David Letterman doesn't trust 'squirrely' John McCain

David Letterman is not at all happy about John McCain's bailing on doing his late night talk show in order to rush back to Washington and save the economy.

At first, it didn't bother him. But after he found out that McCain did not rush back to D.C. but stayed in New York and did a few other TV talk shows, like Regis Philbin, Katie Couric, Conan O'Brian, well, that did it.

Her's what he said on last night about McCain.

To put it mildly, he doesn't trust "that big-headed kid."

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.”

...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."

The full transcript is below the jump.

What do you think? Is David Letterman right? Or just a tad touchy? And did John McCain really "save the economy?"

Letterman's full remarks:

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.

Photo: David Letterman waves to fans.
WireImage

Comments

[grace ewing]

mr. letterman you are a big jerk . i like regis, conasn,and katie. i wouldnt go on your show eirh.er

[Arye Michael Bender]

Mr. Letterman is both right and a tab touchy. He is right to address the Senator's downright falsehood, but too much ego is showing.

The beef should about the grandstanding stuff on 'rushing to D.C. to save the economy', but not that McCain appeared on the competition's softer shows.

Nail McCain for the outright lies. The rest doesn't much matter.

[laylafoomt]

David Letterman is so right on-keep it up Dave! Anything anyone can do to keep McCain out of the White House is fantastic. Thanks David Letterman!!!

[SomeGuyInNC]

David Letterman you are right. John McCain should be ashamed of himself trying to use the most dangerous problem the US is facing and use it to grandstand and pander to voters.Shameful!

[slag]

"Squirrely".

Hehehe.

[darren wells]

use to love letterman, just a full of himself lib ass now.

[JackBrown]

Attention Dear Mr. Letterman,
How well do you know and understand 2008 GOP Candidate Dr. Ron Paul's beliefs (ie: Austrian free-market economics & non-interventionist foreign policy)? There is a strong movement of grassroots support in his favor, yet the media has shut him out of coverage despite strong results in polls. Will you, if you agree with his policies, invite him on your show indefinitely until the election to give him exposure, and (I would hope) serve as Vice President?

Please consider my request in consideration of the welfare of the United States of America,

Jackson Brown

[bigjohn]

give it a break dave we all know your pissed the senator did not come on your show but i think you did respect one of americas true heros when he did get there grow up dave show harry what a real man is !

[No longer a fan]

How on earth did they fit Letterman and Olbermann's egos on the same stage. How pathetic Dave sounds and how disrespectful to show footage of McCain having stage make up applied as if he and Olberman aren't sitting there in matching shades of eyeshadow. That man who you tried to belittle and emasculate is twice the man you will ever be Letterman. He is a freaking war hero and you are a "late night host" so get the heck over yourself. Oh yeah and not to leave Keith out, Palin is twice the man that Olbermann is.