McCain: Reaching across the aisle

the Pajama Pundit — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:21:30 GMT

There ought to be an adult who says, 'Do we really need to go that far in this ad? McCain has gone, in some of his ads, similarly [one] step too far in sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100% truth test.
*******************************************************

THIS from Karl Rove?! Obama needs to make an ad that plays that soundbite on an endless loop.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:22:20 GMT

Karl Rove on Fox News Sunday: "There ought to be an adult who says, 'Do we really need to go that far in this ad? McCain has gone, in some of his ads, similarly [one] step too far in sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100% truth test."

Ok, when KARL ROVE gets on the FOX Noise Channel and actually tells you you've gone too far, YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR. Of course, him being the Dr. Frankenstein in all of this, I'm sure he feels he needs to find some way to atone.

Obama/Biden '08!

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

American Voter — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:22:45 GMT

What a stupid article. You are all on McCain's payroll. Of course, McCain would have more opportunity to work across the aisle - HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES. The American public is tired of your manipulation and propaganda. Stop trying to sway this election through the nuancies of how you phrase your stories, headlines, and of course, which polls you repeat over and over and over again.

Here is some interesting news that you somehow have been leaving out of your poll reporting:

"Perhaps unintentionally, Frank Newport, the head of Gallup, made a huge admission that bears directly on the September 8th likely voter poll:

Second, we are at this point reporting likely voter estimates on only an occasional basis. We feel that the trends among registered voters give us the best way to track election preferences in our daily poll, in part because many voters are not yet in a position to accurately estimate their chances of voting on Election Day. But from time to time, we do estimate (and report) likely voter results to give us a feel for the potential difference turnout could make in November. So far this summer, there have been occasions when -- as was the case this past weekend after the GOP convention -- likely voters were decidedly more Republican. But there have also been occasions when there was little difference between the vote patterns of likely voters and those of registered voters.

In other words, Gallup is admitting the following:

At the time it released the September 8th poll (showing McCain up by 10), it believed institutionally that likely voter results were less accurate than registered voter results.
Likely voter results have only occasionally diverged from the registered voter results.
Despite these facts, Gallup deliberately chose to release, to the widest fanfare possible, a poll using an admittedly less accurate method (the likely voter method) at the time of McCain's maximum convention bounce, knowing that it would show a large divergence (+10 for McCain vs. only +4 with registered voters) based on the likely voter method, even though such a divergence is not often present.
In short, they combined all possible factors in McCain's favor to make his lead seem as big as possible -- and the media went wild with it."

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Nashville_fan — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:23:04 GMT

The issue of how many times John McCain has worked "across the aisle" is irrelevant because he will work for the bill on Monday and denounce it on Tuesday.

He is not trustworthy.

He will say ANYTHING to get votes.

How many things has he worked FOR that he is now AGAINST?

Enough with the lies and distortions - when is the media going to demand SPECIFICS from John McCain?

Does John McCain stil think Social Security is a disgrace? Are tax increases still "on the table" as John McCain said, or is it off the table this week?

How does John McCain justify taxing health insurance benefits?

So many questions, ZERO answers.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Michelle Zee — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:23:47 GMT

This is not about bi-partisan effort; this is about throwing the bums out of office.

So please let’s talk about the issues on American’s minds. McCain telling us he is honorable has done a complete flip flop and I am turned off and I can care less about liar Palin. Watching the repukes is like watching the last 8 years! Enough already.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

StarGazer — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:24:01 GMT

McCain has WORKED more then Obama. Obama got to the Senate and immediately ran for President. Any dog and pony legislation he's been a part of was 99% done by others.

What John McCain has is called EXPERIENCE.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Class Warrior, D.C. — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:25:53 GMT

The current count can be a million (probably will be by Election Day), it just doesn't matter to Joe and Jane Inbred Voter In The Heartland. They don't want to hear it. Hell, they mostly still believe Obama's a Muslim! Maybe not Mccain, but Palin could tell them the sky is green and they'd believe it---because they WANT to believe it, NEED to believe SOMEONE comforting so much. Way too many American voters will believe ANYTHING!

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

rita s — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:26:10 GMT

You're actually stooping so low as to quote the Washington Times?!?

What next? The National Enquirer? High Times?

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

WOW — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:27:28 GMT

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwTKM_u-7j4

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:27:40 GMT

That was the old McCain that independents and even a fair number of Democrats liked. But that McCain ain't this McCain.

That McCain said the Bush tax cuts weren't a good idea, because they would further explode the debt. This McCain loves the Bush tax cuts.

Kind of like the car commercial, if our grandfathers' McCain were the one running, I most likely would be torn this election cycle. But I'd probably still vote for Obama because of the critical need to get back to a more reasoned and less emotional foreign policy. That McCain and this McCain are both too hotheaded and instinctively billigerent.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

DANGEROUS PAIR of LIARS — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:30:08 GMT

Both are LIARS. Straight faced liars...
Haven't we had our share in the white house???
Why would you vote someone in, that is doing it and YOU KNOW IT!!!

If they want this chick in the big boys game, she has to play with the same rules! That is NOT sexism... That's the game!

She can throw a big stone (lies and insults), but can't take it (without calling FOUL).

She is nothing but a SCARY disappointment.

And McCant's judgement of choosing her is the GREATEST proof that HE HAS NO BUSINESS BEING NEAR THE OVAL OFFICE!!!

I am a woman that will NOT be voting for mcLIAR & MsPAIN because a female is on the ticket.

She DOES NOT DESERVE THE NOD & NEITHER DOES HE.

A DANGEROUS PAIR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

twocanepte — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:35:34 GMT

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
McCain is reaching across the aisle to take your wallet! Not only does the ole kook want to tax your health insurance benefits his 'Governor from Nowhere' wants to build a bridge in her back yard (yes a second bridge to nowhere) that could cost U.S. taxpayers up to $1billion! I've been blogging.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Mrs J - Illinois — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:39:37 GMT

I'm just about depressed!!!!!

How? Just please SOMEONE (anyone) tell me how the American public could support the Republican ticket? McCain has lied time and again, Palin is inexperienced, and we have eight years of an "ungodly" administration behind us. We are fighting two wars already. At least one is not only immoral, it is illegal. Palin and McCain "promise" additional wars and we are just go on the corner, pick our nose, and suck our thumb as far as they are concerned.

I have attempted a few times to post the dangers of Sarah Palin on this site, but to no avail. My first was the day after her nomination. She is dangerous!!! (I won't go into why - - or my comments won't be posted.)

Too many are hung up on issues of Roe v Wade. What they are forgetting is that we cannot legislate morality. If you don't approve of abortion, that's fine. Don't get one! But do not think that you have the right (God given or otherwise) to tell others what their moral decisions should be.

Sex education in kindergarten? Good grief! Learn to read and think for yourself. Of course, that wasn't what the bill said (it did NOT become law, you know). I worked (as a teacher) in the public school system for 40 years (in a title I school) and I KNOW first hand what happens to children when parents do not know - - - - or do not care - - - what happens to their children. I know now children are abused from listening to what they have to say.

WAKE UP! We MUST protect the future of coming generations!

As long as our focus is placed on lipstick, kindergarten, "attractive", and lies we are not able to focus on the issues. We must face a future with full disclosure, integrity and intelligence.

Full disclosure? integrity? Intelligence? Well, now you know that I support Senators Obama and Biden.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

JTatEHT — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:41:30 GMT

The President is not in the Senate and is not in a position to reach across the isle. He will be asking Congress to serve his agenda. McCain will not reach across the aisle when it comes to appointing anti-Choice Supreme Court Justices. John McCain is a Neo-Conservative and will not reach across the aisle when it comes to expanding the hawkish Bush foreign policy, which has turned to world against us.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Sue, NY — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:41:39 GMT

I don't care how many times McCain has reached across pary lines...his ideas of how to run this country are WRONG and in the WRONG direction.
So he can reach as much as he wants ...he and his fellow republicans have only succeeded in scaring the American people and forgotten to run the country so we are now in a economic, health, engergy, military crisis...and the list can go on.
Wake up...vote democrat and get new ideas...the republicans have none.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

TheNest, VA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:48:15 GMT

McCain 2008 has so discredited himself with his fiscally impractical policy stances (ref Greenspan) and disingenuous campaign assertions (pick one). No matter what rhetoric you build out, this shaky foundation inevitably compromises any promises of "reform." The fact is, nowhere in McCain's policies can one find pragmatic remedy to the excesses of the Republican led goverment and indulgences that have led to the corporate follies of last 8 years. Unexpectedly, McCain has proven himself untrustworthy and unfit to take the helm in these perilous times. I am actually quite convinced that serious-minded fiscal conservates and business leaders must be seriously questioning McCain's viability at this point.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

BJ, CA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:50:37 GMT

John McCain does not know the difference between experience and experiences...there's a major disconnect between yesterday and today and tomorrow.
He's so f'ed up he's looking to trash yesterday and pander to all...What a faker...nothings new here...nothings changed here. He wants war and all he's done here is slide over the attention..because he has none...

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Mr Eko — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:51:00 GMT

"The Washington Times looks at the bipartisan record of both candidates and finds McCain has worked across the aisle more often than Obama."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Kind of an unfair comparison given that McCain has been in the Senate for 26 years.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Tindel Franks, Miami — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:58:18 GMT

Ohh, the DNC has "lie counter". Now that's scary. They ever put it on Obama? It would probably break in the first five minutes.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Tom, Chicago — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:58 GMT

When your party is wrong most of the time, of course there is more opportunity to go against the grain.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

GW, Vancouver, Canada — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:05:14 GMT

That is not a reasonable comparison, Old John has been in congress for 26 years , that is a pretty slim record of bipartisanship and also of legislative performance. And we all can see how effective his campaign finance is-----with all the 527's etc coming into play. Mc Pinochio is a fraud as well as a liar.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Truth is good., Monmouth County, NJ — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:05:49 GMT

Wow, so Obama is not the 'unifier' he says he is.

Here's more news: the sun rises in the east, Christmas is December 25, there's no such thing as the energy fairy. . .

And Obama is going to lose this election.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

RENEA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:06:04 GMT

The Washington Times forgot to mention quite a few Obama bills and did not look at his time as a state Senator.The Times is a right leaning paper.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

bill, okla — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:18:24 GMT

The war gnome has become a liar. We definitely need more bi-partisanship in the congress but it won't happen if the corrupt old man gets in there with his ridiculous agenda of SAVING THE RICH and promoting more war boondoggles for his lobbyist pals.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

tell the truth, Obama — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:19:52 GMT

At least, FR challenges Obama here on HIS lies about his record of bi-partisan. They left out the stat that shows Obama votes Dem 97% of the time. Also, Obama has made much of his community organizer days. Let's have some proof of what his attempted and what he actually accomplished. The man's still an empty suit.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:21:08 GMT

OK, my first reaction was: The Washington Times, seriously? But, OK- if you are asking us to consider them as even remotely objective:

"In fact, by several measures, Mr. McCain has been more likely to team up with Democrats than with members of his own party."
------------------------------------------------------
To paraphrase John Kerry, the bipartisanship was in the good old days of Senator McCain. We now have Candidate McCain, and the behavior is very different. Candidate McCain is so beholden to special interests and the far-right-wing that he will not be allowed to reach across the aisle if elected President.

There is no way back once you have sold your soul.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Greg, VT — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:22:42 GMT

There are multiple ways to interpret this data.

1. John McCain has a better record on bipartisanship because he is more willing to work with Democrats.
2. Democrats have a better record on bipartisanship because they have been more willing to work with John McCain.
3. Democrats have had more attractive answers on the issues, so an apples-to-apples comparison is skewed in favor of Republicans crossing the aisle to be on the winning side.

I'm sure there are others I haven't thought of, but I hope this makes a few people think about how the meaning of data changes depending on your point of view.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Caleb, Seattle, Wash — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:28:48 GMT

So one candidate is proven to reach across party lines and the other is proven to say he reaches across party lines...

Seems like the choice is a bit clearer for independents...

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Jared, Tallhassee, Fl — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:33:03 GMT

The fact that Karl Rove is saying McCain has gone too far says a lot. And here's why: When you look back at Willie Horton or the Swift Boat ads from 2004, although we all know the Republicans were behind those attacks, they were carried out by independent groups. Translation: the Republican ticket could claim plausible deniability. By having McCain "approve" these messages, Obama, with a straight face, can now attack McCain's character because McCain cannot rely on plausible deniability.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Jen,MI — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:33:39 GMT

McCain left that guy behind the day he started campaining...his true colors are shining through..."Win at any cost! Lie, lie lie. Let the culture wars begin...and any other war we can start. Republicans must stay in power. We care about YOU. We promise to reform and do better next time. It wasn't me, it was the rest of those Republicans."
Please.....
Vote no to Republicans...All Republicans..take your country back.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Laura, Boston — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:33:55 GMT

This election is getting totally out of hand. Lie Counters and whining on both sides. Are these grown up people really going to run the country and restore our place in the world?

When FR reports things that matter like the BiPartisan record of Senator McCain, that is what I want to hear about.

The MSM needs to stop with "Pig wearing lipstick" kind of mentality. It's getting old and childish.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:35:13 GMT

In response to the Times story, he's backtracked and said he wouldn't vote for those same measures, so he gets the accolade of being bi-partisan while simultaneously slamming the other side.

You forgot to mention that McCain is known to read his aides' BlackBerries. So he can use the little keys on a BlackBerry, but not a full qwerty keyboard? Doubt it.

McCain's campaign is the lowest I've ever been witness to. He'd rather lose his integrity than lose an election.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Bostelman Bettina, Gj Co — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:37:28 GMT

The writer sits at the postition that McCain likes to work over the counter and is manipulative to congress and plays both sides of it as well. However as running for our president we should have someone who is versatile to the sides and is willing to work with both parties.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Gman — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:40:59 GMT

TO me McCain reaching across the aisle is a testament to just how far right the Republican party has become. It also tellm me how synical a pick Palin is b/c she would never subscribe to any of these middle of the road positions McCaine used to support. So it for those in the middle it comes down to 1 question really. Will the old McCain come back, or has he sold his sold his soul to the far right? Let's see, he wanted lieberman or ridge yet Palin was selected. Bush's cronies running his campaign. (Where do you thik all those people are going if he wins the whitehouse? )Tactics employed by Bush on McCain now be used by McCain. I think I can safely answer that question. Can you?

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

todd, Lancaster PA — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:41:55 GMT

Problem is, all this data was from before he decided to become the current John McCain, that saw the aspriation of becoming president and decided to throw away the maverick label to appease the base!!!

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

katiec Pekin, IL — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:53:40 GMT

Voters, please open your eyes.
Do we want a man running our country who has
lost all integrity, honor with his lies, distortions,
exaggerations, unfounded attacks and fraud??
We cannot survive a continuation of Bush/
republican policies which Mccain has supported
90%.
The republicans, Mccain, Bush have almost
destroyed our country.
It has to stop!!

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Rachel Farer, Newark, DE — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:53:40 GMT

Progressives support Obama exactly because he is partisan. To many progressives, reaching out to conservatives is the same as reaching out to Iran, so it is a good thing that on bipartisanship, Obama has no record to back up his rhetoric.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Opsimath44, Golden CO — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:58:06 GMT

Interesting that the conservative intelligentsia have for years criticized McCain for his bipartisan efforts — not because they are simply bipartisan but because they have consistently resulted in weak, unweildy law. Show me one true conservative who thought that McCain-Feingold was good law. But now, showing their true ideological commitment to principles, these instances of bad law are transformed to maverick and reformer badges of honor.

Interesting times we live in. All deception begins with self-deception.

McCain: Reaching across the aisle

Dumb asses — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:59:58 GMT

If I was a republican in the last 8 years and wanted to really do something for the American public I would reach across and work with the Democrates too.

But if I was a Democrate in the last 8 years and wanted to really do something for the American public how could I do that by working with the republicans. They are the ones that put us in the mess that we are in now.

Do you really think anybody that has the best intrest of the public in mind would team up with the crooks that cause the majority of the hardship that the public is facing now. Give me a break, who wrote and edited that article?