McCain Rides to Kerry's Rescue: "John Kerry is Not Weak on Defense" (Today Show alert)

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Just when the Bush campaign had wrestled John Kerry to to the mat on his weak and waffling record on national security and defense, who leaps over the ropes and into the ring to revive him? Why, none other than the egomaniacal, sore-losing Senator from Arizona, John McCain.

In a just-concluded interview, the Today Show's Matt Lauer posed the question in the clearest possible terms: "is John Kerry weak on defense?"

On the first go-round, rather than answering the question at all, holier-than-thou McCain chose to decry the "negativism" of the campaign. He fretted that all the mean stuff will turn off young voters, and admonished the candidates to start talking about Social Security, health care and overspending (i.e., issues less favorable to Pres. Bush).

But Lauer would not be put off, and repeated his question squarely: "Is John Kerry weak on defense?"

Now, consider McCain's options in answering. He could of course told the truth: "of COURSE John Kerry is weak on defense!"

If he wanted to show some comity toward a fellow Senator, he could have gone for the middle ground: "however you want to characterize Kerry, it's clear that President Bush is much stronger on defense."

But instead, McCain chose option three - ignoring the truth and flatly defending Kerry. His answer "No, I don't think Kerry is weak on defense." He "nuanced" the rest of his answer "well, of course every Senator has to defend his votes, and I disagree with him on some things." But the headline quote remains - "McCain: Kerry not Weak on Defense."

Lauer then raised the question of whether McCain would accept an offer from Kerry to run as VP. He gave a classic Washington non-denial denial. He "wasn't running for VP." Yeah, not yet, you haven't been asked. He stopped far short of saying he wouldn't accept Kerry's invitation. "Have you had serious discussions with the Kerry campaign? "Not serious ones." Not serious? Has McCain had un-serious discussions with the Kerry people?

McCain went on to describe his GOP affiliation in this most curious way. "I'm a member of the party of Lincoln, of the party of Teddy Roosevelt." It seemed that he was about to add someone else. The obvious name would have been Ronald Reagan. But no, the most recent Republican with whom McCain was willing to associate himself was in office 100 years ago.

Thanks for nothin', John.

[TomGuy]

We need to title a new thread: When good Senators go bad.

lol


There would be alot of them: Hatch, McCain, for starters.

It seems these guys go more nutty the longer they stay in the Senate.

We need term limits just to protect us from the nutcases. Too bad that their constituents can't see that and keep re-sending them to the Senate.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Why the (censored) is this man defending a democratic candidate?

I think the bitter McCain likes to stick his thumb in W's eye whenever possible. He also likes the spotlight. He wouldn't have been invited onto Today if all he had to say was to state the obvious: that W is stronger on defense than Kerry.

[conservativecorner]

Send an e-mail to the NRSC explaining your disgust of John McCain:

http://www.nrsc.org/nrscweb/feedback/

[bmwcyle]

[sport]

mc cain should be expelled from the Republican Party.

[Russ]

I couldn't help but notice that McCain could give no examples on how or where Kerry was not weak on defense. Of course Matt Lauer wouldn't press him on the issue...

[punster]

Some terms that would describe McCain.

Quisling.

Judas.

Political Whore.

Fellow Travelor.

Fifth Columnist.

Mancurian Candidate (though it might be more appropriate to refer to him as a the Hanoi Candidate).

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Yes, but other than that, how do you like McCain? ;-)

[Maigrey]

He's jealous, from how it sounds.

I still wonder how he is voted in - Voter Fraud, or the wealth of handouts for his constituents?

[an amused spectator]

McCain conveniently neglected to mention that in 1912 Teddy Roosevelt left the Republican Party and ran as the candidate for the Progressive "Bull Moose" Party against incumbent Republican President Taft -- thus ensuring the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

Ah, yes - Woodrow Wilson, author of the "progressive income tax", which would only be levied on "the rich". The Demopubs were pooping that line out of their mouths back in 1913.

[Consort]

You vote "R" blindly, you get Jeffords and McCains. Show some taste when you pull the voting lever. Please.

If you have a choice of "R's, vote for the best "R". If it's a choice between an "R" and a non-"R", always vote for the "R" until further notice. Voting for non-"R"s or not voting at all only helps the "D"s.

[Puddleglum]

Hey Arizona! - Vote him out since he's up and left you on his own anyway (ideologically at least).

Bush should have assigned him to some internal, interminable, tedious committee long ago, or made him ambassador to Podunk or something.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Woodrow Wilson, author of the "progressive income tax", which would only be levied on "the rich".

And wasn't the idea that the tax rate wouldn't exceed a couple per cent?

[twigs]

Unfortunately, the dems are trotting out a good campaigner and smooth talker to run against the Rep. candidate--Joe Hoeffel. Only talk, of course, but he will fool a lot of people.

[sport]

He can't.

kerry's own mouth and votes convict him.

mc cain also name one negative ad or statement President Bush or President Bush's staff have made regarding kerry.

As I wrote before, I believe that kerry poses a greater threat to the Nation than bill and hillary clinton.

kerry's wife ia also much more dangerous than hillary, although probably not as evil, because she has the financial means to accomplish her goals and hillary at this point in time does not.

Then again, she may be better at concealing her evilness than hillary. I like that one better.

She is evil because one cannot give the financial aid to the murdering Godless socialists she has and not be in cahoots with them.

[Mo1]

OK .. I give up and can't find a good link to that story .. I did copy the original story though

Anyhow .. it was about how John Weaver is going to be advising Kerry on his campaign

Weaver is/was/? McCain's trusted advisor

[KantianBurke]

"If it's a choice between an "R" and a non-"R", always vote for the "R" until further notice."

No I will not do that. If the race is between an backstabing RINO who is doing the GOP plenty of harm versus a Dem, I vote for a 3rd party and hope the GOP gets rids of the other RINOs. They've done plenty of harm to the party and should NOT be rewarded with conservative votes. Your philosophy is why nutcase McCain is able to quack with impunity.

[an amused spectator]

And wasn't the idea that the tax rate wouldn't exceed a couple per cent?

Well, yeah - but nobody specified whether it was a couple of percent per annum, per month, per week or per diem. :-)

[OldFriend]

If McCain says NO he doesn't get a chance to get on TV and bash the president. So he double deals, equivocates, mutters inanities about the negative campaigning and sneers at the president.

[unsycophant]

I wonder what his constituents think about him making remarks that basically defend Kerry's defense record. The issue has just been what the RNC and Bush administration decided to focus on to contrast the two candidates. I'd like to know what they have to say about McCain's foot-in-mouth problem too. It's like he's deliberately trying to thwart their efforts.