Can We Stop Listening To John McCain?
John McCain has been all over the networks the past week offering his views on the Bergdahl prisoner swap and the situation in Iraq. But why do networks keep giving him airtime? Steve Benen examines his recent record:
Two weeks ago, for example, McCain complained about the prisoner swap that freed an American POW despite having already endorsed the exact same plan. After getting caught, McCain falsely accused his critics of “lying.” He then suggested the detainees were “responsible for 9/11,” which didn’t make any sense.Soon after, the senator told a national television audience, “We had literally no casualties there in Iraq during the last period after the surge was over.” That’s ridiculously untrue.McCain then argued that militants holding prisoners don’t kill Americans, followed by the senator leaving policy briefings before they’re done so he can repeat false talking points for the cameras.McCain then demanded that the suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack in Benghazi be brought to Guantanamo Bay, telling reporters, “It’s where we put terrorists when we apprehend them.” In reality, (a) that’s not even close to being true; (b) sending Abu Khattala to the detention facility probably wouldn’t be legal, and (c) McCain doesn’t seem to remember his own position, which is that the Guantanamo prison be closed.McCain is convinced he hasn’t “been wrong”? These are just the more notable mistakes from the last two weeks.
It’s a pretty remarkable record. More remarkable is that the networks keep coming back for more.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.
24 responses to Can We Stop Listening To John McCain?
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mea_mark June 19th, 2014 at 19:23
He is not involved in some scandal like so many other top republicans. He is the go to top republican by default. Just maybe, someday, the republicans will clean up their act and field a truly responsible republican that isn’t steeped in narcissism and selfishness. Until then we are stuck with very little option to get a “well stated, articulate” point of view from the republican side. Yeah there are others like Michael Steele or Abby Huntsman but they don’t have the clout and their own party attacks them.
Wells June 19th, 2014 at 19:54
How is this ‘go-to’ guy in any way “well-stated and articulate” or reasonably presents a point of view that most can understand, nevermind respect.
mea_mark June 19th, 2014 at 20:23
Compare him to Louie Gohmert, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, … he is a jewel compared to them. It is all a matter of perspective. I can understand what he says, I just don’t agree.
starskeptic June 20th, 2014 at 14:28
Is the McCain you understand the same one you don’t agree with?
Wells June 20th, 2014 at 18:06
Politicians proclaim loyalty to a Main Street livelihood,
but those with ties to economic interests adhere
to upper class mandates, if not dictates.
The Republican Party is certainly dictatorial,
framing the debate with hysterics.
Dwendt44 June 20th, 2014 at 00:56
McCain’s scandals were back in the late 70’s/early 80’s. He escaped prison by the skin of his teeth. His in-laws were connected to the Mafia, and he was punished for his horseplay that was a part of the fiasco the befell the U.S.S. Enterprise. As far as foreign policy goes, McCain is all over the map. He DEMANDED we do anything and everything to get the soldier back. Now it wasn’t a good idea at all. Yada, yada, yada.
A world class war monger and hypocrite.
Aquaria June 20th, 2014 at 04:12
Oh come on.
His real crime is that he was a traitor in Vietnam. He sang like a canary to the Viet Cong, to the North Vietnamese and to the Soviets, to save his own skin.
Shades June 19th, 2014 at 19:23
Way ahead of you.
mea_mark June 19th, 2014 at 19:23
He is not involved in some scandal like so many other top republicans. He is the go to top republican by default. Just maybe, someday, the republicans will clean up their act and field a truly responsible republican that isn’t steeped in narcissism and selfishness. Until then we are stuck with very little option to get a “well stated, articulate” point of view from the republican side. Yeah there are others like Michael Steele or Abby Huntsman but they don’t have the clout and their own party attacks them.
Wells June 19th, 2014 at 19:54
How is this ‘go-to’ guy in any way “well-stated and articulate” or reasonably presents a point of view that most can understand, nevermind respect.
mea_mark June 19th, 2014 at 20:23
Compare him to Louie Gohmert, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin, … he is a jewel compared to them. It is all a matter of perspective. I can understand what he says, I just don’t agree.
starskeptic June 20th, 2014 at 14:28
Is the McCain you understand the same one you don’t agree with?
Wells June 20th, 2014 at 18:06
Politicians proclaim loyalty to a Main Street livelihood,
but those with ties to economic interests adhere
to upper class mandates, if not dictates.
The Republican Party is certainly dictatorial,
framing the debate with hysterics.
Dwendt44 June 20th, 2014 at 00:56
McCain’s scandals were back in the late 70’s/early 80’s. He escaped prison by the skin of his teeth. His in-laws were connected to the Mafia, and he was punished for his horseplay that was a part of the fiasco the befell the U.S.S. Enterprise. As far as foreign policy goes, McCain is all over the map. He DEMANDED we do anything and everything to get the soldier back. Now it wasn’t a good idea at all. Yada, yada, yada.
A world class war monger and hypocrite.
Aquaria June 20th, 2014 at 04:12
Oh come on.
His real crime is that he was a traitor in Vietnam. He sang like a canary to the Viet Cong, to the North Vietnamese and to the Soviets, to save his own skin.
Shades June 19th, 2014 at 19:23
Way ahead of you.
Wells June 19th, 2014 at 19:51
GET OFF MY LAWN! Aaarg!
Osama! Aarg! Sadam! Assad! Aarg. More bullets! Arrg!
Wells June 19th, 2014 at 19:51
GET OFF MY LAWN! Aaarg!
Osama! Aarg! Sadam! Assad! Aarg. More bullets! Arrg!
granpa.usthai June 19th, 2014 at 20:12
maybe the US needs to create a new political office?
(notpotus)
eg: notpotus McCain was in every corner of the media this week criticizing POTUS Obama.
“He has no understanding of HIS EXCELLENCY Maliki or Iraq, says notpotus McCain. I do. Sometimes it takes thousands and risk to hundreds of thousands of US Troops to keep a good Despot in absolute power while overstuffing offshore bank accounts. It’s the traditional GOP American/Church way, smiles notpotus McCain – hell, why not 100 years!?! he questions America via the media – it’s obvious yeller belly cowards who want to whine and cry before jumping in with both feet will not do it. Republicans who are the true patriotic church going Americans that MUST remain in school due to mommie and daddies money ain’t afraid to send millions of peon Americans from the working class or even illegal aliens to be maimed and/or die in their yeller belly cowardice any damn where in the world for Corporate Profit and ‘amount available’ in our offshore bank accounts.”
“That’s our commitment to HIS EXCELLENCY Maliki ” pipes in notpotus Romney. I would never send the yeller belly children of the yeller belly moms and dads of America who are so anti American they don’t have a measley 1 million in an offshore bank account into harms way without making sure I can personally garner a 10,000% deposit for my personal ‘amount available’ and of course we must reward our ally for becoming our face of “AMERICAN MORAL VALUES”.
“return whatever is left of the killer crazy useless yeller belly punks back to their yeller belly folks under the cover of darkness is GOP’s solemn pledge (subject to change at our decision) to the American people” states notpotus Graham.
granpa.usthai June 19th, 2014 at 20:12
maybe the US needs to create a new political office?
(notpotus)
eg: notpotus McCain was in every corner of the media this week criticizing POTUS Obama.
“He has no understanding of HIS EXCELLENCY Maliki or Iraq, says notpotus McCain. I do. Sometimes it takes thousands and risk to hundreds of thousands of US Troops to keep a good Despot in absolute power while overstuffing offshore bank accounts. It’s the traditional GOP American/Church way, smiles notpotus McCain – hell, why not 100 years!?! he questions America via the media – it’s obvious yeller belly cowards who want to whine and cry before jumping in with both feet will not do it. Republicans who are the true patriotic church going Americans that MUST remain in school due to mommie and daddies money ain’t afraid to send millions of peon Americans from the working class or even illegal aliens to be maimed and/or die in their yeller belly cowardice any damn where in the world for Corporate Profit and ‘amount available’ in our offshore bank accounts.”
“That’s our commitment to HIS EXCELLENCY Maliki ” pipes in notpotus Romney. I would never send the yeller belly children of the yeller belly moms and dads of America who are so anti American they don’t have a measley 1 million in an offshore bank account into harms way without making sure I can personally garner a 10,000% deposit for my personal ‘amount available’ and of course we must reward our ally for becoming our face of “AMERICAN MORAL VALUES”.
“return whatever is left of the killer crazy useless yeller belly punks back to their yeller belly folks under the cover of darkness is GOP’s solemn pledge (subject to change at our decision) to the American people” states notpotus Graham.
William June 20th, 2014 at 08:43
I pretty much dismissed his judgment when he picked Sarah Palin as a running mate.
William June 20th, 2014 at 08:43
I pretty much dismissed his judgment when he picked Sarah Palin as a running mate.
fancypants June 20th, 2014 at 12:21
after losing at least a presidential election some people cant take a hint. Im still amazed there is nobody more qualified to represent Arizona
fancypants June 20th, 2014 at 12:21
after losing at least a presidential election some people cant take a hint. Im still amazed there is nobody more qualified to represent Arizona