Despite McCain ads running repeatedly, Hannity, Caddell claim he pulled them following campaign "suspension"
SUMMARY: Referring to Sen. John McCain's announcement that he was going to "suspend" his campaign, Sean Hannity and Fox News contributor Pat Caddell asserted on Hannity & Colmes that McCain is "not running ads." In fact, as Alan Colmes noted, and as Media Matters documented, McCain campaign television ads ran throughout the day following McCain's announcement.
Referring to Sen. John McCain's September 24 announcement that he was going to "suspend" his presidential campaign, co-host Alan Colmes said on the September 25 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, "What kind of a campaign suspension is a guy who says, 'I'm suspending my campaign,' keeps running ads, goes on television?" Co-host Sean Hannity responded: "He's not running ads. He's pulled them." When Colmes countered, "Ads kept running today," Fox News contributor Pat Caddell responded: "He's not running ads." Hannity then stated: "He pulled them." In fact, as Colmes noted, and as Media Matters for America documented on September 25, McCain campaign television ads ran throughout the day.
Additionally, according to a Media Matters search* of the TVEyes.com database, McCain ads ran on September 25 during the 7:00 p.m. ET hour on several network affiliates, including WWJ-TV, a CBS affiliate, and WOOD-TV, an NBC affiliate. Further, a McCain ad ran at 6:53 p.m. ET on WXIX-TV, a Fox affiliate.
Caddell later stated: "He said he's suspending his campaign, pulling his ads. It takes several days. You buy the ads in advance, by the way, just to inform your audience." Colmes responded: "What about the surrogates? Why didn't he pull the surrogates off television?" As Media Matters has also documented, despite the purported suspension, McCain campaign surrogates -- including Nancy Pfotenhauer, Tucker Bounds, and Nicolle Wallace -- continued to appear on cable news networks throughout the day, attacking Sen. Barack Obama.
From the September 25 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
COLMES: All right. And let me ask you, Pat Caddell: What kind of a campaign suspension is a guy who says, "I'm suspending my campaign," keeps running ads, goes on television?
HANNITY: He's not running ads.
COLMES: Goes on --
HANNITY: He's pulled them.
COLMES: Ads kept running today.
CADDELL: He's not running ads.
HANNITY: He pulled them.
COLMES: The ads ran today.
CADDELL: No, but he --
COLMES: He goes on television, he does interviews --
CADDELL: Alan --
COLMES: -- and he continues to put his surrogates on TV. How is that suspending a campaign?
CADDELL: Whoa, whoa, whoa. He said he's suspending his campaign, pulling his ads. It takes several days. You buy the ads in advance, by the way, just to inform your audience.
COLMES: What about the surrogates? Why didn't he pull the surrogates off television?
CADDELL: But the surrogates -- but the point is -- look, but he is in Washington. He went there -- he went there to say we have to deal with this. It was for him. It helped, and the fact is, I think there is a problem here -- that the, you know, that the Republicans were not on board in the House. Something will come out of this.
New McCain-FoxNews Liquid Detergent:
Virtually spotless dishes!
Virtually spotless dishes!
Virtually spotless dishes!
[Except for the spots.]
The only thing Sen. George McCain is trying to suspend is disbelief...
Sen. George McCain's little stunt didn't go very well, so he followed the tried-and-true McCain playbook: He flip-flopped. A full, double back-flip, complete with two jelly rolls and a belly flop landing.
I've often expressed that I think Colmes generally does a good job considering the balancing act I'm sure he goes through every day. He consistently faces a roster heavily opposed to him (in this case, Coulter and Caddell, Morris, and Gingrich), and can't make them look too bad or he'll lose his job. And that's a daunting task, especially when one considers that the guy he sits opposite, Sean Hannity, is the
DUMBEST.
GUY.
IN.
MEDIA.
If that doesn't constitute skateboarding through a minefield, I don't know what does. I think he preforms admirably. Even better on his radio show, though.
Of course he suspended the ads. It's not his fault the darn networks kept running them...
George Orwell would be very proud of you Sean
Arguing with right wingers is getting more and more like a Monty Python sketch.
"McCain's campaign isn't dead! It's just sleeping!"
"Look, I took the liberty of examining McCain, and I discovered the only reason that he had been standing behind his podium in the first place was that he had been NAILED there."
Lovely plumage!
Stop it! This is getting entirely too silly!
It's a fair cop.
I am a big fan of Alan Colmes, he goes through alot and does a good job. Him and Greta make FOX somewhat watchable. Hannity and his smirk kill me though.
Oh! My! God!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/mccain_wins_debate.html
We can now stick a fork in McCain. He is done.
Every time I think Grampy has shot his own foot off, the Karl Rove Propaganda Laboratory staples it back on and shocks him back to life. There's no way his campaign should have survived the past two weeks, yet he's still in there, schlepping away. That's the advantage of the GOP's massive media machine. If Grampy and Barbie win, it will prove that Karl Rove could get a ham sandwich elected. (Of course the Democrats' inability to find their own asses using both hands doesn't help...)
Nerzog,
I really believe that this time it will be different. First off, it's because Palin's luster is coming off, many on the right, including the National Review, are beginning to realize that she is "out of her league", a quote from one of their writers just today, who is suggesting she even step down. Her Couric interview was an embarrassment, she stumbles and fills her answers with off the rail "huhs?". I don't see the excitement by the Republican base that it displayed a few weeks ago. And if they aren't energized, McCain will never get elected, in my opinion.
The other reason is the pathetic nature of McCain's campaign, and these transparent stunts and knee-jerk reactions to events happening around him, particularly this financial mess. McCain comes off like he has no clue what to do, he shifts and wobbles and impulsively staggers towards one thing one day, and one thing the next. He doesn't even look senatorial, much less presidential.
Whereas Obama looks steady and resilient. He appears level-headed and confident, reassuring and with resolve. And people are nervous, they are worried and they want leadership, not political stunts.
It's still aways to go, but Obama is starting to separate himself, and he should be.
I will believe that it's 'different' when I hear the righty talkers call for Palin to drop out. Until then, I ain't buying it.
Here's one to start. I don't think you can base much on the behavior of the likes of Limbaugh or Hannity anyway. The hard-core spinners will always spin the same way, your more moderate conservative is a better indicator of McCain's momentum and viability. Look at George Will's comments about McCain, as well.
Totally agree. Limbaugh and Hannity wouldn't give an inch no matter what, when the National Review is skeptical of Palin, she's in trouble.
Tommy,
I saw that, asking Palin to step down. Wow. Just a few weeks ago certain posters here were telling us Biden would be the one stepping down, yet here we are. The VP debate is next thursday - any bets on if and when she quits?
I'm picking after the debate. Once it's clear how unprepared she is, she'll "step down" - use the more time with family excuse.
I think we need Palin right where she is, in Alaska.
I mean what if she's not there and Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace?
And who else can sit sandwiched between two foreign countries and delicately manage the affairs of a powerful nation on one hand and a close ally and partner with the steady resolve and firmness that is required when one tries to tackle and shake up Washington with John S. McCain and still see Russia from her home state up north where she said no thanks to that bridge and cut taxes and return revenue to the citizens who would rather take the terror fight to their country instead of fight them here on our soil with our brave men and women and championing the proposals that John S. McCain has introduced and passed in his distinguished career in Washington, you know, that place that we are going to shake up, but I can't think of them right now but I'll get back to ya on that.
Just so you know Tommy, I read that entire sentence and I never blinked, NEVER!
That's cuz you're the first dude Worrier, let's see if the rest of the guys and gals can too!!!!
I can't read.
Being in a festive mood today, I'll let that one slide right on by.
:)
Cheers, Sir. Oh, by the way, this is off-topic and I'm unclear what it says, but it's from Helen Thomas who asked me to post it here for you. Have a nice gov't bailout weekend!
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/380377_thomasonline26.html
Oh, no! Anything but Putin'head!
Looks like a Peeping Vladimir.
Someone should tell this commie we have laws against that sort of thing in the good ol' USA.
Holy Crap.... that's the funniest thing I've seen today! Thanks for sharing.
I'm in complete agreement with Tommy, Nerzog.
I hope you're both right. It would restore my faith in the intelligence of the American electorate.
From where I sit, the McCain Campaign looks like a joke... another Bob Dole... offered up as a place-holder until the Republicans regain their footing. I can't help but think that the intellectuals in the GOP inner circles are laughing at the whole circus.
We'll know soon enough. Polls are swinging clearly to Obama. And frankly, I think the polls and their reliance on land lines give McCain a 3-point handicap. On average, Obama is up 4 points in national polls. My guess is that he'll be up 8-10 points next week. I would not be shocked if the GOP replaced both McCain and Palin at this point. I think it's that bad.
I can't help but think that the intellectuals in the GOP inner circles are laughing at the whole circus.
Just remember, that's a pretty small group without a lot of votes. I'm keeping in mind the group that includes a woman I heard calling in to Jeff Christie's show while I was at lunch. I flipped over to hear El Lushbo cheerleading for the GOP's chances with the bold statement that "Love for America" and "passion" trumps "Hate for America" every time.
His caller backed him up, swearing that during Palin's convention speech, she was jumping around her living room, high- fiving her mom.
A cheap, cynical gimmick involving an unqualified puppet has a number of our fellow American's reacting like the contestants on The Price is Right. Hopefully, it's a small number, but they're out there.
Gov. you may be right. But the wild card is this: There is a HUGE number of people who don't care what McCain does or does not do. He has their vote by default. Millions of people in this country simply DO NOT want Obama in the White House.
Who cares? That's true for McCain as well, especially after eight years of Bush. If you look at the pros and cons for each candidate from an independent viewpoint, how does McCain come out on top?
Who cares? That's true for McCain as well. If you look at the pros and cons for each candidate from an independent viewpoint, how does McCain come out on top?
Hmm strange no-show on the comments there, my apologies.
But, but, b-b-but, b-b-b-b-... real convincing, Peabody Pat.
Pretty funny stuff, snoop.
But, but, b-b-but, b-b-b-be careful...Obama's caricature is bordering on "popping eyes"...and those ears...
I love this part...
"CADDELL: But the surrogates -- but the point is -- look, but he is in Washington. He went there -- he went there to say we have to deal with this. It was for him. It helped, and the fact is, I think there is a problem here -- that the, you know, that the Republicans were not on board in the House. Something will come out of this."
Nice dodge there, Mr. Fugly, about the damn surrogates. The rest of your response is about as brilliant as anything that has emerged from the Freezer Queen's yap.
The guest made the point here. Several components of the campaign were fulfilling commitments that had been pre-arranged. The ads are indeed purchased in advance and run for a specific period of time. When McCain said he was suspending his campaign, he meant that there would be no further commitments made. This is perfectly understandable and a non-arguement IMHO.
How do you explain this McCain Ad?:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/images/26Sep_Friday_WSJ.JPG
I hope to God that is brought up either during the debate or afterwards. That ad is sleaze at its worst.
The desperation is mindnumbing. Really.
"The ads are indeed purchased in advance and run for a specific period of time"
And they can be stopped at the drop of a hat. They can even be stopped in the middle of their broadcast if needed. All the engineer has to do is push the right button.
I didn't really understand the point of pulling the ads in the first place. If he thinks his time is better spent trying to work out a deal I don't see how campaign ads come in to it. In fact if it was anything but a campaign ploy why did he have to make a big spectacle of it? If a Dem pulled a stunt like this they would be called shameless.
He did it out of desperation. Take note that yesterday morning, the ABC News poll had Obama up by nine. Combine that with Palin's utterly horrendous 'interviews' with a bit of typical 'mavericky narcissism' and this is what you get. A loser wanting the spotlight back on him. That's why he did it - for the attention.
Whoops, looks like it backfired. Most editorial pages in respectable rags basically excoriated him for it.
I wish some of you would stop saying Hannity is stupid. He is certainly NOT that. Sean Hannity and the rest of that bunch are PAID agents of the Republican Machine. Fox, itself, is an effective tool of the Right. Poor old Dems don't have their very own TV channel. There is not ONE "fair and balanced" "news" program at Fox. That Colmes kid never has a chance to even say anything without being yelled over, just like any other guest with a slight liberal bent. Somewhere under that desk is a well-thumbed volume called "The Rove Handbook". Wish I had a copy.