So, DID McCain Know the Questions In Advance?
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
August 18, 2008 6:56pm CST
This is a bit funny, I must admit. There were numerous discussions here on myLot shortly after the Saddleback Forum Saturday night and as expected there were disagreements as to who "won", although I didn't really think it was the type of forum where there actually could be a winner or loser. Anyway, one thing I read over and over again mostly from avowed McCain supporters (or Obama detractors) but also from some poster whose allegiance I'm not sure of was that McCain was much quicker with the answers while Obama took too long to think about them. I'd responded in a few of these discussions that I didn't have a problem with Obama taking a few moments to answer some of Rick Warren's questions because they weren't simple questions with a set answer like "When were you born?". Ironically, one very hardcore, die-hard McCain supporter praised his guy so much for answering so fast she even commented that it almost seemed like McCain knew the answer before the question was asked! Well, strange she should say that because as it turns out...
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/18/mccain-cone-of-silence-or-no-cone-of-silence/
One thing we can be sure of is this - Rick Warren announced that McCain was in a "Cone of Silence" and couldn't possibly hear the questions being asked of Obama BUT the truth is McCain hadn't even arrived, he was in his motorcade during most of the time Obama was being questioned.
"Warren told CNN Sunday evening, “we flat out asked him” if he heard any of the questions. The McCain campaign “confirmed that McCain did not hear or see any of the broadcast” in the motorcade or after he arrived."
OK, all he had to go on was McCain's word that he didn't hear or see anything? Say WHAT???
These words spoken by NBC's Andrea Mitchell Meet the Press yesterday angered the McCain campaign:
"The Obama people must feel that he didn’t do quite as well as they might have wanted to in that context, because that — what they’re putting out privately is that McCain may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama."
Let's be honest here, there was nothing in that statement that the McCain campaign has any reason to be angry about! "McCain may not have been in the cone of silence" - well, we know he was NOT, "...may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama." - that can't be disputed, can it?
Here's what McCain spokeswoman Nicole Wallace said, "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."
So that's the way it's going to be from now on; a former prisoner of war can't be called into question about anything?
You can read the full text of the letter sent to the NBC New
s president by McCain Campaign Chairman Rick Davis here:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12594.html
Here is the last part of the letter:
"We are concerned that your News Division is following MSNBC's lead in abandoning non-partisan coverage of the Presidential race. We would like to request a meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss our deep concerns about the news standards and level of objectivity at NBC."
So, what do you all think about this? Is it the Obama camp that's out of line for even thinking a war hero would "cheat"? Can anyone be blamed for having their suspicions since we know the "cone of silence" claim wasn't true? Let's talk...
Annie
3 people like this
11 responses
@ElaanR2 (277)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Annie, the fact that you ask this question proves that McCain did better than Obama in this forum. In the same way that Obama would concede defeat and work towards uniting America if he loses the election, I think we must admit that McCain aced the discussion and move on. I don't think we will ever find any evidence that McCain had foreknowledge of the questions. But, there is solid evidence that he did better than Obama. I hope Obama goes back to do his home work in order to come out stronger at later fora and debates.
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Aug 08
This response is worthy of looking at point by point. First you wrote, "Annie, the fact that you ask this question proves that McCain did better than Obama in this forum."
No, it doesn't prove that at all. I ask this question because I think it should be asked since there certainly is reason for suspicion. Not because McCain did "better" unless answering the quickest, sometimes even before the question had been completely asked, is the only way to judge who did the best. Personally, I think the two men took a different tone. McCain used many of his formula one-liners and sound-bites as he told he war stories and Obama was more thoughtful and less clevenr as I see it. I said the other night that, just as some of my friends here who are admitted McCain supporters said Obama did fairly well I said McCain did pretty well. I also said from the start that I didn't consider the fact that Obama took a little time before answering the questions was such a negative.
"I don't think we will ever find any evidence that McCain had foreknowledge of the questions."
Evidence? I think there's plenty of that, in my opinion; proof is a different story since it's highly unlikely anyone who was with McCain while Obama was being questioned is about to say so if he did.
"But, there is solid evidence that he did better than Obama."
What "solid evidence" is that? Seriously, no disrespect intended whatsoever but this forum was something that was completely subject to opinion. If there had been questions asked with definitive right or wrong answers that would be different but this wasn't that type of format.
Thanks for responding and I hope we can agree to disagree.
Annie
1 person likes this
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I just have to put my quick two cents in in response to this.
"In the same way that Obama would concede defeat and work towards uniting America if he loses the election, I think we must admit that McCain aced the discussion and move on."
Do you really think that if they roles were reversed and McCain thought Obama heard all of the questions that McCain supporters would just drop it? I think they would drag this through the dirt just like every other allegation they've brought against Obama.
3 people like this
@ElaanR2 (277)
• United States
19 Aug 08
To Annie, McCain was speaking to a base that was sympathetic to him. Thus, he was definite in his answers and only had to expand his answers instead of explaining them. Obama had to be cautious because most of his answers were contrary to what a majority of the congregation believed. Thus, Obama ended up sounding more like a teacher than a leader.
3 people like this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
19 Aug 08
He is a Republican, of course he cheated, look at the last Republican in office. He cheated to.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
20 Aug 08
They are politicians, they all lie, cheat and steal.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I'm going to say it and risk facing the wrath of God - or Kennyrose - McCain, POW or NOT has been a liar and a cheater and they're both well-documented, unfortunately you really have to look for the evidence because heaven knows the so-called "liberal" media won't tell you! Although, I'm pleased to report that CNN has a show called Reveal about both candidates and on the previews they tell of McCain's multiple infidelities against his first wife. Rose, he wasn't in any room with no TV for the first hour of the show, he was on his way in his motorcade!
What are you going to do when he chooses a pro-choice running mate??? Come on, answer this!
Annie
2 people like this
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
19 Aug 08
"To accuse John Mccain of such a thing just goes to show how low some people will stoop,I think this just takes the cake,and Barack Obama stands may stand to lose this election directly because of all controversial question about Barack Obama and the on going accusing people of being liars and racist."
Wow I really have to laugh at this coming from someone who has spread all kinds of scare tactics propaganda and lies all over MyLot about Obama. I've seen plenty of discussions and responses from you accusing Obama of many things. But heaven forbid someone actually question McCains intergrity. Oh no a former POW republican would never lie. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
3 people like this
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Ok I really don't think McCain has any room to get made at NBC for reporting the news. They are not being biased. They are just stating the news as they see it in this case. The fact that they are getting their panties in such a wad over these allegations just makes me think he was listening in on what was going on. Yeah McCain supporters may believe their candidate would never lie to them. But let's face it he's a politician just like the rest of them. Politicians lie to get what they want former POW or not. Now I'm not saying that he did cheat since there is no way to prove it. But I am saying that I think it's a possibility and I'm not going to trust that he didn't cheat just because he's a former POW. And it makes me lose respect for Rick Warren for lying to the audience about him being in a "cone of silence" when he clearly wasn't.
3 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I agree 100% with you, although I had never heard of Mr. Warren, I try to stay out of religion as much as possible, but I do have a family full of minister's and priests and I couldn't imagine any of them being dishonest to their followers.
2 people like this
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
19 Aug 08
McCain hasn't been accused by Obama of 'cheating', and all of the reporting they're referring to as accusations are reports of nothing but the fact that the possibility was there, which it was, and that McCain WASN'T in a "cone of silence", which he wasn't.
The fact that the McCain campaign reacted the way it did seems kind of fishy. Like protesting too much or something. McCain would have done a lot better not to react so emphatically to the reporting of obvious things.
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Aug 08
That's how I saw it, too. How does that line go, "...thou doth protest too much"? The fact that they're attacking Andrea Mitchell, of all people, is amazing! I think she's a fair reporter for the most part, but to accuse her of being biased to the left is unreal. She's Alan Greenspan's wife, for heaven's sake...lol!
To be honest, as an Obama supporter I kind of hope McCain and his camp continue to attack the media because maybe then they'll stop treating him with kid gloves. I just saw again on TV tonight about a survey showing that more people think "too much" is reported on Obama than think that about McCain, but if you ask me it's because the media has used an "If you can't say something nice..." rule with McCain and there hasn't been that much GOOD to say about him and they chose not to report any negatives about him.
Annie
2 people like this
@calcynic (433)
• United States
19 Aug 08
If McCain was not isolated ate time of Obama's questioning...he was gotten to before his turn. Even if he didn't listen directly, some staffer did and got to him. I believe He was handed a transcript and cribbed for the exam. It's like getting the other team's playbook...most coaches look at it before righteously returning it. If the situation were reversed, I believe some staffer would try to get a transcript to Obama, whether he would read it, I don't know. It's awfully tempting.
I was bored by the whole farce, anyway. I think it's a waste of time and jet fuel for Obama to be walking a verbal tightrope for the benefit of a voting bloc that is solid Anti Democrat, rather than pro-republican. He oughta be in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois...along the I80 rust corridor. He oughta be in Colorado, New Mexico, laying out a plan to deal with the immigration issue. In a race this close...go after the swing vote...the evangelicals don't swing to the left.
3 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I must say first, I have been waiting all day for good discussions, I fell yesterday and hurt my foot and have been on the couch all day trying to entertain myself with the computer, with little ease. lol
So now on to your discussion. I had to check this all out and ended up at the New York Times. Here is the quote and I will provide the link at the bottom," "Mr. Warren started by asking Mr. McCain, “Now, my first question: Was the cone of silence comfortable that you were in just now?” Mr. McCain deadpanned, “I was trying to hear through the wall.”" (double quotes because they were quoting the forum) Now after reading that my first question was, why didn't McCain tell Mr. Warren that he was late and was not in the "cone"? If he was not honest about being in a room or not, what on Earth would make people think that he is being honest to the American people? It was a simple question, it wasn't like the FBI were going to come out and get him for not being in the room. Serious question now, What kind of Christian man would not just tell the forum attendees that he wasn't there? He was in a church right? Or am I mistaken by that fact? I can't find the post now, but our rambling rose said in a post she made about the forum that it was if John was answering the questions before they were asked. I didn't get that part since I didn't watch the forum. (my husband and I had went out to dinner and weren't home at the time) Another question that I have is, If you can't be honest with the man of the cloth who can he be honest with? I don't know it is awfully funny that the name who is almost as bad as a public speaker as the current Bush did better than someone that is a very good public speaker and if you compared Obama to Bush or McCain, Obama appears very close to Abe Lincoln.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/us/politics/18mccain.html?ref=politics
3 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Thanks for adding that first question which I'd totally forgotten about until I heard it on TV AFTER I'd posted this discussion. I also recall our pal saying that about how it was as if McCain already knew the question before it was asked thinking it was the greatest form of praise...lol! I honestly didn't suspect that he'd had the chance to hear or see the questions in advance but I'm sorry, he was on his way to the church during most of Obama's segment, with all the technology available today does anyone REALLY believe he didn't hear it? Even if he has no clue of how to use a computer which may mean he doesn't know how to use other electronic gadgets he had others with him who, I'm just taking a REALLY wild guess here, do...lol.
You're so right, if he's so honorable and has such integrity and high morals, how could he lie to a minister in a church? It's not even that it would have been such a big deal if he'd have been honest!
Annie
2 people like this
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
19 Aug 08
That's an interesting point. It's just as easy to argue that McCain simply didn't want to raise suspicions by suddenly coming out and saying "actually, I wasn't in the 'cone of silence' until about half hour after you started talking to Senator Obama" as it is to argue that McCain wanted to hide that he had been 'eavesdropping' or something. As a result, I wouldn't give it too much weight--after all, if you want to talk about McCain lying to the American people, you can find examples far more substantiated and solid than this allegation. For example:
http://clarusvisum.blogspot.com/2008/07/mccain-blatantly-lies-about-offshore.html
3 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I don't know it is awfully funny that the name who is almost as bad as a public speaker as the current Bush did better than someone that is a very good public speaker and if you compared Obama to Bush or McCain, Obama appears very close to Abe Lincoln.
LOL
This should have said I don't know it is awfully funny that the man who is(...)
Guess I was to excited about the discussion lol.
2 people like this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I don't think that they should have used the phrase a former prisoner of war... what is that all about? Why did Nicole Wallace feel compelled to say that when up until this interview McCain had been trying not to talk too much about being a POW? If I was McCain I would not be very happy with that. Come on people! however I don't think there is any reason to believe that McCain could have had prior notice of the questions... the questions asked were ones I would have expected if I was to go in for that interview. You wouldn't need anyone to tell you in advance. These candidates have been asked these same questions over and over again. Obama has been slammed hard for his position on abortion. I would have thought he would have answered the questions asked on this issue better than he did. But hey I don't think he did all that bad, but his campaign really needs to let this one go, it's making them look bad.
2 people like this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
21 Aug 08
Gahd, I hate coming in to a discussion this late, too much reading to do. I'm not going to do a point by point response to every post in this thread, though I did go through it and read all the responses. I'm just going to add a few general thoughts on the matter.
Lets assume he did hear some for a moment. He was late, does anyone know how late? How many questions he heard?
Has anyone offered a single piece of solid proof that he did or is it just that he's republican and is therefor corrupt and dishonest? Seriously.
All of any of that aside, it only reiterated how Obama is a great orator and speech maker, but he displayed the same awkwardness in an impromptu question and answer session. The McCain I saw was the McCain I used to know and feared was gone, no different.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
21 Aug 08
You asked how late McCain was; from what I understand he was a half hour late or arrived as Obama had answered questions for approximately 30 minutes. You ask if there is "solid proof"; unless you consider the one question which had three parts for which McCain had an answer to part three before hearing the question, I guess it's completely circumstantial evidence. He was said to be in a "cone of silence" when the forum began. He hadn't yet even arrived. He answered Rick Warren's question about the "cone of silence" when he took to the stage as if he'd indeed been there and in some kind of soundproof booth all along and wasn't challenged. Add to that that some of McCain's staunchest supporters, including at least one of his biggest fans here on myLot, actually praised him for seeming to know the answers before the questions were asked. For me it isn't that "he's republican and is therefor corrupt and dishonest" but there is the fact that he HAS been known to be corrupt and dishonest! I know that really knows no party lines, it just sometimes seems that way, but remember the Keating Five? The dishonesty about when he separated from his first wife and started dating Cindy, the pandering in Pittsburgh by switching something he'd written in his own memoir to honor the Steelers instead, conveniently forgetting to acknowledge the Vietnamese peasant who saved his life? If it looks like a duck...
Annie
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
19 Aug 08
We only have McCain's word, and the word of all of his campaign people, and the Secret Service people (don't you think one of them might have told someone anonymousely?) that McCain was not listening or watching Obama. That's good enough for me.
McCain was in his comfort zone. He does well with interviews like this all the time. He was in a group of evangelicals. And his answers don't change just because he's in a different group of people.
Obama is an excellent orator. He does well with speechwriters and teleprompters. But any time he's in the situation where he has to think of his answers, he doesn't do as well. Add to that the fact that he had to think of answers that would please the evangelicals in front of him and not anger the rest of America watching, and it's no wonder he stuttered, "uh, uh, uh" and "I, I, I."
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
21 Aug 08
"We only have McCain's word, and the word of all of his campaign people, and the Secret Service people (don't you think one of them might have told someone anonymousely?) that McCain was not listening or watching Obama. That's good enough for me."
Let's just say, McCain's word and that of his campaign people is NOT good enough for me, not even close! Would Obama's word and that of HIS campaign people have been good enough for you? I rest my case. The Secret Service people from what I know about them pretty much do their job and concentrate on that alone. Is there a possibility that had one seen or heard something suspicious he'd have told "someone"? Sure, maybe, maybe not but I think it's more likely they were minding their own business and didn't know what McCain and his staff were doing or talking about.
"If you look at the tapes - at the body language - you'll also notice that McCain sat up tall and proud and Obama was slouching and tilting his head. I think Obama was quite uncomfortable."
I don't fall for all this O'Reilly body language "expert" silliness. Possibly Obama WAS uncomfortable, I know I would be if I were in a room full of people I knew were all pretty much already against me. I think it's a simple idea of posture; some people are slouchers, some sit up straight. I've been told my posture could use some work and I try to improve it because of my back problems but basically, when you get in the habit of slouching a bit it's hard to break the habit. Some could see this as one person putting up a front and the other making himself comfortable.
Considering the dunce we've been listening to for nearly 8 years who says "uh...um...I-I-I...um" constantly and rarely finishes a coherent sentence, this criticism of Obama's occasional speaking like most of us do all the time is getting old.
Annie
1 person likes this
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
19 Aug 08
If you look at the tapes - at the body language - you'll also notice that McCain sat up tall and proud and Obama was slouching and tilting his head. I think Obama was quite uncomfortable.
1 person likes this
@calcynic (433)
• United States
21 Aug 08
Back in the early 70's, trying to save my first marriage, we went to a therapist. I sat forward in the chair, listening, with my hands loosely resting on my thighs. After about 10 minutes of spewing cliches and drivel, the therapist looked at me and said, "I can tell by your body language that you are receptive to what I'm saying; tell me, what's on your mind." I leaned back and replied, "I'd like to take you out into the parking lot and beat the snot out of you!" That was our last session with him. So much for body language.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I have observed in the past that Obama was not good at answering questions on the spot. He has great rhetoric and charisma in pre-prepared speeches, but greatly lacks that when it comes down to answering simple questions posed to him without advance knowledge. In the latter case he often tends to spin in circles a bit, and then he not even answers the question but tries to get back to a topic he is prepared for and/or ends up posing a question back.
McCain may have gotten the heads up, but he also has much more experience with this kind of questioning. It's a been there done that kind of deal. Experience and greater knowledge of what people want to hear and how to put a positive spin on things may have been of great advantage to him here.
If they want to avoid any call of prejudice they should have interviewed both at the same time in separate rooms, lol. Now all they can do is to put up a similar kind of forum but let McCain go first and Obama go second.
Personally, my guess is McCain was better prepared to begin with. Questions are a bit foreseeable and the Obama campaign should have trained him on possible questions and appropriate answers. The Obama campaign has throughout the campaign season shown a lag of response to every hurdle/accusation/problem thrown into their way. It's like a deer in headlight with them. Sometimes I had wondered if they are all newbies at this. Dirt will be thrown in the campaign, and somebody should be in charge of figuring out ahead of time in terms of what could come up and how to react. Same for this forum. Here is the message you want to get out, here are problem areas for the US, here are critique points of your politics/persona/etc, ... now here is a list of a fivehundred possible questions in that area, read them, be prepared to answer them, some will allow for similar answers, oh, and here are some tricks to put a positive spin on things. My guess is that's what the McCain campaign did for McCain. What was done on the Obama side? Apparently not much.
1 person likes this
@lctigerz (1)
•
19 Aug 08
No he didnt know the questions. He just knows more about christianity because Obama is a muslim. It is kind of unfair to play the religion card but whatever people will do is pretty shameful. If he knew the questions that would be cheating and he wouldn't have gotten any support. That coul of lost his predisenticy so he wouldn't have risked it.
