Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a ‘Cone of Silence’

The New York Times ^ | August 17, 2008 | KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

[Plutarch]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Senator John McCain was not in a “cone of silence” on Saturday night while his rival, Senator Barack Obama, was being interviewed at the Saddleback Church in California.

Members of the McCain campaign staff, who flew here Sunday from California, said Mr. McCain was in his motorcade on the way to the church as Mr. Obama was being interviewed by the Rev. Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life.”

The matter is of interest because Mr. McCain, who followed Mr. Obama’s hourlong appearance in the forum, was asked virtually the same questions as Mr. Obama. Mr. McCain’s performance was well received, raising speculation among some viewers, especially supporters of Mr. Obama, that he was not as isolated during the Obama interview as Mr. Warren implied.

Nicolle Wallace, a spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, said on Sunday night that Mr. McCain had not heard the broadcast of the event while in his motorcade and heard none of the questions.

“The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous,” Ms. Wallace said...[excerpt]

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Actually the scapegoat was part of the sacrificial system commanded by God in the Torah.

[onedoug]

Why didn't McCain question Warren's Treason of visiting Syria and Assad while they were - and still are - killing Americans in Iraq?

He really has forgotten alot.

[chris_bdba]

You’r right McCain did answer more questions. Obama used all of his time up with UMMMMMs,AHHHHs, and More UMMMM’s.

[ThomasThomas]

If I worked for McCain I would offer a rematch and demand to answer the questions first.

[edpc]

This claim is approaching the same "whine factor" as the "Bush was wired" complaint in 2004. Face it, Dems.....you keep nominating sucky candidates.

[rfp1234]

“Surely he hath borne our Griefs and carried our Sorrows; Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of GOD and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)

“And the Goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a Land not inhabited.” (Leviticus 16:22)

[Godwin1]

The Times now has so little credibility that even if McCain had “cheated”, no fair person would believe it.

[willk]

I just watched a replay on CNN and McCain was just as sharp in the second half hour as he was during the first half hour.

[vanishing liberty]

What’s everyone so steamed about? The story just says what is apparently true—that McCain was not in a “zone of silence” while Obama was being interviewed. Even McCain’s people don’t deny that. Apparently even Warren was not aware that McCain was not in the building.

There are enough lies out there that we shouldn’t get upset about a true story.

[Jeff Chandler]

This could all be taken care of by Obama agreeing to meet McCain in Town Hall Meetings, face-to-face

Exactly. McCain could turn this media ploy around and call Obama out.

I can see the ad now "What is Obama afaid of?"

[JennysCool]

There’s an idiot here on Free Republic who said this morning that he went around to Leftist forums saying that McCain knew the questions in advance, just to get a rise out of them. Maybe we need an IQ test to get in here.

[palomonte]

the Democratic delegates and superdelegates who will select their nominee in two weeks saw the “debate”.

Hillary saw it as well.

Ruh Roh

[syriacus]

Folks on the Left sure are predictable.

[syriacus]

McCain was well-prepared...He's answered thousands of questions at town halls.

[woofie]

Is it possible to know who that is?

[JennysCool]

Check post 7:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2063287/posts?page=7#7

[woofie]

Thanks...

I cant believe that the NYTimes actually covered this tripe....
Talk about pathetic

But lets say it happened and the candidate has almost a full hour to listen to the questions, the responses, and formulate answers ...I think that would be twice as hard as actually answering the questions...It would get very confusing very fast, trying to out-calculate an opponent and continue to listen to him/her )some later questions might be more important)....

Also it would be important to remember all of your old positions so that you didnt stumble over your own record

The whole thing is absurd

The reason Mc Caine was so good at this is that he isnt trying to outfox anyone...but I could see the wheels turning in Obamas head ...He could not answer an abortion question because its too divisive, etc

[Wil H]

“The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous,”

No, it's not outrageous, - quite the opposite...

It's a tacit admission by the Obama camp that their boy got his ass kicked big time, and they can't figure out why.

[Enchante]

I>"It's a tacit admission by the Obama camp that their boy got his ass kicked big time, and they can't figure out why."

Exactly!!! The Demagogues are starting to panic as they realize that the most inexperienced and unqualified presidential candidate in US history is flailing. Not too many days left for them to try to dump Obambi and embrace Hillary (heaven forbid). Soon they are stuck with him. They cannot pull a Lautenberg switch in September, I don't think.

[Ditter]

After I listened to obama ramble on and on, I had trouble actually remembering the point of most of his answers. McCain did not offer me that problem. He was quick, decisive and to the point. Go McCain Go!