Going on right now: the first-ever "Twitterview" between Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a mainstream journalist. McCain is being interviewed by ABC's George Stephanopoulos. You can follow the debate by checking out the @SenJohnMcCain and @GStephanopoulos feeds on Twitter.
Update (12:53 EDT): Below is a transcript of the interview, courtesy of MRC intern Mike Sargent. Sargent also noticed that at least one conservative observing the interview shot a message to Stephanopoulos objecting that Sen. McCain was misrepresenting his votes on the AIG bailout.
MCCAIN: Twitter interview with George S at noon.
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain Happy St Patrick's Day! First things first: How do u tweet -- dictate or type? Blackberry or pc?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos Happy St. Patrick's day - I'm a little slow, sometimes pc somtimes bb
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain AIG: Would a President McCain break bonus contracts? Obama teams says that would cause more harm than good
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos i would have never bailed out AIG, the real scandal is billions to foreign banks.
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain ok, but today: should bonus contracts be broken? Dodd wants a targeted tax on bonuses OK with that?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos i haven't seen it but i would explore every option. i repeat, we wouldn't have this problem if we hadn't bailed them out
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain RIght, but didn't you vote for first TARP, which went to AIG?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos i voted for first tarp but that doesn't mean i voted to bail out AIG.
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain Obama says GOP can't "just say no" on budget Will you offer a full alternative to Obama budget?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos to follow up - first AIG bailout was pre-tarp.
STEPHANOPOLOUS: @SenJohnMcCain Take point on 1st AIG bailout How about budget? Will you offer alternative?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos I'm working with others on alternatives - cong paul ryan has some great ideas.
STEPHANOPOULOS: @SenJohnMcCain What worries you more: Pakistan or Iran?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos both. the challenges are different but both significant.
STEPHANOPOULOS: @SenJohMcCain Cheney said on CNN that Obama putting US at risk of new terror attack Agree?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos too early to draw that conclusion.
STEPHANOPOULOS: @SenJohnMcCain Lots of twitterers want to know: what do you think of Meghans's feud with Coulter and Ingraham?
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos I'm proud of my daughter and she has a right to her opinions.
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos like any family we agree on some things and disagree on others.
STEPHANOPOULOS: @SenJohnMcCain Thanks for your time Senator. You're a good sport I know I'm not getting anymore on Coulter and Ingraham Happy St Pat's again
MCCAIN: @GStephanopoulos Thanks a lot george, let's do it again soon. now i look forward to reading our followers comments and insults.
@michellemalkin was commenting on AIG bailout thing too, could get interesting there:
"@SenJohnMcCain @gstephanopoulos Hello?!?! McCain SUPPORTED the $85 billion AIG bailout: http://bit.ly/xtefe"
