The day after many in the media jumped to Barack Obama’s defense over the satirical cover of the latest New Yorker magazine, MSNBC News Live host Contessa Brewer brought on comedian and satirist Andy Borowitz to make fun of John McCain’s age.
Borowitz founded BorowitzReport.com, is a blogger at the left-leaning Huffington Post and is performing an on-stage production entitled “Countdown to ‘08” with guests such as Joy Behar from “The View” and CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin, both of whom are no strangers to NewsBusters criticism.
Brewer introduced the segment by informing viewers that:
When John McCain was born, there wasn’t even FM radio and forget about computers, they weren’t even a blip on the technological horizon.
Later, Brewer played clips of McCain trying to be humorous, including him parodying the Beach Boys hit “Barbara Ann” with the lyrics “bomb Iran” and joking that perhaps U.S.-exported cigarettes are shipped to the regime in order to kill Iranians. What followed was an exchange about McCain being too old to properly function as president:
BREWER: But there’s this medical research that says as people age, they lose the ability to filter what they say. They say that’s why, perhaps when grandma says something that’s inappropriate at Thanksgiving dinner, it’s not really her fault. But they lose the ability to be socially appropriate. Is that what we’re seeing?
BOROWITZ: Well what you’re saying is if we have John McCain as president, it would sort of be like having Estelle Getty from the “Golden Girls” in the White House which I think it would be awesome.
BREWER: Entirely entertaining.
BOROWITZ: I love that show.
BREWER: And yet, at all ineffective?
BOROWITZ: Um, I think it would be great. I think just hearing him, first of all, very hip choice to quote a fifty year old Beach Boys song. The kids dig that, and I think that’s a good way to go.
Brewer also mentioned McCain’s lack of tech savvy. Borowitz joked:
Look, clearly he’s uncomfortable with technology. All these new fangled inventions like the teleprompter, the telephone, these are confusing to him and I think it might be a problem. I think though that he has to show that he is comfortable with some technology. For example, the cotton gin, very, very comfortable with that and also the butter churn. We need to see more moments like that.
Later, Brewer chimed in:
I mean, I say come on, get with -- my grandmothers both are proficient in computers and emailing and the Internet.
The transcript of the segment, which aired at 9:24 a.m., follows:
CONTESSA BREWER, host: When John McCain was born, there wasn’t even FM radio and forget about computers, they weren’t even a blip on the technological horizon. And while his opponent is using the internet to bring in unprecedented funds, McCain himself has said he doesn’t email and is just now getting up to speed on the web.
CONAN O’BRIEN [from “Late Night with Conan O’Brient]: In a brand new interview John McCain admits that his staff has to show him Web sites because he has trouble getting on the internet by himself. That’s what he said. Yeah, yesterday McCain tried to surf the internet for half an hour until his staff told him he was actually holding an etch-a-sketch.
BREWER: On a serious note here, though, voters say age is an issue. A new poll found thirty-eight percent said McCain is just too old. Just thirty percent say Barack Obama is too young. John McCain will be 72 this year. If elected he would be the oldest first term president in U.S. history. Andy Borowitz is a comedian and a satirist and is the man behind BorowitzReport.com. It’s good to see you today, Andy.
ANDY BOROWITZ: Great to be here, Contessa.
BREWER: Okay, the fact that McCain doesn’t use computers at a time when young people overwhelmingly are turning out to vote, is that a problem going into a general election?
BOROWITZ: Look, clearly he’s uncomfortable with technology. All these new fangled inventions like the teleprompter, the telephone, these are confusing to him and I think it might be a problem. I think though that he has to show that he is comfortable with some technology. For example, the cotton gin, very, very comfortable with that and also the butter churn. We need to see more moments like that.
BREWER: And really that resonates with so many voters out there.
BOROWITZ: It does.
BREWER: I mean, I say come on get with -- my grandmothers both are proficient in computers and emailing and the internet. I get-
BOROWTIZ: They could be a possible VP pick for McCain then. Very helpful around the White House.
BREWER: And they’re women no less.
BOROWITZ: Exactly.
BREWER: All right so yesterday McCain made this comment that I have to play for you about a country in Europe.
JOHN MCCAIN: I was concerned about a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days. One is reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia. Apparently that is in reaction to the Czechs agreement with us concerning missile defense.
BREWER: I mean, look, here’s the problem. Czechoslovakia has not existed for fifteen years.
BOROWITZ: That is a problem. Czechoslovakia broke up a while ago. This would sort of be like referring to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as “Bennifer” today. You just can’t do that.
BREWER: No, ‘cause they split up.
BOROWITZ: They split up.
BREWER: I mean, we have to call them Jen and Ben.
BOROWITZ: He’s gotta stay in the loop here.
BREWER: Listen, I wanna play some more sound because these are the kinds of comments that get him in trouble and get a lot of headlines in the media.
MCCAIN: That old, that old Beach Boys Song, “Bomb Iran.” Bomb, bomb, bomb. Any way-
REPORTER: We’ve learned that the exports to Iran increased by tenfold during the Bush administration. The biggest export was cigarettes. Given that the, yeah, that the, supposedly-
MCCAIN: Maybe that’s a way of killin’ them. [laughter] I meant that as a joke.
BREWER: Now you can actually see the gear turning there. He’s like, “okay, now, wait a minute, that was a joke.” But there’s this medical research that says as people age, they lose the ability to filter what they say. They say that’s why, perhaps when grandma says something that’s inappropriate at Thanksgiving dinner, it’s not really her fault. But they lose the ability to be socially appropriate. Is that what we’re seeing?
BOROWITZ: Well what you’re saying is if we have John McCain as president, it would sort of be like having Estelle Getty from the “Golden Girls” in the White House which I think it would be awesome.
BREWER: Entirely entertaining.
BOROWITZ: I love that show.
BREWER: And yet, at all ineffective?
BOROWITZ: Um, I think it would be great. I think just hearing him, first of all, very hip choice to quote a fifty year old Beach Boys song. The kids dig that, and I think that’s a good way to go.
BREWER: Andy, thanks so much for joining us.
BOROWITZ: Thank you, Contessa.



















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It's fun to make fun of seasoned citizens!
July 15, 2008 - 12:49 ET by SickofLibsGee, The Speaker of the House is 68 and McCain is 71. Three years apparently makes a big difference.
(and Blohar is part of this guy Borowitz's 'stage show'... that does it for me!)
This is so outrageous it's
July 15, 2008 - 12:56 ET by motherbeltThis is so outrageous it's just jaw-dropping!
BOROWITZ: Look, clearly he’s [McCain] uncomfortable with technology. All these
new fangled inventions like the teleprompter, the telephone, these are
confusing to him and I think it might be a problem
"New-fangled"??????? That's how Borowitz thinks McCain would describe them? New-fangled? What is he, one of the Beverly Hillbillies?? Uncomfortable with a telephone???? What is he used to ....smoke signals?
And a lot of people still refer to Czechoslovakia...it's easier than saying the Czech Republic and everyone knows what you mean.
Would they dare to kid around about Obama serving fried chicken and collard greens for a state dinner? Have comedians had a field day with his "been to 57 states" gaffe? Hell, no.
It's just OK to make fun of McCain, but not the Obamessiah. Simple as that.
They are completely shameless.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Seen it before...
July 15, 2008 - 14:00 ET by TexndocI caught the end of Olbermann's show last night and host Rachael Maddow was basically having the same interview with this or another no-name: 2 smart-ass douches who mommy and daddy put through school both who have never served in the military smirking at how funny their McCain diaper jokes are. Fortunately, that's just how it played to any fair-minded person watching it I would hope.
(I remember this woman debating with Tucker Carlson on his show and she was no where near as obnoxious. Put her on Olby's show where dissent is NOT permitted and someone get the valium....she's rabid and unleashed.)
Yes, mother
July 15, 2008 - 16:12 ET by DEVILDOCMOMwe here in Arizona have just received them thar new fangled telephonee thingees, with our lack of forests we are lucky they were invented. It was very difficult to continue using smoke signals. Plus, I am sure we were really contributing to global warming with all those fires. :) Fortunately we do have quite a variety of those old fashioned rifles, handguns, and other implements of destruction. LOL
It's funny regarding Czechoslovakia, my son just mention today he would like to travel there-and he used that word. This from a really bright guy who loves geography and did quite well in the National Geographic Geography Bee a few years ago. Oh, and he's 21.
They do, however, have a point regarding the teleprompter-we all know bho is lost without one.
I found this quite angered me also. If only they would turn their bias on bho he would be seen for the charlatan he is, but that will never happen.
Which channel had this on?
July 15, 2008 - 13:50 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarOh, it was MSNBC.
No problem, the 5 people that saw it shouldn't have any effect.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
Hey Bubba!
July 15, 2008 - 13:53 ET by okiehawk44BOROWITZ: Look, clearly he’s uncomfortable with technology. All these new fangled inventions like the teleprompter, the telephone, these are confusing to him and I think it might be a problem. I think though that he has to show that he is comfortable with some technology. For example, the cotton gin, very, very comfortable with that and also the butter churn. We need to see more moments like that.
John McCain can fly a jet plane -- can you even fly a kite?
John McCain can fly a jet plane AND dodge missiles shot up into the sky to kill him -- can you walk and chew gum at the same time?
Bubba, you and your ilk don't have a clue and you should SHUT UP and SIT DOWN before you wet yourself.
libs are a bit uncomfy
July 15, 2008 - 14:57 ET by TruthMongerlibs are a bit uncomfy with our military technology
it's pretty new-fangled
This guy is about as funny
July 15, 2008 - 14:47 ET by Chris NormanThis guy is about as funny as those "comedian" commentators that appear in the corner of the screen on those "Top 25 Most Something" shows on cable. The lines are delivered like they're funny, but the words aren't funny.
McNotObama '08
I like the idea of a Golden
July 15, 2008 - 21:22 ET by Cureboy675I like the idea of a Golden Girls cross-over. Bea Arthur could marry John McCain. Betty White could be the nutty next door neighbor with her wacky stories about St Olaf. Estelle Getty could be the wise-cracking mother-in-law
Its gold, Jerry, gold!!