Letterman calls McCain's attempts to return 'squirrely'

As anyone within shouting distance of David Letterman knows, two weeks ago Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain ditched the "Late Show" host in order, the senator said, to help fix the financial crisis.

To the delight of many viewers, and Democrats, Letterman did not take this slight well.

This week, the New York Post reported that the two former friends could have an on-air make-up session next week, when McCain is in New York to debate Barack Obama for the last time.

But in tonight's "Late Show," Letterman once again spouted off about the feud. And in the process of scornfully recounting it -- "war hero," "economy," "rush back to Washington," "spent the night in New York," "Katie Couric," yadda, yadda -- he revealed details about the negotiations to bring McCain back that ... well, it's hard to imagine that the McCain campaign will like this.

Here are excerpts of Letterman's remarks that we bring to you exclusively. And, FYI, when he mentions "that big-headed kid," he means MSNBC's Keith Olbermann:

"So now, in an attempt to save his campaign, they’re talking about coming back. You see what I’m saying? So we said, 'Sure, we would love you to come back.' And even on the phone, he said, 'I’ll bring…Sarah.'  But they’re being squirrely.  Politicians can be squirrely.  Because we have a date picked.  We do this show every afternoon at 5:30.  He wants to do the show at 5.  So one –- we have no guarantee he’s going to show up, period. And we’ve kind of already rearranged our schedule on his behalf to save the economy, right?  By getting that big-headed kid in here to talk about the politics. You know what I’m driving at? I just don’t know if we can trust him. And by the way, I don’t need to remind you that the road to the White House runs right through here."

The full transcript of Letterman's rant is after the jump.

Now here’s this thing with John McCain…you know a couple of weeks ago, John McCain was supposed to be on the show. And at the last minute he calls me up –- and I’ve got a lot of respect…you get a call from a senator –- you get a call from a guy who is a bona fide war hero –- all of a sudden, you know, your lips start to vibrate.  So I said “Sure, whatever you want.”  And he says, “Look, Dave, the economy is about to crater.”  It’s about to “crater,” his word.  “And I have to rush back to Washington to save the economy.”  And so it made me feel puny.  So I said, “OK, Senator, do what you have to do.  Rush right back to Washington.” And then I hung up and I felt like a patriot. I felt like I had done my part. And he was supposed to be on the show like an hour later. So now, we’re in a hole but everybody has to pull together in economic hardship times. So we all pull together and we get that guy with the big head from MSNBC. What’s his name? Keith Olbermann, yeah.  Giant head. So he comes over. He’s good. He’s very good. So now it turns out, not only did he not rush back to Washington, he spent the night here in New York City. He went on Katie Couric…he was on Conan…he was on Regis…he was everywhere. So now, in an attempt to save his campaign, they’re talking about coming back. You see what I’m saying? So we said, “Sure, we would love you to come back.” And even on the phone, he said, “I’ll bring….Sarah.” But they’re being squirrely. Politicians can be squirrely.  Because we have a date picked. We do this show every afternoon at 5:30. He wants to do the show at 5.  So one –- we have no guarantee he’s going to show up, period. And we’ve kind of already rearranged our schedule on his behalf to save the economy, right? By getting that big-headed kid in here to talk about the politics. You know what I’m driving at?  I just don’t know if we can trust him. And by the way, I don’t need to remind you that the road to the White House runs right through here."

-- Kate Aurthur 

Comments

[PLT08 in MPLS]

Keep on it Dave! McCain is a coward who is afraid to take on any issues face to face - even artificial ones - and instead has his wimmins do it for him.

[Blane]

Funny stuff Dave, you have hit the nail on the head.

[LovingIt]

Based on the comments above, there seem to be a lot of whiny McCain supporters here. I thought it was great to see Letterman call out McCain for his lies. Although I supported McCain for President in 2000, and would have supported him in 2004 if he had run for President as either a Republican or a Democrat, I've had enough of his sleazy and reckless conduct in recent months. Too many people have let him get away with too much for too long, largely because people have bought the myth that, after violating aerial protocol and being shot down over North Vietnam, this substandard military officer and pilot was transformed into a "war hero" whose integrity was beyond reproach.

[Cori Briggs]

The incident on the Letterman show just showed McCain to be a complete liar. First, lies about having to RUSH back to Washington to save the country, but instead does multiple interviews in NY with news outlets that he thought would benefit his campaign more. Then he finally makes it to Washington, well after the talks have begun, never makes it to the floor for the talks and does exactly what he accused Obama of being a lacky for doing...McCain PHONED IT IN from an office in Washington. Like we weren't gonna find out?? Th man thinks Americans are stupid. No one would have known about his PHONING IT IN if he hadn't A) Skipped Letterman with a lie B) Accused Obama of being out of touch for PHONING IT IN C)Pretended to suspend his campaign yet he ran 1,300 TV ads during the time of the 'suspension'.....These things made people look harder at what McCain was up to at the time. The man is a has been. Crusty, old, mean, tired, shabby and needs a nap. He lies to cover lies. I gave both candidates a fair shake for a long time but McCain is a shmuck and he's the only one that made me feel that way. His own actons.

[Canadian Who Doesn't Care Who Wins]

So the 90%+ hate (and very similar sounding hate to boot) for Letterman -- is that a NY/LA thing, or is it just that Instapundit linked this and the comments are overrun by Republicans?

[cmrosko]

Bravo Dave...

McCain has evolved into a coward. He uses a front woman to toss insults and smears at his rival Obama while he's afraid to make the same accusations to Obama's face.

McCain paced around like a worried dog behind Obama's back on the stage during the last debate. We ALL SAW it but apparently not everyone was willing to PERCEIVE it.

Do America republicans, take your blinders off....

*

[Lee]

Don't waste your time Dave, McCain is a waste of time.

[mcavity]

remember Dave is not mad becouse McCain canceled.
hes pissed because McCain called him up to LIE to him.
If McCain said "sorry Dave there a crisis so i don't think going on a comedy show is a good idea right now" Letterman would have been fine with it.
If McCain had ACUTELY gotten on a plane to DC that day, Dave would have been OK..
But McCain LIES and goes on other shows.
Thats a reason to get annoyed.

[Marcos El Malo]

I don't watch Letterman anymore, but I've seen the clips in question, and they're funny. Please note, I'm a registered Republican and I was an ardent supporter of McCain in 2000. Didn't vote for Bush in either elections (but voted for his father twice).

John McCain personally lied to David Letterman to get out of doing his show. Is this squirrely behavior? I'd liken it more to the weasel. All McCain had to do was be honest about his reasons for not doing the show in his telephone call to Dave. That's it. Be honest.

Anyway, it's McCain's loss. If he went on Letterman, he'd have a perfect opportunity to talk about Obama's connection to Ayers, something he really needs to do more. Americans are tired of the economic crisis and need to be distracted by dubious claims about the Democratic candidate's character and judgement.

Seriously, John. Is that all you got? Is that really all you got? Our nation is confronted by our greatest challenges and obstacles (created or exacerbated by a Republican administration), and you're hammering us with trivialities that have already been discussed and discarded? As a Republican and as an American I am ashamed of what has become of John McCain and the GOP.

[EdC]

McCain has indeed acted squirrelly -- and not just to Letterman.

The man is wildly erratic and should not be placed in charge of a shoestore, much less a superpower.

[Sc]

I didn't know Letterman is still on.

[Ed]

Isn't it ironic that "Dave | October 09, 2008 at 06:37 PM" finds Letterman's "nastiness veiled by "humor" is not funny to me" yet that is exactly what McCain has become. McCain is nothing but a mud slinging, fear mongering, politician reading out of the Republican playbook. I hope nobody in American wants to hear that garbage he and his partner(s) have been spouting as of late.

Checking out Letterman and all the other late night hosts I can't help but notice that the majority of jokes are on the Republican candidates. Everybody knows, or should know, that these comics have no influence on votes. Yet it would be nice to find a comedy show, except for FOX News, that spends a bit more time lampooning the Democrats.

[Mike]

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about McCain....I used to respect him and revere him and hold him up as an example, but now he's changed, gotten meanspirited, and is a has-been who is hardly recognizable from his prime. Funny how that works both ways.

[Johnnybegood]

McCain didn't appear on Letterman because he was afraid. Letterman has taken a decidedly left turn in the last couple years, mostly because of the war, and his questions to right wing nuts don't even pretend to be funny. The McCain camp knows this and it's why they canceled. Why they lied about it is another thing. At the very least, they are erratic, depicting their leadership style should McCain win the White House.

[js]

hurray Dave!
Give him hell. McCain was a weasel. This is not about canceling the show, It is about lying about the reason and then doing Katie Curic instead. To think he hid behind a national emergency.

That is not straight talk Mr. Senator.

[Alex in Toronto]

I think Dave is right to ridicule THAT politician. He lied and HE didn't care.

[Original Pechangas Blog]

McCain SHOULD work harder to get on one of the lowest rated programs on Television.

It's good practice to work with a small audience before you go before those BIGGER, more HIGHLY rated shows

[Scott]

Letterman talking about what happens on his show ON his show? That really is some crazy television. I can see why you folks hate him so much. I'm a bit curious as to whether you would feel the same if it was Obama who had canceled an appearance for no real reason, but nah, you dislike Letterman so the fact it was McCain doesn't make a difference.

[Dianna]

I've noticed that most of the people I know that watch Letterman are more intelligent than average. You have to be smarter to 'get it'. I see most of you don't. Too bad. He really is hilarious....and so on the money!

[Dean]

I've watched Dave from the very beginning (and even before when he had that morning show), through the network switch and all that. Yeah, he'd rant and rave about this or that, but I have to say that his whining about McCain is just bizarre. I think he's starting to believe his own BS. For someone to go to making fun of people that throw temper tantrums like this (long time viewers will know what I mean), to HIM become the one throwing tantrums, is just weird.