McCain Takes on the 'Cable Monster' and an 'Extreme' Obama
By Juliet Eilperin
NEW YORK -- As the general election gets into full swing, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is becoming increasingly adept at name calling, whether it's his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) or his erstwhile ally, the media.
McCain has particularly relished attacking television reporters this week with a new nickname he's conceived: "cable monsters." (Sometime he uses the singular to dub the entire industry "the cable monster.")
In an interview with NBC late-night host Conan O'Brien last night, McCain explained that he was hoping to conduct a series of town hall meeting with Obama to circumvent the scary media outlets that currently communicate the candidates' message to the American public: "Well, I had hoped so because Americans are tired of the sound bite, the back and forth, the cable monsters, the, you know, the continuous, and the blogosphere."
Several of the cable television reporters who have covered McCain for months were simultaneously amused and offended by their new moniker, and during a press conference Friday in Warren, Mich., they had planned to identify themselves by their specific network affiliation along with a "cable monster" addendum when McCain called on them for questions. But the presumptive GOP nominee called almost exclusively on local reporters yesterday, including picking two separate representatives from the Michigan Messenger -- a left-leaning website that describes itself as " a coalition of long-time progressive bloggers, freelance writers and professional journalists, our aim is to enhance and expand the political dialog in Michigan."
Of course, calling someone a cable monster -- with its subtle allusion to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster -- is less harsh than dubbing someone a socialist, which is what McCain implied Thursday after a town hall meeting in Kansas City, Mo. During the town hall McCain remarked that Obama "has the most extreme record of any member of the United States Senate," referring to a National Journal ranking from last year naming him the most liberal U.S. senator. (Obama ranked 16th and 10th on the most liberal continuum during his first two years in office, according to National Journal.)
After the meeting, McCain told the Kansas City Star that the presumptive Democratic nominee's voting record "is more to the left than the announced socialist in the United States Senate, Bernie Sanders of Vermont."
Asked by the reporter if he thinks Obama is a socialist, McCain replied, "I don't know. All I know is his voting record, and that's what people usually judge their elected officials by."
Those sort of comments, coupled with McCain's first attack ad this week in which he questions Obama's record on Iraq, might bring on a tongue lashing from 96-year-old Roberta McCain. In his television interview last night, McCain told O'Brien about how his mother chastised him for cursing while in a North Vietnamese prison.
"I'll try to make it quick, but I wrote a book once where I had talked about when I was being taken from interrogation -- in one part of the book -- to, from my cell to interrogation. I used to yell obscenities at the guards to help the morale of my friends. To make a long story short, some of those were in a magazine that excerpted the book," McCain said. "I got a call from my mom. She said, 'Johnny.' I said, 'Yes.' She said, 'I just read the excerpts in that magazine from your book.' And I said, 'Well what did you think?' And she said, 'I'm coming over there and I'm washing your mouth out with soap. I never taught you to use language like that under any circumstances.' I said, 'Those guys were bad guys.' She said, 'That's no excuse.'"
O'Brien replied, sympathetically, "Mom, that was in a North Vietnamese prison, there should be an exemption."
Posted at 10:44 AM ET on Jul 19, 2008
Share This:
Technorati
| Tag in Del.icio.us | Digg This
Previous: Obama Travels to Afghanistan |
Next: McCain's Burn Rate Shoots Up

Get This Widget >>

Comments
Posted by: jo6weepos7 | July 29, 2008 1:08 PM | Report abuse
aqspkqozl5 http://www.508505.com/1000732.html > qxhjemlno [URL=http://www.363301.com/582833.html] 5ygj6k4fmxaho4es [/URL] 3dh2mdffzbkbg5do
Posted by: jo6weepos7 | July 29, 2008 1:08 PM | Report abuse
ob263e6euz http://www.588665.com/318628.html 6jjwyu21jq1
Posted by: scukj0kx22 | July 23, 2008 10:38 PM | Report abuse
ob263e6euz http://www.976490.com/514088.html > 40hf0q66vu [URL=http://www.394120.com/949477.html] o06fw0jql54pk [/URL] 6jjwyu21jq1
Posted by: scukj0kx22 | July 23, 2008 10:37 PM | Report abuse
If McCain couldn't control or lead an obviously clinically insane Bush (with Bush's obvious neuroleptic side-effects, the extrapyridimal grimace frequently on his face), how is he going to control or lead an economically depression-challenged country?
I think there is metastasis to the brain. It is there, just lurking for the cortisol it needs to kiss off the telemere and start it's trophoblastic expansion. Of course, I am all for that, if McCain gets elected (which will never happen).
Posted by: Just Thinking | July 22, 2008 2:47 AM | Report abuse
And just look at the many, many responses to this blog.
McCain, you are a liar, liar, brain-in-mire.
Who wants such an out-of-touch leader???
Posted by: A Red-Blooded American Who LOVES Blogs | July 22, 2008 2:29 AM | Report abuse
How blind, deaf, dumb and scared do you have to be to write, as one commenter does below, that "We need the truth, and[McCain] is the only one capable of giving it to us."
I mean, how conned, gulled, deceived, tricked, humiliated, peed-on and shat-on and ready to go back for more do you have to be to say something that stupid?
Posted by: GaryL1 | July 21, 2008 4:55 PM | Report abuse
It is so heartwarming to see the vitriol coming from the right.
The more profane it gets the less chance their man will be elected.
Keep it up guys:)
Posted by: Herb | July 21, 2008 4:04 PM | Report abuse
They are scrutenyzing Obama and letting ALL McCain gaffes be found "amusing " and not worth reporting even when glared in all our faces...it is absurd as McCcomplains that the MSM is giving a pass to Obama when in truth NOT, and doing HIM major faor for NOT reporting all of HIS gaffes/mis statements nor calling him out on "wrong factsuals/actuals"...The S/t Bus is on threadbare wheels and it shows if any care to take note !!!
Posted by: Harvey | July 21, 2008 12:54 PM | Report abuse
lj270kpj679hu2s9 http://www.108128.com/731470.html > vjeog7va [URL=http://www.807255.com/398361.html] 1212z0qkh [/URL] ng2r1jl2ce3kniok
Posted by: 3q7rn0xgut | July 21, 2008 11:34 AM | Report abuse
Sure hope he computer literate. How the heck will he be able to monitor world issues. I guess his wife could do it for him. No wonder he lost a plane years back. You do not want to overwhelm the poor old guy.
Posted by: justadad55+ | July 21, 2008 8:22 AM | Report abuse
Re: Elisha Makori
God always help those who believe in God.
Posted by: premier | July 21, 2008 7:18 AM | Report abuse
Wish da homes Obama well in all his campaigns. May God help you.
Posted by: Elisha Makori | July 21, 2008 6:59 AM | Report abuse
That's right snappy of McCain to say all those clever things. He should call bingo games.
Captain America needs a national health care system for himself. Unless Cindy's paying.
Posted by: JMFulton, Jr. | July 20, 2008 10:16 PM | Report abuse
oupb0676s http://www.706039.com/1080203.html > mccv5zkodm8yzd0 [URL=http://www.977278.com/416966.html] dmi4u6k43un2hc [/URL] tsbh32oodey
Posted by: jvysaxf88a | July 20, 2008 9:00 PM | Report abuse
Whats wrong with being a socialist. Unless I'm mistaken, socialism is someone thats for the people and against markets. I don't know about you, but I've been following Wall Street for years and their the biggest criminals in the world. Everything is rigged so they win. Look at this crap, you got a housing crises because the markets aren't regulated. Gas prices are sky high because they pulled the regulation on futures trading. Because of ethanol, food prices are so high people are starving. If our markets were fair it would be a different story. The way I see it, the rich get richer, and the middle class are now living in their cars.
Posted by: HemiHead | July 20, 2008 8:24 PM | Report abuse
drivesnow said: January 20, 2009...the end of an ERROR
I love it!!!
Posted by: Mark | July 20, 2008 7:52 PM | Report abuse
Republican Women Say No To McCain
Full news article here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/0 6/18/MNS211BBRL.DTL&tsp=1
Short quote from the article: "The challenges facing Sen. Barack Obama as he tries to woo supporters of former rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton could pale in comparison with Sen. John McCain's troubles with female voters - if the voices of a growing number of prominent Republican women are any indication. "I cannot see a more counterproductive candidate for women," said Jillian Manus-Salzman, a leading California Republican activist and generous GOP donor in the nation's most populous state, an ATM for presidential campaigns. "I cannot vote for McCain
Mr. McCain's war injuries, most of which he suffered in the first moments after ejecting from his aircraft, left his shoulders and right knee badly damaged. ...
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE0D9123EF936A35751C1A96F958260 - 42k
Banged-up John McCain and what was left of plane splashed into Truc Bach Lake. A compassionate Vietnamese civilian left his air raid shelter and swam out to McCain. McCain's arm and leg were fractured and he was tangled up in his parachute underwater. He was drowning. The Vietnamese man saved McCain's sorry ass, and yet McCain has nothing but hatred for "the gooks" who allegedly tortured him.
John McCain: War Hero or North Vietnam's Go-To Collaborator ... According to Fernando Barral, a Cuban psychologist who questioned McCain in January 1970, "McCain was "boastful" during their interview and "without ...
dissentmag.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/john-mccain-war-hero-or-north-vietnams-go-to-collaborator/ -
Posted by: Katerina Deligiannis | July 20, 2008 7:12 PM | Report abuse
After returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, Obama is 10 shader darker. How's that for not black enough, Jesse Jackson?
Posted by: MichellO | July 20, 2008 6:22 PM | Report abuse
....Without John McCain...they would be referred to as the "KEATING 4"
....TODAY....John McCain is one day OLDER
....after 1 pm on January 20, 2009...you will have to refer to him as...PRESIDENT Obama.
....January 20, 2009...the end of an ERROR
Posted by: drivensnow | July 20, 2008 2:09 PM | Report abuse
Hope for America
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/
Posted by: cyndezu | July 20, 2008 9:31 AM | Report abuse
McCain licked a donkey's hole just as it spewed out diarrhea
Posted by: Mark | July 20, 2008 5:13 AM | Report abuse
Mike, Obama is very very black, like charcoal, and also a liar.
Posted by: Jesse | July 20, 2008 2:55 AM | Report abuse
Well so long Phil Gramm. Maybe we can resurrect Dick Armey and drag him up from Texas. Is Tom Delay available?
Come to think of it we have had a b@tt full of Republican Texas politicians on the national scene. If you Texans think they are so wonderful then just keep 'em back on the ranch where they belong.
You don't have to share them thank you very much. I know the Cowboy Way still reigns supreme down there but we can find much better without all your help.
Posted by: Humpty Dumpty | July 19, 2008 11:41 PM | Report abuse
McCain is very very old
and also senile.
Posted by: Mike | July 19, 2008 11:31 PM | Report abuse
Fellow Republicans,
Even though we can't win on the issues just try to tear apart Obama. Use his full name whenever you can to make people think he is associated with Islam and terrorism. Don't let voters see that McCain doesn't actually know anything about the economy. Just keep telling lies about Obama and we are sure to win.
Posted by: Soldier in Iraq | July 19, 2008 11:23 PM | Report abuse
OBAMA WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY MEETING EXPECTATIONS, INCLUDING HIS OWN ---
Obama's impossible road ahead:
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-obama-will-win-but-cant-deliver.html
Posted by: PacificGatePost | July 19, 2008 11:07 PM | Report abuse
Notice that the right wing have no ideas. They throw names around and that's all.
Obama was right about Iraq to start with and McCain was wrong.
Obama is right on ending the occupation of Iraq and the officials in Iraq have approved his correct point of view. Bush's demand to make Iraq let us have bases there for 50 years was rejected even after he threatened to steal $20 billion from them, and thus McCain's "plan" is down the drain. McCain's plan is to be Bush's puppy.
On to Iran where Bush is implementing Obama's plan.
Soon we will flush Bush and go after the Bin Laudin family, Bush's dad's pals where they are hiding out making videos to scare the farm hands.
Posted by: Bruce Becker | July 19, 2008 10:41 PM | Report abuse
John McCain, you go!!! I for one am tired of the hiprocricy and outright lies of the Obama morons. We need the truth, and you are the only one capable of giving it to us.
Posted by: Mattie | July 19, 2008 10:04 PM | Report abuse
Everybody is saying Obama will do alright on this trip if he doesn't make a serious gaffe. I eagerly await McCain's daily gaffe.
Posted by: ericmiami | July 19, 2008 9:38 PM | Report abuse
Because in every election in recent years, the Democrats put their most virulently left candidate up for the Presidency. This is no longer the party of JFK and Harry Truman. It's the effete, socialist party of Kucinich, Reid, Pelosi and Obama. That's why they tossed Hillary out on a rail, and also why they are going to lose again in November....thank God for that.
Glinda, the good witch wasn't that ignorant---this is not a socialist country. Please take a trip to Venezuela and then read some books.
Posted by: answer for john | July 19, 2008 9:00 PM | Report abuse
People like Bruce Becker are allowed to vote. That is verrrry scaaaaaarrry.
Posted by: Jessie Hackson | July 19, 2008 8:52 PM | Report abuse
Why is it that every election the Republican party tries to classify the Democratic candidate as the most liberal politician? This time Obama is the most liberal, last time it was Edwards and Kerry (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126024,00.html) and in 2000 it was Gore.
These Republicans have no imagination. They just do the same old mud-slinging every election. No wonder why they are doomed to failure. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are not witnessing the end of the Republican era. God Bless America, and may the Democrats save us from the mess that these Republicans have thrown upon us!
Posted by: John | July 19, 2008 8:51 PM | Report abuse
McCain is trying too hard to characterize Obama as extreme.
Obama is smarter, and right on Iraq, where the leader, Maliki has rebuffed Bush and McCain's ploy to keep our troops there for 50 years, and told the world that Obama's right.
Afghanistan, is where Obama is and that's where the action should be. McCain was wrong on that one too. McCain's problem is that he didnt want to offend Bush, so McCain toes the party line, which is full of errors, lies and stupidity. That's why we call him McSAME.
Same mistakes, lies and insane political abuse of power.
Obama is smarter, which is proved again. Now that Bush is talking to Iran, something Obama said to do, the entire US policy has come into alignment with Obama's brains, and McCain is looking older and even more stupid than ever.
All he has left is red-baiting.
Posted by: Bruce Becker | July 19, 2008 7:28 PM | Report abuse
". . . during a press conference Friday in Warren, Mich., they had planned to identify themselves by their specific network affiliation along with a "cable monster" addendum when McCain called on them for questions. . . "
******
Give me a break.
Posted by: Echo21 | July 19, 2008 6:39 PM | Report abuse
The media is giving McCain a free ride in an attempt to make the general election more competitive than it will be. I watched CNN's Anderson Copper AC360 and was amazed at the coverage they gave to McCain when talking about the presidential candidates rise to their current status as the next potential president of the US. AC360 covered Obama from 3 years old to his announcement to run for president in early 2007. However, they covered McCain from his POW years forward to his 2007 announcement to run for President in which the majority of the time was spent on associating his future life events with his POW years.
CNN didn't bother to report on McCain's early years of being born in a family in which his father and grandfather became 4-star admirals. Failed to state how poor a high school and college student McCain was. And that he almost flunked out of the Naval Academy.
If mainstream media wants to be taken seriously as an unbiased news source then when personal stories are told they should cover all aspects of the lives of the political candidates.
Posted by: Obama-Junkie | July 19, 2008 5:22 PM | Report abuse
Mccain needs a mouth-wash from grandma.He has lately been keeping bad company,namely: hate-and race hustlers like Sean Hannity,Dr.Phil's "Nation of whinners",his rape joke..."where's that mervelous ape", the joke "Why is chelsea Clinton so ugly joke", etc, etc.If an eighteen year old girl can't be spared by Mccain's big,filthy mouth,then what can???.He needs more that a mouth-wash, the old goat!!!.
Posted by: Joe lockheed | July 19, 2008 3:18 PM | Report abuse
Cable monsters, ahhh, the blogosphere, danggit! Golly! Times were simple when there was no TV or Internet, heck, I still don't know anything about this "Internet Stuff", My wife does it for me... I don't even like using computers! Missle codes!?!? Can't we just write that on paper?
Its the mark of genius to make the media your enemy, just imagine what McCain will do with foreign countries! :)
VOTE OBAMA.
Posted by: Jack 5 | July 19, 2008 1:46 PM | Report abuse
McLame or McBush - it all means the same, a Republican that cannot stand on his own platform comfortably. He has to call his opponent names. Shame on you Johnny...maybe you ARE getting senile...
Posted by: Buzz Lite | July 19, 2008 1:38 PM | Report abuse
Dear American Citizens and the Press
As a concerned citizen, I consider it is my duty to bring following message to you all.
"We the citizens of the United States of America have the ultimate responsibility to elect the " Right Candidate" to lead our nation, out of our huge present and future internal and external challenges as well as opportunities. This is to prevent depression and isolation in-spite of being the only superpower in the world morally, democratically, economically, and militarily.
We need to consider the "critical qualities and characteristics" of our presumptive presidential nominees at the time we vote.
In my personal and professional opinion the critical considerations are as under:
1. Calm, cool, and collected " temper " [ Presidential Temperament ].
2. Sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber".
3. "Thought-fullness and togetherness" of purpose and positions.
4. Minimum "ex-poser and exploitation" around "Washington and Washington insiders".
5. Renewed " Vigor and Vision " for our Greatgrand Nation.
6. Foreign policy based on " American Values, Virtuous, Vastness".
Stay informed, stay involved, and stay engaged. Do not allow some partisan media, pundits, pollsters, and perpetual political opinion makers effect your vote in the wrong direction.
Don't be effected and duped by "Psychological Terrorism" that is afflicted upon you all the time.
Long live U.S.A and its diverse but democratic people.
Col. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., ABFM., ABDA.
Chief Consultant: World Wide Porfessional Consultants[WWPC]
Colonel, USAR/MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Freedom team.
Consultant Psychiatrist: CA State, Medical Board of California, and Los Angeles Mental Health Department
Address: 7642 Eaglehelm Court Las Vegas NV 89123
PS: Hon. Senator McCain's temper and cognative challenges are the Key?
Posted by: COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] | July 19, 2008 1:11 PM | Report abuse
>>mittromney.com-BEFORE, it is TOO LATE!
Don't worry, if something were to happen to the current Mitt Romney, they'll just extrude another one. I understand that 2012 model is going to have a Kung-Fu grip and more lifelike hair.
Posted by: Dijetlo | July 19, 2008 12:57 PM | Report abuse
America is already a socialist country and has been since its inception. If the government provides or regulates any goods and services at all then it is socialist by definition. IF the government provides all goods and services, then it is communist. So when the US was founded, it had the US postal service. Socialist. Later, there was regulation of railroads. Socialist. Economic regulation to prevent monopolies following the cornering of the gold market in 1929. Socialist. The New Deal. Socialist. Laws against unfair competition. Socialist. Countless other things that no American would think we should do without. Socialist. The government has been more and more socialist over the years as progress has been made and mistakes have been corrected. So I would think socialist ought to be perceived as a compliment. Like modern, forward thinking, proactive, inciteful, etc. Maybe we should ask McCain if he is in favor of getting rid of the Federal Trade Commission. What a maroon.
Posted by: Glinda | July 19, 2008 12:57 PM | Report abuse
BBC America aired a piece a few months ago, featuring a man who had organized a "Free Health Day" in Tennessee. Those who attended were able to see a doctor, have their vision checked, receive glasses & have basic dental work done.
People in the area lined up before dawn for a chance to see a doctor. The majority were "White" [I say this for all those who get riled up when an American of color receives any sort of benefit from the taxes they pay].
The people that lined up were not dead beats; but working & retired Americans.
Those interviewed couldn't understand how their government could spend "trillions" of dollars around the globe - yet, they couldn't afford to even go to the doctor, or receive free "Healthcare Services" here at home!
So... What do you call someone who is not averse to spending trillions of "American Taxpayer's" dollars on Foreign Government's [irregardless of those govt's human rights stances towrd their citiizens], to acheive their political & military aims??
Posted by: liberty | July 19, 2008 12:51 PM | Report abuse
Is McCain trying to tell us he doesn't enjoy and frequently use obscenity? His Republican colleagues in the Senate have said otherwise.
Posted by: Aleks | July 19, 2008 12:02 PM | Report abuse
Of course McCain and his bunch of thugs are going to criticize Obama any time and any place and lie in doing so. They have to because the Republicans cannot run on their miserable record. The republicans are going to throw anything at him and if you think the swift boat was disgusting just wait until the Republicans come up with something. Please go to the library and check out McCain on your own.
Posted by: Westexacan | July 19, 2008 11:55 AM | Report abuse
It looks like the "Straight Talk Express" has thrown a rod or bent its axle. McCain is desperate and has tossed aside truth telling, it seems.
Posted by: Chuck | July 19, 2008 11:30 AM | Report abuse
"Blogosphere"?
Does "WaPo" Qualify? ;~)
McRINO is LOST in his own reality. Or, it might be the effects of inhaling all the Noxious Vapors and lack of Oxygen from having his Fat-Head up his Rectum!
Would SOMEONE Pleeeeaaase REMOVE him from the GOP Ticket!
I DEMAND a Candidate who is NOT going to Bold-Face LIE while taking the Oath of Office about ENFORCING this Nation's Laws(ALL of them), and protecting the US Citizenry from FOREIGN Threats to OUR Way of LIFE!
McAmnesty is NOT that Man!
Barry O'Bomba-Nation is worse!
But O'Flip-Floppa HAS the full support of the Forces out to Usurp this Country!
McRINO does NOT have the support of the Capitalists!
NOT, a Good thing THAT! :-(
mittromney.com-BEFORE, it is TOO LATE!
Posted by: SAINT-The | July 19, 2008 11:28 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.









aqspkqozl5 http://www.181086.com/608622.html 3dh2mdffzbkbg5do