McCain - MadIrishman Sheridan Folger Floods Wonkosphere - Proud Men Bush and Heroes Weep!

Imagine if Sheridan Folger, The Mad Irishman of New England who helped John McCain's run in New Hampshire, felt strongly about John McCain?

Good Gobstoppers, Sheridan! There is no backdoor to your Foxhole - that is clear. Sheridan, Abu!

Take a look at the Prolific Partisan's work on the Wonkosphere!

John McCain Buzz
Significant posts about John McCain from the last 24 hours, updated every 4 hours.

Color codes for posts: RED is for conservative, BLUE is for liberal, and GRAY is for independent. ( please ignore)

How State Department earned its reputation for disloyalty
Washington Times:A recent outcry in the Foreign Service over forced assignments in Iraq has angered many veteran diplomats, (Read more...)

From: PrairiePundit | Posted: 2008-01-14 13:03
Insiders who dislike McCain
Jay Costs:Since his win in New Hampshire, many have come to view John McCain as the Republican frontrunner. He has a lead (Read more...)

From: PrairiePundit | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:51
This Morning on the Wonkosphere, McCain and The Mad Irishman
Conservative BuzzMcCain Faltering In Michigan, Romney Rising?ace (1/13) McCain Victory Built on War ExperienceAmerican Conservative News (1/13) 'NYT': Poll Shows Incredible McCain S (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:50
New Polls Show John McCain Fares Best Against Pro-Abortion Democrats
(Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:34
McCain has faith in S.C.
(Read more...)From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:30
Frenemies: McCain, Huckabee Test Relationship
(Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:25
McCain has advantage in Michigan
(Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:20
Pinata time for McCain
Washington Post: Over the past decade, (Read more...)

From: PrairiePundit | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:19
How Do You Solve a Problem Like McCain?
Since his win in New Hampshire, many have come to view John McCain as the Republican frontrunner. He has a lead in the RCP national average, and he is the favorite at InTrade's future's market. I think this talk is... (Read more...)

From: Real Clear Politics | Posted: 2008-01-14 12:13
Why Bother To Publish It?
When looking at polls, readers should always review the sampling to determine their predictive value. After some of the strange polling in the 2004 and 2006 election, most people have become more educated on how to spot poor polling efforts, even... (Read more...)

From: Captain's Quarters | Posted: 2008-01-14 11:31
My Latest Townhall Column: A Conservative Nightmare: Republican Nominee, John McCain
My latest column at Townhall is called A Conservative Nightmare: Republican Nominee, John McCain. Here's an excerpt from the column, Mike Huckabee's campaign manager Ed Rollins has been ceaselessly pilloried on the Right for saying, "It's gone. The... (Read more...)

From: Right Wing News | Posted: 2008-01-14 11:30
JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES RADIO AD IN MICHIGAN AND SOUTH CAROLINA
As president I will never waver in our fight to defend America so that the sacrifices of great Americans like Mike Christian are not made in vain. This is John McCain and I approve this message. ANNCR: Paid for by John McCain 2008. … 10... (Read more...)

From: 4-President | Posted: 2008-01-14 11:23
Patrick Ruffini: McCain's National Lead
So much for Iowa and New Hampshire not mattering this year. CBS/NYTimes: McCain 33 Huckabee 18 Giuliani 10 Romney 8 Thompson 8 Paul 3 ABCNews/WaPo: McCain 28 Huckabee 20 Romney 19 Giuliani 15 Thompson 8 Paul 5 Rudy has (Read more...)

From: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog | Posted: 2008-01-14 10:25
Former Michigan Governor William Milliken Endorses John McCain For
January 13, 2008 — ARLINGTON, VA — US Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that former Michigan Governor … Read more here: Former Michigan Governor William Milliken Endorses John McCain For … 2008... (Read more...)

From: 4-President | Posted: 2008-01-14 08:19
President John McCain? I Don't Think So
The latest polls have John McCain as the national-front runner in the Republican primary. The Bhutto assassination in Pakistan last month reminded voters that we are in an international war against Islamic Radicalism. … american, barack obama, ... (Read more...)

From: 4-President | Posted: 2008-01-14 05:47
Will This Never End?
/C3PO whine. Republicans will vote in Michigan on Tuesday and Nevada and South Carolina on Saturday. I'm already mad at voters in both states, and I don't even know why. According to the latest polls, Romney and McCain are within... (Read more...)

From: ace | Posted: 2008-01-14 04:56
John McCain moves into nationwide lead
After his come-back upset win in New Hampshire, John McCain finds himself in the lead nationwide going into Michigan Tuesday (Read more...)

From: Porter County Politics | Posted: 2008-01-14 04:48
A convert makes a YouTube Post on Mitt's visit today in MI
Yes, it’s “electric!” This person wasn’t a believer, but is now after attending today’s event. He says he’s incredibly motivated after today, and we’re glad to have him! Apparently McCain’s people... (Read more...)

From: Elect Romney in 2008 | Posted: 2008-01-14 04:17
The case against John McCain, Part Two
Earlier today, Scott linked to several interviews with former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum regarding his former colleague John McCain. Santorum,... (Read more...)

From: Power Line | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:56
McCain Camp: Unable To Think Beyond Regulation
In the latest volley between Romney and McCain, Romney has taken issue with McCain's handling of CAFE standards, or rather his love of them. Now, McCain always loving to push the flip flop label on Mit,t released this damning (at least in there eyes)... (Read more...)

From: My Man Mitt | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:55
McCain Stops at MSU!!
Posted: 9:44 PM Jan 13, 2008Last Updated: 9:44 PM Jan 13, 2008Reporter: Jamie EdmondsEmail Address: jamie.edmonds@wilx.com"We won a big victory in New Hampshire," Arizona Senator Joh (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:33
Heavy Hitters From Reagan Era Back Senator McCain
By: Jennifer HarperLawrence Eagleburger, George P. Shultz, Marlin Fitzwater, Robert Mosbacher, Alexander M. Haig Jr., Margaret Tutwiler, Gen. P.X. Kel (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:29
MC CAIN: THE LAST MAN STANDING
Richard ReevesSun Jan 13, 5:53 PM ETBERLIN -- It was a distinct pleasure to be back in Berlin on the night Sen. (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:23
His appeal wide, McCain has automatic advantage when Mich. votes
Associated Press - January 13, 2008 6:54 PM ET READ THE STORY HEREShared with my fellow Straight Tal (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:19
McCain and Obama share royal lineage
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish CorrespondentJohn McCain, the Republican presidential contender, and Barack Obama, his Democrat rival, are both descended f (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:16
CBS Poll: McCain Surges To National Lead
(CBS) Surging after his win in the New Hampshire primary, Arizona Sen. John McCain has come from behind to now lead the national Republican race (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:11
Quote of the day
Training wheels. (Read more...)

From: Hot Air | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:10
John McCain's Sweet Spot
By Rich LowryEver since Huckabee won Iowa, everything has lined up perfectly in this process for John McCain. It must be the lucky n (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-14 03:08
CNN Puts McCain Up 13 Nationally
CNN, nationally: McCain 34, Huckabee 21,amp;nbsp;Giuliani 18, Romney 14,amp;nbsp;Thompson,amp;nbsp;6,amp;nbsp;Paul 5. . . . (Read more...)

From: The Campaign Spot | Posted: 2008-01-14 02:59
McCain Camp: Unable To Think Beyond Regulation
In the latest volley between Romney and McCain, Romney has taken issue with McCain’s handling of CAFE standards, or rather his love of them. Now, McCain always loving to push the flip flop label on Mit,t released this damning (at least … ... (Read more...)

From: 4-President | Posted: 2008-01-14 02:54


You get the idea - the Man is Mad! Mad for McCain!

John McCain: The DNC's Worst Nightmare! I'm a Democrat and I love John McCain!

Here is the script for a new John McCain ad - 'The Democrats Worst Nightmare.'

Hey, Democrats love John McCain - all the Democrat's I talk to in my part of Chicago, anyway. Now, the balloon-heads running the Democratic National Committee - Deano and his Lefty crew - Yes, McCain gives them the Night Terrors.

But, good folks who have long voted the Party of Al Smith, FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, Pat Moynihan, Scoop Jackson and Joe Liberman love John McCain.

Here's the script:

Script For "Democrats' Worst Nightmare" (:30-Web)

CHYRON: What keeps Democrats up at night?

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

HILLARY CLINTON: Senator McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

HILLARY CLINTON: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

DEMOCRAT STRATEGIST BOB BECKEL: The Democrats do not want to run against John McCain.

CHYRON: They don't want to face him

THE WASHINGTON POST'S BOB WOODWARD: If you ask Democrats privately, what do you fear most? The answer is John McCain.

BOB BECKEL: We'd much prefer to run against Romney.

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST ROBERT NOVAK: The Democrats I talk to are really worried about a McCain versus Clinton race.

CHYRON: The only Republican who can beat Clinton or Obama

TALK SHOW HOST LARRY ELDER: When you match McCain up against Barack Obama or against Clinton, he is the only one of the prominent Republican candidates that wins.

BECKEL: It's a nightmare from my standpoint.

CHYRON: John McCain: The Democrats' worst nightmare

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

AD FACTS: JOHN MCCAIN 2008 WEB AD, "THE DEMOCRATS' WORST NIGHTMARE"

John McCain Was "The Real Star" Of Democrat Debate This Week, As His Name Came Up 15 Times During Course Of Night. "The Real Star? The three Democrats were on stage and President Bush was the primary focus of their complaints last night but Republican John McCain took center stage for part of the debate when Edwards predicted that the Arizona Senator will likely become the Republican nominee. Bush's name was mentioned 27 times while McCain's name came up 15 times during the course of the night." (Vaughn Ververs, "Starting Gate: Mud Wrestling Leaves Nobody Looking Clean," CBS News, 1/22/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "The Democrats Do Not Want To Run Against John McCain." "We rooted for Huckabee tonight and we didn't get there. The Democrats do not want to run against John McCain." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

The Washington Post's Bob Woodward: "If You Ask Democrats Privately, What Do You Fear Most? The Answer Is John McCain." "Let me just point out this: If you ask Democrats privately, what do you fear most? The answer is John McCain. That McCain -- we were talking earlier about transparency and openness, "straight talk," Chris was talking about the important notion, personal characteristic of authenticity. McCain has even something more, and that is -- and this is Democrats talking privately -- moral authority. And with the moral authority of his background, his kind of unflinching backing in the Iraq War, not just of the surge, but at the beginning when McCain diagnosed the problem in the war. We didn't have enough troops from the beginning. And he kept hammering on that. So there's a certain consistency, moral authority, carries a lot of weight." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 1/8/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "We'd Much Prefer To Run Against Romney." "We don't want him [McCain] to have the nomination. We'd much prefer to run against Romney. Certainly prefer to run against Huckabee. And probably our best shot we'd have against Giuliani." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Syndicated Columnist Bob Novak: "The Democrats I Talk To Are Really Worried About A McCain Versus Clinton Race." "The Democrats I talk to are really worried about a McCain versus Clinton race. They would love to have Romney in because they don't think he's electable." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Talk Show Host Larry Elder: "When You Match McCain Up Against Barack Obama Or Against Clinton , Is The Only One Of The Prominent Republicans That Wins." "It is certainly true that McCain -- when you match McCain up against Barack Obama or against Clinton , he is the only one of the prominent Republican candidates that wins. So he is probably going to be a more formidable candidate ..." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "It's A Nightmare From My Standpoint." (Fox News, 12/3/07)

John McCain: Romney is Mellow/Dazed and Confused - But So Chilled!

Hannity and Colmes want to Mix it Up with McCain - Pack a big lunch girls!










Above one of the creampuffs - who had his feelings hurt by John McCain! Chilling.
"I like my Mitt chilled - shaken but not stirred?" Conservative Gasbags!

What is Mitt anesthetized?

Get Mad Mitt - Wait til tomorrow and then throw a dandy hissy-fit.

As for John McCain's anger? There are twelve deep around the oval bar at Keegan's Pub - traditional Democrats 0h, you know Chicago Cops; Chicago Firemen; Nurses; Bankers; Streets and Sanitation Workers; Tradesmen; School teachers; journalists and even one or two movie stars - George Wendt pops in for a pint of Guinness periodically - waiting to buy rounds all night and cast their votes for John McCain.

He's their kind of guy. Look at the beauties with whom John McCain took umbrage- not Armless Blind Timmy the Newsies; or Mary Jane Ironlung; or Northeye Quinlan - the lazy-eyed jeweler's appraiser. McCain did not slap Cynthia McKinney or Jerry Weller or the other Congresspeople who take the short yellow bus to work. He whacked some powerful crybabies.

Mitt - what did you pay for this "attack ad?" You been had Mr. Business Dude! What are you gonna Cry now? Good reason to.

THE MCCAIN WAY
ATTACK REPUBLICANS
A Top 10 List…


Defending His Amnesty Bill, Sen. McCain Lost His Temper And “Screamed, ‘F*ck You!’ At Texas Sen. John Cornyn” (R-TX). “Presidential hopeful John McCain - who has been dogged for years by questions about his volcanic temper - erupted in an angry, profanity-laced tirade at a fellow Republican senator, sources told The Post yesterday. In a heated dispute over immigration-law overhaul, McCain screamed, ‘F— you!’ at Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who had been raising concerns about the legislation. ‘This is chickens—stuff,’ McCain snapped at Cornyn, according to several people in the room off the Senate floor Thursday. ‘You’ve always been against this bill, and you’re just trying to derail it.’” (Charles Hurt, “Raising McCain,” New York Post, 5/19/07)
In 2000, Sen. McCain Ran An Attack Ad Comparing Then-Gov. George W. Bush To Bill Clinton. SEN. MCCAIN: “I guess it was bound to happen. Governor Bush’s campaign is getting desperate, with a negative ad about me. The fact is, I’ll use the surplus money to fix Social Security, cut your taxes and pay down the debt. Governor Bush uses all of the surplus for tax cuts, with not one new penny for Social Security or the debt. His ad twists the truth like Clinton. We’re all pretty tired of that. As president, I’ll be conservative and always tell you the truth. No matter what.” (McCain 2000, Campaign Ad, 2/9/00; www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHoXkCprdL4)
Sen. McCain Repeatedly Called Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) An “A**hole”, Causing A Fellow GOP Senator To Say, “I Didn’t Want This Guy Anywhere Near A Trigger.” “Why can’t McCain win the votes of his own colleagues? To explain, a Republican senator tells this story: at a GOP meeting last fall, McCain erupted out of the blue at the respected Budget Committee chairman, Pete Domenici, saying, ‘Only an a–hole would put together a budget like this.’ Offended, Domenici stood up and gave a dignified, restrained speech about how in all his years in the Senate, through many heated debates, no one had ever called him that. Another senator might have taken the moment to check his temper. But McCain went on: ‘I wouldn’t call you an a–hole unless you really were an a–hole.’ The Republican senator witnessing the scene had considered supporting McCain for president, but changed his mind. ‘I decided,’ the senator told Newsweek, ‘I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.’” (Evan Thomas, et al., “Senator Hothead,” Newsweek, 2/21/00)
Sen. McCain Had A Heated Exchange With Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) And Called Him A “F*cking Jerk.” “Senators are not used to having their intelligence or integrity challenged by another senator. ‘Are you calling me stupid?’ Sen. Chuck Grassley once inquired during a debate with McCain over the fate of the Vietnam MIAs, according to a source who was present. ‘No,’ replied McCain, ‘I’m calling you a f—ing jerk!’ (Grassley and McCain had no comment.)” (Evan Thomas, et al., “Senator Hothead,” Newsweek, 2/21/00)
In 1995, Sen. McCain Had A “Scuffle” With 92-Year-Old Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) On The Senate Floor. “In January 1995, McCain was midway through an opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing when chairman Strom Thurmond asked, ‘Is the senator about through?’ McCain glared at Thurmond, thanked him for his ‘courtesy’ (translation: buzz off), and continued on. McCain later confronted Thurmond on the Senate floor. A scuffle ensued, and the two didn’t part friends.” (Harry Jaffe, “Senator Hothead,” The Washingtonian, 2/97)
Sen. McCain Accused Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Of The “Most Egregious Incident” Of Corruption He Had Seen In The Senate. “It escalated when McCain reiterated the charges Oct. 10 in a cross-examination, calling McConnell’s actions the ‘most egregious incident’ demonstrating the appearance of corruption he has ever seen in his Senate career.” (Amy Keller, “Attacks Escalate In Depositions,” Roll Call, 10/21/02)
Sen. McCain Attacked Christian Leaders And Republicans In A Blistering Speech During The 2000 Campaign. MCCAIN: “Unfortunately, Governor Bush is a Pat Robertson Republican who will lose to Al Gore. … The political tactics of division and slander are not our values… They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country. Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right.” (Sen. John McCain, Remarks,

Virginia Beach, VA, 2/28/00)
Sen. McCain Attacked Vice President Cheney. MCCAIN: “The president listened too much to the Vice President . . . Of course, the president bears the ultimate responsibility, but he was very badly served by both the Vice President and, most of all, the Secretary of Defense.” (Roger Simon, “McCain Bashes Cheney Over Iraq Policy,” The Politico, 1/24/07)
Celebrating His First Senate Election In 1986, Sen. McCain Screamed At And Harassed A Young Republican Volunteer. “It was election night 1986, and John McCain had just been elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time. Even so, he was not in a good mood. McCain was yelling at the top of his lungs and poking the chest of a young Republican volunteer who had set up a lectern that was too tall for the 5-foot-9 politician to be seen to advantage, according to a witness to the outburst. ‘Here this poor guy is thinking he has done a good job, and he gets a new butt ripped because McCain didn’t look good on television,’ Jon Hinz told a reporter Thursday. At the time, Hinz was executive director of the Arizona Republican Party. … Hinz said McCain’s treatment of the young campaign worker in 1986 troubled him for years. ‘There were an awful lot of people in the room,’ Hinz recalled. ‘You’d have to stick cotton in your ears not to hear it. He (McCain) was screaming at him, and he was red in the face. It wasn’t right, and I was very upset at him.’” (Kris Mayes and Charles Kelly, “Stories Surface On Senator’s Demeanor,” The Arizona

Republic, 11/5/99)
Sen. McCain “Publicly Abused” Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). “[McCain] noted his propensity for passion but insisted that he doesn’t ‘insult anybody or fly off the handle or anything like that.’ This is, quite simply, hogwash. McCain often insults people and flies off the handle…. There have been the many times McCain has called reporters ‘liars’ and ‘idiots’ when they have had the audacity to ask him unpleasant, but pertinent, questions. McCain once… publicly abused Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama.” (Editorial, “There’s Something About McCain,” The Austin American-Statesman, 1/24/07)

Senator McCain, leave some for the blind-cripple kid - he wants in on these goofs too!

McCain Plants Himself in Townhall Meetings - Greets the Opposition with Candor!

HT -to Meghan McCain for her great photos of the McCain Campaign. Check out Meghan's great site at


http://www.mccainblogette.com/


While other candidates are planting shills in the audience or lighting up blimps, John McCain takes to the people. In a wondeful Boston Globe article John McCain reveals his true nature to those who would oppose him -'You might not like what I have to say but here it is!'

John McCain tells folks who detest his stand on immigration reform and other weighty issues to fa candidate to back - this is America!

"The McCain town-hall meeting sets the standard," said Fergus Cullen, the state Republican party chairman, who is remaining neutral in the primary. "Any candidate who wants to be successful in New Hampshire should do exactly what he does."

Other candidates would find the experience hard to replicate. The only certainty at a McCain event is that the candidate will begin with some familiar jokes - in Bedford, he began with a full seven minutes of comic material, touching on identity theft and drunk Irish twins - and end, sometimes as long as 90 minutes later, with the piano chords of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

In between, McCain does all he can to manufacture dramatic tension from what could become a prosaic exchange over policy. Even though most of the questions fall into predictable categories for which he has standard answers - Iraq, terrorism, immigration, the economy, global warming - McCain invites his interlocutors to follow up after he has answered their questions, elevating innocent queries into robust debates.Continued...

McCain appears to gain more strength from confronting attendees of these meetings than locating areas of agreement. When environmentally minded voters ask about climate change, McCain will usually go out of his way to tell them he supports the expanded use of nuclear power. After a young woman in Bedford cited a poll that said military families were unhappy with the direction of the war in Iraq, McCain disputed the question's premise and berated her for believing the survey's results.

It does not take much for McCain to tell voters who disagree with his positions that they should back another candidate. When a man rose in Raymond and contested the right of Mexican immigrants to receive emergency medical care, McCain said, "It's that option or let them die." This did not seem to move the man, who added that those who die crossing a border "take their chances."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it," McCain responded calmly. "And I understand why you wouldn't support me."

McCain tries to keep his act fresh, relying on opening remarks he adjusts to the news with an anchorman's sense of timing, from constitutional turmoil in Pakistan one day to the debate in Washington over torture the next.

"I think it's very important to be talking about the issue of the day," McCain explained. "The people would be badly served if I started a town hall meeting without talking about Pakistan."

Among McCain's Republican rivals, only Mitt Romney has done a large number of similar open-invitation meetings in New Hampshire, with Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson preferring quick visits to restaurants or friendly venues like house parties or businesses. "You're never going to be asked an awkward question at a house party because the guests all know the hosts and aren't going to embarrass their friend," said Cullen.

Where some other candidates steer clear of gadflies for organized causes, McCain preemptively calls on those wearing "I Am a Health Care Voter" or "Stop Global Warming" stickers to give them a platform. In Bedford, McCain pointed to Melissa Skinner, a volunteer for the One anti-poverty moment standing in the back of a crowded room in a black T-shirt with the group's logo. Skinner said afterward that she has attended many candidate events but that "McCain is the first to call on me."

"These are the kind of people we ought to recognize as the outstanding citizens in our community," McCain said in an interview, although his policy of offering the mike to anyone who shows up to an event in costume seems to promote theatrics as much as civics. McCain recently informed a snowman making a point about global warming that he resembled a "chicken" and a teenager wearing a Santa Claus hat that he looked "kind of dorky."

The composition of crowds - which are raised by phone and mail invitations to both Republicans and independents within driving distance - has shifted in recent months, from a concentration of McCain loyalists to a mix of supporters and undecided voters.

The events' unpredictability helps lure independents, a key McCain constituency, according to the campaign's media consultant Mark McKinnon. "People enjoy it because it's a high-wire act and because you never know what will happen. There's always a chance of a car wreck. That's why people go to the Indy 500," McKinnon said, citing such unscripted moments as McCain's notorious rendition of the Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann" with lyrics altered to "bomb Iran."

Indeed, McCain, too, is drawn to the spectacle, often retreating to his bus and reviewing a previous town hall with a theatre critic's focus on the moments of tension and unease.

"In politics, so much is just predictable, totally scripted," said Meghan McCain, the candidate's daughter. "That's why he loves the town hall, because anything can happen."

In Portsmouth, a veteran named Greg Majors rose to say that a motorcycle accident had left him living for the past 22 years with a traumatic brain injury. Majors, in halting speech, said he was "taking up valuable space" and found his existence "pointless."

Unlike other tales of personal despair candidates face - about a sick relative facing rising health-care costs, or from a worker laid off due to outsourcing - there was no policy corner where McCain could find refuge, just one man asking another why he should continue to live.

"Why don't I just pass it off to someone else and just exterminate my life?" Majors asked.

McCain turned away from Majors as he grasped for a response. "Greg, we want you and we love you and we need you, and you will be our inspiration with your courage," McCain told him.

"I've never seen anything like that," McCain said later on, lamenting the "inadequacy" he felt in being unable to comfort Majors, as well as a man at a town hall the previous evening who stood up to talk about his ongoing struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

"When everybody says, 'Oh, don't you get tired of it? Don't you dislike it? Isn't it a drag?' all that, you have experiences like the last two we had within the last sixteen hours," McCain said. "And it's incredible."

McCain appears to gain more strength from confronting attendees of these meetings than locating areas of agreement. When environmentally minded voters ask about climate change, McCain will usually go out of his way to tell them he supports the expanded use of nuclear power. After a young woman in Bedford cited a poll that said military families were unhappy with the direction of the war in Iraq, McCain disputed the question's premise and berated her for believing the survey's results.

Related political coverage:
McCain, Obama see gains in N.H. poll
Globe graphic Boston Globe poll on the New Hampshire primary
PDF Boston Globe poll of the New Hampshire primary
McCain's town hall events hit home in N.H.
Symbolism of immigration drives economic fears in Iowa prairie town
Obama and Clinton each claim greater backing from foreign policy specialists
Campaign Notebook Giuliani says he got checked out for headache in St. Louis
More coverage of Campaign '08 more stories like thisIt does not take much for McCain to tell voters who disagree with his positions that they should back another candidate. When a man rose in Raymond and contested the right of Mexican immigrants to receive emergency medical care, McCain said, "It's that option or let them die." This did not seem to move the man, who added that those who die crossing a border "take their chances."

"I guess that's one way of looking at it," McCain responded calmly. "And I understand why you wouldn't support me."

Boston Globe
Click on my post title for the great Boston Globe article - especially the poignant exchange between John McCain and the troubled Veteran. How someone could not understand that John McCain is the Real Deal is beyond me - but, so is the New York Times.

Last night, I participated in a national conference chat with McCain Bloggers orchestrated by Brad Marston. It was great to experience the energy and enthusiam Americans from all over the country in supporting the only candidate of any Party who can lead America in time of war with Islamist terror. Well done, Brad, Vicki, Michael, Jeff, Eric, Sheridan, and JM!

McCain is Being Cheated in The Wonkosphere It Seems to Me

This seems Serious!

Twenty Two of Thirty Posts linked on Wonkosphere's McCain Buzz Tab are violently anti-McCain. I lodged two inquiries to Wonkosphere and received no Response.*

Take a look at the sharp contrast in the tone of posts in the Romney Buzz linked below.

Here is one of the inquiries that I lodged to the Wonkosphere Editors:

Look at the nature of the Posts linked below. Why is that?

http://wonkosphere.com/mccain.htm

http://wonkosphere.com/romney.htm

The Contrast is Unbelievable! What's up? McCain Buzz is top-heavy negative postings and your Romney Buzz is all Hozzanas!

Let me know ASAP.

Thanks folks,

Pat Hickey

This is not Right - Wonkosphere appears to be in Mitt's mitts shortly before the New Hampshire Debates and Primary.

Here is the McCain Buzz as it appears on Wonkosphere at this moment:

John McCain BuzzSignificant posts about John McCain from the last 24 hours, updated every 4 hours.

Color codes for posts: RED is for conservative, BLUE is for liberal, and GRAY is for independent.

Get out the vote in NH
Taking the Silver in Iowa. Like Mitt said, it’s not what we’d hoped but it’s still a great finish, and preparation for the ultimate gold. We need to keep things humming along. What can you do? Make sure you make your phone... (Read more...)

From: Elect Romney in 2008 | Posted: 2008-01-05 09:10

What's at Stake in New Hampshire
Gov. Romney is down, and I’m not going to pretend that I think he’s got the advantage going into New Hampshire. Sen. McCain is peaking in the state at just the right time just at Gov. Romney’s low point. He CAN win though. He... (Read more...)

From: Elect Romney in 2008 | Posted: 2008-01-05 07:04

John McCain: Hero but Hypocrite
I’m growing tired of the double standard as it relates to “negativity” on the campaign trail. Mitt’s been a gentleman, despite running contrast ads against his opponents. He has yet to make any judgments on character or... (Read more...)

From: Elect Romney in 2008 | Posted: 2008-01-05 05:00

Dueling GOP Web Ads
MANCHESTER -- Mitt Romney and John McCain target each other, naturally, in two new Web ads out today. McCain's ad will appear on targeted national and early state news and information websites, including politico.com, unionleader.com and boston.com,... (Read more...)

From: national journal hotline | Posted: 2008-01-05 03:21

I Agree With McCain On Something!
We want the same thing: When asked about Joe Lieberman (who has endorsed McCain), he responded: I would definitely want Joe Lieberman to play a part — particularly in national security issues — in my administration. Me too! It would... (Read more...)

From: Multi Medium | Posted: 2008-01-05 02:58
Swifties aren't gone, they've just changed candidates
Over the last three years, the group of organized, well-financed liars ironically named the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” have come to be synonymous with vicious smears and mendacity. Most honorable people, who have any decency at all, look... (Read more...)

From: Crooks and Liars | Posted: 2008-01-05 02:45
Amidst All The McCain Worship
John Hood makes an excellent point: There is also a longer, truly heart-felt affection by center-left journalists for McCain, who... (Read more...)

From: Transterrestrial Musings | Posted: 2008-01-05 02:30
Great comments
There are always such great comments from this Blog’s readers, that I want your post on the front page not just the discussion session. Here are a few: From Nivek: Medved has lost a listener in me. He doesn’t have to agree with me on who ... (Read more...)

From: Elect Romney in 2008 | Posted: 2008-01-05 01:30
Video: "Make it a hundred"
Straight talk. (Read more...)

From: Hot Air | Posted: 2008-01-05 00:51
Hugh Hewitt: The Case for McCain: Climate Change and Campaign Finance Reform (Bumped and Updated)
Former New Hampshire Congressman Charlie Bass just endorsed John McCain, and explained to Fox News' John Gibson that John McCain has always stood for the same things. The first two issues cited by Bass? "Climate... (Read more...)

From: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog | Posted: 2008-01-05 00:44
Post-Iowa Fred
(Read more...)

From: Say Anything | Posted: 2008-01-05 00:36
McCain's Days as Viable Candidate Numbered
From Bob McCarty Writes: En route to New Hampshire, Republican John McCain is getting a lot of mileage out of his third-place finish in the Iowa Caucus. At the same time, he must realize his days as a presidential contender are numbered, in part, ... (Read more...)

From: NoisyRoom | Posted: 2008-01-05 00:29
The McCain Update - January 4, 2008
(Read more...)

From: Politico Mafioso | Posted: 2008-01-04 23:46
LIVE Webcast/Chat/Blog From The Spin Room At The NH Debate Tomorrow Night!
LIVE Webcast/Chat/Blog From The Spin Room at the NH DebateI will be Webcasting/Blogging LIVE from the Spin Room at the ABC News/Facebook/WMUR sponsored debate from St. Anselms College in Manches (Read more...)

From: Mad Irishman's Conservative Consortium | Posted: 2008-01-04 23:39
The Pentagon's Muslim tug-of-war ends in defeat
Follow up. (Read more...)

From: Hot Air | Posted: 2008-01-04 23:15
GEEZERS AND WHIPPERSNAPPERS.
One further thought about the prospect of a McCain-Obama contest next fall: The gap between the candidates' ages (McCain is 71, Obama is 46; that's a 25-year difference) would probably be the greatest in American presidential election history. (Read more...)

From: TAPPED | Posted: 2008-01-04 23:05
Hugh Hewitt: The Case For McCain: Climate Change and Campaign Finance Reform
Former New Hampshire Congressman Charlie Bass just endorsed John McCain, and explained to Fox News' John Gibson that John McCain has always stood for the same things. The first two issues cited by Bass? "Climate... (Read more...)

From: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog | Posted: 2008-01-04 22:44
CNN on Ron Paul and Sunday Fox News Forum
This is a fair treatment of the situation by CNN and Wolf Blitzer. UPDATE: ARG New Hampshire GOP Primary John McCain 35% (30%) Mitt Romney 25% (30%) Mike Huckabee 12% (11%) Ron Paul 9% (7%) Rudy Giuliani 8% (9%) Fred Thompson 1% (3%) Duncan Hunter 1%... (Read more...)

From: M Rebman | Posted: 2008-01-04 22:41
A little straight talk from Wilford Brimley
by Jill Zuckman Nashua, N.H. – The big gun is here. Wilford Brimley, the Marine turned actor turned oatmeal pitchman, will be traveling on the bus for Sen. John McCain. "The reason I'm here is because I think John McC (Read more...)

From: The Swamp | Posted: 2008-01-04 22:38
McCain's Momentum Ad
The New Hampshire pitch: (Read more...)

From: The Daily Dish | Posted: 2008-01-04 22:37
Mitt today: "No way" will McCain bring change; Mitt 2002: "He has always stood for reform and change"
Flipper! (Read more...)

From: Hot Air | Posted: 2008-01-04 22:30
Has the media picked its man?
Last year, Fred Barnes, the prominent conservative pundit and executive editor of The Weekly Standard, noted, “In 2000, his aides joked that McCain’s base was the media. In truth, it was.” I rarely agree with Barnes, but he’s ... (Read more...)

From: The Carpetbagger Report | Posted: 2008-01-04 21:10
Blogtalk: New Hampshire Lights Up Online
A stew of voices -- Republican, Democrat, substantial and light-hearted -- can be heard these days within the New Hampshire blogosphere. (Read more...)

From: The Caucus | Posted: 2008-01-04 21:09
McCain Web Ad Blasts Romney
I used to be skeptical about the propulsive effect of campaign web ads, and viewed them as a way for campaigns to drive the press's focus without having to spend the money on a television advertisement. Well, I still think the latter thought is... (Read more...)

From: Marc Ambinder | Posted: 2008-01-04 21:08
McCain presses support for Iraq War at defense contractor
By Mike Dorning NASHUA, N.H.—The war in Iraq may not be popular with the broad national public. But John McCain still charged into the final stretch of the New Hampshire primary campaign highlighting his unwavering support for the U. (Read more...)

From: The Swamp | Posted: 2008-01-04 20:58
Stick it to Politico
Fred Heads get the last laugh. (Read more...)

From: Don Surber | Posted: 2008-01-04 20:34
Four more years of Cheney?
In all likelihood, you don’t need yet another reason to reject the very idea of a Rudy Giuliani presidential administration. Here’s one anyway. Would a Rudy Giuliani administration be populated with a cabinet of Republican rivals and a... (Read more...)

From: Crooks and Liars | Posted: 2008-01-04 20:27
Swift Boat Liars aren't gone, they've just changed candidates
Over the last three years, the group of organized, well-financed liars ironically named the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” have come to be synonymous with vicious smears and mendacity. Most honorable people, who have any decency at all,... (Read more...)

From: The Carpetbagger Report | Posted: 2008-01-04 20:20
Dance of the White Heads
(Read more...)

From: Crooks and Liars | Posted: 2008-01-04 19:42
Video: "Twists"
Mileage. (Read more...)

From: Hot Air | Posted: 2008-01-04 19:32

The McCain Campaign Need to Jump on this and Get some Answers!

UpDate 11:58 CST:*

RE: Above - I just got this e-mail from Wonkosphere

steve@wonkosphere.com View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
To: conorhickey@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Re: Wonkosohere message: question

Good morning. In response to your inquiry, please see
http://wonkoblog.com/2008/01/05/mccain-taking-heavy-fire-dont

It appears that Mitt Romney's Campaign flooded the Wonkosphere with violently negative posts on John McCain. Akin to tearing down house signs and smearing one's character. Mitt's desperate.
The Wonkosphere should cover itself and yank the Romney vitriol - or at least start posting from the McCain People.

John McCain: New York Times got Nothing??!!! Zero - Nothing on Page One? Old Woman and Dad and Lad Talk it up on MSNBC - The Tool Shed

I had No Idea that the JO of MSNBC Keef Olderwoman was referred to by his fan as KAYO - Well, ain't that something.


















Rachel Maddow of Air America comforts Keith Olbermann outside of 30 Rock after belaboring the New York Times Pooch Screwing.



John McCain has enemies. Who don't. I got small inconsequential enemies - deadlines, bills, people who drive and pass in and from the right lane. No vast conspiracies or confederacies of dunces in league against this average mope, because like you, dear reader, - both of you - I lead a life of quiet desperation.

My arch-enemies are tree roots in the sewer pipes and the kid at Fat Tommy's Hot Dogs who gives my coupons for two a real Homeland Security Going Over - jerk.

John McCain, a National Hero and the next President of United States has enemies coming at him like fat kids to free cake. Politics will do that.

Last night, MSNBC - The Tool Shed: More Tools Than Sears Outlet; Brought to You by GE!- worked John McCain over. 'It is his cloaking himself in his mantle of purity that will be his undoing.' The Feds still charge for that one? I learned via a poster whom I deleted for excessive profanity and bed-bug logic that Keith Olbermann is KAYO to his score of national fans. Another consonant might precede the O, but that is just me - and I am bad.

The Old Woman, JO, or Kayo persisted in bringing up intimations of a sexual liason between John McCain and the eye candy lobbyist. Kayo has issues best left unillustrated.

Not so John McCain - to those who would charge him with self-piety and therefore deserving of a greater fall than Adam, Here is John McCain about himself.

The Old Woman, Keith Olbermann and his pal Rachel Madcow, or Maddow, gleefully talked up future flytraps for McCain. Then Right after MELTDOWN with KAYO, Pencil-neck Nebbish Dan Abrams trotted out his Dad, Floyd Abrams - the lawyer who blew the challenge to McCain -Feingold and, no fan of John McCain he, tried to paint McCain as smug and arrogant - ( BTW- Dan Abrams! Did your Daddy do some influence peddling to get you hooked up in TV/ He was a Network lawyer - You did not do full disclosure Danny boy! Daddo had history with John McCain over McCain/Feingold!)

Calvin Woodward wrote a great piecee for before the New Hampshire Primary that belies any charge of McCain being anything than a straight-talking and honest man. Imagine Kayo at an American Legion or Parish Fish Fry and connecting with someone's knuckles? Very strong possiblity. Or MSNBC's Dad and Lad, Dan and Floyd Abrams whinning to get 'first chair' at Giovanni's barber shop on 111th Street? John McCain happens to be very much like most Americans. McCain is one of us. Arrogant? Naw, McCain's not on Cable News. Here's McCain:

Who else would refer to the Arizona retirement community of Leisure World as "Seizure World," as he did in his first Senate campaign? Just for fun, out loud? He couldn't help himself. (He won anyway.)
Consider McCain's life as a series of impolitic one-liners, each one illuminating complex threads of the past.

He's had a line for everything and everyone — those he tormented at the Naval Academy as a n'er-do-well midshipman, those who tortured him in Vietnam, his legion of friends and foes in the capital, the "little jerks" he ribbed in a campaign crowd, an "idiot" reporter, his own ego and, these days, his advancing age — 70.

McCain, "the Punk" in high school, has plenty of targets and none more tempting than himself.

It's a quality that sets him apart in the carefully staged presidential race, a replay of sorts of his Navy academy daze. Then as now, McCain verged on flunking out but pulled himself together in the nick of time. He's gone from chump to hero before, and he's trying again.

Then there is today's front page of the New York Times - Nothing! They got a 'ask our reporters' cop-out and new new earth shattering developments. Pathetic, small and cowardly os the New York Times. MSNBC is just a laugh riot of cartoon characters playing at Pundit.

John McCain has enemies: World Islamist Terror, a stagnant economy, and a spineless national news media for generations of history challenged Americans. The caliber of McCain's political enemies is collectively small, self-absorbed, puffed up,cowardly, but it seems no real threat. John McCain will chew through their flabby asses, gnaw on their bones and take the Oath of Office next January.

John McCain - Backs America's Veterans - He is One!

A recent article states that Veteran support for John McCcain is no sure thing, but John McCain's Presidency is sure thing for vets - here is Senator McCain's Program for Veterans:

America owes its liberty, its prosperity, and its future to our veterans who have dedicated their lives to protecting our great country. John McCain has fought to honor our national commitment to our veterans who have given their careers and livelihoods to ensuring our freedom. He believes we must provide for service members and their families while they serve, we must help those who return from combat to adjust to civilian life, and we must honor and never forget the service of those who do not return.

John McCain has been a leader in Congress, fighting for all those who serve and their families, improving veterans' health care, providing veterans with the benefits they have earned, easing their transition to civilian life, and honoring the fallen.


PROVIDING FOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS

John McCain believes that meeting the needs of our service members who defend us is our obligation and is essential to our national security. He worked to increase pay scales for servicemen and women during both the Persian Gulf War and the current War on Terror and to increase enlistment and reenlistment bonuses for reservists and guardsmen. He also sponsored bills to give special tax relief to deployed service members and to set up overseas savings programs for the men and women fighting in the Gulf War.

HONORING THE SERVICE OF RESERVISTS AND GUARDSMEN


"For my part, I would simply affirm that the sacrifices borne by veterans deserve to be memorialized in something more lasting than marble or bronze or in the fleeting effect of a politician's speech. Your valor and your devotion to duty have earned your country's abiding concern for your well being. I am, I assure you, committed to honoring that debt."

John McCain, Remarks to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3/7/95



The nation's reserve personnel have been a vital component of the Global War on Terror, with reservists serving side-by-side with active duty members in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe. John McCain believes that the fundamental role of reservists has changed over the last decade, and given their invaluable role and the tremendous sacrifices that these men and women have made, they should receive additional benefits than those that they have traditionally been granted.

For this reason, John McCain has supported legislation to expand retirement benefits for reservists, supported provisions to expand eligibility for health care benefits for reservists and their families, and sponsored legislation to grant survivor benefit payments to the spouses of reservists who die during or as the result of training.

IMPROVING VETERANS' HEALTH CARE

John McCain believes that America's veterans who dedicated themselves to protecting our country deserve the highest quality health care. He is committed to ensuring that veterans' health care programs receive the funding necessary to provide the quality health care our veterans need and deserve. He has worked to ensure that the Veteran's Administration provides care for all eligible veterans, no matter where they live or what they need. In addition, John McCain has fought to ensure that retired servicemen and women have meaningful access to affordable health care.

Funding Veterans' Health Care

John McCain has voted repeatedly, throughout his career, to ensure that the Veteran's Administration health care programs receive the funding necessary to serve our veterans. He has supported numerous funding increases, initiatives to make the VA more efficient, and proposals to give higher pay to VA doctors in order to recruit and retain high quality physicians and dentists.

Expanding Veterans' Access to Health Care

John McCain has worked to ensure that geography does not prevent veterans from receiving the care they have earned. He supported measures to allow veterans in remote areas of Alaska to get care at existing facilities run by the Indian Health Service or tribal organizations. He also rallied support for a demonstration project to send mobile health centers to remote locations where veterans need care. In addition, he sponsored legislation that would ensure that health care funding is distributed fairly, and that eligible veterans in all regions of the country can equally access high quality health care.

Serving the Special Health Care Needs of Veterans

John McCain understands that veterans face a broad array of health challenges, many of which disproportionately afflict our former service members. He has fought to ensure that veterans receive health care that reflects their unique needs.

For this reason, John McCain advocated for guaranteeing health benefits to veterans who have been exposed to radiation. He also worked to advance studies on the health effects of exposure to Agent Orange and to give disability benefits to veterans with cancer and other health problems caused by Agent Orange. He supported efforts to provide veterans with treatment for tobacco related illnesses and substance abuse problems, and he sponsored legislation to cover mental health care in military retiree health plans. John McCain has also been a leading advocate for providing veterans with hospice benefits.

Health Care for Retired Veterans

John McCain believes that all military retirees, even if they are not eligible for VA health care, should be provided with meaningful access to health care. The federal government should ease the burden of health care costs on those people who have dedicated their careers to protecting our freedom. He has supported allowing military retirees to remain eligible for CHAMPUS or TRICARE military health care programs even when they reach the age of 65 and are eligible for Medicare. He has also consistently supported efforts to give military retirees tax breaks to help pay health insurance premiums, and he has opposed placing user fees on military retirees for using military medical facilities.

PROVIDING VETERANS WITH THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED

John McCain strongly believes that it is our duty as a nation to provide our veterans, who dedicated their careers, risked their personal safety, and sometimes sacrificed their lives in order to protect us, with the benefits that we have promised them and that they have earned.

John McCain has voted consistently to increase funding for veterans' benefits, recognizing that the people who serve our country should get priority over the disgraceful amounts of spending on corporate subsidies and wasteful pork barrel spending. He also pushed for various initiatives to ensure that veterans who are eligible for benefits know what they are entitled to and have the resources to obtain their benefits.

CARING FOR OUR DISABLED VETERANS

John McCain has been a leading advocate in the Senate for disabled veterans throughout his entire career. He fought for nearly fifteen years, introducing numerous bills, to ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities can receive the retirement benefits that they have earned, as well as the disability compensation benefits that they are entitled to. He has also worked to ensure that veterans can have their disability claims processed in a timely manner, working with the VA to rectify its huge backlog of claims and providing additional resources for that purpose.

John McCain believes very strongly that service members who suffered permanent injuries in service to our nation should not be forced to give up their disability compensation in order to collect their retirement pay. For this reason, John McCain has been a staunch supporter of repealing the historic ban on receiving both disability and retirement pay at the same time. Over the past few years, John McCain has successfully pushed for provisions to compensate disabled retired veterans for this disparity. Now, because of his efforts, veterans with severe combat-related disabilities are able to collect their retirement and disability compensation at the same time. John McCain will continue to fight for equal treatment of disabled veterans under the retirement system. In an effort to help disabled veterans with their health care, he cosponsored a measure to allow disabled veterans to be enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the same health insurance offered to Senators and Congressmen. He has also supported higher payments to disabled veterans and survivors of veterans who died because of service connected injuries.

John McCain has worked to increase VA resources for paralysis research, and he spearheaded an effort to establish a Blind Rehabilitation Center in Tucson, Arizona to help the 1,200 vets on waiting lists for rehab services for the blind.

A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR GULF WAR VETERANS

John McCain has always been a leader on veteran's issues, and Congress has often looked to him, particularly during times of conflict and war. On January 31, 1991, Senator Bob Dole appointed John McCain Co-Chairman of a task force to make recommendations to the Senate regarding effective policies to help the men and women and their families who served in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. John McCain worked with his colleagues to identify the most beneficial proposals, including doubling veteran and service member life insurance benefits, the establishment of a death gratuity payment for Persian Gulf service members, housing loan benefits for Gulf War veterans, expanded reemployment rights, and providing readjustment counseling for veterans.

EASING THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE

John McCain believes that we must do what we can to smooth the transition for veterans from military to civilian life. He has strongly supported educational and job counseling programs to help veterans get civilian employment. He has worked to provide new educational assistance for reservists. He also fought to extend the availability of G.I. bill education benefits for Vietnam veterans, and to expand flight training benefits to more veterans. In addition, John McCain is a strong supporter of the Troops-To-Teachers Act, a program to train veterans to become teachers, and introduced legislation to extend the program. John McCain also believes that we must provide more assistance to veterans who are recently discharged and has worked to extend unemployment and vocational training benefits for veterans.

John McCain has also been a strong advocate for those veterans most in need. He has supported numerous bills to help homeless veterans by providing them with counseling, independent living training, and residential treatment programs so that they can address and overcome those ailments that plague many homeless veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

PROTECTING VETERANS FROM FINANCIAL LOSS

John McCain has also worked for a number of other financial protection and relief provisions for service members and veterans. He supported amendments to the bankruptcy reform bill that would protect veterans from being denied bankruptcy claims if they incurred their debts while defending our country. He also sponsored legislation to extend the tax filing deadline for Gulf War service members. In addition, he pushed for legislation to protect veterans from scam artists and loan sharks who would prey on low income veterans by offering them a small amount of "fast cash" to sign over their veteran's benefits.

PROVIDING FOR THE FAMILIES OF OUR FALLEN HEROES

John McCain believes that in addition to our national duty to provide benefits to veterans who return from combat, we must honor those who do not return and provide for their families with a death gratuity benefit and meaningful life insurance coverage. During the last two major military conflicts, John McCain worked to increase death gratuity payments. He cosponsored legislation to double the death gratuity payment in 2003 for service men and women who are killed in the War on Terror. He also sponsored legislation during the first Gulf War to increase the death gratuity payment, and to double the soldier and veterans' group life insurance.

In 2007, after learning about problems that the families of some service members killed in combat were having accessing the death gratuity payment, John McCain introduced legislation to allow service members to designate who they want their benefits to go to in the event of their death. John McCain has also worked to increase the survivor benefit plan for widows or widowers of retired veterans.

HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT VETERANS

John McCain has worked throughout his time in Congress to fulfill our nation's solemn duty to honor those veterans who sacrificed their lives to protect our liberty. In 2006, he sponsored legislation to immortalize the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial as a symbol honoring veterans of the Korean War.

He also advocated for the creation of a number of other veterans' memorials, including a memorial to honor disabled veterans and the National Native American Veterans' Memorial. He sponsored legislation to create National Medal of Honor Sites to honor recipients of the Medal of Honor. He worked to create Arizona's only National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, and he authored legislation to ensure that veterans have honor guards at their funerals.

The article linked to my post title is filled with American Veterans's comments - all pretty supportive of John McCain - Why the Funny Title!

McCain/Palin; Media Leading McCain to a Landslide Over Obama

MSNBC, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post and every paper in Chicago wants Obama to President so badly that they making every effort to enusre that John McCain wins by a landslide. You see - most news readers and keypunchers in the Media have absolutely no idea about Americans - you and me. Most keypunchers with bylines are fed their stories by political stooges - let's say a dwarfish Cook County Commissioner wants Abner Nimblefinger to write an edgy expose on systemic corruption. Abner is treated to university think-tankers and professors who printout pages of gobble-dee-gook which Abner pees his britches to print. That is the state of news papers.

The TV readers skwak out whatever is put in front of them and then participate in political round-tables redacting exactly what they had read.

Obama has it made. Example, Steve Hayes writes,

According to the press, in recent weeks, the McCain campaign has so distorted Obama's record and campaign proposals that the young senator has had no choice but to fight back with old-school tactics. "McCain's tactics are drawing the scorn of many in the media and organizations tasked with fact-checking the truthfulness of campaigns," wrote Politico's Jonathan Martin. "In recent weeks, Team McCain has been described as dishonorable, disingenuous and downright cynical."

And so while McCain's every utterance is factchecked and factchecked again in an attempt to shame him from challenging Obama too aggressively, Obama gets a pass.

Consider two examples.

On August 16, Pastor Rick Warren asked John McCain how much money someone would have to make to be considered rich. McCain didn't answer directly. "I think that rich should be defined by a home, a good job, an education and the ability to hand to our children a more prosperous and safer world than the one that we inherited," he said.

Then he made a joke: "So, I think if you are just talking about income, how about $5 million?"

The audience laughed, immediately understanding that McCain was being facetious. Just in case there were any doubts McCain started his next comment by saying "seriously," to underscore the joke. Then he made a prediction.

"I'm sure that comment will be distorted," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
And it has been. "It should come as no surprise that John McCain believes the cutoff for the rich begins at $5 million," Barack Obama's campaign said in a statement. "It may explain why his tax plan gives a $600,000 tax cut to the richest 0.1 percent of earners." At a campaign appearance two days after McCain made the comments, Obama himself mocked McCain. "I guess if you're making $3 million a year, you're middle class," Obama said.

Some news accounts noted that McCain was joking and others even reported that McCain predicted his words would be twisted and used against him. In an August 18 article in the Los Angeles Times, Greg Miller actually did both and noted that McCain aides had made clear their boss was joking. "Even so," Miller wrote, "the remark highlighted the candidates' disparate outlooks. Analysts who study income distribution said the answers appeared to reflect shifting political calculations more than economic reality."

So Miller, writing under the headline, "Who's Rich? McCain and Obama have very different definitions," used McCain's facetious answer as if he had meant it. (Miller also speculated that Cindy McCain's family money may have shaped McCain's views of what constitutes rich.) Not only was Obama not called on his misuse of McCain's comment, reporters piled on. Is it any wonder that the line has made regular appearances in Obama speeches over the past month?

"Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans," Obama said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. "I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 million a year?"

Then there are the absurd lengths to which some reporters are willing to go to protect Obama and attack McCain. Last week, the McCain campaign released an ad accusing Obama of being too close to Fannie Mae executives. In particular, it claims Obama took advice on housing and finance issues from former Fannie Mae chairman Franklin Raines. The Obama campaign protested, saying that Raines was not an adviser and had not given Obama counsel in any capacity. The McCain campaign defended the claim by citing an article that ran in the Washington Post on July 16, 2008. That article noted that Raines had "taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters."

Last Friday, the Washington Post "factchecked" the McCain ad and concluded that the campaign had been "clearly exaggerating wildly" in order to link Obama to Raines and that the "latest McCain attack is particularly dubious."

Factchecker Michael Dobbs wrote that McCain's evidence that Raines had advised Obama was "pretty flimsy"--not a description that probably endeared him to Anita Huslin, the reporter who wrote the story this summer. But Dobbs did talk to Huslin. Here is his account of their conversation:


Since this has now become a campaign issue, I asked Huslin to provide the exact circumstances of the quote. She explained that she was chatting with Raines during the photo shoot, and asked "if he was engaged at all with the Democrats' quest for the White House. He said that he had gotten a couple of calls from the Obama campaign. I asked him about what, and he said 'oh, general housing, economy issues.' ('Not mortgage/foreclosure meltdown or Fannie-specific,' I asked, and he said 'no.')"


By Raines's own account, he took a couple of calls from someone on the Obama campaign, and they had some general discussions about economic issues.

Got that? Huslin stands by her reporting--that Raines had given advice to the Obama campaign about mortgage and housing policy matters--and yet the McCain campaign is faulted by the Washington Post for relying on information that comes from the Washington Post.

More amusing, though, is that in the rush to accuse the McCain campaign of lying, Dobbs glosses over a major discrepancy between the story that appeared in his paper and that of the Obama campaign. Obama spokesman Bill Burton claims that the campaign "neither sought nor received" advice from Raines "on any matter." It is possible, of course, that Raines simply made up the conversations he described to the Post reporter. But it seems more likely, given the toxicity of Raines, that the Obama campaign would simply prefer that those conversations had never taken place.

Dobbs concludes: "I have asked both Raines and the Obama people for more details on these calls and will let you know if I receive a reply."

That's reassuring, since Dobbs has already decided that the McCain campaign has been dishonest. Two things are clear with six weeks left in the presidential race. Barack Obama will practice the old-style politics that he lamented throughout the Democratic primary. And the media will give him a pass.

Now, Americans read, remember and react. We remember that Obama was our State Senator and was a nice unaffected empty suit. Now he bills himself as the Rail-Splitter? Nope. That Don't Sell. Hoss.

Then along comes a genuine person - not a War Hero or Maverick, but a Hockey Mom with five kids and genuine talent. The Media recoils at authenticity.

Thus:

The media, though, has done more than simply subject Palin to questions not given to the other candidates. More importantly, it has been running interference for the Obama campaign, questioning McCain’s attacks on Obama while frequently reinforcing Obama’s on McCain.

Take a couple of examples from last week. McCain ran an ad criticizing Obama’s support for sex education for kindergartners. Seventy percent of the 2,774 news stories on McCain’s ad mentioned that the ad was a “lie” or “inaccurate.” The stories’ headlines indicate that if other ways of disparaging the McCain ad were included, this percentage would probably be much higher.

Obama’s supporter defend the legislation, saying that its purpose was to protect children from sexual abuse. True, the bill proposed teaching children not to talk to strangers, but one wonders if reporters actually read the entire bill. For example, the legislation also included this: “Each class or course in comprehensive sex education offered in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV.” How can you teach how to prevent these different sexually transmitted diseases without getting into some details about sex?

By the way, a grand total of 22 out of 2,774 stories that mention the bill include this discussion of HIV transmission, and many of those stories were still negative about McCain.

For a more direct comparison regarding Palin, look at how the media discussed the whole lipstick-on-a-pig story. The majority of media coverage again questioned the accuracy of the ad that the McCain campaign used to strike back at Obama (using words such as “inaccurate,” “false,” “misleading,” “untrue,” and “lie”). Obama says that he was surprised that anyone could think he was referring to Palin when he said: “you can put lipstick on a pig; it’s still a pig," that the direct reference was to Bush’s policies.

But there are a few problems with Obama’s response. First, his audience thought he was referring to Palin. They started laughing and shouting after he said, "You can put lipstick on a pig," before he even got to the punch line. The AP wrote: Obama's "audience, clearly drawing a connection to Palin's joke." ABC’s Jake Tapper wrote that audience members told “reporters that they thought Obama had been alluding to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s” lipstick line. Politico noted: "Though on a day when Obama's surrogates were joking that Palin's record can't be concealed with lipstick, it was hard for those following the campaign not to hear the echo." The crowd also started chanting “No more pit bull,” indicating that the crowd got the reference to Palin’s quip at the Republican convention.

A Google news search found only 20 stories out of 6,074 mentioned the crowding laughing or shouting, and only two of those mentioned that they laughed or shouted before the punch line was given. Another search found only one single news story by US News & World Report that even mentioned both Obama’s lipstick joke and the crowd chanting “no more pit bull!”

Whatever Obama’s original intent, it would have been hard for him to claim that he was surprised that the McCain campaign would also draw the connection between his joke and Palin. Nor is it clear why he didn’t make a statement given the crowd’s reaction.

In Palin’s case, far from trying to protect her, the press frequently doesn’t even acknowledge that there might be arguments to be made in her favor.

-- The Bridge to Nowhere. The Alaska Democratic Party posted a Web page in which it declared that “State of Alaska killed bridge” -- that is the “Bridge to Nowhere.” However, after Palin’s vice presidential nomination the party took down the Web page. Yet, out of 7,556 news stories on the Bridge to Nowhere this month, a Google news search produces no hits on the phrase “State of Alaska killed bridge.”

Similarly, Sen. Ted Stevens, who was the king of the earmarks for Alaska and who had a “frosty” relationship with Palin because of her opposition to those earmarks, noted that “I don’t remember her ever campaigning for it. She was very critical of it at the time.” With all the news stories on this question, one would think that Stevens’ comment would be newsworthy, since it was his pork-barrel project. But there were only three news stories that mention his statements.

-- Cutting Earmarks. The media on this question has definitely been a bunch of “the glass is half empty” types. Instead of noting what Palin had accomplished, the game was identifying any earmarks that Alaska still received. Palin “cut nearly 10% of Alaska’s budget this year” and reduced the number of federal grants from 54 in 2007 to 31 in 2008 -- a $350 million, 64 percent cut in requests. Among the cuts in Alaska budget were a $30,000 van for Campfire USA and $200,000 for a tennis court irrigation system. Further cuts in future years were also promised.

But those changes weren’t the standard by which the media wanted to judge Palin. For example, Charles Gibson thought that he had gotten Palin in his interview when he noted that Alaska still got “$3.2 million for researching the genetics of harbor seals, money to study the mating habits of crabs” from the federal government.

Again, a simple Google news search shows how incredibly lopsided this coverage has gotten. From September 1 to September 15 there were 9,222 news stories that discuss Palin and earmarks. By contrast, a search that looked at Palin and her attempts to cut earmarks (using the terms "cut earmarks," "reduce earmarks," "trim earmarks," "slash earmarks" or "eliminate earmarks") produced incredibly only 50 news stories -- about 0.5 percent of the total stories. Even many of those 50 stories were critical and claimed that McCain had overstated Palin’s opposition to earmarks.

I spent some time looking at questions of whether Palin was properly vetted or the taxes that she imposed on oil companies, but the results were similar. Palin just doesn’t seem to get an even break, let alone the extremely protective news coverage offered Obama.

Groups such as FactCheck.org have helped put down many false rumors on everything from Palin supposedly cutting funds for special needs children to banning books, but the coverage that corrects these false claims never seems to be as heavy as the coverage making the claims to begin with.

Possibly there is a good explanation for why the media so selectively covers the two campaigns so differently. But whatever the reasons, Sarah Palin continues to receive significantly less positive coverage than the Democrats.

The Media is making sure that McCain/Palin wins the largest landslide victory in American Presdential History. With rehab and has-been Hollywood persons and the media against you, how can you fail?


E.G. Steve Hayes writes,

Stephen F. Hayes, a senior writer at THE WEEKLY STANDARD, is the author of Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President (HarperCollins).


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423443,00.html

McCain Goats Palin: McCain Lost the Election Because He Quit

I went bollocks to the bulwark for John McCain starting in the Spring of 2007, through his summer of discontent, into the Primaries and all the way to the election of Barack Obama. Barack Obama ran a disciplined and masterful campaign and really wanted to win.

Barack Obama won the Presidency and John McCain quit the race on Sept 19th 2008. He quit on TV. He was being asked about the collapse of the American Economy, when all the Maverick wanted to talk about was "Service before Self."

Sarah Palin was fighting to win. John McCain, the man that Commies could not torture and make him go home early and abandon his Mates in the Hanoi Hilton, spit out the bit.

My daughter won the race in the 3rd Congressional District as a McCain Delegate. I wrote many articles and hundreds of Blog posts. I made Speeches for John McCain. Rang doorbells; stuffed mailboxes in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. I was glad to do so - until the last few days.

John McCain has allowed his Campaign to smear Sarah Palin.

If John McCain's Campaign ( Steve Schmidt et al) had done one tenth of the Black Bag work on Barack Obama that they have been doing on Sarah Palin and with one one thousandth of the energy - John McCain would have been POTUS.

Schmidt cited an ethics report on the then-Alaska governor from her home state on an investigation into whether she had improperly used her government position.

I read this in Politco.com the other day. McCain Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt ( a bald guy who puts his glasses on his forehead like he was William Kunstler - Hey, There's that Billy Ayers Magic! McCain tossed that one too.) is helping water-eyed Mark Halperin - a genuine weenie - sell is loathsome book. It is a tell-all Reality TV epic about the Campaign - I read some excerpts. Not much. This sparrow hearted turd Halperin is no Ted White, let me tell you.

Schmidt tossed out this crappy and gutless charge against Sarah Palin.

“She went out and said, you know, ‘This report completely exonerates me,’” Schmidt said. “And in fact, it — it didn’t. You know it’s the equivalent of saying down is up and up is down. It was provably, demonstrably untrue.”

That is pure unadulterated bullshit. An Alaskan Ethics report is the Up from Down?

I expect Sarah Palin to be spit at by the clowns, louses and losers - John McCain joined them.

Schmidt is a paid political sneak and doing his job. John McCain is a disgrace. I am sorry I voted for him.

I worked very hard for John McCain. I'm a Democrat. I knew that on Sept. 19th 2008 John McCain no longer cared to win the nomination - it was all over his face. The Economy tanked as did McCain's 'fire' and his campaign decided to make Sarah Palin the goat.

Jonathon Martin is one of the barbecue journalists who love the Maverick they created and play out of both sides of their mouths.

I voted early for and against Democrats here in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. I will vote for Sarah Palin. McCain is no different from John Kerry - two men who never really wanted to win -it seems to me.

John McCain keeps lousy company, as far as I can tell. Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Martin and Mr. Halperin are indistinguishable and while I honor John McCain's military service I am disgusted by his crawfish political style.

I genuinely like and admire Sarah Palin. She is a happy, centered and good person.

I will work for and possibly even vote for Sarah Palin, if she runs for President - I rather doubt that she will do so.

I turn the channel when John McCain shows up. He is now as appalling to me as MSNBC - The Tool Shed.

McCain/Palin: McCain -The Catholic Vote

Brian Burch, President of the Catholic Organization Fidelis has endorsed John McCain. I am a Catholic, a pretty dinged-up, dirty and nevertheless devout Catholic, but in good Communion. I am also a voter. I am voting for John McCain, a pretty dinged-up, dirty and nevertheless devout Christian. Joe Biden is a Catholic of the Dick Durbin - Do as Planned Parenthood Says variety. It is too bad that many of us Catholic Democrats played ball with groups that absolutely and historically detest everything we hold sacred, but that's politics. The politics of convenience by too many Democrats requires that some politicians sneer and spit on our Faith. How a Catholic politician could appear on a show with a louse like Bill Maher and not coldcock the smary punk while he mocks the faith of 67 million Americans is beyond me. But they do . . . and more troubling, they do what Maher and other Catholic haters want.

Catholic Vote.com has a compellingly beautiful tribute and analysis of Catholic America on You Tube. Click my post title for the video.

Here is Brian Burch's major points in why Catholics should vote for John McCain/Sarah Palin:

With the GOP presidential sweepstakes now winnowing, faithful Catholics might reasonably begin to ask whether Sen. John McCain of Arizona could be the next “Catholic” president. I believe the evidence favors such a hope.

In an address to conservatives earlier this month, McCain attempted to lay to rest any doubt about his pro-life views.

“I believe today as I believed 25 years ago … in the social values that are the true source of our strength,” he said. And “the steadfast defense of our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which I have defended my entire career as God-given to the born and unborn.”

The choice of words was not an accident, and was made more forceful by his statement that shortly followed: “I am not in the habit of making promises to my country that I do not intend to keep.”

McCain willingly staked his political life on the surge in Iraq, saying at the time that he would rather lose an election than lose a war. The strategy has since silenced its critics, and McCain has quickly become the most trusted leader on how to responsibly end the war — by winning it.

Perseverance in a worthy cause despite criticism is a trait we should esteem in a political candidate.

McCain no doubt feels that is what he exhibits on issues like immigration. The backlash of many conservatives against the McCain-Kennedy comprehensive immigration bill spelled apostasy for many GOP supporters.

While Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput called the legislation “imperfect” while he urged Catholics to support the bill as a reasonable balance between the need to enforce the rule of law and the need to treat with dignity “millions of our fellow human beings.” Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis, no stranger to political controversy, cautioned, “Let us be tireless in welcoming the stranger into our midst with Christlike respect and love.”

Archbishop Chaput admitted that “good people can disagree sharply on this sensitive issue” but argued that our current laws create “impossible contradictions and suffering,” and called on Americans to respond with both justice and mercy.

Ironically, at the time the immigration bill was being debated, McCain found himself outside his own party and instead in the camp of many Catholic social justice advocates.

Today, his leadership on the issue will likely help his chances with Hispanic voters against the Democratic nominee in November.

Similarly, McCain’s leadership in helping pass the anti-torture amendment in 2005, along with his consistent reminder of the need to respect the dignity of the human person, even in warfare, once again found him out of step with his party’s base, but very much in step with Catholic teaching.

The “warmongering” tag that will likely be leveled against McCain in the coming months will need to be weighed against his efforts at preserving our own moral integrity in the prosecution of the war on terror.

Catholics should welcome McCain’s judgment in this area, formed in large part from his own experiences.

To be sure, the prudential judgments of McCain on issues like immigration are quite distinct from the unequivocal obligation to protect innocent human life in the womb, human embryos and the institution of marriage.

McCain’s record here is mixed, and even problematic on the issue of public funding for research that involves the killing of human embryos.

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., an ardent defender of the rights of the unborn and supporter of McCain, believes the advancements in science provide him an opportunity to abandon embryo-killing research altogether. Others have suggested that McCain has signaled his willingness to reconsider his vote in favor of the destructive research. Such signals, if true, will further bolster McCain’s credibility with faithful Catholics.

On the issue of marriage, McCain has been criticized harshly for opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment, a remedy he argued was not proportionate to the threat, and that stood little chance of success.

Employing his instincts, McCain urged caution in amending the Constitution, and instead argued that the issue should be left to the states.

He did support the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which still protects states from the recklessness of others like Massachusetts. And in his home state of Arizona, he supported a ban on homosexual “marriage” that included a ban on civil unions.

While many Catholics, including me, disagreed with McCain’s judgment on the need for federal protection, our disagreements were not over whether marriage should be preserved, but how it ought to be done.

The “Catholic” badge in presidential politics has a storied and controversial history.

One thing we can be certain of is that a President Obama or President Clinton would not wear the badge very well.

Democratic celebration of abortion rights, redefining of marriage and the destruction of human embryos have been turning away Catholics at an ever-increasing rate.



Brian Burch is the president of Fidelis,

a national grassroots advocacy group,

which has endorsed

John McCain for president.

http://ncregister.com/site/article/11084

McCain Blew the Last Debate -Race Cards Will Shower Down From Obama Until It's Over

McCain blew the last debate. John McCain failed to follow-up on every lifeless jab at Obama's puff-pastry thin resume, association, dodge and the agenda that underlies his entire political ascent - the deconstruction of the middle class and redistribution of wealth imperative.

Andy Stern's conglomerate of PACs and SEIU are in the vanguard of Democratic National Committee's agenda to make advocacy political, one payer ( Government) health care, and monolithic American work force the Obama Magic Carpet.

McCain had Obama's hands on his forehead while his long arms kept the tiny fists from connecting anywhere. Never once did John McCain touch a rib, much less bloody Obama's nose.

It seemed that McCain's corner men had him train for a pygmy when in fact he was in the ring with Goliath.

Obama could have knocked McCain out but did not - he did not need to do so:Nothing about Franklin Raines and Fannie Mae, No Rezko, No Wright, No Real Ayers, NO SEIU, no nothing. Most of all, McCain had Obama pushed to ropes on on the John Lewis Race Baiting nonsense and McCain let him go . . .without question or consequence! You had Obama on Race and now he has McCain set up for an endless shower of Race-baiting charges. Anyone who votes for McCain is a racist and any objection to Obama is racist.

For the next 18 days, MSNBC cheerleaders and CNN sycophants will shower down charges of racial coding and subtext that will all but maintain McCain Camp's position in the corner.

McCain's fight was fixed from the start. He was going down. He did not fight Obama; he fought George Soros and those who see an opportunity to lard their fortunes by his lead; he fought SEIU and never once challenged their important part in this enterprise to deconstruct American Labor; he fought the corporate media NBC,ABC,CBS,the news papers, as well as the cartoonish 24 hour news cable circus; McCain fought eight years of Bush/Cheney; he fought Islamist Terror and their stooges in American Academia.

Now, the American voter is the last man standing.

Charles Krauthammer details the endless shower of Race Cards:

In the name of racial rectitude, McCain has denied himself the use of that perfectly legitimate issue. It is simply Orwellian for him to be now so widely vilified as a stoker of racism. What makes it doubly Orwellian is that these charges are being made on behalf of the one presidential candidate who has repeatedly, and indeed quite brilliantly, deployed the race card.

How brilliantly? The reason Bill Clinton is sulking in his tent is because he feels that Obama surrogates succeeded in painting him as a racist. Clinton has many sins, but from his student days to his post-presidency, his commitment and sincerity in advancing the cause of African-Americans have been undeniable. If the man Toni Morrison called the first black president can be turned into a closet racist, then anyone can.

And Obama has shown no hesitation in doing so to McCain. Just weeks ago, in Springfield, Mo., and elsewhere, he warned darkly that George Bush and John McCain were going to try to frighten you by saying that, among other scary things, Obama has "a funny name" and "doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills."

McCain has never said that, nor anything like that. When asked at the time to produce one instance of McCain deploying race, the Obama campaign could not. Yet here was Obama firing a pre-emptive charge of racism against a man who had not indulged in it. An extraordinary rhetorical feat, and a dishonorable one.

What makes this all the more dismaying is that it comes from Barack Obama, who has consistently presented himself as a healer, a man of a new generation above and beyond race, the man who would turn the page on the guilt-tripping grievance politics of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

Vote! I Voted for McCain/Palin. Even if a fight is fixed - Keep swinging.