Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a Political Ploy

by Jonathan Singer, Wed Sep 24, 2008 at 02:19:10 PM EDT

By now you know that the initial public reaction to John McCain's move was overwhelmingly negative, with just 10 percent of Americans agreeing that Friday night's debate should be postponed in order to make time for work to be done on Capitol Hill to combat the economic crisis facing the country. But just how important was it for McCain to make time? Apparently not so important to cancel a meeting with a very wealthy supporter this morning, as Ben Smith reports.

The McCain campaign's new urgency about the financial crisis didn't entirely clear his schedule this morning.
My colleague Amie Parnes reports that he made it to his scheduled morning meeting with Lady Lynn de Rothschild, a Clinton backer who recently came out in support of him.
All while Obama was waiting by the phone for a returned call.

We all know that this was a political stunt by the McCain campaign. The American people intuit this, the establishment press believe this, and the chattering class can't help but admit it. This story from Smith can't help but reinforce this meme. Tough, tough break for McCain.

Update [2008-9-24 18:29:5 by Todd Beeton]:Drudge is reporting that even Letterman called McCain out on today's show for pulling a political stunt:

David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.

Except that he hadn't run back to DC at all, in fact he was just up the street being interviewed by Katie Couric.

Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"

Letterman also lambasted McCain for what he clearly feels was just a political maneuver.

"You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." [...]"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"

When you've lost Letterman...

Tags: John McCain (all tags)

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Some things are just MORE important I guess...

Oh, yeah, that great populist, her Ladyship De Rothschild, who complains Obama is part of the elite?

Now THAT was a worthwile meeting, evidently, even IF the sky is falling, right John?

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 02:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: Some things are just MORE important I guess...

Zero is my hero.

by Trey Rentz 2008-09-24 02:50PM | 0 recs

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CNN Just said

McCain is proposing to move the debate to October 2nd, and moving the VP debate to a date to be determined later. Is that what this is about? Are they THAT unsure of Palin? I said earlier that nobody can be that dumb, but how the hell else do you explain this?

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 02:29PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

One less debate, so we drop the VP debate. Yes, that's what it's all about. He doesn't dare let his crazy idiot speak in public. What Hillary Clinton has done for women in politics, Sarah Palin has undone.

by antiHyde 2008-09-24 02:32PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

You've GOT to be kidding?

This was all a bargaining ploy, to kill the VP debate??????

That must mean, she is an absolute train-wreck in the practice debates.

Holy crap-ola, that is shocking!

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 02:38PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

What bullshit. There's no way they should take that deal.

by rfahey22 2008-09-24 02:38PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

OMFG!

I feel like I'm in high school again.

This can't be what this is about. I refuse to believe we are here at this moment in history having to suffer through this bullshit.

Please let this be the end of McCain.

by JerryColorado23 2008-09-24 02:41PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

Believe it and read Andrew Sullivan's archives. He's been documenting the McCain meltdown from the beginning.

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 02:44PM | 0 recs

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Re: CNN Just said

This stunt, whatever the motivation, pisses me off to no end. It's to the point that these people are a menace to common sense.

Where's my advil...

by JerryColorado23 2008-09-24 02:49PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a

How in the world could anyone cast a vote for John McCain?

His campaign is becoming a joke.

It's been a long, long, long time -- probably since the waning days of the 1996 election -- since we've seen what GOP flop sweat looks like.

Well, this is it and it ain't pretty.

by zonk 2008-09-24 02:29PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a

If John Edwards' father had been Obama's, we would be seeing a repeat of 1964.

by antiHyde 2008-09-24 02:33PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a

1932.

by Jess81 2008-09-25 12:42AM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a

Oh yeah! With the R's out of the White House for 20 years. Better yet, forever.

by antiHyde 2008-09-25 11:47AM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops

If David Letterman is the bellwether, this election has been over for a long time now. I mean, have you been watching him?

by Steve M 2008-09-24 02:32PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops.

Even before I saw the fallout I thought it as obvious as the sun in the sky that this was a HORRIFICALLY bad move for McCain. Wow. I am stunned at their ineptitude. Oh well. Will be fun to watch him keep getting hammered. He could have sent Sarah in his place . . . HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

by scytherius 2008-09-24 02:33PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed

Holy shit.

by RandyMI 2008-09-24 02:33PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a Political Plo

That backfired quick.

I love watching the news shows when stuff like this is going on.

by spacemanspiff 2008-09-24 02:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a Political Plo

I step away from teh tubes to get a little work done and bam, McCain gets a dodgeball to the cranium on this one. This is like the what, 300th time McCain has quickly pounced on a real "mavericky" idea to cherrypick some political points and in 3..2..1.. backfire! What a jackass. Remember he was going down to announce his nomination acceptance in the middle of a Hurricane? This guy has no couth.

by KLRinLA 2008-09-24 03:11PM | 0 recs

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To tell you how much I'm enjoying this.

I be giving Faux sum ratings!

The GOP candidates are getting slaughtered and the smarter ones just admit this "could backfire". Which means it already did.

When the Dem surrogates are grinning and being snarky half the time you can tell we're on the right side of this debate.

by spacemanspiff 2008-09-24 03:17PM | 0 recs

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I meant GOP blowhards (not candidates). n.t.

by spacemanspiff 2008-09-24 03:19PM | 0 recs

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McCain's ploy

pissed me off

by sepulvedaj3 2008-09-24 02:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed

I could be wrong, and I often am, but I don't his strategy is working very well right now.

by RandyMI 2008-09-24 02:45PM | 0 recs

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"We've got a guy like that now!"

OUCH!

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 02:46PM | 0 recs

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COWARD

Now is not the time to let up and enjoy the implosion of the good ship McCain, it's the time to make sure the wreck cannot be salvaged.

The Obama campaign ought to be taunting him non-stop. The blogosphere ought to call him a coward, repeatedly.

It's time to push McCain's nasty temper button.

Press the advantage, Obama.

Press the advantage, Dems.

by zonk 2008-09-24 02:48PM | 0 recs

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Re: COWARD

This is better than McCain's temper. We've knocked him off balance. Or rather, he knocked himself off balance.

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 02:52PM | 0 recs

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Re: Am I missing something here?

He hasn't suspended jack shit. Obama asked if they could put out a statement of purpose to give their parties permission to work together, and McCain used it to make a power play. It's despicable.

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 02:53PM | 0 recs

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Re: Am I missing something here?

It's not only dispicable, he failed EPIC at it.

God, Schmidt is really turning out to be a thin soup compared to Rove.

Besides Palin's bounce, has he done ANYTHING right yet?

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 02:57PM | 0 recs

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So true

Schmidt's problem is that he learned all the moves, and none of the subtlety. He's like a pro wrestler brain surgeon.

by Neef 2008-09-24 03:08PM | 0 recs

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The more I think about it...

The more it pisses me off. Had he actually joined Obama in sacrificing a political opportunity, this might actually have been done on Friday. Now, all the Republicans will block this legislation, because McCain has called for this bill to be left undone long enough to cancel the debate.

By pulling this stunt, he has ensured that this bill will not be passed by Friday. What an awful human being.

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 03:02PM | 0 recs

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Re: The more I think about it...

What a shock. Lou Dobbs thinks it's genius, that it puts John McCain at the forefront of this issue. Lou, how can you fail to see the point when it's in front of your damn face?

This was getting DONE, wasn't it? Wasn't it getting depoliticized?

by vcalzone 2008-09-24 03:06PM | 0 recs

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Re: The more I think about it...

McCain believes he was robbed in 2000...

Unfortunately, the guys that robbed him are in his own party.

So, he is gone Stockholm Syndrome, become partners with the group that did him in.

This is not about what is right, this is about the WH that he was denied in 2000.

The sad thing is, he has the weak little sisters, cause it sure looks like Steve Schmidt is no Karl Rove.

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 03:08PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed as a Political Plo

According to HuffingtonPost, cancellation/postponement might cost the University of Mississipi $5.5 million dollars. If I had to bet, I'd bet the debate goes on as planned.

by zenful6219 2008-09-24 03:10PM | 0 recs

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VP debate cancelled

According to CNN, the VP debate, scheduled for next Thursday, has been canceled. What the f*ck is really going on here?

by zenful6219 2008-09-24 03:17PM | 0 recs

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Re: VP debate cancelled

Proposed cancellation. Nothing's been decided, and I doubt Obama will allow it. It makes you wonder if this was all a stunt to make sure Palin doesn't have to debate.

by rfahey22 2008-09-24 03:19PM | 0 recs

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Re: VP debate cancelled

I have no doubt that Palin will be a no-show next week just like McCain will be a no-show on Friday.

by zenful6219 2008-09-24 03:22PM | 0 recs

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Re: VP debate cancelled

A no-show in mind, if not in body.

by rfahey22 2008-09-24 03:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: VP debate cancelled

I'm thinking the same thing.

Start out with a HUGE unaccepatable offer and bargain down.

Now, explain to me HOW the VP debate interferes with ANYTHING having to do with the bail-out.

I wonder, I truly do, if Palin is just turning out to be a train-wreck in the debate simulations?

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 03:24PM | 0 recs

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Re: VP debate cancelled

Question:

If McCain absolutely NEEDS to be in the Senate chamber Friday evening, why not just swap the VP debate from next Thursday to this Friday, and have the scheduled presidential debate next week? Sure, I guess it would drag Biden away from the Senate for a few hours, but I think he'd be willing to do it.

Thoughts?

by joed 2008-09-24 04:12PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed

It's 3am, and John McCain just woke and realize the sun rises in two hours.

by RandyMI 2008-09-24 03:18PM | 0 recs

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Fundamentals

Now McCain can go back to Washington and declare the fundamentals of the bailout package to be strong.

http://snipurl.com/3tk13

by McCainBush08 2008-09-24 03:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: Whoops. McCain's Move Outed

More McCain bullshit

Virginia-based firm Smart Media, which conducts media buying around the country for the McCain campaign, sent out this urgent memo this afternoon addressed to "All National Managers."

RE: Suspend all McCain for President Advertising
"As you are aware, the John McCain for President Campaign has suspended all campaigning to address the current national financial crisis. Effective 5pm today, September 24th, 2008, all advertising for the McCain for President Campaign must cease. Please notify your stations immediately."

A West coast media buying executive not working with the McCain camp tells NBC News that pulling ads isn't quite as easy as sending out such a directive. "Stations are telling me it can't happen," says the exec. "The campaign knows that it can't happen." That's because computer logs with already-scheduled ad placements may already be locked in.

The ad buyer adds that stations will likely have problems trying to stop ads from running tonight, and some may not be able to get off the air by tomorrow.

by RandyMI 2008-09-24 03:58PM | 0 recs

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Once they launched this turkey....

They have to ride it.

Their ploy will be, all the surrogates showing just HOW committed and honorable McCain is in the midst of this crisis and how poltical and unamerican Obama is being.

The media better hold firm, cause this is a gauntlet they can't pick up.

He MAY acutally skip the debate, and I think, that will kill his campaign.....

by WashStateBlue 2008-09-24 04:02PM | 0 recs