McCain in Mexico with Jeb Bush

Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:05 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- As McCain tries to politely distance himself from the president, the Arizona Republican will appear with another Bush today.

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is in Mexico City on his own separate schedule and asked to visit with McCain. They will be together at the revered Roman Catholic site the Basilica de Guadelupe.

When asked about potential political risk of giving his opponents a McCain-Bush opening, McCain dismissed that and praised Jeb Bush as an expert on education and a respected Florida leader.

As McCain works to appeal to Hispanic voters, it is helpful to note that the Basilica is a place of great religious significance in many Hispanic families who often display a photo at home of the shrine to the site where the Church says Mary appeared to a Juan Diego in 1531.

A Gallup poll of Catholics shows Hispanic Catholics prefer Obama by a 66% to 25% margin. Among non-Hispanic Catholics, McCain has a 46% to 43% advantage.

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Comments

McBush loves the Bushmen he can't help it.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, utah (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:27 PM)

Another Bush-leaguer...

Expelliarmus, OH (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:31 PM)

GUADALUPE not GuadElupe!

Carl29, Miami, Fl. (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:35 PM)

But Chris Matthews said that Senator Obama has a problem with Catholic voters! What about that? :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:40 PM)

The more McBush hangs out with the Bush family, the easier it is to tie him to Bush policies.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:46 PM)

transparency at its finest! McLatinamerica is a ditz

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:51 PM)

MSNBC hosts tout Scott McClellans book as a talisment of Bush incompetence,cronyism and corruption.To fully flesh out the corruption of big oil,texans and Bush one must also read Barr McClellans book.Scott's daddy shows how LBJ's 48 election theft was a blue print for 2000,a staple of Texas elections,the relationship of big oil,money and a desire for a southerner in the WH was fuelled by cash paid to segregationists[ie Russell of Ga.] through Johnson to attain the goal.That a meeting was held on 11/21/63,attended by Murchison and Hunt,to finalize assasination plans,then compare that to this days revalation that the Bush administration undercut American interests in Iraq in pushing an oil deal for the Hunt's over American interests.McClellans story dovetails closely the the more extensive,but more timid,work of Caro on the same subject. Kramer in 'Whatever It Takes' sets forth how HW Bush embraced the Right Wing of Texas in the 60's to further his own political goals.McClellans work is allegedly from first hand information,admissions by participants,and the matching of a critical,yet heretofore unidentified,fingerprint found on the sixth floor of the Book Deposatory.
If you are as courageous as you profess then fleshing out this story,and establishing it's truth or falsity,is a critical endeavor

Jacques Levy (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:57 PM)

Mccain = bush, older, dumber and just as phony.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:59 PM)

Bush sent McCain to Columbia because he knew about the hostages being freed. This was just an opportunity to have McCain around a photo op and appear to have something to do with their freedom. That's my opinion anyway. The job loss stories have caused the hostage story to take a backseat. Oh, well, looks like all the republican wrangling is getting all tied up!

Republicans use people for their own agenda's (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:03 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Juan McCain and Bush undoubtedly are giving away the rest of our jobs while they lay out the welcome mat for the illegals.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:05 PM)

McCain is campaigning for president of the United States, right? He is confused where the country actually is?

DV, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:17 PM)

Did McBush really graduate in the LOWER 1% INTELLIGENCE level of his naval academy?!

My GOD, he is a Bush. George Bush was a "C to D" performer in school.

Would Americans really voted for two of the DUMBEST PRESIDENTS EVER?

Willis, TX (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:18 PM)

So McCain plans to come out with his 'jobs first', campaign message, ay?

Since when, and for whom? Thus far, his message in Ohio, and Michigan has been, get over it. Your jobs are not coming back, and I have no vision as to how to provide employment oppourtunities to replace them.

Just two months ago he took part in a panel discussion, and can be viewed espousing his belief that Americans are better off than they were 7.5 years ago.

What changed? He's down in the polls, and has ramped up his predilection for pandering.

donna (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:29 PM)

McCain praised Jeb Bush as an expert in education? Um, well, okay. Has Jeb Bush ever been a teacher?

I can buy off on the idea the wrong son rose to the presidency. I can buy off on the notion that Bush hasn't been a bad governor in Florida.

I can even buy the sentiment that, as governors go, he may be stronger than most on education issues. That doesn't equate to expertise.

Even education administration probably isn't an expertise of his, seeing as that's done by local school boards, in cooperation with county supervisors or whatever local leaders are called in respective school districts.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:30 PM)

Would Americans really voted for two of the DUMBEST PRESIDENTS EVER?

Willis, TX
------------------------------------------------------
They voted for Bush TWICE, didn't they? Question answered.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:38 PM)

Sounds reasonable to me. Hispanic Catholics are traditionally very much into visions and apparitions.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:38 PM)

Willis TX:

Well, this will probably fall of deaf and dumb ears, but just being accepted at any military academy means that you are the cream of the crop going in.

That you finish the academy successfully when not all who enter do so, you are still elite.

Class rank or graduation has nothing to do with innate intelligence, just ask Bill Gates. In McCain's case it had more to do with excelling at what interested him and dissing what didn't.

I'll bet he could have put your last sentence together better than you did.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:44 PM)

I sure hope that the MSM sees that photo op with McCain and Lieberman in Colombia as pure theater! They were told ahead of time to go by Charlie Black and the other McCain campaign workers whose daytime job it is to lobby for the Colombian government. McCain and Lieberman should be ashamed of themselves for that grandstanding about how much the Colombian government trusted them to brief them, blah, blah, blah! It wouldn't surprise me if McCain arranges (with Hollywood special effects of course!) for Mary herself to appear at the Basilica while they are there. GOOD LORD!

LB, Virginia (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:44 PM)

McClutz is a baffoon. Someone should have given him a tequilla shot, spun him in a circle and asked him if he liked Hugo Chavez.

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:55 PM)

Trying to distance yourself, you hang out with his brother? Not very smart, McCain...

Omar(Davidson, NC) (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:57 PM)

So Jeb Bush is an education expert, huh? I was surprised to see that! Remember the other brother, Neil Bush. Is he still selling educational videos and programs?

Perhaps McCain's visit with Jeb is to get him on board with reaping rewards from No Child Left Behind. NCLB was/is, as I understand it, an unfunded mandate with questionable objectives, methods, and results. Follow the money...... can we assume that "unfunded mandate" is a surrogate term for "investment opportunity" for the Bush League? Let's watch programs a little closer when they have glorious press and support but a less than apparent foundation for funding.

Back to the question, then. What credentials do Jeb and Neil have as eduction experts? And why is McCain in another country on the eve of our celebration of the Founder's vision of liberty, freedom, and justice?

Steve Steffens, Golden, CO (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 2:11 PM)

McNAFTA
Is just trying to mend the boarder fence! Give the old guy a break. He needs show how he can reach out to the little people--- You know, so everyone will forget Cindy's credit card bill!

Obama 08

Just saying Las Vegas.NV (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 2:49 PM)

I wonder if John & Jeb kissed eachother like John & George did?

SMOOCH guys!

I guess John McCain was a beneficiary of the don't ask, don't tell millitary policy. Cindy McCain is to John what Kattie Holmes is to Tom Cruise. An attempt to make it look like he's not gay.

I mean seriously you religious right wingers, how do we know that John McCain isn't gay?????? Prove it!

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:08 PM)

McFossil can't get enough of the Bush family, I see. Great; hope he spends the July 4th Holiday with them as well. The more he's seen with a Bush, the better for Obama.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:10 PM)

McChicken debate with Obama...to afraid...?

CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK! McPollo....

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:10 PM)

Please, please, PLEASE tell me he isn't going to make the Jebster his Veep! Is this a way to slip in another Bush in 2012 when Mcsenile is too brain-rotted to run again?
And by the way, yes, everyone who believes the hostage rescue was pure coincidence raise your hands.
None of you? Smart group...!

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:16 PM)

McCain...how do you spell relief for this country...

Gas-X?
War-X?
$.18 cents a gallon-X?
Cherry Tomato-X?
Drugs-X?
Bush-X?
Casualties-X?
Economy-X?
100 years-X?
Hanoi-X?
My Freinds-X?
Jobs-X?
Home mortage relief-X?
ElQaeda-X?
Osama-X?
Families-X?
Just what do really think we need to believe in you..
For real?
War Hero just ain't makin' it....

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:35 PM)

Why weren't they wearing flag pins, UNamerican to be sure.

charles klass (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:55 PM)

What happens in Mexico STAYS in Mexico.

Full Moon (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 6:38 PM)

I predict that Jeb Bush will be John Mccain's VP running mate. That so called "Maverick" is trying way too hard to appeal to the idiot neo-cons it wouldn't be surprising if he chooses another Bush for his VP

Let's see how many people are able to prove me wrong.

Obama/Richardson 2008.

Pat,Mission Bend,TX (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 7:03 PM)

All you Obama camp bloggers, I said it in the "perils of dismissing McCains military service" article And I will say it again here: It takes more brains to get through the Naval Academy then sum preppy Ivy league Law school that won't let it's students flunk out for reputation purposes. Yes, Harvard has many support systems to prevent it's student from failing because that would be bad for the school's reputation! Even if McCain did graduate at the bottom of his class. Obama is too much of a panzy to take one half of what Annapolis has to dish out!

schmeck, Orlando (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 8:23 PM)

We lost 60K plus jobs in June, 438K since January 1st Bush has had us bending over for all free trade and taking it BOHICA style while other countries reap the benefit of taking profits and jobs from us. And where is McCain? In Canada and Mexico and Columbia. How can someone who is supposedly so smart on the economy as he recently said in a major flipflop, be so tone deaf and plain ignorant of American workers' needs? We're losing jobs HERE, not in Mexico. He is another Bush...plain and simple and beholden to corporations who need the status quo as it is to stay the way it is on trade.

Doc, Honolulu (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 8:54 PM)

Interesting that McFossil would refer to Jeb Bush as a
respected Florida leader and an expert in education. I
seem to recall some years ago that he wasn't such an expert in banking, or should I say Savings and Loan?

miss anthrope indianapolis, in (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:24 PM)

Its' time that the news media start focusing on where both candidates stand instead of focusing on what age, race, group that will support them.

Why's John McBush getting a free ride from the press?
McBush got a temper issue and doesn't have a clue about the economy!! For someone who's been in Washington for 30 years!! McBush is out of touch with the American people.

Jay, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:36 PM)

"Would Americans really vote for the two dumbest presidents ever?"

Only if the rest of us stay home. We need to vote and we need to share facts with other people and we need to give money to finance the campaign of the guy who actually likes Americans. McBush believe in trillions for Baghdad/Tehran/"Many more wars, my friends", but not one red cent for Americans. If you'd like to see Americans with jobs again, with education, with healthcare, then register somebody to vote, keep informed and share what you learn and donate. There's a lot of work to do and we're the ones to do it. This is no time in American history to sit back and just watch what happens. Make some history. Today.

Karela, Hastings, Michigan (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 12:07 AM)

John McCain Needs JEB bush as his running mate.

I JUST LOVE THE F'ING BUSH FAMILY.

d (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 2:42 AM)

What is the point of visiting the Basilica de Guadalupe? Why would a presidential candidate, member of the anglican church, would pick to visit the Basilica on a trip to Mexico? Aren't there better choices, like the National Museum of Anthropology and History or any other sites of historical value? It is clear that he wanted to take his picture with the Virgen de Guadalupe to use it as a way to get the votes of those US citizens with a latinamerican background. Guess what! This action is going to backfire. It is the most hypocritical action taken by McCain. In top of this visit, he declared will continue to build a wall in the border!! Bravo Mr McCain! You just gave your votes to Obama! Viva Obama!!

Michael Zillow, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 3:52 AM)

John McCain is the EXTENDED WARRANTY of the Bush administration, not worth the paper it is printed on.

John Alexander,PA (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 9:16 AM)

It is not Columbia, that is the university in New York. It is "Colombia". By the way being intelligent does not mean you could be a great leader or know how to govern your country. I came to know great university professors that were extremely intelligent but couldn't teach the subject well in class.

Armando, Sarasota (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 9:31 AM)

McCain's Illegal Immigration Policy?

He's campaigning in Mexico.

What does that tell us?

Campaigning in Mexico ???? OUTRAGEOUS (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 10:16 AM)

Mexicans (NOT "Hispanics" which derives from Hispania, the Roman province that became Iberia, and later, Spain and Portugal, and ignores the indiginous roots of the Mexican people) go to the Basilica of Guadalupe to pray for a miracle, often when all seems lost. We shall see if the Virgin listens to Mr. McCain.

Vic, Visalia, CA (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 11:13 AM)

I agree with the posts above. When I heard about the hostages being released yesterday, the first thing I thought was how strange it was that John McCain just happened to be in Columbia. Of course this was the perfect opportuniity to show John McCain in the middle as though he had anything to do with it, or maybe it was to give the appearance that George Bush (and the GOP) had accomplished something before his term ends. It's all rather suspicious.

Marcia Gerber, Moline, IL (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 11:23 AM)

You can't expect McCain to be any less of a policy puppet than Bush. Oil money greases both of them up.

dan moore - mosinee, wi (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 11:38 AM)

I'm against McCain, but even a moron can see through Obama's promises: "Iraq is a dumb war"... to "I will change withdrawal plans if necessary" (read between the lines: I am promising change but will have the same policy as Bush on wiretapping and the war!).

Raphael, Virginia (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 11:56 AM)

As a native of Florida and having lived there while Jeb Bush was governor, the fact that McCain thinks that the former governor is an expert on education shows us how delusional (read: senile) McCain may be. Jeb Bush ruined the education system in Florida. Teachers no longer teach a curriculum, they teach a test, the FCAT. The keeps Florida ranked consistently within the bottom ten states in education.

Trevor Ten Brink, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 11:58 AM)

Maybe, just maybe.... Jebbie and Johnnie will "STAY" in Mexico. This country would be much better off if they did.

JoeBama! (Sent Saturday, July 05, 2008 12:41 AM)

It's no surprise that McCain was on his way to Columbia at the same time but I do find it very interesting that the President of Columbia called McCain directly to let him know what was going on .... why didn't he call Obama as well .... that's a retorical question .....

dori keller, north hollywood california (Sent Saturday, July 05, 2008 1:00 AM)

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