McCain asks supporters to be 'respectful'

Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008 5:52 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
McCain just called on his supporters to be respectful at his town hall.

"We want to fight, and I want to fight, but we will be respectful," McCain said to boos at first. "I want everyone to be respectful," he then said and people began to clap.

In response to a later question he added, "You can be respectful and point out facts," as he called on his supporters to point out facts to their neighbors but be respectful.

*** UPDATE *** McCain just added, "He is a decent person and a person who you do not have to be scared as president of the United States."

After that, McCain said of himself that he just thinks he'd be a better President of the the United States." Some in the crowd booed his statement and shouted, "No!"

More to come.

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Comments

I guess now that he has his brown shirts all organized, he can step back and let'em go at it. The footage Shuster showed sure showed some "good old boys & girls" huh? Jesus would be ashamed.

I thought George Bush was bad. McCain is worse and you should just paste a black moustache on Palin... oh, wait... SHE ALREADY HAS ONE!

Nice Newsweek photo pitbull...

At this point I'm wondering who McCain is... is he bi-polar? confused about exactly what his campaign is about? Schizophrenic? Dual personalities? Short-term memory loss? or worse... Alzheimers?

He is going from one end of the spectrum to the other on a daily basis. It's erratic.

Let's get this country up and running and address the serious issues Americans are facing on a day to day basis -- not the pathetic hate mongerings of a relic of the past century in manner and policies.

Go America! Go Obama/Biden! Yes, John, WE CAN.

MissouriMom (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:13 PM)

What. Did McCain realize that defending racists and bigots probably isn't a good idea???
Too little too late McCain. You lost my vote.

Do you really want to win the presidency through the racists of America??? I thought you were going to run a clean, decent campaign...at least that is what you said a couple of months ago.

Disappointed Republican (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:13 PM)

John McCain needed to make this statement before now. There have been numerous rude and disrespectul comments made at his rallies this week (and Sarah Palin's) and neither of them denounced the horrific comments that were made at that time. Any decent person who witnessed the comments would have immediately denounced them. I have lost a lot of respect for the Republican ticket.

Angela Such, Greer, South Carolina (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:14 PM)

too late, McCain.....now that you've "unleashed the hounds", you want them to be respectful? are you kidding me? maybe you realized the waxing your reputation is taking...what a freakin' hypocrite!

angel, everett, MA (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:16 PM)

This is not nearly enough. In fact, it's unlikely they can put the genie back in the bottle. They branded Obama a terrorist and blood-thirsty Republicans want more.

And seriously, compare this to the post below. Are these comments from the crowd what the McCain camp was defending. Maybe the press corp should ask.

Merle (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:16 PM)

You reap what you sow. McCain seems to be now discovering this. He's doing his darnedest to backpedal, and he's stumbling over his supporters while doing it. This just keeps getting better and better!

SAGG - Greensboro, NC (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:17 PM)

It seems to me that John McCain is a decent human being but the people he hired to run his campaign only know how to sling mud and sell lies, cynicism and fear. I feel bad for McCain, but the bottom line is that the buck stops with him and he will be held responsible for the nasty tone of his campaign. Let's hope he changes it and salvages what is left of his reputation. Losing is not a sin, but sacrificing everything you believe in order to win is.

B, Calgary, AB (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:18 PM)

Pandoras box has been opened already McCain!!!! No need to talk them down, they have drawn their conclusions about Obama.

Mario, manhattan,ks (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:18 PM)

At this point with the level of rage and histeria of his supporters, McCain could do more for the country by stepping down than being President.

If he wins, his mob will feel vindicated. If he losed, the mob will become violent.

If he really wants to put 'Country First', he should step down.

Joe, Ann Arbor (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:19 PM)

These are really the true believers we're talking about here. A truly scary crowd even if they do only make up ~25% of the electorate.

It's a damn shame in this day and age that we have to share the same atmosphere with some of these people. Their hatred and ignorance blinds them from the truth.

Not my problem. That is unless their ranks swell into the high 40%'s again at some point in this nation's future.

What ever happened to the good old republican party of reason? That party is long gone i think. All that's left is fear mongers, bafoons and corporate strumpets.

Tim, Albany, New York (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:19 PM)

The Lord works in mysterious ways, His Wonders to Perform!!

GA GUY (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:19 PM)

Just watched this clip on your tv show... I hope you get the clip up soon... Mccain's strategy just blew up in his face and I'm so glad he's stepping up to try and squash it... although he should have been doing it 2 days ago and shouldn't have allowed his campaign to fuel this sort of tone in the first place...

Amanda, Anaheim,Ca. (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:19 PM)

Thank you Senator McCain. I am an Obama supporter and feel that he is the one that can help get America back where we should be, but I respected you prior to this election. I feel that I gained some of that respect for you back today. I know losing this election would be hard on you, and this tactic was most likely forced on you by the Rovian factions within your campaign, but it is not who you are. You know this. If you are going to go out, go out with dignity. Go out holding you head up high. I am sure deep in your heart you do feel that you have the better solutions and would be the better president, but as you showed today, deep inside of you is someone who respects your opponents their views, although you may not agree with them.

I just want to say again. Thank you Senator McCain. Be bigger than the evil forces that lurk behind the scenes.

Brian, Chicago IL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:20 PM)

I have decided to stop my lifelong affilitation with the Republican Party. The ONLY thing that McCain and Palin and their ignorant supporters have left are fear and hate!

I am tired of fear, hate, rage, anger, and bitterness. I want to feel hopeful again. I want to feel that the American Dream is stil alive and still kicking in the souls of every citizen in this great and blessed nation.

My White, working-class, Southern Baptist, pro-gun, pro-life, vote will be proudly casted for OBAMA-BIDEN! I many not agree with everything that Obama plans, but I know he is a good and proud American and that he has the practical vision for this nation that I strongly feel that we need for the next 4 to 8 years. McCain is a joke and he is actively participating in stoking fear and hate in a crazy and extremist conservative electorate. He is unfit to be President of the United States of America.

PLEASE VOTE FOR OBAMA-BIDEN!!!

Lifelong Republican for Obama, Columbia, TN (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:20 PM)

And the nutjobs are out. Apparrently whipping your brainless followers into a homicidal rage isn't good politics, as they are apt to turn their bloodlust on you.

Tom, Sauk Rapids,MN (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:20 PM)

It has been said that McCain has been "uncomfortable" with the "de-Americanizing" of Obama. Now that his conscience has gotten the better of him, and he has actually had to defend Obama and contradict his own campaign's message, where does he go from here? This is getting entertaining. McCain cqan't get out of his own way. Obama in a landslide!

Eric from Aurora,IL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:22 PM)

McCain has sold his soul to the devil. Maybe he can get Palin's witch doctor preacher to pray over him.

patti, west chicago, il (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:22 PM)

Too little, too late. If McCain had condemned this behavior at the onset, it may have seemed sincere. Once again, his actions are being dictated by the response in the polls; very erractic behavior. Beleive me, if the polls were swinging in his favor, he would continue with all the negativity!

Vote for that one, Wash DC (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:23 PM)

Just watched the tape of McCain, I have to say it reminded me why I supported him 8 years ago. Unfortunately even if he is still a decent person his pick of Palin makes it impossible for me to support him.

A Glimpse of Decency (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:24 PM)

Good job McCain campaign not even the man who you're promoting can stop the bigotry that you started.
You sicken me.
You aren't "conservative".
Conservatives believe in Free Market while utilizing the resources available to us.
Conservatives believe in Separation of Church and State.
A truly "Conservative person" shouldn't be able to bring themselves to support the republican party nowadays. This is terrible.

Damien Marty, Casselbery, FL. (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:24 PM)

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love."

Martin Luther King

Shame you McCain.

Obamarama (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:25 PM)

You reap what you sew.

CF, Dickinson ND (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:25 PM)

McCain has sold his soul to the devil. Maybe he can get Palin's witch doctor preacher to pray over him.

patti, west chicago, il (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:25 PM)

He should have said that to the crowd that called Obama a Terrorist and Traitor and even yelled "kill him". Boo's are harmless! Death threats should be scrutized and discouraged.

cdfgal, Waterford, MI (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:25 PM)

"No mam. He's not an Arab. He's a decent family man." Good luck with that argument John, decency abandoned your party years ago.

Ian (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:26 PM)

Thank you, finally, John McCain. This campaign has eroded your humanity and sense of self, and honor. You have, today, begun to find yourself again. I am an Obama supporter, but I do not wish this election to be the end of your role as a straight shooter. Please keep on the path of discussing issues.

geerue, Fairfax, VA (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:26 PM)

Did you see this racist scum and their language? Vote straight democrat and flush this nation at every level of republiscum...lets do it

Rick, NC (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:27 PM)

I am glad that John McCain is backing off of these attacks that were bringing the worse out in some people. We don't need all of this hate, it is time to join together and solve our problems. I have gained some respect back for McCain but not enough to vote for him.

Joe Radmacher (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:27 PM)

did mccain just endorse obama as pres?

john doe, Greenville, SC (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:29 PM)

It's about time John McCain said SOMETHING !! Now what about Sarah Palin. Personally I think she's the worst one of the two. At least John McCain seems a little embarassed about the tone his campaign has taken.

Independent Military Spouse (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:29 PM)

Sounds like the secret service sent the mccain camp a letter to desist with putting a candidate for the presidency in jeopardy. Another stategy blown up in their face!
This is shameful for mccain. I think about the Obama children and it hurts my heart so bad to think of something happening to their daddy makes me want to throw-up.

The whole muslim,terrorist thing that stupid people believe is a result of a smear campaign by the republicans for a long.long time. This is such a disgrace to all American values.

We love Senator Obama and Senator Biden (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:30 PM)

Well done John - hopefully you new posture is soon enough to avoid having incited someone to harm Barack. It is really disgraceful and I feel sorry for you and your erratic behaviour lately. Frankly, I think you need to have an MRI to check for cerebral atrophy, common in older age. You need to remember what your legacy will be and you do not want Obama's assasination to be your epitaph also. Please calm your crown and rein in Sarah.

Laurence Ransom (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:30 PM)

If McCain is sincere, then he, Palin, Cindy McCain, and all others associated with his campaign will start talking issues and stop with the "terrorist" attacks.

History will show that McCain did him self in by going too negative.

Ed, 1SG, Retired Peoria, IL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:30 PM)

I'm sorry, I just watched the town hall meeting on MSNBC. I think that this looked staged. I am a republican who will not be voting for McCain.

Phyllis Bobay Cape Coral FL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:31 PM)

I am surprised we are not seeing this reported elsewhere. McCain saying this pretty much undermines every fear-based attack his campaign has been launching in the past few days. If McCain says people should not be afraid of an Obama presidency, then the Ayers attacks, the references to Barack *Hussein* Obama, the "Who is Barack Obama?" pretty much ring hollow.

I honor McCain for finally living up to his own ideals again. He may not like Barack Obama personally, but it's stand-up of him to admit that both he and Obama are interested in the success of America, and that Obama isn't some sort of Manchurian candidate or sleeper-agent of the terrorists (as has been implied by his campaign and supporters).

Eric, Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:31 PM)

I bet they wish they could put that genie back in the bottle... there's a lot of good news out today about THEIR associations, since somehow, we are all now guilty by association, right?

The latest Keating 5 News:
----------------------------
Sen. John McCain’s wife and father-in-law continued a lucrative business partnership with disgraced financier Charles H. Keating Jr. for 11 years after the GOP presidential nominee said he ended his close friendship with Keating in March 1987.

The latest on TrooperGate:
--------------------------------
It's out and she did it -- abused her political power. There were more than 19 different phones calls made to pressure Moneghan...

Impeachment?

MissouriMom (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:34 PM)

Looks like the secret service got a hold of mccain. Good!

Obama / Biden 08 (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:34 PM)

Good. That's the honorable side of John McCain...and (Rolling Stone notwithstanding) there are millions of Americans who believe he is an honorable man, doing what he thinks is best for America.

Steve (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:37 PM)

McCain and his staff should be very careful about how they run this campaign from here on out. If one of their supporters even attempts to harm Sen. Obama because of all this fear mongering, they should and will be held accountable by those of us who see America as a country for all peoples who have origins from many parts of this world. Sen Obama is an real American and an honorable man, and Sen McCain has just about spent whatever goodwill he had with many people by diving into the mud too deep. We have bigger problems to solve now Senator McCain, Let's have a good fight, but let's not incite such fear and hatred in the public that denigrates us all as a nation.

Steve in NJ (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:38 PM)

John McCain needs to remember who he used to be. This campaign has been horrible. Its makes it appear that McCain sold his soul to the Rovian devil. I hope he can somehow manage to restore a portion of his good name in the next 3 weeks. I can't imagine how he is going to be viewed when he returns to the senate after the election. The republicans have never liked him and now the democrats won't either.

Suz In KS (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:38 PM)

And so it begins...let's hope he (McCain) can at least salvage some of his dignity and advert some wacko doing something horrid.

This is wh Obama is better suited for presedent...and with Pailn now be caught abuseing power, well what goes around comes around.

Dan, Ft. Myers, FL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:43 PM)

John McCain can't even control his own vitriolic mob.

I commend the man for finally coming about against the recent poisonous reactions at his rallies, vague as he may be, but it's not a good sign when all your supporters care about is NOT being as civilized as you're asking them to be.

Ray, Ohio (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:43 PM)

too little too late.

disgusted (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:43 PM)

Now he decides to ask for respectful behavior? Only after criticism in the media after rude supporters shouted things like "kill him". John McCain you are a shrewd flip flopping man.

Kristi, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:46 PM)

John McCain and Sarah Palin are inciting violence by allowing the epithets from the crowd to go unanswered. Should some unbalanced individual take their tirades seriously, they may resort to violence and McCain and Palin will have to take some responsibility. Their rallies have become hate fests.

Andrea Hofmeister, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:47 PM)

Nice job McCain, now what are going to do.
You and Palin started this mess.

How about talking about issues instead of
inciting a riot.

Obama has more class than you and your counter-
part will ever have.

Vote Obama/Biden

L Corey, West Dundee IL (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:47 PM)

New report...Palin abused her power as Governor of Alaska by "violating a statute" but broke no laws? How exactly is "violating a statute" NOT breaking a law? How does that happen?
YES...that's exactly what we want. An Administration, elected by people full of hatred and resentment. SO full of hatred and resentment, in fact, that racism and religious intolerance flows from their mouths, loudly and for the whole world to see. This new Administration then gets into office to "violate statutes" over and over...oh wait...that's what we've had for the past 8 years. What was I thinking.
If we elect this dismal pair into office, we deserve what we get. What was that Palin said about the VP needing to have more power?

Michelle, Denver (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:47 PM)

It's like throwing a glass of water on a raging inferno. McCain started this crap. He threw the match and now that it's burning his butt he wants to put the fire out. I hope it isn't too late.

Carl J, Knoxvegas, TN (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:48 PM)

McCain is not Able. Nice job John. Your mob has already been incited to hatred and to a total direspect for the potential next President of the United States of America. You're not qualified to be the leader of the free world. Never.

Bobby, Shelby, NC (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:48 PM)

Don't you think "implore" is a little generous? I saw the footage and it looked like McCain was reading from a cue card. He spoke with no sincerity and he didn't look at the crowd when he said it.

Very unconvincing, I think. And WAY too late!

kld-CT (Sent Friday, October 10, 2008 8:50 PM)

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