McCain: Changes aren't 'big'

Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:15 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- Presumptive Republican nominee McCain sat down with NBC News during his trip to Latin America. Here are some highlights:

VIDEO: Barack Obama took a swipe at John McCain, who was traveling in South America Thursday, linking him to President Bush's "failed economic policies." A Race for the White House panel discusses.

On the Campaign Shakeup: "I don’t think the changes are big," McCain said. "The changes are a better division of some of the responsibilities as our campaign has grown from a very small staff to a much larger one."

McCain questions, 'Can You Trust [Obama's] Word'? "He promised and pledged that he would sit down with me on campaign financing and he also pledged to take public financing in writing and verbally many times," McCain said. "Well, if someone reverses on a position like that, then obviously, then the question comes up, can you trust their word?"

A few shameless plugs... For more, watch NBC's Nightly News tonight and MSNBC throughout the day. Also, be sure to check out the Daily Nightly throughout the day for the back story of what's coming up on Nightly News.

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Comments

McWar can't think any big changes this is why we call him McSame

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake city, Utah (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:25 PM)

"Well, if someone reverses on a position like that, then obviously, then the question comes up, can you trust their word?"

So, can we direct that line of thinking to McCain's constant flip-flops on key issues like Roe Vs Wade, immigration, the Bush tax breaks, and off-shore drilling?

Nic, Burlington VT (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:25 PM)

Check out the Jed Report for an accurate assessment of the real public financing story. McCain is lying. The RNC is funneling money into the McCain camp hand over fist. They have tons of money, more than Obama. McCain is lying and deceiving the public and playing games while the economy is tanking!
Talk about "trust"? I don't believe anyting that comes out of a republicans mouth. They all have shown they cannot be trusted. McCain is just like Bush, lie after lie. McCain has Bush's folks working for him now. Never McCane~

I trust Senator Obama and respect his judgement one trillion times over anything from the McCANE camp.

Obama 08 (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:25 PM)

McWar can't think of any big changes this is why we call him McSame

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake city, Utah (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:26 PM)

Obama 08 (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:26 PM)

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, utah (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:30 PM)

This from the man who can't remember his own word without Joe Lieberman there to remind him. Whatever.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:33 PM)

I don't get how touring Latin America helps a presumptive Presidential nominee win votes in the United States?

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:35 PM)

And McCain never said he wasn't as good on the economy, either. Yeah, right. And McCain was going to refrain from unsubstantiated personal attacks. Yeah, right.

Tanya, WV (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:47 PM)

Mccain talking about trust?? He is such a lier, fraud and hypocrite, and questioning Obamas word? Mccain has flip flopped on every position he has had, and of course can't recall ever having the opposite position, until someone shows him a tape of him saying it. Bush all over again.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:57 PM)

McCain is qualified to lead our country - obama is NOT.

OBama is a FRAUD - he CHANGES his message daily to suit his political needs. The DNC sure picked the WRONG, WEAK guy that will NEVER win the white house.

My CHANGE is from DNC - to GOP - for America!

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

I just have to respond to this post i saw earlier. The obama supported complained that McCain wanted to spend 12 billion a month on the war in Iraq. Well if we want to talk about Money spending lets look at the spending that is favored of the left for Illegal aliens. this country spend 386 billion a year! on programs, help, food, health care etc etc, for illegals im sorry but if im going to spend money id rather do it supporting troops then illegals.

JaradB, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:58 PM)

This is what I've been posting about. Where did Kelly O'Donnell reply "Senator, you've changed you mind on Offshore Drilling, Campaign Finance in the Primaries & many other positions, should we then ask the same question about you?"

If roles were reversed, a conservative journalist would have called the democrat on his hypocracy.

Liberal media doesn't seem to understand you can't unring a bell. After a while misstatements start to sink in by way of saturation. Proof are the latest polls asking about offshore drilling.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:59 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Juan McCain should outsource all of his campaign management to Mexico. It would be cheaper therefore better that way.

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:02 PM)

Wow - John McCain is crying like a big babie.

booo hoooo - he promise me he would take public funding... booo - hoooo...

So sad So sad....did you change the depends I am sure they are soaking wet by now.

On a serious note...it over John McCain - Barack Obama is not running his race to make it easier for you, the sooner you understand that ...the sooner you can begin to heal and be prepared to lose.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:09 PM)

McBag of Bones -- stop whinning! All we hear is your whinning! If Obama choses not to do as you -- consider it Obama's right to make his own decisions!

You cannot run your own campaign without stirring in Obama's campaign.

Also, why is it that Cindy never shakes anyone hand? I can still hear her comments about "being proud of her country". Well Michele Obama, should come back and say "I am proud that I have always been drug free"! Back at you Cindy -- get some more drug counseling.

Willis, TX (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:09 PM)

McCain questions, 'Can You Trust [Obama's] Word'? "He promised and pledged that he would sit down with me on campaign financing and he also pledged to take public financing in writing and verbally many times," McCain said.

Yes McWar and you are so perfect!
-----------------------------------------------
He's not claiming to be perfect. Obama is holding himself up as a 'new' kind of politician so he is the one that raised the bar. He's a fraud.

Clinging to my Gun in PA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:10 PM)

"im sorry but if im going to spend money id rather do it supporting troops then illegals. "
-JaradB, Austin, Tx
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You call sitting someone in the desert with a gun and the instructions "Don't shoot and try not to get blown up" supporting our troops?

Supporting our troops is giving them a clear mission, giving them the tools they need to accomplish that mission, and then allowing them to come home when that mission is accomplished.

What is our current mission in Iraq other than saving face for the Bush Administration?

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:13 PM)

John McCain is no person to be questioning the integrity of anyone else's word.

Keith Olbermann pointed this out rather cleanly two nights ago.

McCain's also completely abandoned his promise to run a clean campaign, while despite a number of personal attacks on his integrity Barack Obama still refuses to lower himself to breaking the promise HE made.

Robert, West Greenwich RI (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:18 PM)

Good by Molly and you won't be missed!!!

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

DV, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:18 PM)

I think the big story here, and MSNBC has not mentioned one word of...didn't John McCain say that he would not criticize Obama while on foreign soil???
I know he said before he left that "I believe that any partisanship ends at the waters’ edge. I do not speak about the presidential campaign"

Who's the liar now?????????

Sean, California (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:20 PM)

JaradB, Austin, Tx

***

Spoken like a person spoon fed sound bites and doesnt bother to actually pay attention. Supporting the troops isnt giving them money. It's giving the a clear mission and the means to accomplish said mission. Currently all they are doing is providing targets while the Iraqi governments sits on it laurels and reaps HUGE profits from its oil. We are coddling and supporting a lazy corrupt government. But seeing the current US administration, Im not surpised.

You want to support the troops? Truly support them? then bring them home. They are being misued and mismanaged and dying because of it.

DV, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:22 PM)

By McCain's own standard, McCain's word cannot be trusted. So where does that leave us, McSybil? Certainly not on the straight talk express.

As for whether this change in staff is a big one, I have to disagree. Though no one was let go, changing responsibilities of key players at this point in the campaign cycle is a big change.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:25 PM)

Enough with this "Can you trust his word" from McCain's Double Talk Express ...

<a href="http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/39179-mccain-s-youtube-problem-just-became-a-nightmare">Watch and learn from the master</a>

Steve, Glendale, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:31 PM)

Amy B, Portland:

You'd probably understand it if Obama was doing it. And don't be surprised if he uses a few million of your little donations to do it sometime between now and November.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:32 PM)

Can someone tell me what "hypocracy" is? Is it government by the "hypocrats"? If so, are they more closely related to democrats or aristocrats?

Hey, A Charles, LA,CA, maybe you could take a stab at this one.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:36 PM)

McCain got a 'pants on fire', demerit on Morning Joe today, for his false ad about Obama's energy policy.

The reporter featured on the Fact Check segment of the show, said that McCain has gotten the most 'false' indicators, on the 'truth-o-meter'. Worst of all, he's gotten the most 'pants on fire' fact checks too.

donna (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:37 PM)

Molly...

change positions? that's funny? You obviously didn't support McCain during the primary, because if you did, you probably wouldn't vote for him now. He's flip-flopped on off-shore drilling, immigration, the bush tax cuts and even on his position on the swift boat vets.

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 1:45 PM)

McScared...could you please have a debate with Obama.

or shall we call you a McPollo?...

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:08 PM)

McShame said he was going to run a positive campaign without negatives or character assassination, and yet he's turned around and done just that. Can you take his word? Could his first wife?

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:11 PM)

Hey Molly - I'm a white woman in my 50's no college education and making less than $50,000 a year - so I can say this to you - GET OVER IT!! You are acting the way so many men EXPECT you to act - spiteful. Well sweetie - don't bite your nose to spite your face. You will be hurting yourself as well as others by not supporting Obama. It's not Obama's fault Hillary didn't win so stop taking it out on him. By the way, she lost even thought she fought "dirty". Example: "Well, I have experience and John McCain has experience; Obama has a speach." Even after she said this, Obama still didn't attack her. So stop pouting and do what is best for the country given the two choices we have - vote for Obama!!

Jean in Asheville

Jean Lerner, Asheville, N. C. (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:17 PM)

McCain is just crying! He decided to align himself with Bushes' policy and everything is going haywire with his campaign and now he nit picking over stupid stuff. If we were just electing a war- time president maybe McCain would be the man to elect but we want a well rounded president who does not kid around about bombing Iran by singing the Beach boy's song. There is something sub-consciously disturbing about what he did. Can we trust McCain in the white house with his finger on the button?

David Spann , Columbus, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:20 PM)

Can I trust his word? Yes I can trust his word, and I trust his words far more than the words of a dried prune who dumped his ailing wife for a millionaire coyote.

Obama '08 (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:30 PM)

He is calling Obama a fraud and NOBODY is calling him on his lies? Come on, media, investigate, call him on his lies, his votes, and especially on his economic genius, Graham. You know, the one who has got all of the regulations of the banks taken off the books, and the reason the gas is the way it is. I wish we had a media, not a Wall Street that is running this country.

on old fart, OH (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:36 PM)

War on drugs...how long has this really stopped the flow of illegal drugs into this country?
Supporting corrupt puppet governments so the flow continues at a regulated and dictated pace... This doesn't sound like a war...sounds more like a government regulation commission...

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:40 PM)

"And even as he vowed not to attack Obama while overseas, McCain said he would
repeatedly question his opponent’s position of trade pacts while in the U.S."
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/06/mccain_on_his_trip_to_mexico_c.html

So much for not "attacking" Obama on his trip.

Wait, McCain never, he never, never said that.

Who's word can we trust?

Frank
Chicago, IL
Obama '08

Frank, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:43 PM)

Re 'flip-flops'.

I believe ours is a representative form of government. If the majority of us want something, our representative(s) should do just that- represent us and our views. When they enter the arena with one view, then see most of us want something else, they SHOULD change their positions so they represent US, not their own view. Imagine how different things would be if Shrub had done just that on lots of things!!!!

Same thing goes for idiots like Rush Screwbaugh. He needles Obama for being on the 'kook, far left fringe', but when Obama softens up and moves toward the middle, that's no good either. Sounds like an angry old (but wealthy)fool to me.

Buzz (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 4:59 PM)

And McCain flip-flops more than Cheney has heart bypasses. McCain is NOT the same "Maverick" he was in 2000. He has come a long way to becoming another Bush crony.

JK, PA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 5:19 PM)

Molly, you never were a democrat. Democrats think about the issues and vote accordingly. They don't jump parties and whine about problems. They solve them sensibly. Even if you ever were a democrat, good riddance. The Repugs deserve you and you deserve them.

Ted, Oregon (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 7:10 PM)

What I don't understand, is why MSM give McSame so much room. Except for Keith O and Rachael. All I hear is negatives about Obama. He has not flip flopped on campaign financing. I know that the MSM knows the entire story, as to why Obama opted out(he and McSame could not reach an agreement), yet all I hear is about what a liar Obama is.Talk about a liar:::Mcsame sees a liar every time he looks in a mirror, or looks at Cindy.
I just wish the MSM would be more balanced, especially MSNBC. Forget about Faux.

Genie Murley (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 7:24 PM)

Are all of Obama's supporters such children as the ones we see commenting in First Read? If comments like these are the grade school taunting change Obama wants to bring then Lord help us all.

Obama's supporters have convinced who I absolutely don't want in office because I don't want to be hearing petty childish insults like these for the next 4 years.

David, Gresham OR (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 7:29 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 8:24 PM)

McCain is right. He's no big change from Bush. In fact, he's bringing on more Bush people all the time.

No Bush third term.

Keith, PA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:30 PM)

If McCain can not manage his campaign how can he manage the US? These are major changes when putting in a new person and changing command structure. Is he going to change command structure and the way the Government is structured every few months if he is President?

Of course he is going to say these are not big changes. Do you expect him to tell you what is really happening to his campaign.

Independent from the Show Me State (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:52 PM)

You title and state about McCain campaign changes, however you fall into the trap of changing the subject by accepting his answer and his re-direct of attacking Obama. Stick to the issues. If following who is better at managing a large organization (which is very small compared to the government) why not a comparison article of the 2 campaigns (Obama's and McCain's - not McCain's continually changing campaign).

Jan - OH (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:55 PM)

DV, CA, perfect comment for most of the posts from Mcwhatever's supporters.

Keith, Anderson, Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:57 PM)

I see maybe two pro-McCain posts vs the rest are pro-Obama. Why doesn't MSNBC post an equal number of positions? Just take look at the posts against McCain calling him a whiner. Who are the whiners here?

Jim, Woodinville, WA (Sent Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:56 PM)

McWar likes to point out Obama's changes and "flip flops" yet he's more than guilty.
He's changed his positions so many times, we've lost count.
Go GOP? Not now, not ever again.
DNC is the way, and always will be.
As the wise Bush said "This isn't the first time I've put this country in economic struggle."
Totally agree, McWar would love to continue our recession, for another 100 years.

Obama in 08. I'd rather have a honest courageous leader then another liar.

Waiting for McWar's alzheimers to kick in, FL (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 1:43 AM)

Obama changes his mind at the drop of a hat.That what must be the change you can believe he is advertising.His change is being able to change when something else shows up.is that what we will need in the whitewe house.Thats what you call a flip flopper.he doesn't know are national anthem because he has said he did not like the words"Bomb Bursting in Air.He does not know about our national anthem and why it was written.He must have been asleep when the trade centers where hit by two big airlines.he said that the pilots of the planes are now incarcerated.They were incinerated.There was nothing left to put them in jail.he knows nothing babout foriegn affairs.he even hhas said that justb because hillary clinton visited 80 foriegn countrys doesn't mean she knows there leaders.that was the reason in going to theses countrys is to talk to the leaders.he has been up in washington two years and he thinks he is capable of running this country that he knows nothing about.He even has siad with his big mouth that he never got into washington but he knew it needed a change.Hell he wouldn't even know how to start change in this country.He will be surprised whe election day comes around.he has not convinced the Blue Collar Workers ,the Baby boomers or the +60s.He will know way in Hell be able to convince them.There is still racism in this country and it will never go away.

Dolores Fleming (Sent Friday, July 04, 2008 10:44 AM)

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