McCain says Palin didn't hurt presidential bid

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081112/ap_on_el_ge/mccain_leno ^

[teg_76]

LOS ANGELES – John McCain said Tuesday that Sarah Palin did not damage his presidential bid, and he dismissed as typical campaign sniping anonymous criticism aimed at her following their crushing defeat. "I'm so proud of her and I'm very grateful she agreed to run with me. She inspired people, she still does," McCain told Jay Leno during an "Tonight Show" interview taped for broadcast Tuesday night. "I couldn't be happier with Sarah Palin." Asked by Leno about griping about Palin from unidentified McCain operatives in the days following the election, the Arizona senator said, "These things happen in campaigns.

[FreeReign]

He should be saying she helped him immensely not did not damage. She carried him.

"Did not damage" is the reporters and not McCain's words.

We should not be so easily lead.

[redk]

“Particularly since the MSM is ignoring the aides who’ve defended her: Mark Salter, Rick Davis, Steve Schmidt, Charlie Black, Steve Biegun - even Nicolle Wallace.”

They are only defending her now because they couldn't take the heat and Wallace in particular was being named like crazy. Gretchen on Fox and Friends immediately noted when this crap began that she believed Schmidt knew this was coming, he was asked point blank if she helped the campaign and said nothing. The stories being told are exaggerated or distorted versions of conversations and events that did take place. Someone high level started this, it didn't go like they thought it would so now they are trying to back peddle.

[FreeReign]

He should have made it clear to his low class underlings that there was to be none of this crap. What a shame he didn’t do it. HE should be ashamed. He did WAY too little to stop it.

His "low class underlings" in the campaign no longer work for him. McCain called Schmidt on Thursday and Schmidt contacted various former campaign workers on Thursday and he made statements to the media on Friday and Saturday.

Palin said that McCain has talked to her everyday since Tuesday.

Sarah has said numerous times this week that she though the world of McCain.

Why don't we all move on to something more important than all of this BS, like trying to get Sarah, or Pence or Jindal to run against the lying cocialist in 2012.

[what's up]

McCain did right.

Leno is the right venue for his words. It reaches the younger people most effectively.

These are the ones who Palin will be appealing to if she ever runs again.

[potlatch]

[I really want to know who the “sources” are, because that sounds like the top level of the McCain camp to me.]

I agree. He probably only spoke up because of all the flack he’s getting. I think he may have been jealous of Sarah’s popularity!!

[redk]

Well of course BOR blames her, she won’t come on his show and give him big ratings so therefore she deserves to be treated like crap. I’m done with all of them.

[WorkingClassFilth]

At last, McCain steps up to the plate. Nice of him to finally make a few statements defending his running mate.

Palin 2012 - America’s last, best hope.

[FreeReign]

Oh, and O'reilly and his Newsweek editor pal also blamed Palin for McCain's loss tonight.

I was crunching on my diner at the time so I may have missed some of the words that were said, but it sounded to me like O'Rielly and that Newsweak guy didn't blame Palin but instead blamed the Sep. 15th financial problem.

[what's up]

I think he may have been jealous of Sarah’s popularity!!

Probably not true.

McCain is probably grateful for her. He knows Sarah saved him from a worse fate. If it wasn't for Sarah, the spread between himself and Hussein would have been much, much wider.

[rintense]

No, the newsweek clearly said it was Palin and then said mcCain had no chance anyway because of the markets.

[potlatch]

[He knows Sarah saved him from a worse fate.]

We all know that but he sure didn’t speak right up when the bad stuff started. Most of us would jump to a ‘friends’ defense right away, he let it go on and on.

[Moconservative]

John McCain will never truly defend Sarah Palin.

She was the choice for practical reasons but we all know he wanted Lieberman on the ticket.

I’m sure in his distorted centrist mind he says “What if I had put my old friend Joe on the ticket I wonder if I would have won?

No you would have lost by 20 points not 7!

[Tammy8]

First of all- has anyone made a link between the hoax blogger and Cameron? I've only seen speculation of that being the case. Until there is some admission or evidence that Cameron's source was indeed the hoax blogger McCain's staff is not off the hook. If you have proof that Cameron's source was the hoax blogger then we need to hammer FOX with that- but that still doesn't let McCain off the hook.

Second- McCain should have firmly responded immediately to defend Sarah on these rumors- because he chose her and his staff was named as the source.

This part of the article really bothers me- this is not even a lukewarm defense- he flat out dodged the question:

"However, McCain never directly addressed the embarrassing controversy over Palin's expensive campaign wardrobe purchased by the Republican National Committee, or statements by unidentified McCain aides who have reportedly said she was not prepared on foreign policy"

I have not always been a fan of John McCain, because I don't agree with him being so cozy with dims- but I have always thought he deserved respect. His actions regarding the Palin trashing have caused me to rethink how I think about him.

[HardStarboard]

The main thing that hurt the McCain ticket was the top of it.

[FreeReign]

No, the newsweek clearly said it was Palin and then said mcCain had no chance anyway because of the markets.

Hmmm, I must have been crunching on my croutons during the blame Palin part.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Voters will not elect Republicans who act like Democrats; they’ll just vote for the authentic Democrat instead."

[Joann37]

Everyone, PLEASE IGNORE THE HEADLINE. It’s just another MSM written piece of garbage that does not match the article. McCain DID in fact defend Sarah, quite well, it seems:

From the article: “I’m so proud of her and I’m very grateful she agreed to run with me. She inspired people, she still does,” McCain told Jay Leno during an “Tonight Show” interview taped for broadcast Tuesday night. “I couldn’t be happier with Sarah Palin.” Asked by Leno about griping about Palin from unidentified McCain operatives in the days following the election, the Arizona senator said, “These things happen in campaigns...”

[FreeReign]

At last, McCain steps up to the plate. Nice of him to finally make a few statements defending his running mate. Palin 2012 - America’s last, best hope.

In fairness to the truth, McCain did praise his VP pick Palin daily in his three or four speeches that he gave each day for nine weeks and he did the same during his concession speech.

I'm no big fan of McCain and is amnesty games but let's keep it real here. Sarah will forever be McCain's legacy and I think McCain as he has stated over and over again, is proud of her.

[ZULU]

“These things happen in campaigns.”

Mainly REPUBLICAN ones - unfortunately. Just another reason for a third political party.

[what's up]

Most of us would jump to a ‘friends’ defense right away

Not if we're taking plenty of fire ourselves. McCain is suffering plenty of criticisms himself right now as can be evidenced in part by the huge number of negative McCain posts daily right on this forum.

He waited a few days. So what? No one ever knows how long these news cycles are going to last.