Ignoring all evidence to the contrary, NBC's Todd asserted as fact that McCain "pulled the plug on his campaign for two days"
SUMMARY: NBC's Chuck Todd asserted as fact that Sen. John McCain "pulled the plug on his campaign for two days." But Todd did not note that following McCain's September 24 announcement that he was going to suspend his campaign, McCain campaign ads continued to run; that his advisers repeatedly attacked Sen. Barack Obama on cable news networks; or that McCain gave interviews with the three broadcast networks.
On the September 26 edition of NBC's Nightly News, NBC News political director Chuck Todd asserted as fact that Sen. John McCain "pulled the plug on his campaign for two days." Todd did not note that following McCain's September 24 announcement that he was going to suspend his campaign, McCain campaign ads continued to run; that his advisers repeatedly attacked Sen. Barack Obama on cable news networks; or that McCain gave interviews with the three broadcast networks the day following his announcement. Nor did Todd give any indication that he had attempted to determine if the campaign had in fact stopped; by contrast, according to reporter Sam Stein, The Huffington Post "called up 15 McCain-Palin and McCain Victory Committee headquarters in various battleground states. Not one said that it was temporarily halting operations because of the supposed 'suspension' in the campaign."
As Media Matters for America noted, articles in The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, as well as from the Associated Press, reported that McCain's campaign "continued," with the AP's Steven Hurst writing that McCain "did not, in fact, truly suspend campaign activities." And on the September 25 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin asserted that the media were "being kind of gullible" in uncritically reporting McCain's announcement, and said of McCain's actions: "I think this is posturing of being apolitical and, frankly, I think we're being kind of gullible in falling for it. He didn't stop his campaign. He's campaigning."
From the September 26 edition of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams:
WILLIAMS: Which brings us to our political director, Chuck Todd, who is here in the arena. And Chuck, let's begin with John McCain, who comes here tonight, and let's remember, this is supposed to be the foreign policy, national security debate, though they're going to talk about the economy. McCain comes in here after a bit of a high-wire act, inserting himself into the bailout talks in Washington.
TODD: He does. It's interesting. Talking to some people that were witness to the walk-throughs, Barack Obama seemed to be the looser guy, and there's some tenseness to John McCain, and there might very well be because now he's got to explain to 70, 80 million people tonight why he did this, why he pulled the plug on his campaign for two days, why he threatened to potentially postpone this debate in order to get there. What is it that he didn't like? What is it that he wants to see done? Because the good news for him is the Bush administration hasn't done a good job explaining this. And if one of these two gentlemen, but particularly in John McCain's case, explains it better, they might be able to have won this week, which right now, it seems to be slipping away from McCain.
Off topic. Governor, this is for you.
http://mediamatters.org/discuss/200809250005?threaded=1#392665
I'd say he sacrificed his queen for a pawn, yes. He can still win, but it makes it much more difficult.
"Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin. The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless.""
McCain's ploy to delay or cancel the Biden/Palin debate failed. She'll get killed, which will play directly into Obama's comments about judgment during the debate tonight. If Palin steps down, it will be admitting that he made a political decision and a tremendous blunder, also playing into those comments.
There's really no good move available.
From today's paper:
A conservative columnist who welcomed Sarah Palin's entry in national politics says she's proved to be a dud and should step aside as John McCain's running mate.
Kathleen Parker, writing in National Review Online, says her "cringe reflex is exhausted" after watching the Alaska governor stumble through TV interviews and it's become clear to her that Palin is out of her league.
"No one hates saying that more than I do," Parker writes. "Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does."
Republicans have generally been strong in running elections, but this move was too far outside the lines. They are done, for now.
I saw the Parker column, that's devastating. It's refreshing to see that sort of honesty in contrast to people like Limbaugh, who would say McCain made a brilliant strategic move even if he picked a chimpanzee to be his running mate.
"Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin...
I wonder if Parker, like so many women, was pulling for Hillary. My money is on "no".
Of course not. Just as women Hillary supporters don't support Palin. I'm sure most don't.
parker has been so anti-clinton and anti-democrat, it's not funny. she mocked everyone who questioned going into iraq, and loves bush, at least she did for a loooong time.
It is shocking that McCain has not paid any price for this. He made a major statement where the truth did not extend one inch beyond the words.
It's like if McCain said that Obama's father was North Korean and nobody cared.
This episode is a statement about the stupidity and ineffectiveness of the media as well as the bottomless dishonesty of McCain. Unfortunately, both have been on display for a long time and half the country will still vote for the liar.
On the button, steeve. Your last sentence says volumes. What is also terrifying is a poll from NBC/WSJ this very morning showing that FORTY PER CENT of those polled believe that Sarah Palin is ready to be PRESIDENT, not Vice President, but PRESIDENT. FORTY PER CENT? As for the TV personnel, the GOP is getting its money's worth. WE used to have a saying: "We have the finest politicians money can buy." Now we can add, "the finest "journalists" money can buy."
Oh heck!!!! I cannot tell if McCain's campagn is running or not. His campagn is so silly and has little credence or effect on people who have ot listen to drivel. In spite of his "suspension" ads still droned on and on. I long for the day, when I no longer ahve to hear that syrupy "My friend". YUK!!!!!