Fact-checking McCain

Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:26 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Republican debates, McCain

From NBC's Mark Murray and Chris Donovan
McCain said a few things tonight that set off our fact-checking alarms. The first came when NBC's Tim Russert asked him this: "Senator McCain, you have said repeatedly, quote, 'I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.' Is it a problem for your campaign that the economy is now the most important issue, one that by your own acknowledgment you're not well versed on?"

McCain replied, "Actually, I don't know where you got that quote from."

Actually, the quote came from a 2005 piece by Stephen Moore, in which McCain said: “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics that I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.”

McCain also said this, per a December 2007 Boston Globe article: "The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should. I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”

Another McCain remark, answering a question on why some Republicans aren't enthusiastic about his bid, also raised our eyebrows: "But, look, I won the majority of Republican vote in both New Hampshire and South Carolina."

Well, according to the exit polls, Huckabee slightly beat McCain among self-identified South Carolina Republicans, 32%-31%. And Romney slightly beat him among self-identified New Hampshire Republicans, 35%-34%. The independent vote in both states was instrumental in putting McCain over the top in those contests.

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Comments

Did anyone hear the gem coming out of Huckabee's mouth tonight about Jordon being the recipient of smuggles WMD from Hussein? Is Huckabee just the most ridiculous person? He has zero foreign policy knowledge. Worse off, he's liable to tick off one of the most moderate countries in the Middle East and a close friend of the United States. I can't fathom Huckabee as President. It blows me away that people even consider this joker.

Huckabee you owe a sincere and complete apology to every citizen of Jordan, now!

AnyoneButHuckabee, USA (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:14 AM)

So much for the "Straight Talk Express" That piece of work derailed back in 2000.

ByeJohn, FL (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:15 AM)

and i know the media want to ignore at any cost the ron paul candidacy...but he did zing mccain good where mccain looked and just dropped names and rambled on because he had no idea what paul was asking him about.

sean conners, newark, de (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:20 AM)

McCain is old - and has an astonishing LACK of knowledge when it comes to economics... That combination could RUIN the country.

Romney, having graduated in the top 5 of his class at the Harvard in Business, is what the country needs.

James Quick, Anaheim, California (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:20 AM)

Romney dominated the debate in every sense... I think America just got its best look at who the new President will be - and I'm quite certain we like what we saw.

Stacey Considine, Miami, Florida (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:22 AM)

Only a FOOL (Hello, Andrea Mitchell?) could claim Mitt Romney didn't win the debate handily.

My guess is that Bill and Hillary are starting to hatch some sort of diabolical scheme - are they the type of infidels we want back in the White House?

Perry Shuerholder, Jacksonville, Florida (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:23 AM)

McCain seemed off tonight. I caught the false claim about carrying the republican vote in NH, SC--but what's 1% between friends?

The McCain answer that really seemed askew was his response to Ron Paul's question. McCain just trotted out the "who I know list" he had used moments earlier and it made him seem like he really didn't know nut's and bolts economics.

Jason Lexington, VA (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:25 AM)

McCain was either outright LYING about not claiming to be smart enough in economics, or he's TOO OLD to remember ever saying it...

Either way, McCain loses... The nation's best interests far outweigh his desire to sit in the White House well into his 70's!

Keith Conardi, San Francisco, California (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:33 AM)

Looks like the straight talk express just derailed in front of millions of voters.

Cory, Logan, Utah (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:34 AM)

So you think it may be possible that McCain may have educated himself about economics between 2005 and 2008? The military will always be his strong point but he is no fool when it comes to other topics.

Opa2 (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:36 AM)

JUST A THOUGHT

I know candidates will try to control their tone and their message. But is it possible the moderators also influence the tone of the debate? Is it an accident that when Wolf Blitzer moderates things get out of hand and rowdy (remember las Vegas, SC). Could it be Wolfe's appetite to see a slugfest over asking well researched but firm questions of Tim Russert making a big difference?

Just a thought.

Mike, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 12:38 AM)

Where is the Romney whisper post?

Will Slack, Decatur, Georgia (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:06 AM)

this reminds me of sesame street .. I have seen several republican debates and ads only to find that progressively and by coincidence(?) the most prominent candidates literally repeat speeches by other candidates sometimes even contradicting themselves from one speech to the next .. that says a lot about the integrity of some of these men .. I would particularly like people to search for some of Romney's endorsements when he was governor of masachusetts.

V Gonz, Miami, Florida (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:13 AM)

If you want the truth look at fact check and you will see that the most honest candidate is Ron Paul. If you can't handle that keep looking...

Frank Wagner (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:25 AM)

what about the BLATANT LIES that the huckster spewed out 2night?!?!

what a joke debate

James Smith (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:28 AM)

So what's new? These guys will say anything to get elected. Truth has nothing to do with it. They're hoping to ride the Bush model: lie about just about anything and everything - and then deny everthing and anything. Pathetic.

R.Merrell (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:34 AM)

Looking forward to your fact-checking of Romney - should I hold my breath?

Grace Reid (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 1:48 AM)

why does msnbc continue to try to cast keith's show as "entertainment news"??? once again tonight we have NO video for the top story (that would be the one with the number FIVE in front of it.) instead we have, ONCE AGAIN, the one minute of celebrity news in the first spot next to keith's name. many of us watch countdown ONLY for the first two or three bits, as his is the only show addressing those issues. so WHY is it that the first story of the show is routinely omitted from the web-available clips? IS ANYONE LISTENING? SOMEONE TELL KEITH PLEASE, SO THIS NONSENSE CAN STOP. we dont give a hoot about britney's latest meltdown. STOP CENSORING THE NEWS PORTIONS OF COUNTDOWN FROM THE WEB PLEASE!

Mike D (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:00 AM)

Dear NBC & MSNBC News,

I found your coverage of the 1/24/08 Republican debate in Boca Raton, Florida to be extremely biased. The final speaking times were completely uneven and unfair. Each candidate in this election deserves equal coverage for how far they've come, and we rely on you for the news, not so that you can twist the news to suit yourselves and your advertisers.

We request that you immediately issue an apology for the unequal speaking times the candidates were allowed; furthermore, you should extend to those candidates that were given drastically less time the opportunity to make a televised statement free of charge to make up for the inaccuracy in your monitoring of the time allowances.

It is not acceptable to the American people that you are giving certain candidates more face time and speaking time than the others, for no apparent (or stated) reason.

Until such an apology is issued, I will not be tuning into MSNBC, nor will I be purchasing products from the sponsors of this debate. I have copied the investor relations departments of the companies that participated in advertising for this debate.

We already have FOX News being fair and unbalanced. It used to be that MSNBC was different: WHAT HAPPENED???

Sincerely,

Josh

Josh Bee (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:28 AM)

Well, to be fair. McCain is 72 and in Chuck Norris years that's 110 years old. . . it's just hard to remember things at that age.

EJ, CT (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:35 AM)

I noticed those problems as well. It is hard to believe McCain didn't know that he hadn't won the registered Republican vote. Also, McCain doesn't know the difference between majority and plurality. Not only did he not win a majority, he also did not win a plurality.

Ben, Austin, Texas (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:39 AM)

What's worse he actually thinks he carried the conservative vote, or he lied about it. Either way, I don't want him leading the nation.

larry (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:43 AM)

I come to this site several times a day. I must admit that I disagree with the obvious subjectivity that is often displayed, BUT-this kind of information is very helpful and informative. Maybe you should have a fact-checking page/link on the site!?! I am an independent but Mitt was very powerful tonight, McCain stumbled and Huckabee looked good. What is up with Rudy's smile?

Ryan (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:44 AM)

Hey Chuck ,

Why did you guys remove the "exposing" of Mitt getting fed his answers ? Hmmm ?

You may have removed it, but we have it. You can't hide stuff from the public ya know. Check this out.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/2217430681_025b6c0fe6_o.jpg

We also have the video.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/25/03538/1874/632/442790

Kossiacks-Are-Watching-You (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 2:48 AM)

I can't get very excited about either of these.
It's 2008 and citing an obscure quote from 2005 that's more harshly worded than the more familiar recent quote could understandably be initially met with a "where did that come from" question...no big deal.
The other one is way off. Even if it was 32-31 and 35-34 in McCain's favor...no way is 32 or 35 anywhere close to a "majority" i.e. >50. I suspect if some exit poll showed it 32-31 in favor of Huckabee and 35-34 in favor of Romney -- that's so close that there is probably some other exit poll somewhere that would've shown a 1 or 2 point "plurality" for McCain.

Bill Hicks, Kailua, HI (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 3:36 AM)

He is a Republican, we expect him to lie.

John Galloway (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 3:42 AM)

He is a Republican, we expect him to lie.

John Galloway ,Belfair , Wash. (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 3:44 AM)

Do you know why no ones commenting?..because Dr. Paul made him look like a fool..hahah

The Truth, Will Set You, Free (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 4:19 AM)

There is no possible way that McCain doesn't know what the spread was on voters after both of those important primaries. Why not just be honest and say something like, " ... well, Tim, it's true that those numbers were very close in those states, but I think I've made a lot of progress in the past couple weeks convincing the base ... etc." He missed an opportunity to use "straight talk" and acknowledge a problem but focus on it getting better. Why is this important? Because EVERYONE knows that McCain does not have the support of the Republican base and that most Republicans see him as RINO. He blew it. He also futher alienated those folks who are going to show up in the super Tuesday primaries that only allow Republicans to vote for Republicans. He'll still be around but badly damaged after February 5th -- will he play spoiler? Of course. He's mean and vindictive. He will not help the Republican ticket by supporting Romney and once again, as ALWAYS, he will just go away mad and feeling sorry for himself. Sad.

Jeff, Davenport, Iowa (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 6:07 AM)

I did not like the way Russert tried to bait them against each other. I was happy when it didn't work!

Linda Tampa Fl (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 6:23 AM)

Mccain sounded confused and befuddled, definitely not presidential.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 6:43 AM)

How about McCain having no idea what the President's Working Group on Financial Markets is? He supposedly has so much experience but he doesn't know that the plunge group uses our tax dollars to manipulate the markets? What has he been doing all these years besides climbing into bed with the military industrial complex and telling veterans groups they cannot investigate MIAs...

garin, reno, nb (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 6:58 AM)

If John McCain doesn't have a clue what the Working Group on Financial Markets is, he's lost ALL credibility about being informed on economic matters.

Gene Raleigh, NC (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 6:58 AM)

Why don't you fact check Ron Paul? I'm sure he said some things that sent your "fact checking alarms" in hyper drive??

matt, alaska (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 7:21 AM)

The non-profit, non-partisan website FactCheck.org verifies all of the candidates' statements and will probably include statements made in this debate. Last time I checked the site, Ron Paul was the only candidate with no errors in his statements. His name appears only in the listing of debate participants.

Lynn, Round Rock, TX (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:06 AM)

McCain doesn't remember voting for this either.....

Social Security Change For 2008

The United States Senate voted to extend Social Security Benefits to Illegal Aliens beginning in 2008. The following are the senators who voted to give illegal aliens Social Security benefits. They are grouped by home state. If a state is not listed, there was no voting representative.

Alaska : Stevens (R)

Arizona : McCain (R)

Arkansas : Lincoln (D) Pryor (D)

California : Boxer (D) Feinstein (D)

Colorado : Salazar (D)

Connecticut : Dodd (D) Lieberman (D)

Delaware : Biden (D) Carper (D)

Florida : Martinez (R)

Hawaii : Akaka (D) Inouye (D)

Illinois : Durbin (D) Obama (D)

Indiana : Bayh (D) Lugar (R)

Iowa : Harkin (D)

Kansas : Brownback (R)

Louisiana : Landrieu (D)

Maryland : Mikulski (D) Sarbanes (D)

Massachusetts : Kennedy (D) Kerry (D)

Montana : Baucus (D)

Nebraska : Hagel (R)

Nevada : Reid (D)

New Jersey : Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D)

New Mexico : Bingaman (D)

New York : Clinton (D) Schumer (D)

North Dakota : Dorgan (D)

Ohio : DeWine (R) Voinovich(R)

Oregon : Wyden (D)

Pennsylvania : Specter (R)

Rhode Island : Chafee (R) Reed (D)

South Carolina : Graham (R)

South Dakota : Johnson (D)

Vermont : Jeffords (I) Leahy (D)

Washington : Cantwell (D) Murray (D)

West Virginia : Rockefeller (D), by Not Voting

Wisconsin : Feingold (D) Kohl (D)

Susan, MA (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:11 AM)

It is nice to see that fact checking is now thought a good idea on this site, lets do more of that, shall we.
This seems to be the hardest election for the republican party in a long time, it is nice to see that republicans now must really think about their choices instead of marching in lock step.
This truly is a great time for us all, people are really thinking about their candidates and making compare and contrast an improtant part of their choice.
It is also good to see that the devisive base of the party is losing its grip on the party, time for change means time for americans to take back the republican party from those who have put it in this situation. You gave us Bush and now you must live with that for a very long time.
Such is politics, such is life, can't hold power when you have been found wanting in so many ways.

John Alexander (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:19 AM)

Oh what a shocker, the former POW and war hero and probable republican nominee is a big lier. Wow! Its politics as usual. Mr "Im perfect high and mighty" Obama is ALSO a lier. So much for those highly ambitious, lying Clintons. It looks like they got some company. At this point, Im going to vote for the smartest, toughest, shrewdest democrat, who follows the democratic ideas. Thats Hillary. She will be our next president.

j fl (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:33 AM)

What a shocker. McCain is not the truth teller that he claims to be (yet another lie.) It's getting harder and harder for me to ever support a guy with so few principles as he.

John, Durham, NC (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:34 AM)

Never underestimate the ability of Russert and the gang at NBC to work in the opportunity for anyone to bash Hillary Clinton. Why didn't they ask a question about Senator Obama? No, Russert handed a softball question to Romney, obviously allowing him the opportunity to rake Hillary over the coals. What a disgusting display.

However you inadvertently did Clinton a favor by propping up Romney (and thus hurting McCain). I predict a Romney win in Florida and the nomination too. Hillary/Obama or Hillary/Harold Ford (my prediction) will win 37 states.

Thanks Tim!!

teddi, Norwalk, CT (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:40 AM)

teddi, Norwalk, CT (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:41 AM)

Another GOP looser being 'loose' with the facts. Don't these folks get it? HELLO? Remember "Macaca"? You make a statement to a reporter who gets you on camera...and then your response when you have to back up the statements you made is...."gee, I didn't say that".

McCain is the wrong answer for this country. We've had enough of bush and the gop being loose with the facts for the last 7 years. I've backed the gop for a long time, but when they nominated bush as their 'best and brightest' I said NEVER again. Even I could see through his b.s. Now we have McCain trying to pick up where bush leaves off, with half truths spoken out of both sides of his mouth.

dectra (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:45 AM)

McCain sold out. There's not much to it. Notice how many times he says "Radical Islamic Extremism". He says it so much that even Rudy's probably thinking "Dude!"

Lizardbox (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 8:55 AM)

Russert once said he was a legitimate journalist. That turned out not to be true too.

Halle Stevens, LV NV (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 9:04 AM)

McCain's delusional.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 9:11 AM)

I wonder how much American taxpayers money it costs for mccain's photo op/chear leader trips to Iraq?

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 9:14 AM)

McCain want's to keep US troops in Iraq for 100 years...that may be ok for him, but it's not ok for the rest of us. And the sound bite when he said that, should be the most aired Dem. campaign ad against him in the general election. That will beat him and show him for the war monger he is. Hey, McCain, you'll be dead in 5 years, so why should you care? And, we can't afford that kind of commitment. You are a liar, and a cheat. Go back to AZ and retire.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 9:27 AM)

As a Democrat I can tell you Bill and Hillary cannot wait to play in the sandbox with Romney. He has so many flip flops he makes Kerry look good. They will rip him apart. Every time he has been questioned hard on something he has gotten flustered.. Bill will smush him :-)

Ronnie Ruff (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 9:41 AM)

I can empathize with John Mcain. I am nearly 65 and I have a lot of trouble remembering names of people I have known for years.

mavsrcheap (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 10:00 AM)

Lost all respect for Russert and the other facilitator who was even worse. They owe Ron Paul an apology and air time.

John Schlichter (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

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