NBC's Curry did not challenge Cindy McCain on claim that "[m]y husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all"
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SUMMARY: NBC's Ann Curry did not challenge Cindy McCain, Sen. John McCain's wife, when she claimed, "You won't see [negative stuff] come out of our side at all," and asserted, "My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all." In fact, John McCain has a history of negative campaigning and has promulgated numerous falsehoods about his opponents during the 2008 presidential campaign.
On the May 8 edition of NBC's Today, NBC News anchor Ann Curry failed to challenge Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, when she claimed, "You won't see [negative stuff] come out of our side at all," and asserted, "My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all." Indeed, Curry did not mention that John McCain has a documented history of negative campaigning, even as he has denounced it, that he has promulgated numerous falsehoods about his opponents during the campaign, or that he reportedly asserted that the terrorist group Hamas wants Sen. Barack Obama "to be the next president."
Further, Curry uncritically repeated Cindy McCain's claim that the McCain campaign would not engage in negative campaigning, saying: "You talk about -- that none of the nasty kind of campaigning that we've been seeing will come from your side. But are you prepared for the next six months, knowing that that's how it generally does go?" Curry again failed to challenge McCain when she said: "I believe I can speak for my husband on this same thing. We'd rather not win than to have to do that. That's not worth winning for." During the interview, on-screen text read: "Cindy McCain: We Won't Go Negative."
As Media Matters for America has documented, John McCain has falsely suggested that Obama had said that Al Qaeda is not currently in Iraq; falsely suggested in early April that Obama has only "in the last few days" proposed that a "strike force" remain in Iraq after the United States withdraws most troops; and falsely suggested that Obama "once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan." McCain had previously falsely asserted that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, his rival in the Republican presidential race at the time, "disparage[d] the service and courage of an American hero" with his statement that former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) is "probably the last person I would have wanted to have write a letter for me."
Additionally, McCain's supporters have repeatedly engaged in smears for his benefit. Republican state parties and McCain's own campaign have attacked or promoted smears of Obama -- actions that he subsequently denounced or distanced himself from.
The interview, including Cindy McCain's assertions about negative campaigning, aired again on the 11 a.m. ET hour of the May 8 edition of MSNBC Live.
From the May 8 edition of NBC's Today:
CURRY: With Democrats getting closer to choosing a nominee, the spotlight now begins to shine on the general election now just six months away. How nasty might it get? Well, Cindy McCain's answer this morning.
[begin video clip]
McCAIN: And what you're going to see is, I believe we're going to see a great debate, which the American public deserves, more importantly. None of this negative stuff, though. You won't see it come out of our side at all, because --
CURRY: None of the negative stuff will come out of your side?
McCAIN: My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all.
CURRY: Cindy McCain expressed strong feelings on numerous subjects, including the devastation in Myanmar.
[...]
CURRY: It's six months to go before the election. You talk about -- that none of the nasty kind of campaigning that we've been seeing will come from your side. But are you prepared for the next six months, knowing that that's how it generally does go?
McCAIN: Well, I'm never ready for those kinds of things, particularly when it involves my children. But I can tell you that having been through this before, I'm actually glad -- grateful that I've been through it before, because if things do turn that way from the other side, I would hope that I would behave the same way I did before, and that is with grace and with dignity. And rise above it.
CURRY: Even if it doesn't help you win the presidency?
McCAIN: I believe I can speak for my husband on this same thing. We'd rather not win than to have to do that. That's not worth winning for.
[end video clip]
CURRY: I also asked Cindy McCain about published reports this week that she and her husband didn't vote for George W. Bush after their bruising campaign loss in 2000. She said it's not true.
God, she almost looks real...! Must be fresh batteries. ;>)
She's a conservative...
We have no right to see her tax returns. We only paw through the tax returns of Democrats.
Conservatives earn their wealth through inheritance--you know, family values.
That's right...my family, their values.
F**k them.
Seems to me Mrs. McCain laid down the gauntlet. If and when her husband's campaign does resort to going negative, or is seen condoning it all, then this will and should be brought to his attention for an explanation on the flip-flop?
I hope what she is saying is true.......too bad some on the "left" are gearing up for a barage of negatives on "McSame".
Seems to me Mrs. McCain laid down the gauntlet. If and when her husband's campaign does resort to going negative, or is seen condoning it all, then this will and should be brought to his attention for an explanation on the flip-flop?
Tommy, Cindy did nothing!
McCain's hands appear to be clean but what about the 527 ads? Since they will be done to benefit McCain why didn't Cindy include them? She is well aware that the dirty things done to her husband in the 2000 campaign didn't have Bush's blood on it, allowing him the appearance of taking the high road. McCain is trying to do the same thing. Take the high road while the GOP 527's do the dirty work. Hey McCain appears to have leaned something from Bush.
Pearl
Are you expecting BO to put a stop to all negative 527 groups on the Lib side? Will you blame him if they do not??
Tommy,
Do you really think the media will hold him accountable for a "going negative" flip-flop when they haven't held him accontable for all his other flip-flops to this point?
"Well, if I were Obama and the negative ads thrown at me weren't publicly repudiated by McCain,"
How does others words thrown at Obama have anything to do with McCain?? Does that mean every left slap at McCain will be repudiated by Obama...I doubt it. Nice consistancy.
McCain was the victim of the 2000 Bush Smear campaign.
McCain is hated by Rush Limbaugh.
I think we have two good candidates, Obama and McCain who will maybe stop the partisan crap that has hurt our nation.
I sure hope so.
Bob,
If this was the same McCain that got smeared in 2000, I would agree with you. His positional shifts since then make me wonder who he really is.
Don't be fooled. Limbaugh is 100% behind McCain. The right wing is creating the illusion that McCain does not belong to their disgraced ranks, because they know that would sink McCain's candidacy.
Watch what the vast right wing conspiracy does. How about that phony story that said McCain was trying to stop a negative ad in North Carolina? It turned out he never made a phone call to get the ad stopped. The RW blowhards were right there with McCain on that hoax.
The right wing is creating the illusion that McCain does not belong to their disgraced ranks, because they know that would sink McCain's candidacy.
Wow, talk about a conspiracy theory. Wait - are you the same guy who posts on the "9-11 was a hoax" theory website?
Thats all interpretation. Negative on Obama - yeah, ill agree with you in a way there. Would it have been more PC and not negative by saying "Hamas wants the Democratic party to win"? Yes, and not negative. Democrats want immediate pull out of the region, and that benefits Hamas. Very simple correlation.
He was asked a question by the media:
" Jennifer Rubin noted that Hamas had endorsed Senator Obama and asked McCain whether Obama might have given "an unhelpful signal" to the terrorist group. McCain's response: All I can tell you Jennifer is that I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare....If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly."Read the FULL last sentence...it starts with "IF". No declaration of fact, just MMFA and left wing slants.Mikerhyner wrote:
>>Read the FULL last sentence...it starts with "IF". No declaration of fact, just MMFA and left wing slants.
What are you talking about? I read the full quote, and McCain is smearing Obama, plain and simple. And this case, the "if" does not serve as a hypothetical, but as a conjunction, with the "if" being synonymous with the word "since." Obviously, Obama cannot control who endorses him. If the KKK endorsed McCain, would McCain be guilty? (Of course not!)
Significantly, McCain was given a chance to repudiate this smear on the Jon Stewart show. Instead, McCain stood by it.
Nice try, if he had wanted to say "since" he would have.
Obama is not guilty of being endorsed by hamas any more than McCain stating the fact is not a smear. Obama did denounce the group but they also endorsed him....how is telling the truth a smear??
"too bad some on the 'left' are gearing up for a barage of negatives on 'McSame'."
Are we talking about presidential campaigns and political parties, or are we talking about 527's?
What is she talking about? There have already been negative attacks from their side.
That's right. But they haven't come from Gramps or the Pill Popper - they've come from others on his behalf. They're getting other people to sling their mud for them.
I hate to go negative here...
But wasn't it in that book that Grampy reportedly said to his wife "at least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt."
Why isn't this being covered in the corporate press? If this is true, the American people need to know!!! I don't think this would help him get the female vote?
WZ
how classy are you? Ypu complain about people being negative as you refer to Gramps and Pill Popper. You dont want a clean campaign, and you are not even capable of non-negative posting. Give me a break!!
This makes for an interesting observation, that all the regular readers of MMFA's pages can appreciate.
Q: Of the mind-boggling extraordinary amount of insult and innuendo and venom and hatred that you see cited here in MMFA's pages, multiple times every day (all of which you may characterize under the single word of NEGATIVE)... how much of that NEGATIVE stuff do you "see it come out of" one side of a campaign or another?
A: Practically none of it.
MCCAIN: "None of this negative stuff, though. You won't see it come out of our side at all..."
It's my generall impression that we never do... we see Fox News and NBC and CNN and ABC and MSNBC etc., it's always them who are attributed to the lies and insults etc... so what point is there in telling us what we already know, that "You won't see it come out of our side at all"?
Does anybody know what the term "lip service" refers to? Do people still use the phrase "to pay lip service" to something?
Arround here its usually used in close refferrence to someones behind.
I confess, I've even used the term. Take me away for regrooving.
:{(>
How old is Cindy McCain?
She looks somehow young and old at the same time?
She has a bit of an elitist smirk. This could well damage Grampy's campaign.
She looks kind of plastic now.
Kind of plastic? Only in an artificial sort of way, though. ;>)
Her eyebrows look strange...
It gives her a kind of startled, deer in the headlights look--while the rest of her face remains eerily inflexible.
She is attractive though.
Once again MMFA proving themsleves to be a pack of LIARS.
This particular liar - B.J.L. - writes above: that McCain "asserted that the terrorist group Hamas wants Sen. Barack Obama "to be the next president.""
As if McCain and his campaign made that up out of thin air. That's a DIRECT quote from a WABC radio interview with Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef who said, "We don't mind – actually we like Mr. Obama. <b>We hope he will (win) the election</b> and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance."
By the way..David Axelrod said this after that interview: "I like John Kennedy, too. "That's about the only thing we have in common with this gentleman from Hamas. We all agree that John Kennedy was a great president, and it's flattering when anybody says that Barack Obama would follow in his footsteps."
Pretty clear who Hamas wants to be the next president. Saint Barack would rather not discuss that however. Let's hope the left-wing media doesn't shield him from this controversy. As for MMFA they need to stop citing their own articles as a source since the truth and the facts rarely show up in those articles.
Yikes, No LeftLobe, I hope the average American doesn't believe everything a Hamas advisor says as easily as you do.
Here are a few study questions that may help you get to the meat of this issue;
Have you noticed a trend over the last few elections of statements by groups very disliked by America, endorsing Democratic candidates in the mainstream media?
Do you think Hamas, or your average terrorist organization, is unclear on how they are viewed by most Americans?
Keeping your answer to the last question in mind (and I'm hoping you got it right), do you actually believe these groups would admit a preference for the candidate/party that they actually want in power?
Good luck, I'm rootin fer ya!
Noleftturns wrote:
>>Once again MMFA proving themsleves to be a pack of LIARS.
Oh please! MMFA never denied Hamas made the claim. MMFA is accurately pointing out that McCain used something Hamas said to smear Obama. McCain could have said something like "I don't care what Hamas says. We don't let terrorists determine our elections." Instead, McCain used the Hamas endorsement to associate McCain with Hamas, engaging in negative campaigning. As I wrote above, if the KKK endorses McCain, does that make McCain a racist? (Again, the answer is no.) Obviously, Obama has not control over who endorses him.
NoLeftTurns doesn't under stand too much. does he. The terrorist groups LOVE the Right Wing. They are their biggest enablers. They know what will happen if they endorse a candidate. They know what the American public thinks of them. If they REALLY wanted a Liberal in the White House, they wouldn't be endorsing them. They would be endorsing a rightie, because they know how that would be veiwed. NoLeftTurns plays right into their hands. Try and use your brains a little.
Robo Grandma says "McCAIN: My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all. " What she did not say but meant was
McCAIN: My husband is absolutely opposed to any negative campaigning at all, from now until he decides to start a negative campaign.
Saying a politician won't go negative is like saying they won't breathe.