McCain's 'liberal' slip

Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:26 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lindsey Pritzlaff and Lauren Appelbaum
While McCain was elaborating on the "stark differences" between his Democratic opponents' positions and his own, he slipped up.

"I'm a proud conservative liberal republic -- conservative Republican," he said.

After joining with the Richardson, Texas, crowd in hearty laughter, McCain went on to say what he initially meant.

"Hello, easy there," he said. "Let me say this. I am a proud conservative Republican and both of my possible or likely opponents are liberal Democrats."

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Comments

opps! And we want him in charge of the most powerful country in the world
Obama 08

Michelle "Hussein" B. (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:30 PM)

What's to discuss? This is news? Didn't Barack or Hillary say something stupid today.

Billy G., Oak Brook, IL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:31 PM)

It is amazing to me how liberals react to being called a liberal as if it's a bad thing--maybe some self-conscience coming out. The right will keep it up, just like the left reacts so strongly to being called unpatriotic. Reacting so strongly gives the argument strength and merit. I'll bet you that progressive polls better than liberal.

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:32 PM)

Got to love those "Freudian" slips...

Grey Notch, Helena MT (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:39 PM)

have a feeling mccain's less-than-conservative past is going to catch up with him before november -- either by way of the democrats or his own party.

nm (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:40 PM)

Domenico you caught him in a gaffe. Election over.

nuanced (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:43 PM)

I don't think McCain has much to worry about based on this little slip. Which democratic candidate would ever accuse him of being liberal? Ralph Nader won't, either. He can call himself a liberal all day and all night and it won't make him a liberal, and liberals won't believe it. No republican or democrat will decide not to vote for McCain because Obama, Clinton, or Nader are less liberal than he is. Republicans are way too smart to stay home because of this. It's a total non-issue.

It is amusing, however. I am not a liberal. Are, too. Am not. Are, too. Where's Mitt Romney when you need him?

Mira (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:50 PM)

Premature Alzheimers

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:54 PM)

Ooooooo! Liberal Democrats! Scary!

What was the point there?
Who the hell did he think his opponents would be, the Whigs?
Does he have to wave the "blue liberal flag" at his supporters to get the herd to keep moving behind him?
May his campaign be buried and defeated by the largest landslide in US history.
Go back to Sun City, John, the golf cart is all charged up

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:56 PM)

Oh, so many things I could say, but I'm gonna just save it . . . there is a loooooooooooooong campaign ahead! :)

Obama '08

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:01 PM)

you got it right the first time.

ken, san antonio, TX (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:01 PM)

Freudian slip

Sigmond, Chicago IL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:22 PM)

A Freudian slip? Or simply a political gaffe?

JohnQPublic (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:44 PM)

No, I think John McCain had it right the first time.

Joe Tegreene (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:50 PM)

At 71 yes Alzheimer's is setting in. Republicans be afraid be very afraid. Trust me it gets worse if elected in a few years he will think he is in a POW Camp off and on. Can you imagine Sen McCain on a overseas visit and have slip ups? Sen McCain your time has passed. Sorry will another Republican please step up?

Darrell, San Marcos, Ca (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:57 PM)

john.he.is ----http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs&feature=related

John McCain's Lobbyist Friends (59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gEROVh8zK4

Marbw (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:00 PM)

Does anyone wonder why John McCain feels it necessary to continue trying to convince audiences that he is a conservative?

Perhaps the "liberal" uttering was a Freudian slip.

James Lee, Chatsworth, GA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:20 PM)

Matthew 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

GO Huckabee!

Jason Spencer, Woodbine, GA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:52 PM)

ROFLMAO Poor Hillary/Billary fans are gasping for any help and making really good bad jokes. Fess up...!!! Y'all be backing up the wrong Presidential Couple to co-run the White House. They will need an act of Congress to convince even their supporters that they deserve any votes. Having flip flops from one of the co-runners each day just makes them look like their politics won't work.Hope their acting skills will convince enough people she deserves it for all her hard work over all the years to fit into the ***BEWARE MEN ONLY*** Washington Powerful Political Clubs that everyone has a tendency to dislike and follow the new refreshing OBAMA vision. Poor girl... she could always do very well selling AVON products to all her loyal supporters. Mary Kay -- :-) look out.

BOB (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 8:52 PM)

Early Alzheimer's. Only gonna get worse. Can't wait for the Obama-McCain debates later this year.

Charlie Hussein, Bronx, NY (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:28 PM)

OOPS Grandpa....I'll give you a pass on this one but I worry a little bit if you are talking to a not so friendly world leader and you slip up with your experienced tongue and you try to say "my good friend" and instead you say "you S!**?B" you will make me nervous!

Bonnie, Muscatine, IA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:30 PM)

He tells them what he is and the stupid fools are still blinded. Go figure. Juan you have been a bad bad boy.
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:33 PM)

Slip or misspeak? Personally, I think he's closer to the liberals than some conservatives like but, the party has to take precedence over such petty concerns.

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:55 PM)

I have utmost respect for his service to our country and the struggles as a POW, but bless his heart, he scares me with the things he says. One of the worst--hoping Castro dies. Even if he wanted to confide that to friends or family, for goodness sake he shouldn't publicly announce as a representative of the country!

Linda, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 10:11 PM)

Obviously the connectors in his brain are beginning to give way. Senility just isn't the solution we need to fix our problems at home and abroad. We need someone sharp and fresh, and the fact of the matter is that he's just too old to be President.

Barbara, Iowa (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 10:38 PM)

I've been a Republican my entire life (now 61) and I'm thinking that if I have to vote for a liberal, it'll be Obama and not McCain. I may just right in a vote for Huckabee or not vote for the first time in my life.

Don, Richmond, VA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 10:41 PM)

Sounds like he got his persona from the last campaign mixed up with his new persona for '08.

Stokes Wallace, Orlando, FL. (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 10:58 PM)

Looking forward to the many McVain flubs as the campaign goes on! Having changed all his positions several times, it's gotta be tough for JM to remember who he is and what he believes from day to day. Plenty of material for Leno and Letterman, lots of fix-up work for admirers like Tweety and Timmeh!

Radio Head (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:22 PM)

the panamanian is losing his memory. the madia is distorting his 100 year war in iraq. he doesn't want to be a conservative.

sozzi, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:29 PM)

It sounds like the neurons are already starting to deteriorate, and the presidency is still almost a year away. Not a pretty picture.

Preston, White Plains, NY (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:39 PM)

WEll well, Obama is now linked with Ayers, a known terrorist who bragged about the bombings he did in the US.
What else are we going to learn about Barak Obama? NO thanks to MSNBC.

Lets' see the list so far.

Obama's friend: Resco the slum lord. Shady property dealings, campaign contributions. ( Who by the way is now in jail having been indicted.)

Obama's Pastor: Rev. Wright, Pastor of Black only church who loves Africa more than Jesus Christ; who praises Farrakhan, the leader of Nation of Islam.

OBama's church: Anti-white, Focus is on Blacks and Africa.

Obama's supporter: Louis Farrakhan: Racist, Hater, Enemy to Jews and white people.

Obama's friend and fellow board member in Chicago: William Ayers: Terrorists who bombed the Pentegon and other places in US. and is proud of it.

What else are we going to find out about this slick politician?

Tell us MSNBC before it's too late.

John Doe (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:06 AM)

Charle (SADDAM) Hussein from Bronx It's obvious you have never had a loved one suffer from Alzhiemers It's not a punchline MORON

Jon Tomah, Wi (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:08 AM)

John McCain is weak on economy and no plan to rebuild our ailing economy. He said" I still need to be educated" What a joke! We are sending some one in the White House who has very little knowledge about our economy which is the most vital part of our national strength. He wants to run our country by military knowledge and foreign policy.

John McCain said that Health care is an option and should be decided by individuals. Is not that failed policy on health care we had for decades? It is shame that our health care system ranks 37th in the world. So what’s the good of being the wealthiest and strongest nation on earth? McCain can enjoy the federal health care plan for himself with out a word but when time to share the same plan with American people then it becomes a bad policy. What hypocrisy? If it’s not double standard than what is?

Recently John McCain said that “we have the best health care system in the world”, this may be true statements for him because some privileged like him can have the access to it. What happens to millions of Americans when they are out of reach of this so called best health care because either the premium is too high or the insurance company is denying the health coverage for the pre-existing conditions? What is McCain’s position to fix this problem which has crippled our access to health care system?

MAMN (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:29 AM)

Sen. McCain travels in a bus called straight talk expressway but he has lost its wheels by flip-flopping. He may be media darling, media is giving him a free pass most of the times. When many candidates get hammered by the media in any given issue, the press ignores McCain’s double talking in the same issue. The reason behind this unprecedented support to McCain by the media is vastly unknown.

McCain may be a war hero but he is great flip-flopper. He changed his policy in issues like immigration, Bush's tax cut, abortion rights, gay marriage in order to advance his goal to secure the republican nomination. McCain can not be trusted because he changed his policy not because of the fairness or the legitimacy of the policy but because of his personal interest that aligned him with the conservative republicans.

John McCain seems to make us believe that he is above all partisan politics and he is a man of principal all the time. But in contrary, he has aided with more lobbyist than anyone else. His campaign both in 2000 and 2008 is funded by Washington lobbyist. It is clear that whenever any lobbyist donated campaign fund and they do so in exchange of policy favor. So McCain should not claim that he is above any influence of lobbyist.

MAMN (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:30 AM)

McCain Supporters,
You tell me what McCain stands for? What specific he has given so far other than talking about war and decades old foreign policy. Our foreign policy is broken because of people like McCain and their commitment for war and poking our nose to every part of the world. We are less safe at home and abroad because we made a mess around the world.
McCain flip-flopped in core issues like Immigration, gay rights, abortion rights and tax cut. How come he gets free pass from while he is so double talker in many issues.
Tell me what plans McCain has to rebuild our ailing economy, what policy he has to bring affordable health care to every doorstep in the country, what he will do to restore our standard in education system, what is his plan to restore our respect and integrity in the world.
I know he has no plan to address these issues. He is getting a pass because people think because of many years in the senate he has the plans but the facts are he is quite empty in policies and plans.

MAMN (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:32 AM)

Barack Obama’s has clear vision and clear choice for our ailing economy. He is the one who can unite the nation by bringing all parties together. He is the one who can finally reach out across the party line to form a majority for a real chance of passing some of the long due legislations.
Obama not only talk about hope and dream but he give us a vision and inspire us to lift ourselves to embrace better future. He has the right judgments and knowledge to lead our country to a united prosperous country. He has specific plan how to solve our domestic problems like education, health care, energy shortage and dependencies on foreign oil. Obama has the courage to challenge special interest groups so they can no longer set our agendas to their favor.

MAMN (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:34 AM)

The thing scary about McCain is he's pro war. He jokes around, singing bomb Iran and if you notice, all he talks about is the war. What about the economy? War is causing a debt of 500 billion dollars with no end in sight since he wants to engage Iran now.
Does it not cause some concern?

Jerry, Burbank, IL (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:49 AM)

This little slip will help sooth those neo-cons fears about McCain being a closet liberal....!!!! Ha, Ha, Ha!!!!

The Edge, Macon, Ga (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 12:50 AM)

How much longer till Obama/Clinton Let's Getr Done!

I'm Drained (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 1:07 AM)

No tremendous surprise. McCain's already pulled out the classic "I don't recall" several times (whether in earnest or dodging; telling line either way). At least it wasn't painfully apparent that Reagan was a doddering, senile puppet until his second term. We haven't even gotten to the general election yet, and this guy already sounds like he doesn't know what year it is, or what he'd do if someone wasn't there to help him find his socks in the morning.

Wincey, San Diego, CA. (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 1:11 AM)

Ah, liberal baiting. The last surviving legacy of Joseph McCarthy. The reactionary right really should come up with a new tactic, most Americans aren't afraid of the liberal boogeyman after 7 years of a living conservative nightmare.

Bradley, Kentucky (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 2:03 AM)

What's everyone arguing about?

Don't you remember what we've learned over the last 30 years or so?

Democrats are Socialists...and expose us to all the trappings that go with that.

Republicans are for Big Business, listen to Lobbyists and the Big Corporations, and are in Washington to make the Big Bucks.

It's supposed to be secret, but they all become (shortly after taking office) traitors to our original U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and they really don't care about the voter - the election is simply what they must go through to keep us from revolting. James Madison (an original Constitution signer said it would happen if we didn't keep our eye on congress).

For example, look up what's recently been approved by our very own U.S. Supreme Court and have many congressional (Senate and House of Representatives) supporters whom have supported it. The L.O.S.T. (Laws Of The Seas Act), www.rejectlost.blogspot.com/.
This shows how far removed from protection that our Congress (as a group) have taken us from our enemies, much less taken care of our Domestic Issues.

So who cares who is up for election? When will you and I have to do something about frying some larger fish?

Paul Denver, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 2:03 AM)

Juan WetStart Leiberman POW McCain is the biggest loser the Grand Old Party has put out.Agnew, Ford, Bush, Dole should be on Mountain side compared to this Shellshocked NAVAL BRAT. He will every let every illegal Mexican in. Google this loser check the facts folks. PS This Election is rigged for Healthcare Billary.

Alpha Dog Columbus Ohio (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 2:10 AM)

McCain is the Demarcates third chose for president??
Off course his a little liberal, which makes him a little delusional!

Richard Chapman (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 2:46 AM)

Already waving that 'white flag of surrender', eh John!?

Jon, Seattle (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 4:19 AM)

I feel I have enough knowledge of politics over the last 30 years to give an opinion as to what to expect from polititions. Every election I WILL DO I PROMISE I can TURN this country into the greatest Country on earth. I ask you has any previous government brought us to the ALMIGHTIEST country yet. Reagan came close and if polititions since him built upon his foundations we all could show the world how a country should stand above all others because every other country would want to use our blueprint. The US is still the American dream. But it's that way because of the american people not the polititions lies, deceit, power hungary and greet. THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE.

Jon Tomah, Wi (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 6:53 AM)

America needs a young and vigorous president. Anyone who remembers the doddering Reagan will remember that he was able to somewhat conceal his senility--initially, at least--because he was AN ACTOR. McCain doesn't have that talent.

Anyone else remember Ronnie and Nancy?

At the end of an outdoor Q&A session, a reporter shouted a question to Ronnie, who was hard of hearing. Nancy whispered to him, "We're doing the best we can." Ronnie looked up and said, "We're doing the best we can."

America doesn't deserve that again.

SatanHimself (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 6:56 AM)

After the past 8 years is it not stupid to brag that you are a consertative Republican? You would think he would rater be anything but that.

loris bay (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 7:49 AM)

How depressing for us all. Our choices are a platitudinous, inexperienced cult-of-personality lawyer; a former first lady about as inspiring as a turnip - and yes, she's a lawyer too. And an ageing war vet whose stumbles his way even through his own stump speeches insisting with the insincere refrain "my friends." What a dearth of leadership we have in this country. How men like Clinton and Bush become president and people like this current crop are our best choices simply, honestly, truly sucks.

JDW, Boston, Mass (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 8:21 AM)

Every single time I read the opinions and comments of my fellow Americans on just about any topic, I cringe and despair for the future of Demecracy. Just let the fat cats have their way and be done with it...they will find a way to rig the outcome no matter what, anyway. The have's will always have, and the have not's will never, ever.

Tom Paine (Sent Friday, February 29, 2008 8:21 AM)

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