John McCain offers Barack Obama a cabinet post

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | September 12, 2008 | by Toby Harnden

[library user]

** EXCERPT **

This is one promise that Senator John McCain might struggle to keep if he does win in November. When asked by Time's Rick Stengel, moderating the 9/11 anniversary forum on national service here at Columbia University in uptown New York city, whether he would give Barack Obama a cabinet job, he responded that he would.

"Governor Schwarzenegger has made the service czar a cabinet-level appointment," Stengel said. "Would you, as president, do the same and would you name Senator Obama to your cabinet for National Service?" McCain paused for a beat before replying with a smile: "Yes!" Cue laughter and applause.

He also praised Senator Obama for his "outstanding" work as a community organiser - a profession derided by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin at the Republican convention in St Paul last week. "Of course I respect community organisers," he said. "Of course I respect people who serve their communities. Sentaor Obama's service in that area is outstanding."

[InABunkerUnderSF]

If it wasn’t a joke it was the least intelligent proposal that McCain has made in the course of the campaign - almost on a par with Hillary’s offering 0 the vice presidency when he was ahead in the delegate count.

[raj bhatia]

Excellent politics but mediocre policy. If you feel confident enough to offer your rival a cabinet post, Mccain thinks Obama is toast. A polite but resounding way of saying that Obama is vastly inferior to him.

Coming from nowhere to win the primary, surviving a media blitz that portrayed Obama as a rock star & picking Palin. Mccain may be a better politician than anyone in either party.

[ari-freedom]

McCain is pretty clever, you have to admit. Unfortunately many conservatives have no sense of humor.

[library user]

Unfortunately many conservatives have no sense of humor.

It's not that I don't have a sense of humor, it's just that I didn't realize this was likely a joke.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Well, pay attention. Have you not noticed that McCain and his campaign have been using humor to pop Barry’s ballon for the last month?

[mrsmel]

- a profession derided by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin at the Republican convention

I wish someone would call the drive-by media on saying that-Palin and Giuliani didn't deride the profession, they derided Obama's claim of it as being "proof" of his supposed greater experience than Governor Palin's.

[mrsmel]

I don't think there's any need to worry, I don't think that Michelle The Bitter would allow him to take a position under the white man who beat him for the Presidency. I think when Obama loses, Michelle, and possibly he himself, will see no further need to hide their real commitment to black liberation theology. After all, they supported it for twenty years and only (and only Obama, at that) publicly threw it under that ubiquitous bus when it became politically expedient. I think Michelle's anger at their loss is going to bring all the real feelings out.

[the808bass]

McCain is pretty clever, you have to admit. Unfortunately many conservatives have no sense of humor.

I thought his answer was great. Obama was just on Letterman last night saying he wouldn't offer a cabinet position to Bill because once you've been President, it's a "been there/done that" kinda thing. So, the next day, McCain offers Obama a cabinet position.

I think the McCain camp has figured out Obama takes these comments personally. He obviously did with his "community organizing." They'll keep jabbing and poking.

[AmericaUnited]

If this is true, it lowers my opinion of John McCain greatly.

Oh relax and stop being knee-jerk stupid. It was a perfect, brilliant answer! Barry would never accept a demotion from world messiah to chief community organizer under his opponent and also McCain very deviously reminded everyone what Barry's only real job was.

[ari-freedom]

Obama is a very self-conscious person with a messiah complex. mccain knows how to psych him out.

[HarleyD]

I thought this was really a funny point in McCain’s comment. Does anyone seriously believe that Obama would take a Cabinet position under McCain?

[tomymind]

It’s just a joke, nothing more. Let’s fight, fight and fight for McCain!

[WilliamReading]

McCain can appoint Obama to his Cabinet, thus making the Democrats lose a Senate seat. McCain can then dispatch him on permanent assignment to Luxembourg or remove him from the Cabinet at his first convenience.

Smart move all around.

[GVnana]

whether he would give Barack Obama a cabinet job, he responded that he would.

It was a stupid question. What else could he say.

[mikey_hates_everything]

This just means that there won’t be a “National Service” cabinet position.

[Canedawg]

“I hope it was a joke”

I think it is one of those campaign promises that will never be fulfilled.

[Cheburashka]

If Obama accepted a post in McCain's cabinet, it would end any chance of Obama ever becoming President.

Some might say that if Obama loses this campaign he has no chance of ever being nominated again. Maybe. Do you think Obama believes that? I don't think so.

[bmwcyle]

McCain takes about 2 minutes to answer a question in an interview last night. He is too old and fading fast.

[ovrtaxt]

I didn’t get that whole thing at all last night.

What’s all this about ‘service’ as if it’s a government program? Stupid debate, huge waste of time, pointless wonky crap.

Saddleback was a lot more useful, and *surprise* the press didn’t have anything to do with it.

Oh, and Charlie Gibson is a peckerhead.

[ovrtaxt]

I am sure they can find some useful roles for Mr. Obama.

Dogcatcher general?