McCain Irritable In Newspaper Interview

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain, once renowned for his jocular sessions with journalists, appeared irritable and at times sarcastic in an interview in which he defended running mate Sarah Palin's experience and campaign ads critical of rival Barack Obama.

Meeting Tuesday with the editorial board of The Des Moines Register, McCain was asked why he picked the Alaska governor, someone "who doesn't have a lot of experience."

"Thank you, but I disagree with your fundamental principal that she doesn't have the experience," McCain replied before citing Palin's work as a PTA member, city council member, mayor and governor. "You and I just have a fundamental disagreement, and I am so happy the American people seem to be siding with me."

When it was suggested that Palin's lack of experience worried voters, McCain turned sarcastic.

"Really? I haven't detected that in the polls, I haven't detected that among the base," he said. "If there's a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn't like her, good luck. I don't dismiss him. I think the American people have overwhelmingly shown their approval."

At another point, McCain was asked if he's strayed from his "straight talk" image with advertising that some have labeled deceptive. McCain dryly responded, "It would be valuable if you gave some examples for an assertion of that nature."

He went on to say: "I have always had 100 percent, absolute truth, that's been my life and putting my country first. I'll match that record with anyone and an assertion that I have ever done otherwise, I take strong exception to."

As examples, a questioner at the Register noted a McCain commercial that suggested Obama favored comprehensive sex education for kindergartners and assertions by his campaign that a "lipstick on a pig" comment Obama made was a reference to Palin. News media fact-checking the sex education ad deemed it deceptive and a distortion of Obama's position.

"It certainly is your opinion and I respect your opinion, but it's not the facts," McCain said in the interview. "I respect your opinion. I strongly disagree with your assertion."

He also sarcastically referred to his five years as a prisoner of war when answering a question about his having government-financed health care throughout his military and congressional career.

"The answer is that most of my life, in serving my country, I have had health care," he said. "I did go for a period of time when the health care wasn't very good."

McCain met privately with the newspaper's editorial board after holding an economic roundtable earlier in the day at a Des Moines business. The newspaper posted videos of the session on its Web site.

[whosaid1]

misha128, is there some special school Mr. Obama sends you guys to....where you learn things like comparing an issue with Ifill to making a bad deal with Russia or Iran....unbelievable!!!

[whosaid1]

Careful dburfears...your prejudice is about to show. Attacking McCain is not going to make Mr. Obama any more qualified.

[whosaid1]

USA-No1...sorry, that comment was for misha128

[whosaid1]

USA-No1: oh you demoncrats ....not a clue...."strategy and tactic" are most often thought of as military terms...I''ll just bet the retired navy guy would better understand those terms than Mr. Obama.

[pastdue1]

On Palin''s resume, they keep listing her as an energy expert. Question: Are there any specifics which verify this assertation? We know she served on and quit a commission, but exactly what has she done that qualifies this to be a major item on her resume. Examples have not been forthcoming from the campaign. Perhaps Couric should have asked some specific energy questions and maybe she could have gotten an answer. Let''s hope that in the debate there will be some probing questions on this subject.

[misha128-2009]

misha128, we''''''''re in trouble if we have barrack getting schooled by our adversaries due to his naivite and inexperience.
....

Posted by USA-No1 at 02:58 PM

McCain still does not know the difference between a strategy and a tactic -- far more important and far more telling than his ill informed attacks on Obama after McCain''s major gaffe. Just to clarify.

[misha128-2009]

misha128, we''''re in trouble if we have barrack getting schooled by our adversaries due to his naivite and inexperience.
....

Posted by USA-No1 at 02:58 PM

McCain still does not know the difference between a strategy and a tactic -- far more important and far more telling than his ill informed attacks on Obama after such a major gaffe.

[misha128-2009]

misha128, the book title is "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." and it sets to release on Inauguration Day. ...

Posted by USA-No1 at 01:19 PM

Who cares about Ifill''s dots -- Let''s connect the McCain campaign dots where they negotiated a deal with either lack of information that was readily available or lack of concern and they are now crying they made a bad deal. If that were the Russians or Chinese or Iran we could be in real trouble. It''s good we learned how inept McCain and his staff are before the election.

[misha128-2009]

You can''''t be this dense. Checked out the book title and the released date. If you can''''t figured it out than I rest my case.

Posted by USA-No1 at 12:35 PM

And how long ago has this been easily googled and dismissed by McCain and his Campaign in the debate negotiations? Failure to do your own homework cannot be blamed others. Besides your description of the book is far from what I hear from other sources -- indicating the likely possibility this is at best another McCain distortion if not outright lie.

[misha128-2009]

dburfears, your lies and smears are ridiculous as well as laughable. obama must be proud to have your support.

Posted by USA-No1 at 12:32 PM

No more than McCain is proud of your upholding of his near perpetual and quite blatant and easily disproved lies.