Cynical NYT Spouts About John McCain's 'Privileged Past'

By Clay Waters (Bio | Archive)
April 25, 2008 - 16:30 ET
  • Bookmark and Share

New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller followed John McCain on his trip to the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, which suffered grievously because of Hurricane Katrina, and filed a harshly cynical story to nytimes.com Thursday afternoon -- much of which was removed from the version that eventually appeared on Friday morning's front page.

From Bumiller's Thursday afternoon filing:

Senator John McCain took direct aim at the Bush administration on Thursday as he stood in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, the area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and declared that "never again will a disaster of this nature be handled in the terrible and disgraceful way that it was handled."

Mr. McCain, who was on the fourth day of a tour of America's "forgotten places" to try to prove that he is a compassionate Republican, ticked off a long list of mistakes: "There was unqualified people in charge, there was a total misreading of the dimensions of the disaster, there was a failure of communications."

....

Derided by Democrats as an exploitive publicity stunt, promoted by Mr. McCain's advisers as evidence that he is determined to tackle poverty, the senator's tour is aimed far beyond the people of Selma, Ala., or Inez, Ky., whom he visited. Mr. McCain is trying to appeal to independents and moderates who might see him as a kindler, gentler Republican. As the candidate put it on Thursday, "I don't know how many votes I'm going to get in Selma, and I don't know how many votes I'm going to get here in the city of New Orleans."

Mr. McCain has seemed both moved and awkward this week, and at times defensive about his own more privileged past. But he and the Republican Party are unlikely to let voters forget about his time in the forgotten places before the election in November.

Does Bumiller's reckoning of McCain's "privileged past" include his five-and-a-half years in a P.O.W. camp in North Vietnam?

None of the highlighted text above made it into the final version of Bumiller's story, which focused more on McCain's criticism of the Bush Administration's response to Katrina.

—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

I did not know that the

April 25, 2008 - 17:15 ET by BD

I did not know that the children of military personnel were leading a particularly priveleged lifestyle.

But now that I think about it, in a way they are:

  • The crime rate on military bases is lower than the best neighborhoods of Hyannisport, Hollywood, and particularly the upper east side of Manhatten.
  • When your car stalls on-post, someone will stop to help.  Not exactly guaranteed in the best neighborhoods of Hyannisport, Hollywood, and particularly the upper east side of Manhatten.
  • The schools teach old fashioned values as well as usueful skills, unlike the best neighborhoods of Hyannisport, Hollywood, and particularly the upper east side of Manhatten.
  • Hardwork is prized, unlike the best neighborhoods of Hyannisport, Hollywood, and particularly the upper east side of Manhatten.

So in a way, I guess John McCain, son and grandson of Naval Officers led a fairly priveleged life growing up.

BD

April 25, 2008 - 19:19 ET by easygoer

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I would never raise kids(if I had any) there. And while the Upper East Side has more crime than a military base it is the safest place in Manhattan. Having lived on E. 94 St. from 1985-95 I can't think of a better place in the country for a young single man. In fact, it's still a pretty good place for a middle aged single man! It's an expensive place to live and hang out but if you can swing it, it's bachelor heaven. I live on Long Island now but I still love going there on weekends.

Also, and I know it's not saying much, but with all the Wall St. types, it's probably the most Conservative/Republican residential area of Manhattan.

Presidential historian Theodore White referred to the area between E. 59th St. and E. 96th St.as the "perfumed stockade".

I refer to it as the best part of NYC if not the country.

Upper East side...94th...

April 25, 2008 - 20:27 ET by Xango Annie

Ah, memories...have a friend who still lives on that street between 5th and Madison....many years ago ,Paul Simon lived a few doors down....great area.

remember when the Hotel Wales was a true dump and then it went all.....upscale....

East 94th St

April 26, 2008 - 00:28 ET by easygoer

I wasn't as close to the park as your friend. That must be some pad. As for myself, I lived in a five floor walkup between 2nd and 3rd. Great area, indeed. My friend Colin from Cardiff came to visit last summer. He mostly stayed at my place on the Island, but he wanted to spend a few nights in the City. There was no other place that would do but the Hotel Wales.

Bumiller has never been

April 25, 2008 - 17:55 ET by bigtimer

Bumiller has never been anything but a leftist hack for the NYT's...nothing new here...she has gone after Pres. Bush every chance she gets, whether it is a press conference or her articles in the NYT's...or as a talking head guest with the other talking head leftists...I'm not surprised in the least.

What I was surprised about though was McCain going down to the 9th Ward to pander for votes and blaming Bush and the administration....and how much better he would of done.

Priceless.

Just my two cents. 

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Dems just as privileged

April 25, 2008 - 17:58 ET by nkviking75

I wonder if she'll have anything to say about the decades Hillary has spent living on taxpayer money, or B.H. Obama's privileged present.

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Of course not....they are

April 25, 2008 - 18:03 ET by bigtimer

Of course not....they are dems after all...it matters not if there is blatant hypocrisy.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

I don't know if he was privileged

April 25, 2008 - 18:13 ET by jefflebowski

but I do know he is a democrat. He has kissed the a**es of liberals for years while sticking it to conservatives. Now let him find out with liberals the same thing the Clintons (the first black president...hah!) found out about black loyalty! They will abandon you!

Conservatives like me (not Republicans) abandoned you years ago. Eat poop and die McPain!

Hey Jeff... I'm a

April 25, 2008 - 18:21 ET by bigtimer

Hey Jeff... I'm a conservative too...but in my eyes, you are going over the line with your last words there...come on, lighten up.

I do respect his service to this country...albeit long ago.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Sorry bigtimer

April 25, 2008 - 18:29 ET by jefflebowski

I got a little worked up there. But I really can't stand the guy! Oliver Stone also served in Viet Nam. Does that give them a pass for everything they have done since?

Jeff... Heck no, I didn't

April 25, 2008 - 18:32 ET by bigtimer

Jeff...

Heck no, I didn't mean to even imply it gives anyone a pass..believe me, I just meant respect when it comes to the last words you said, that is all...believe me I'm not perfect by any means, we all get worked up at times...I know I have.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Priviliged....

April 28, 2008 - 01:50 ET by gfrrman

I guess that includes his five YEARS of "stays at the Hanoi Hilton" and his extravagant lifestyles of the "Rich and Famous" that he is notorious for!!  Gimme a break!!  Sick and tired of the "Katrina Story"....when are these leeches of society going to EVER help themselves?  "Katrina" stories are VERY tiresome....NEVER hear of the stories of those in the state of Miss. that were hit just as hard as "Katrina" and they have liffted themselves up by the bootstraps and done things on their on and not waitng on the gov't. Cry me a freakin' river!!!   Puleeeeeeeze!!!!  How long has it been since "Katrina"?

"Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money...." MARGARET THATCHER

frank tells

May 1, 2008 - 14:41 ET by frank tells

I WANT TO FIX HILLARY CLINTON FOR STAYING WITH BILL WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE DIVORCED HIM OVER:
1.  HIS ANTIMASTURBATION
2.  HIS CHEATING ADULTERY
ALSO IM AGAINST HER NOT LISTENING TO ME ABOUT VOTING AGAINST THE ANTI POKER BILL (PHONE CALLS, LETTERS) AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY OVERCHARGING AND AGE DISCRIMINATING.  I ALSO BELIEVE LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THAT BILL CLINTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED AFTER ILLEGALLY CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.