After reputedly being the victim of rough politics in 2000 at the brass-knuckled hands of the Bush campaign, John McCain has pledged to eschew such tactics. But in the opening segment of today's Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough called McCain out for honoring that pledge in the breach, accusing him of "dirty campaigning."
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Very interesting. A John McCain mailer went out. John McCain was attacked in 2000, and he was going to be very positive. This is a McCain mailer that went out . . . He attacked Mitt Romney. He said Mitt Romney funded taxpayer-funded abortions. Calls Massachusetts "Taxachussetts," criticizes him for not supporting the Bush tax cuts.
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I'll be very careful here. I will only say this. John McCain accused people of attacking him unfairly in South Carolina [in 2000]. I would suggest, if you're flooding mailboxes with mailers that say Mitt Romney didn't support George Bush's tax cuts early enough and yet you voted -- actually, you, the guy sending out the mailer, voted against George Bush's tax cuts, were one of only two [Republican senators] that voted against George Bush's tax cuts, called George Bush's tax cuts "tax cuts for the rich," and you were on Tim Russert two weeks ago [file photo], and you said you were still damn proud that you voted against George Bush's tax cuts. To send out a mailer attacking Mitt Romney for not supporting George Bush's tax cuts early enough certainly smells of dirty politics and dirty campaigning.
WILLIE GEIST: Yeah.
SCARBOROUGH: The very type of dirty politics and dirty campaigning that John McCain complained about in 2000.
Pat Buchanan, veteran of many a political brawl, was a guest in a subsequent segment. While not disagreeing with Joe, he took a more jaded view of the matter.
SCARBOROUGH: Saturday night my Blackberry started buzzing and going crazy because the embed that follows John McCain around was sending out a flier that John McCain is sending into South Carolina. I want to put the flier up and explain it to you. John McCain, of course, said that he wasn't going to go negative. He's been complaining for eight years about how the Bush people twisted his record. Well, McCain has sent out a flier now attacking Mitt Romney on the tax issue, and in this flier, he accuses Mitt Romney of not supporting George Bush's taxcuts early enough . . . And he told Russert two weeks ago that he was proud that he voted against George Bush's tax cuts, but now he's sending flyers out attacking Mitt Romney for not supporting those tax cuts early enough.PAT BUCHANAN: Tell me, Joe. What does truth have to do with campaigning in South Carolina?
SCARBOROUGH: The thing is I guess some people are saying John McCain isbeing hypocritical here. The guy that said, I will never go negative, and they did me wrong in South Carolina.
BUCHANAN: Look, all of these folks have sinned, quite frankl . . Frankly, it's foolish, Joe, to put out -- if you're going to do negative push polls, you do them the night of the election or the night before something. You don't put something out that can splash back in your face, which this is going to do, as you've pointed out. Frankly, I have to say there's a name for those who don't go negative in South Carolina -- it's called losers.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Hmmmmmm, I Guess What This Means Is . . . .
January 14, 2008 - 10:00 ET by BourbeauSenator John McCain, without a question a great Amercan who has made incredible sacrifices in service to his country, apparently can be both a war hero and an accomplished liar. Regarding Mitt Romney: he supported the Bush tax cuts and did what he could in the Demorcrat controlled State of Massachusetts to hold the line on increases (this is the state whose Democrat legislature ignored a voter referrendum to reduce the tax rate) in income taxes. Taxachusetts has nothing to do w/Romney; it's a reference to the 'old Massachusetts' under Dukakis when taxes were skyrocketing - not that it has changed terribly, but we're no where near as bad as some states. You can criticize Mitt for his tenure as governor, more than enough examples of lapses due to his absentee practices, but McCain is being egregiously dishonest regarding his own record, which to me, is no different than what Hillary Clinton is pontificaing about with her record.
The Shelf-Life of McCain's Conservative Pretenses
January 14, 2008 - 10:11 ET by V the KAs I see support for McCain surge, I can only conclude that Republicans have become just as stupid as Democrats. McCain's feint toward conservative positions on taxes and border security will expire the day the primaries are over. People criticize Romney for flip-flopping, but they heap praise on McCain for being wrong and staying wrong on just about every issue except the Iraq War? WTF?
You know who I heard praising John McCain on Laura Ingraham's show? Alan Colmes. That should tell you something.
I agree, When the left and
January 14, 2008 - 10:19 ET by USA4freedomI agree,
When the left and MSM likes you, SOMETHING IS WRONG.
Look at K.O. and Fred making the worst list. That’s enough to get my vote.
Ohhh, if only I could be on his list... well one can dream.
I hope and pray that Republicans wake up before its all over. But.. I am starting to worry.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Girly man he's NOT!
January 14, 2008 - 10:41 ET by CrashWhen I read that there are ONLY two frontrunners on the democrat side, but, the republicans have a toss up, "there is no clear frontrunner, blah, blah, blah." The difference is clear ... there are more candidates who could serve admirably on the republican side than in the democratic field. As the field tightens we will see higher poll numbers for the perspective leaders. With the exception of Rue Paul, I'd be happy with any candidate currently in the race for the RNC lead role, they all fit the part.
The last thing I want in a leader is one who can't roll with the punches. In case you haven't noticed every single president gets called every malicious name you can print and with the internet that list has gotten longer. I want a candidate who doesn't whine when a sexoholic gas bag calls their campaign a "fairy tale."
More McCain hypocrisy
January 14, 2008 - 10:43 ET by qapilotMcCain's double-talk doesn't end here. In 2000, I was looking for McCain's position on abortion as he was running against George W. Bush. I couldn't find one. Well, I found two, actually. He's really all over the place on that issue ... claiming to be pro-life, but voting to allow partial-birth abortions. It was clear back then he was not comfortable about the issue, and did everything he could to avoid it.
Now, McCain himself (in his own words, not his surrogates') complains about Romney changing his views on abortion. Romney is straightforward about his change of heart. McCain is certainly not. Republicans looking for complete honesty and integrity in the White House won't find what they're looking for in John McCain.
McCain is a hypocrite on MANY issues not just Abortion and Taxes
January 14, 2008 - 12:17 ET by PopularTechBetrayal, deceit, corruption and John McCain (The U.S. Veteran Dispatch)
"While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 - just a month after dumping his crippled wife and securing a divorce."
Abortion:
John McCain Supports Embryonic Stem Cell Research (Audio)
McCain Softens Abortion Stand (The Washington Post)
"But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." - John McCain
Fiscal Record:
McCain Boasts That He Voted Against The Bush Tax Cuts (Video)
McCain Would Vote Against Tax Cuts Again (The Club for Growth)
- McCain sponsored and voted for an enormous 282% tax increase on cigarettes in 1998
- McCain was one of only two Republican senators to oppose the 2001 tax cuts
- McCain was one of only three Republican senators to oppose the 2003 reductions
- McCain supported an amendment sponsored by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) against full repeal of the Death Tax
- McCain voted against repealing the Death Tax in 2002
Foreign Policy:
McCain to Close Gitmo: "The first day I am President" (Video)
Global Warming:
McCain and Lieberman Push for New Anti-Global Warming Legislation (The National Center for Public Policy Research)
Senators McCain and Lieberman Propose Energy Tax (The National Center for Public Policy Research)
Illegal Immigration:
John McCain gets a 'D' on his Immigration Voting Report Card (Americans for Better Immigration)
John McCain Praises Pro-illegal Protests (NewsMax)
McCain Voted For Illegal Immigrants To Collect Social Security (UC Daily News)
Veterans:
McCain Can't Buy His Way Out of Votes Against Funding for Veterans
- McCain Voted Against $19 Billion for Military Hospitals
- McCain Voted Against Amendment to Provide $2.8 Billion For Veterans' Medical Care
- McCain Voted Against 2005 Amendment to Provide Guaranteed Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care
- McCain Voted Against Establishing $1 Billion Trust Fund to Provide Improvements to Military and Veterans' Health Facilities
- McCain Voted Against Adding $1.5 billion to Veterans' Medical Services in FY 2007 by Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes
- McCain Voted Against Mandatory Funding of $6.9 Billion in FY 2007 and $104 Billion Over Five Years for Veterans' Health Care
The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource
Right to be wrong
January 14, 2008 - 11:35 ET by jay_1975I prefer a cadidate who can change their mind as they grow and learn more as opposed to someone who will continue to be on the wrong path just so they can say that they are consistant. This is why I have much more admiration for Romney. When asked about his statements over ten years ago about how he did not wish to return to Reagan/Bush he stated that as he got older and more mature, Reagan looked better. I like that answer. Liberalism is often for the young and easily influenced and Conservativism is for the wise and mature. Look at Ried, he is far from mature and thus he is a Liberal. Of all of the Republican cadidates, I find myself behind Romney over all of the others just because of the fact that he is willing to change his mind as he learns and grows.
Funny, how campaign tactics
January 14, 2008 - 12:06 ET by Chris NormanFunny, how some campaign tactics are "unfair", "dirty", or "mud slinging" only when your opponents employ them.
It's come to this...
January 14, 2008 - 13:15 ET by shannon20Every show on MSNBC, there programing consisits of content that conservative bloggers have a problem with. They found out early on that saying provacative things gets them viewers. If only there was a poll that showed that most viewers watch "Morn' Joe", "Hardball", and "Countdown"(or anytime that twit Mika opens her mouth), just to have content to comment on later. It's kinda like the view(rosie era), to see what stupid, paranoid, conspiratorial bullshit that comes outta that pigs mouth.
Now with media matters going after Chrissy, that's double the people he pisses off, therefore double the rating. maybe.
Are you suggesting there are
January 14, 2008 - 13:36 ET by Chris NormanAre you suggesting there are a significant number of MSNBC viewers who watch just for the controversial comments, even though they disagree with them? I really, really doubt that. Most of the comments here are in reaction to the posts of the NewsBusters staff, who do monitor these shows. I, for one, couldn't stand watching this tripe for more than a couple of minutes - then again, I don't slow down to look at accident scenes either...
Sen. McShamus
January 14, 2008 - 21:27 ET by R D HelmSen. McCain not only voted against the Bush tax-cuts, but sponsored the Shamnesty Bill, worked tirelessly to pass legislation that restricted free-speech, and has apparently fallen in with the climate-change crowd.
He, like The Hucksterbore, need to do conservatism a huge favor and switch parties. Soon.
After all, they are the "darlings" of the old media, are they not?
-Hmm. Not bad for my first post.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe