Morning Joe hosts did not ask McCain adviser to reconcile her attack on Obama with her claim that "our campaign is suspended"
SUMMARY: On Morning Joe, Nicolle Wallace, senior adviser to Sen. John McCain's campaign, stated that "our campaign is suspended" pending agreement on legislation to address the country's current financial situation, and later accused Sen. Barack Obama of having "done exactly zero" to produce bipartisan legislation. Hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski did not ask Wallace to reconcile her appearance and her attack on Obama with her claim that McCain's campaign is "suspended."
On the September 25 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski hosted McCain campaign senior adviser Nicolle Wallace, who accused Sen. Barack Obama of having "done exactly zero" to produce bipartisan legislation, but they did not ask Wallace to reconcile her appearance and her attack on Obama with her claim that "our campaign is suspended" pending agreement on legislation to address the country's current financial situation.
When Obama campaign communications director Robert Gibbs, who appeared alongside Wallace on Morning Joe, said that Obama has "reach[ed] across party lines ... throughout his career," Wallace interrupted Gibbs by saying of Obama: "He's done exactly zero, but you can start any time ... I mean, he's done exactly never. But yesterday was a really good day to start." Gibbs responded, "You know, I can't even get a word in edge-wise with the campaign that's putting everything first," and Wallace replied: "My husband says the same thing." Scarborough later asked Wallace, "Does your husband really say he can't get a word in edge-wise?" but neither Brzezinski nor Scarborough addressed Wallace's attack on Obama.
Sen. John McCain said in a September 24 statement that "[t]omorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign," and further asserted: "I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so."
From the September 25 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:
SCARBOROUGH: Nicolle, if John McCain, who's been in Washington, D.C., for 25 years, if he knows the issues better than Barack Obama --
GIBBS: Twenty-six.
SCARBOROUGH: Twenty-six years. Sorry about that --
BRZEZINSKI: OK.
SCARBOROUGH: -- a quarter-century and a year. Why can't the guy that's been in Washington, D.C., 26 years negotiate up until about 5 p.m., step on his private jet, fly to Ole Miss, and out-debate this guy who's supposedly inexperienced?
WALLACE: This is not a debate about debates that American families are talking about over breakfast this morning.
SCARBOROUGH: But it is a debate about debate right now.
BRZEZINSKI: It's not a debate if we don't even know if we're having it.
WALLACE: Well, the debate will happen as soon as the deal is done. Now, I'm not as cynical as Robert -- you know, they're gonna be at the White House today together and, you know, maybe it'll be done. I don't think anyone in the country cares at the hour at which they debate. I mean, they want to see these two men stand toe to toe and debate the big ideas, but no one cares if it's Friday at 9 or Saturday at 10 or Sunday at 1 or Monday at 6. It's a debate about --
SCARBOROUGH: If there's not a deal, will John McCain not show up? Will there be an empty chair in Oxford, Mississippi?
WALLACE: Not only is he not gonna go engage in a political debate, our ads will stay off the air. I'm sure by the time I get off of this set, I'll be yanked. I mean, our campaign is suspended until the deal -- I just saw Jim Cramer -- he walked off the Today show. He's shaking with fear and rage at what is happening to our economy. This is really deadly serious stuff.
BRZEZINSKI: Was there any attempt to negotiate behind the scenes with the Obama campaign? Did the Obama campaign reach out to you? Did you guys reach out to them to discuss maybe collectively deciding to put off the debate?
WALLACE: Well, I think that calls were made between both campaigns and, you know --
BRZEZINSKI: And what happened?
WALLACE: -- we invited Senator Obama to come to Washington with us, and he has to make decisions that are in his interest, and we honor and respect that.
BRZEZINSKI: But was there any attempt to collectively put off the debate?
SCARBOROUGH: Robert, Robert --
WALLACE: We asked him if he would share our plan, but obviously he has his own vision for how to handle a crisis.
SCARBOROUGH: Robert, how did that go down? How did that go down? Was it -- do you guys feel like you were undercut yesterday?
GIBBS: No, not at all. Look, Joe, what we started out the day about 8:30 yesterday morning, Barack Obama placed a phone call to Senator McCain, because he understood the power of reaching across party lines like he's done throughout his career to demonstrate how important this financial package would be --
WALLACE: He's done exactly zero, but you can start any time.
GIBBS: -- it took six hours for the McCain --
WALLACE: I mean, he's done exactly never. But yesterday was a really good day to start.
GIBBS: I'm sorry, Nicolle --
BRZEZINSKI: Obama reached -- OK, go ahead, Robert.
GIBBS: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You know, I can't even get a word in edge-wise with the campaign --
WALLACE: My husband says the same thing.
GIBBS: -- that's putting everything first. But look, we're happy to -- we're happy that Senator McCain believed that a strong statement of principles about what this bill has to contain was important. I think we can do that. I think we can -- if Senator Obama's leadership is needed in a meeting in Washington today or tomorrow or Saturday, we're happy to be there. We think -- we think we're making progress on this debate. We think this package has to include protections not just for investment banks and Wall Street but for homeowners on Main Street, and I think we are making good progress to ensuring that we don't just hand over a $700 billion blank check that the American people don't have any oversight over, or give money to CEOs that caused this problem. We're making good progress, and I think we can make good progress on this package, debate -- we can go to Mississippi, probably swing in and get some barbecue before the debate, and still have time to talk about the global financial crisis.
SCARBOROUGH: Well, Robert, good luck on Friday night, whether you're debating --
GIBBS: Thanks, Joe.
SCARBOROUGH: -- John McCain or an empty chair. And good luck also on Saturday. I would hate to see Auburn lose two games in a row. It would really break my heart.
GIBBS: The Volunteers is -- the Volunteers is a tough game, and we're gonna take some time out from the financial negotiations to probably watch a little of the game.
BRZEZINSKI: Wow.
SCARBOROUGH: Very good. I can -- I can tell you, Washington could be burning, and if Alabama were playing Georgia, I'd say, just, you know --
BRZEZINSKI: OK.
SCARBOROUGH: -- just keep it out of the office until the game's over. All right, thank you so much, Robert. Robert has to go.
BRZEZINSKI: Robert, thanks.
SCARBOROUGH: Nicolle, stay here, because Peggy has a question for you. Don't -- keep the music down. We got a question.
BRZEZINSKI: Go, Peggy.
PEGGY NOONAN (Wall Street Journal columnist): My question, Nicolle: Give us a little bit -- just a little bit -- of tick-tock in the McCain campaign as you lead up to this big decision, "We're suspending the campaign, we're going to Washington." Whose idea was it? What was the argument for it? Did they think it clever? Did they think it helpful? Why not go to the Obama people and say, "We're gonna do this, do you want to come along with us?"
WALLACE: I think it would have been better if Obama had come along with us, so, yes, that was the --
NOONAN: Did you say that to him --
WALLACE: -- privately --
NOONAN: -- please come with us?
WALLACE: -- that was the, the offer extended to them. You know, I don't want to escalate any brinksmanship, but that was what was presented to them when we reached out, that we're gonna suspend our campaign and go to Washington, and we should do this together. I have to say, though --
BRZEZINSKI: That's interesting.
WALLACE: -- I don't disagree with much of what Robert just said. I mean, you know, they're both, if you look at the principles -- and what this is about is how you're gonna fix it -- they have the same principles when it comes to the need for oversight. You don't fix a system that broke 'cause of oversight with a bill with no oversight. So, there is, I think, a historic degree of consensus between Barack Obama and John McCain about what needs to be done to fix this bill, and that's the news that we're all --
SCARBOROUGH: OK.
NOONAN: Whose idea was it? When did it come up in the campaign? Were you on the plane? Where were you all when this came up?
WALLACE: We had been in New York, and so we were in New York --
SCARBOROUGH: All right.
WALLACE: -- and this is kind of the third step in an escalation of deep concern that John McCain has about the crisis.
SCARBOROUGH: All right, Nicolle, thank you for being with us. Does your husband really say he can't get a word in edge-wise?
BRZEZINSKI: I don't believe that.
WALLACE: All the time.
SCARBOROUGH: I believe it. All right, thank you so much, Nicolle. Appreciate you being here. Coming up next, Chucky T., also, former assistant Secretary of State Jamie Rubin will be here.
Sorry
This is interesting, and by the way when did that moron Mika Brzezinski become a "host"?
Right after her dad had lunch with an NBC exec.
Yes, they're attempting a "high-tech suspension" of Obama...
them claiming Obama has done "zero" on this is proof positive that this "suspension" is just another McCain ploy, like when he couldn't "go" to the first day of his convention because of the hurricane. Of course, the other hurricanes weren't a concern for him...
If I went on the show and told "Morning Joe" he had grape jelly on his tie, he would not even look down (if I were a [God forbid] Republican operative). He might "take a break" to wipe it off, during which time he would run a McCain ad.
Actually, MMFA doesn't understand what was said.
No one ever said anything about bipartisan legislation. They were talking about Obama calling McCain in the morning, and Wallace was saying THAT was a first (for that type of reaching across the isle.)
For the same reason, that McCain did the opening speech for Clinton's Global Initiative, and he started off by saying that he has put his campaign on hold due to the financial crisis....and then went on to tell the nation the various things that he will do if "he is elected president".
The cameras focussed on Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin, and other staffers in the audience, a great camapign photo moment. The Global Initiative speech was nothing more than a campaign speech....so much for putting the campaign on hold.
They didn't suspend anything. Thing is, this "suspension" is just another campaign ploy, and everyone and their mother (even McCain's mother) can see right directly through it.
What a farce.
I guess since we have a bailout plan ready to roll, McCain can go BACK to his campaign. Funny how he cares about this bill, but didn't really matter to him ALL of the hundreds of votes that he missed during his time in the US Senate. He's so Maverick, he just decided to skip votes.
He's so Maverick, he just decided to skip votes.
Now Skipping votes , that is a Maverick
I like it. McCain thought he could pull off another stunt and Obama shows him he knows how to play chicken. If McCain doesn't show up tomorrow, Obama is gonna run the debate like a townhall that McCain has been yammering for. He'll have unfettered access to 14 million or more Americans for an hour and McCain can't do anything to stop it except show up and debate. Check and mate!
McCain's gonna show up, Snoop...and act like a freakin' conquering hero. That'll impress the same type of people who think Sarah Palin is wonderful. Idiots...
This "thing" is starting to remind me of the times in the early 70's when we would smoke weed, eat screaming yellow zonkers and listen to Fireside theater. Porgie, Porgie tire biter and inflate your yellow shoes and follow the rubber line..... mccain is so lame. Only a blind, deaf mute right wing zealot could see this as something other than what it really is: Political one-upmanship and political posturing for some kind of advantage which will fail. The repukelicans are all "bozos on the Zig Zag talk express bus" They have all been dipping into the holding tank.
For those that missed the David Letterman blow up, it's a beauty! See the Huffington Post for the show's videos and text.
McCain was scheduled to be on Letterman last night, called him to back out because he had to return to Washington for the financial crisis.
Then Letterman shows him sitting on the set at another studio with Katie Couric having his makeup applied for the interview about to take place....at the same time he would have been on Letterman. His spokesman said that McCain felt the finacial crisis was no time to be on a comedy show.
Keith Olbermann replaced him, but Letterman was so upset Keith didn't get to say much.
Speaking of putting on make-up for the Couric interview, also on Huffington Post, Sam Stein:
So, John McCain has reportedly paid more than $5,500 to Tifanie White, the makeup artist who works on "American Idol," for similar cosmetic services. It is yet another incident of a politician -- regardless of ideological stripe -- coughing up a lot of money for the sake of good looks.
Earlier this cycle, one may recall, former Sen. John Edwards was subjected to days of ridicule over the fact that he had made two separate payments of $400 for two haircuts.....
.....[....].......
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/24/mccains-5000-makeup-will_n_128973.html
Do you think the media will treat McCain like they did Edwards haircuts? ......nope.
I've worked in construction long enough to know the additional expense of conforming to Historic Building codes and restrictions, so, to be fair, Mavrick's makeup might cost a little more than a more contemporary face would.
Even Colbert is mocking McCain by temporarily "suspending" his show!
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Colbert_mocks_McCain_by_suspending_his_0925.html
He really needs a morticians makeup artist. mccain has been embalmed, right? When his mouth moves I see wires. I was so looking forward to the debates. I think palin will have an emergency moose skinning and call off her debate with Biden. I think she should name her daughters baby "Ups".
Well, where have you heard this one before?
Fox host tells guest mentioning McCain role in Keating Five scandal to 'pipe down'
'Cut his mike,' producer suggests
The Keating Five scandal, and John McCain's role in it, has received relatively little mention in presidential campaign coverage, and at least one Fox News host seems dedicated to keeping it that way.
Appearing Thursday morning on Fox & Friends, radio host Mike Papantonio tried to remind viewers about McCain's intervention with federal regulators on behalf of real estate mogul Charles Keating, who was trying to avoid regulations of a savings and loan he owned during the S&L crisis of the 1980s.
F&F's Steve Doocy told Papantonio to "pipe down," called him "rude" and demanded he "cut it out." A show producer could be overheard saying "cut his mike."
As Papantonio tries one last time to explain the details of the Keating Five scandal, Doocy again cuts him off.
"This is not the History Channel," he says.
Papantonio's apparent crime was interrupting fellow guest Michael Reagan, the conservative radio host, who was arguing that it would be unfair to judge McCain based on his actions 20 years ago.
"It has everything to do with what's happening today," Papantonio said before being told to pipe down.
Regardless of whether Papantonio was being rude, preserving an orderly debate certainly could not have been Doocy's goal in silencing the guest. Not two minutes before his admonition that Papantonio was "being rude," Doocy repeatedly interrupted his guest to deliver talking points that might as well have been written by the McCain campaign.
At least three times Doocy interrupted Papantonio as he argued that McCain's political gambit to "suspend" his campaign and delay Friday's debate was more a response to his flagging poll numbers than an attempt to fix the economic crisis. Doocy wasn't buying it.
"If Barack Obama wants to do so much for the economy, why doesn't he go to his day job and work in the us senate?" he asked Reagan, cutting off Papantonio's argument.
I saw something like this last month on MSNBC
In what may have been a moment of an unknown open microphone during Wednesday night's DNC coverage on MSNBC, anchor Keith Olbermann vocally asked to wrap NBC News and MSNBC contributor Mike Murphy. Reports surfaced earlier that Olbermann had Murphy banned from the primetime coverage Monday (explained as technical difficulties), and Murphy was also missing Tuesday night. A Republican political consultant who joined the network's payroll in July, Murphy is in Denver for the convention coverage.
On Monday night Olbermann was heard, while off camera, telling guest Joe Scarborough to "get a shovel."
As Murphy sat with with Harold Ford, Jr and talked with Chris Matthews about Hillary Clinton liking John McCain, Olbermann, off camera, can be heard loudly saying, "Let's wrap him up, all right?"
Watch or scroll for trascript:
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Let me ask you Mike: are we to, to place the credibility of you as a pundit on your belief, that you've just asserted, that the Clintons will vote for John McCain?
MURPHY: Absolutely. I really believe Hillary Clinton will vote for McCain. Look, they're friends. [Crowd boos]. Ah, come on, don't shout me down: let me talk. I mean come on, this is, you guys are so in the tank we ought to be filming this on a submarine. The fact is, Barack Obama, to his credit, has moved closer to Hillary Clinton and John McCain on foreign policy, Hillary and John McCain have worked --
MATTHEWS: That's an argument -- that's not what I'm asking you.
MURPHY: I really believe --
MATTHEWS: Mike, let me get back to --
KEITH OLBERMANN (OFF CAMERA): Let's wrap him up, alright?
Sue, you need to get over your Olbermann fixation. In one case, you've got Olbermann getting a segment finished up. In the other case, you've got a host that's calling a person on the carpet for being "rude", then moments later doing the exact same thing himself.
Sue, you need to get over your Olbermann fixation.
What fixation, a question was asked if by Snoopy "Well, where have you heard this one before?
In one case, you've got Olbermann getting a segment finished up. In the other case, you've got a host that's calling a person on the carpet for being "rude", then moments later doing the exact same thing himself.
Olbermann was not involved in the interview with Murphy, but be blind. either way you do not have an open mind, MSNBC can do no wrong I guess compared to FOX. And the Nile is a River in Manhattan.
I thought they called that river De Nile?
doocy goes on billybob o'really's comedy show on the faucks news channel to be asked mindless questions about past movies, stars and TV shows. This guy just really creeps me out big time. Is he out of the closet yet? He is, for sure, one of billy bob's lap dogs. When I think of him the word Fruitcake comes to mind. Faucks news needs some roach spray. There would be a lot of empty time slots on that channel.
All seriousness aside, Typical fake news.
The funny thing would be if the networks announced that in deference to John McCain's patriotic suspension of his campaign that for the duration they will not have any McCain surrogates on as guests... ;>)