral benefits. I'm never shocked at
the hatred shown by the left-leaning morons
these days.
Posted by: Stick | July 4, 2008 3:18 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Oh that's cute! I can see the headlines now: "Presidential Candidate's Lovable, Adorable Mom Kills Three Pedestrians in Chevy Chase in Speed-Related Accident." Great puffery Post!
Maybe that joking disregard for laws that seems to part of the McCain family heritage will help the Senator easily segue into the atmosphere created by the current administration.