On Monday’s CBS "Early Show," correspondent Jeff Glor did a report on "five things you should know about John McCain" and highlighted details such as: "Number four, a maverick even back in high school, John McCain was nicknamed ‘the punk’...A reputation that followed him to the naval academy." During the segment, USA Today columnist Walter Shapiro added: "John McCain graduated five slots from the bottom of the Annapolis class of 1958."
Contrast those bits of information with the hard-hitting facts revealed about Barack Obama during a similar segment on last Wednesday’s show: "Number four -- in addition to enjoying basketball and cycling during down time, Obama loves to play Scrabble...Obama's job as a teenager was at a Baskin Robbins and to this day he does not like ice cream." The segment on Obama also described how he and Michelle met and where he buys his suits.
Meanwhile, on Monday’s show, Glor also focused on McCain being born in Panama: "Number five, McCain was not born in any of the 50 United States...His father had been stationed there by the Navy, creating an eventual source of controversy." Shapiro added: "The Constitution says a president has to be a natural born citizen." Glor also questioned McCain’s skill as a pilot: "Number three, when McCain was not down in Vietnam, it was not his first. It was not his second. But his third plane crash as a pilot." Finally, Glor got to number one: "...when he first ran for Congress he was charged with being a carpet bagger."
Glor did mention McCain’s time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted throughout the segment, usually defending McCain against the information that Glor was highlighting. Glor also offered this positive assessment at the end of the segment: "I would say with John McCain it's a commitment to country, the idea of service. I mean, this is a man who's done everything, been everywhere all over the world and still there's this desire ‘I'm not done yet.’"
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:44AM SEGMENT:
HARRY SMITH: Last week we showed you the five things you probably didn't know about Barack Obama. Now we continue our series, 'Five Things You Should Know,' this time about John McCain. And here with some interesting political tidbits, 'Early Show' national correspondent Jeff Glor. Good morning.
JEFF GLOR: Harry, good morning to you. So much of John McCain's story is so well-known it was not easy coming up with five things. But here's a list we think might surprise you.
JOHN MCCAIN: I served our country all my adult life and I'm prepared-
GLOR: Number five, McCain was not born in any of the 50 United States.
WALTER SHAPIRO: John McCain is the first presidential candidate to be born in -- wait for the beat -- the Panama Canal Zone.
GLOR: In fact, McCain lived there almost the whole first year of his life. His father had been stationed there by the Navy, creating an eventual source of controversy.
SHAPIRO: The Constitution says a president has to be a natural born citizen.
LINDSEY GRAHAM: I think we all feel really good that being assigned to the Panama Canal by the Navy and being born on a military base where you're doing your duty makes you an American citizen.
GLOR: Number four, a maverick even back in high school, John McCain was nicknamed 'the punk.'
SHAPIRO: There was always the cigarette in the corner of his mouth.
GLOR: A reputation that followed him to the naval academy.
SHAPIRO: John McCain graduated five slots from the bottom of the Annapolis class of 1958.
GRAHAM: I'd love to have met the other four. He's obviously a very bright guy. I think his problems at the naval academy had to do with his maverick streak more than his intellect.
GLOR: Number three, when McCain was not down in Vietnam, it was not his first. It was not his second. But his third plane crash as a pilot.
GRAHAM: I think John represents the spirit of a Navy fighter pilot to the fullest. And I will just end it with that.
GLOR: Number two, McCain's North Vietnamese captors called him the 'crown prince.'
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Who is your father?
JOHN MCCAIN: His name is Admiral John McCain.
GRAHAM: John's dad was in charge of the Pacific.
SHAPIRO: And the Pacific included the air over Vietnam.
GRAHAM: They were going to let him go as a gesture to the United States. And John said basically no.
GLOR: And the number one thing you might not know about John McCain, when he first ran for Congress he was charged with being a carpet bagger.
SHAPIRO: John McCain decided to move to the state of Arizona, a state in which he never lived, and run for the U.S. House in 1982. The Republicans running against him shouted 'carpet bagger, carpet bagger.'
GRAHAM: And I think he had a pretty good reply: 'Well the longest I've stayed anywhere was in Vietnam.' And that put it in perspective.
SHAPIRO: Game, set, and match.
GLOR: Couple other things we learned about John McCain that did not quite make our list. Senator Graham told us that McCain is an avid bird watcher and a huge fan of Borat. And did you know, Harry, that McCain has a budding acting career, appearances in both the movie 'Wedding Crashers' and the TV show, '24.'
SMITH: Next time Borat comes we'll have -- we'll let him wrestle with-
GLOR: I remember seeing that actually-
SMITH: That's right. Last week there was kind of a takeaway about Barack Obama's ambition. What is your sense, your takeaway from the five things you didn't know about John McCain.
GLOR: I would say with John McCain it's a commitment to country, the idea of service. I mean, this is a man who's done everything, been everywhere all over the world and still there's this desire 'I'm not done yet.'
SMITH: Yeah, there you go. Jeff Glor, thanks so much.
GLOR: Sure.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




















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Comments Policy
With the MSM on his side,
June 23, 2008 - 15:25 ET by mattmWith the MSM on his side, B. Hussein Obama doesn't need to go negative.
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." - B. Hussein Obama
Yeah, really
June 23, 2008 - 16:01 ET by ToddonCapeCodAll he has to do is say, "That's not the media that I've known," and immediately he's exonerated
Does the media have any
June 23, 2008 - 22:33 ET by kgDoes the media have any idea how Obama did in college? Hardly, at least until Obama releases his grades. Reminds me of Kerry releasing his military record as promised, any day now.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Names... v. Intelligence
June 23, 2008 - 15:37 ET by JDWObama favors suing OPEC to drill our way out of the energy crisis yet forbids production in America?
JDW
Will Ted Kennedy help write the universal health care bill?
Which will be more enjoyable?
June 23, 2008 - 15:38 ET by Prester JohnWatching the MSM on election night as they realize BHO will (hopefully) lose or the Europeans?
Barack Obama inspires Milan men's runway styles
MILAN, Italy - The latest "first" for Barack Obama comes off the Milan runway.
Calling the U.S. presidential hopeful "the man of the moment," Donatella Versace dedicated her Spring-Summer 2009 collection presented Saturday evening to Obama, creating a style she said was designed for "a relaxed man who doesn't need to flex muscles to show he has power."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080622/ap_en_ot/italy_fashion
This is getting beyond insane.
Obama is the one with the
June 23, 2008 - 16:04 ET by motherbeltObama is the one with the "cocky punk" attitude.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Test Your Obama Knowledge!
June 23, 2008 - 16:08 ET by SickofLibsPlay The New Quiz Game "Obama Or Trauma?"
The clever and balanced Glor dug deep and came up with 5 things you 'Probably didn't know' about BHO and 5 things you 'NEED TO KNOW' about McCain. (OK, a not so balanced lead-in, but let's take the quiz anyway!)
Here are the ten Glor revelations all mixed up - see if you and your friends can match up the statements to the candidate:
1. Probably technically a foreigner, not born in continental U.S
2. Was accused of being a carpetbagger
3. Buys suits off the rack, just like you and me
4. Graduated college almost at bottom of his class
4. Doesn't like ice cream
6. Crashed 3 planes, was a horrible pilot
7. Conservatives helped elect him head of prestigious college publication
8. Plays Scrabble
9. Disliked enough in high school to earn nickname Punk. Smoked.
10. Courageous enough to date the boss
Five things you should know
June 23, 2008 - 16:34 ET by Chris NormanFive things you should know about Jeff Glor and CBS News:
They are liberal
They are biased
They are in the tank for Obama
They will do anything, no matter how smarmy, to get Obama elected
They are without shame
Chris, isn't that all of the MSM?
June 23, 2008 - 16:40 ET by jefflebowskiChris, it seems like the MSM has thrown even the perception of objectivity to the wind this election cycle. They are overtly in the tank for Obama.
And they wonder why their viewers continue to diminish...
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Oh, absolutely - their overt
June 23, 2008 - 16:59 ET by Chris NormanOh, absolutely - their overt bias varying by only infinitesimal degrees. I just wanted to tailor my comment to the exact subject at hand.
Taking into account the serious decline in educational...
June 23, 2008 - 16:32 ET by ThalpyTaking into account the serious decline in educational standards, you would still expect more than this drivel from Mr. Glor. Wasn't he an honor graduate from somewhere?
Glor...another msm Obama
June 23, 2008 - 17:06 ET by bigtimerGlor...another msm Obama whore.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
More crap from CBS
June 23, 2008 - 17:18 ET by GalvanicSo McCain smoked cigarettes in high school, eh? How does that stack up with snorting cocaine in high school?
McCain was called a carpet-bagger by members of his own Party? Well, Hillary Clinton said that she and McCain were both qualified to be Commander in Chief, but Barack isn't.
Which stings more, Glor?
i believe obama still
June 23, 2008 - 18:19 ET by mister josephi believe obama still smokes, no?
what's next?
June 23, 2008 - 18:18 ET by mister joseph"Obama is better because his Johnson is bigger than McCain's--and because Obama is better-endowed he's much more confident and much more masculane than McCain could ever be"
you know, at one point in time, this comment would be met with dozens of comments telling me how out of line i am, and how insulting and disgusting i am for suggesting such a thing. i'd probably get a few nasty PM's from the editorial staff and moderators. heck, i might have been banned from this forum for stating it--or at least given a stern warning.
as pained as i must admit, though, i have this nagging feeling that such a statement is, sadly, all too prescient....
Things you don't know about McCain
June 23, 2008 - 19:58 ET by Anchor89When idiots like Glor parrot a stupid remark like the one about McCain being born in Panama, does he realize that he is telling every servicemember in the Armed Forces that if they get sent on overseas duty and have a child that they should expect to give up that child's right to U.S. citizenship? If that is not what he meant than he should shut up until he turns his brain on and stops repeating things he hears on the View.
Next, about being shot down three times: This tells me that McCain was not a bad pilot, but a courageous one. I bet Glor would lose his lunch on a back seat ride over Kansas, let alone launch and land a plane on an aircraft carrier hundreds of times, get shot down and go back for more.
About McCain being called the crown prince since his father was an admiral: McCain was offered to be released early from POW camp because of this. McCain refused out of loyalty to his fellow pilots. In comparison, Obama seems to be very adept at throwing his friends under the bus at the drop of a hat.
And since McCain graduated fifth from the bottom of his class at Annapolis, in my estimation that still puts him in the top ten percent of college graduates in the nation. And don't forget, McCain has had over 20 years of successful governement graduate school in the Senate that Obama won't get for another two decades.
About the punk comment. I suspect that McCain was full of himself in high school and even through his first years of service. I think that is a positive thing in a combat pilot. However, I also suspect that several years in POW camp matured McCain in ways that Obama will never understand.
This entire segment sounded like something you might hear on a school bus. Will someone get an ADULT who knows ANYTHING to do the news - PLEASE!
Fifth from bottom at Annapolis...
June 23, 2008 - 20:31 ET by m4ster chief...would put him comparatively about mid-class at MIT or valedictorian at Harvard and Yale. Oh yeah, that's without all the partying, drugs, STDs, etc.
He crashed three aircraft? I wonder what the accident board said was the cause? Pilot error? Mechanical malfunction? Weather? Actions of another pilot? Since this is a modern-day "journalist" we'll just have to keep wondering. (But also, it didn't hurt that his father was Admiral McCain, who was COMSEVENTHFLT, or COMWESTPAC...I forget.)
He was a "punk?" Oh, heavens! Actually, those "punks" make the best fighter pilots and Marines.
Having written all that, I still don't like McCain and won't vote for him because he is a liberal politician calling himself a Republican, which puts him in the same category as a class action lawyer like Stan Chesley, a doctor who performs abortions, and a journalist who betrays his professional ethical standards.
Unless somebody good comes out of the tall grass before November, I'm gonna write-in someone like Thomas Sowell. I don't care any more...I simply don't care.
EDIT: Anchor89 below...we made the same arguements but you beat me to the punch by a minute or two. I wasn't stealing your points...I promise.
Quite so, M4
June 23, 2008 - 20:34 ET by BlondeI wonder if that missile error (don't know what you all call that....a switch error, or somesuch, I'd imagine) on the Forrestal counted as a "crashed" jet.
I still can't believe my eyes when I see the video of the Forrestal (yes, I know there are those who call that beautiful vessel the "Forest Fire").
As much as I dislike McCain the politician, I am still going to vote for him, because Bambi is a zillion times worse.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I was wondering about that incident, too...
June 23, 2008 - 21:02 ET by m4ster chiefSeeing film...sorry, VIDEO...of that flaming flight deck sends shivers up and down my spine. I was on a carrier at the same time and place (USS Ticonderoga CVA-14). There is one place where the chaplain is kneeling over a dying sailor (Marine?) and praying...very humbling.
Oh, BTW, the "shivers" mentioned above are not the same as the thrill running up Chris Matthews' leg at the sight of Obama.
Hey, Blonde...long time no see. How are you? Oh wait...can I ask that in this forum? ;)
Who can say where McCain or Obama were really born?
June 24, 2008 - 08:14 ET by BritcomNo one has ever presented ANY evidence that shows that John McCain was ever born:
In fact, we have never seen McCain's birth certificate and no one knows if one even exists. All anyone knows about the circumstances of John McCain's birth is what he himself claims about it in his book. But, as everyone knows, McCain can't swear to what he claims, because he was too young to remember where he was when he was born, and no doctor or nurse has come forward to say that he or she was a witness to McCain's birth, and where and when that birth took place. In fact, no official inquiry has ever taken place to determine for sure where McCain was born.
The same is true of Obama. We know that his father was not a US Citizen and that his mother was not old enough to give him legal US Citizenship and they left the US shortly thereafter. Where is the inquiry into Obama's legal citizenship claims?
Are we just going to ignore all these important legal questions? If we do, surely we deserve what we get.
**UPDATE: Oops, I guess I spoke too soon. John McCain's birth certificate has shown up on the internet, and guess what? I was right! McCain apparently wasn't born in the Panama Canal Zone or on US soil!! He was born in "Colon, Panama" which is outside the former US controlled canal zone.
Forum Topic: Q. Is Panamanian born John McCain a "Natural Born Citizen"
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Lets fix the Supreme Court for good!
Communist vs. Statist '08