John McCain: No Hillary as his VP either

Before we get to the predictable jokes about Sen. John McCain's age (his Social Security number is 8) from tonight's chat with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show," there were a couple of political points raised.

Jay asked the presumptive Republican nominee about the nastiness that suddenly emerged when Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate.

"My, how he's changed," said McCain to audience laughter. "I guess it's part of politics. I've always been good friends with Joe. He has a lovely wife, Jill. And Cindy and I and Joe and Jill have been friends.  And I guess we'll -- it's only 72 days, I think. Who's counting?"

LENO:  "Wasn't he the one that suggested you run as vice president with John Kerry?"

McCAIN:  "Yes. And said that I could run on either party and be great for America. I will keep reminding him of that."

McCain said Biden's choice would not affect his choice and suggested one problem for ...

... the Republican VP candidate during any debate might be getting a word in edgewise. He praised Biden as "a fine man, a "good friend" and a "good running mate." McCain said the campaign should not be about personalities.

"We just have differences on political philosophy. Sen. Obama was the most liberal and Joe Biden was the third-most liberal of senators in the Senate, according to their voting records."

Leno had to ask McCain about the running jokes over how many houses the McCains own. "In a moment of seriousness," replied McCain, "I spent 5 1/2 years in a prison cell without -- I didn't have a house.  I didn't have a kitchen table. I didn't have a table. I didn't have a chair.  And I spent those 5 1/2 years  because -- not because I wanted to get a house when I got out.

"And, you know, I'm very proud of Cindy's father, who is a guy that barely got out of high school, fought in World War II in the Army Air Corps, came home and made a business and made the American dream."

Then, Jay had a surprise question. You seem to like Hillary Clinton a lot, he said. Why not pick her as your VP? McCain didn't bite. He commented at length on his respect for the New York senator and their ability to work together and Clinton's inspiration to millions of American women.

Then, McCain added, " it has nothing to do with likes and dislikes, although I happen to respect her enormously. It has to do with what you think government should be doing and how we've got to stop the pork-barrel spending and the earmarking and the corruption that's in Washington. The approval rating in Congress is now down to 9%. That's blood relatives and paid staffers."

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit for Sens. John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton: Associated Press

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Comments

[VJ Machiavelli]

More people will be watching Jay Leno then watched the "APPEASEMENT CONVENTION" It seems even CNN best political team in TV was BOREDDDDDDDDDDD

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[Mary Porter]

People say nice things about each other when they're trying to build bridges and make nice, and they say mean things when they're running against each other. So what?

McCain's strategy is to make a lot of noise about nothing. He is crying crocodile tears for Hillary Clinton, and picked up her failed campaign campaign slogans against Obama. He'll say anything.

But Leno's question was funny. If he thinks she would be such a great vice president, he should choose her. Or shut up about it.

[IndependentForObama]

I just saw John McCain attempt to articulate the same concepts of tonights great Ted Kennedy speech on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. .."Yes we can"....."Yes American can"... "We can change". Obviously, he was inspired by Ted Kennedy's speech. He steals everybody's stuff Reagan's, George Bush's etc... I respect John McCain but he does not inspire me and his confidence seemed shaken tonight by the opening of the democratic convention. His campaign is "I am not one of THOSE Republicans", yes you are... yes you are... This independent just sees the same old tired politics of the Republican Party. John McCain has had 40 years to champion these new goals of America and has failed, end of story. His commentary on the dollar and his energy policy on the Tonight show were incoherent. We need to clear the decks with new leadership and new people.

[Clark in Michigan]

Romney is McCain's strongest choice for VP. Romney had more delegates than Huckabee even though he dropped out of the race much earlier! A hefty bank account didn't stop Dems from embracing Kerry, Edwards, and the Kennedy's - among others. Voters care about a candidates capability and concern for them more than about the size of their wallet. Romney, though not perfect, will match up against Biden best in the debates, and when comparing leadership experience. Also attractive is the fact that Romney is not a Washington insider. His comments about McCain aren't nearly as damaging as the comments Hillary and Biden made about Obama. Perhaps of most importance, no one on either ticket has the much needed economic expertise that Romney has. I hope McCain will rally the conservative base and choose Romney. Romney can deliver Nevada and Colorado, and perhaps even Michigan. If McCain chooses Lieberman, I'll vote for the most conservative candidate on the ballot (won't be McCain) and wait until 2012 when the country will be crying out for a true economic and social conservative.

[Fabio]

The conservatives would abandon him, but I think he could be the person of REAL change by putting Lieberman ont the ticket. Now, that would be working across party lines and working to get things done. That would really appeal to the middle. Alternatively, Hutchinson might be a good choice.

[Elroy Jetson]

I pray every night that McCain can convince Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma to join him on the ticket.

[Diana]

I can understand that anybody who thinks the world of the Kennedys will vote for Barack Obama. The Kennedy's along with other liberal politicians who claim that Catholicism is their religious faith yet support abortion and same sex marriage are hypocrites. A practicing Christian of any religious faith does not support abortion and same sex marriage.

[GeraldD]

http://wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm

There is much more to the undercurrent of Hillary supporters' unrest than meets the eye. Many Hillary supporters feel that Obama strong men and strong arm tactics were used illegally during many of the Democratic caucuses.

See their compelling list of video evidence at: http://wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm

[JAB]

I would remind Mr. McCain that there are tens of thousands of veterans and POWs who are homeless, destitute or struggling with PTSD. The issue is not that McCain was a POW. The issue is: Are the Republican policies, which are obviously good for the rich like the McCains, also fair to others?

[Marco]

A practicing Christian does not have to cast his/her religious beliefs on the people of a secular nation. This is no longer a solely Christian nation. I PERSONALLY disagree with abortion. However I support it as a freedom that women can chose (with restrictions on fetal age). Children born to 16 year olds who were impregnated by their uncle are not good for this country. There are far worse things in this country to worry about than abortion.

The same thing goes for same-sex marriage. The only groups strongly opposed are religious. This is a country of many religions/beliefs. It is up to the individual, their family, and God to decided on these issues, not the President's.

Posted by Diana: "I can understand that anybody who thinks the world of the Kennedys will vote for Barack Obama. The Kennedy's along with other liberal politicians who claim that Catholicism is their religious faith yet support abortion and same sex marriage are hypocrites. A practicing Christian of any religious faith does not support abortion and same sex marriage."

[scootmandubious]

Fabio wrote:
The conservatives would abandon him, but I think he could be the person of REAL change by putting Lieberman ont the ticket. Now, that would be working across party lines and working to get things done. That would really appeal to the middle. Alternatively, Hutchinson might be a good choice.
----------------------------------------------
Choosing Lieberman would be working across party lines??? LOL!

Which party would he be reaching across? The Likud party?

Everybody knows that Joe Lieberman is no Democrat. Worse, he is a McCain sycophant.

[scootmandubious]

Diana wrote:
A practicing Christian of any religious faith does not support abortion and same sex marriage.
---------------------------------------------
So glad to see that you picked the 2 issues that Jesus would have had the most trouble with.

Out of curiosity, what would a 'true' Christian have to say about unilaterally invading another country, resulting in so many deaths and injuries? What would Jesus say about the death penalty and torture?

What would Jesus say about letting the poor fend for themselves and, essentially, not caring too much about the fetus, after it is born?

What would 'true' Christians have to say about denying health car to anyone? Or to trying to make our world less polluted?

And what, pray tell, is "a ...Christian of any religious faith?" Are we talking Christian Muslims and Christian Jews?

Oh, I'm sorry, I missed it. I see you are a 'practicing' Christian.

Keep practicing.