McCain, the jokester, is no laughing matter to the Obama camp

John McCain has a reputation that would make a Borscht Belt comedian proud. Of course, humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

He reeled off some of his familiar jokes last night at an Aspen, Colo., fundraiser. (Among the, um, highlights, was calling ”Silent Cal" Coolidge "a hell of a campaigner.”)

At a meeting this morning at the Aspen Institute, McCain was jovial after sharing breakfast with T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire oil man, who has launched a campaign to boost domestic natural gas and wind power as cheaper alternatives to imported oil. Pickens has invested in both alternatives.

“How are you Boone?” McCain greeted Pickens, according to a pool reporter. Also there was a McCain confidante, South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham.

McCain told Pickens that Graham, a fellow Southerner, “speaks your language.”

Now, mentioning the accents of people you will need in November may not sound like a great strategy, but McCain has a history of telling people things they don’t like. He campaigns in the industrial areas and praises international trade agreements. He comes to California and praises offshore oil drilling. He went to the Iowa State Fair and said he didn't believe in federal subsidies for ethanol.

Having found a common language, McCain and Pickens made small talk before the cameras. Pickens mentioned that he had recently been in Iowa, and McCain replied that industry  there had attracted a large Hispanic population. Pickens noted the recent Census Bureau report that Caucasians will no longer be the majority in the United States by 2042. “We’ll go in the minority by 2042. You and I won’t have to worry about that,” Pickens said, according to the pool report.

As aides began ushering the pool reporters from the Pickens breakfast, one called out: "Senator McCain, can you say anything about the Jerome Corsi book, 'Obama Nation'?" McCain stepped toward the reporter, possibly to hear better, and the reporter repeated "The Jerome Corsi book? That book, 'Obama Nation,' Jerome Corsi, that some people are asking...."

McCain replied "Gotta keep your sense of humor," and the pool was escorted from the room. The McCain camp later said that the candidate had not heard the question and thought the reporter was asking about the campaign's recent television ads. 

For its part, the Obama campaign didn't take the reference to Corsi's book, “The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality,” as a laughing matter. Corsi achieved fame -- or depending on your viewpoint, infamy –- as the co-author of “Unfit for Command,” the attack on the Vietnam War record of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

In his current book, Corsi argues that Barack Obama is a dangerous radical. According to the Associated Press, the book is a compilation of all the innuendo and false rumors, easily available on the Internet, against Obama — that he was raised a Muslim, attended a radical, black church and secretly has a "black rage" hidden beneath the surface.

The Obama campaign -- eager to discredit the book and slam the Republican candidate in the process -- immediately shot back, issuing a statement before McCain aides put out their clarification.

“The old John McCain used to boast about honorable politics, while the new John McCain finds Rovian smears funny,” Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a prepared statement today. McCain’s presidential hopes were dashed by nasty rumors --- allegedly spread by Karl Rove -- in 2000.

“Honor is not a laughing matter. What does John McCain think is funny about an intolerant smear artist who called Pope John Paul II senile and claims the government lied about 9/11?,” Vietor said of Corsi.
“McCain has said he wants to run an honorable campaign, but his belief that these smears are funny makes people question whether he now approves of the same reprehensible politics used to smear his own character eight years ago.”

--Michael Muskal

Comments

[Barbara]

Might I remind all of those good people who believe that a sense of humor is a critical component of a strong leader that in 2000 the majority of voters indicated that they would rather have a party with George Bush than with Al Gore. George had such a great sense of humor that he subcontracted the search for Bin Laden to the War Lords of northern Afganistan while he sent our troops into Iraq. He ahd such a great sense of humor that he thought that it would be really cool to decieve the American public into believing that Iraq was somehow responsible for 9/11, only later admiting that there was never any evidence that there was ever a link between Iraq and 9/11. He aslo thought it would be great fun to convince the American public that Iraq had WMD while reports from 16 Intelligence Agencies AND the UN Weapons Inspectors on the ground in Iraq argued that there were none. He didn't let the evidence get in the way of a little light learted humor, why should we? John McCain supported those little jokes so hey, since a sense of humor is a key factor, let's elect another Bush.

[Larry]

I agree that Obama is not funny. The thought of this racist socialist and his bigoted twisted race-baiting friends and his mentor taking over this country should cause many to think carefully if they plan to vote for him.
Find out more about him. If "tall, dark and hansome" is all that you require in a president, this note is not for you because nothing will change your mind. However, if you a serious person, go back to reverend Wright's views on America and white people. Remember, he is Obama's mentor and pastor for twenty years. That's a very long time. Then, look at other Obama associates, like the terrorist friend and his anti-American views
. Barack Hussein Obama. What do you really know about him? Do you really believe that after 20 years of being mentored, he didn't know Wright, and that Wright is a hate-mongering racist and bigot?

[Mitchell]

McCain only thinks he is funny. He is really just OLD.

[Hanzjager]

Marv Humphreys I believe George Carlin said it best...

"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it"

RIP George... hope you are enjoying the beer volcanoes and stripper factory!

[Joe Banna]

Mccain has a sense of humor? Now that is funny. The guys jokes are as funny as a relative dying. He is a sad excuse for a candidate. Electing someone who has no grasp of geography, foreign policy, economics, health care issues, or and domestic politics is dangerous.

[Mitchell]

John McCain won't be laughing when his son is implicated like his daddy in a bank or S&L scam See WSJ today page 3.
Also, what is so funny about him leaving his wife after an adulterous relation with his Barbie trophy wife Cindy?

[jason]

A Harvard univ, study covering over the last 80 yrs of our economic history has an interesting fact , that economy did did a lot well during democratic presidential years than during republican yrs. well :)

[John McCain Shirts]

Its easy to laugh at everything when you havent worked a day in your life after service while other vets suffer on the streets in washington. Not to mention hes probably taking Cindy's prozak and xanex (maybe thats why he forgets everything?)

[Thomas Jackson]

The only reason Corsi's book is #1 is because all the right-wing nut bag organizations bought "bulk orders" of the book to give away to all their nut bag cronies. The NYT Bestseller List even makes a notation of this.

I heard that when all these books arrived at their destinations, they had to be cleaned thoroughly with disinfectant to remove all the "slime". This was a time consuming process, as every page had to be cleaned one at a time. And most of the books had to be cleaned more than once as the slime kept mysteriously re-appearing on the pages.

(Yeah, that last part is just a rumor, which is OK, since Corsi's entire book is based on rumors and lies. But rumors can be really funny, right John?)

[Amado Castaneda]

John McCain reminds I of my father who was in the Mexican military. Those guys are tough men and think the wisest for everyone. Imagine the puny Barrack Hussein trying to punch McCain with 50 wasted punches... when McCain only punches once, doesn't even hit the guy... and still knocks him down from his own stumbling.

[Fred Jones]

Obama is getting desperate in his attempts to keep the American people from finding out more about him. He goes back on his promise to engage in Town Hall meetings with McCain; he rarely does press conferences where uncomfortable questions can be asked; and he immediately attacks anyone who dares discuss him in unflattering terms. Obama's dream campaign would be to utilize his vast monetary superiority to pepper the sound waves with his propaganda. The mainstream media, of course, is only too happy to assist him. Thank God for the Internet and other independent sources who have taken over the gauntlet of educating the American public about Obama.

[Yada Yada]

McCain - just what we need. Russian/Georgian policy advice from his campaign manager, Georgia government lobbyist. Get a clue America. McCain probaby really does think the USA was being attacked.

[Josh Geller]

It will be a tight one, but McCain should win.

.

[Damon]

MKochinski, I admit it does imply that he is Muslim and radical but it doesn't state that he is. The book doesn't claim he was Muslim, it carefully details his associations with Muslims but more importantly, the book go into great detail about all of the red flags. Not just his bizarre radical black church that he attended who's racist America hating pastor was Obama's mentor, how Obama got such a sweet deal on his mansion from a guy who is going to jail for giviing sweet deals to sleazy politicians. Obama's ties to the domestic terrorist Bill Ayers. The list goes on and on. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

[Kim]

Why should anyone denounce a book that's true?

Obama's camp hasn't discussed the issues in the book to prove otherwise... so they attack the author.

Now, if anyone can think... they'll ask "yeah, why don't they prove the "main" topics of the books wrong"... instead of mentioning wrong date of occurence or attack Obama.

One day, you as the citizen won't get to say negative things about OBAMA (shoud be become president) b/c everything has to be censored for the pretentious king's image.

Good gracious....

[The Last Word]

What is the matter with you people. Why would we let Grandpa leat our country during the technical age when Grandpa John doesn't even know what a pass word is and acknowledges he really doesn't have any computer skills what so ever. When someone said Blackberry, Grandpa was ready to eat.
"Ya" Lets make him the leader.
After he and his family were swift boated by the bush folks he's back to hugging and kissing them to save his career, this is a man with no integrity.

[my2cents]

Ah, these blogs can be so entertaining. I can't stop laughing when you support McCain because of Obama's "hidden rage". Didn't you know McCain is a hot head from the word go. Or, you need a president with a sense of humor. Oh yeah, now that's a priority. Bush is a really funny guy. You know, really funny to laugh at when he tries to connect some words at an attempt to form a sentence. Funny guy, horrible President. McCain's not so funny anyways, more like condescending and insulting.

[tdub]

Great. Folks think that McCain is now the better candidtate because "he has a sense of humor" Well, that is if you arel, like, 70 years old and think that the Carl Rove style "humor" attacks on Obama are witty and funny.

What in heaven's name are we electing, a comedian or a LEADER? This is the same lame brained logic that had people voting for Bush because "he's more of a regular guy." Nice choice, people.

My gawd, what is wrong with this country?

[Big Denali]

McSame? This is one of my favorite parts of Obama campaign. He would like to paint McCain as the same as Bush because he's a republican. McCain has been a thorn in the side of Bush for many of the last 8 years. At the same time he cries foul about the guilt by association between Barack and his spiritual mentor and wife. Is that not the same thing as his main campaign philosophy?

The anger from the people on the left is very detrimental to all of us and I actually fear what they will do during the next four years when their way too far left candidate doesn't get elected.

I will vote for and expect McCain to win, but if Obama should win I will not spend my next four years whining and attacking like the left has done during the Bush years. Their behavior has been despicable during the Bush years. Is it not obvious that they want a bad economy and failed war so they can get power? What kind of American would root for our failure just so they can get their political power. The should be ashamed.

[Debra]

It seems like that it is McCain that is open to Swiftboating. There is so much material.

As a legacy admission (admitted because of his father), Senator McCain finished number 894 out of 899 in his graduating class from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. 5th from the bottom of his class, and he admittedly didn't care! He was a rebellious hard-drinking hell raiser. This should remind you of Bush, except that Bush doesn't have a volatile temper like McCain does. Bush, as a pilot, never crashed three different military jets like McCain did, two of which were stateside, including one in Corpus Christi bay! He comes back and abandons his invalid wife (who to this day refuses to support his presidential aspirations). He cheats on his wife, marries an incredibly rich woman, with a drug problem, successfully gets elected as Senator as a POW/war hero, supports Keating, reforms by then repeatedly alienating and distancing himself from his republican senate colleagues, ingratiates himself with the liberal press because of the latter, abandons his maverick positions, actively solicits support from the religious right.

It is an interesting history.

[tdub]

Kim, you are SO wrong. The Obama camp (and many others) have SPECIFICALLY rebutted the numerous lies and slanderous statements in the book. Now, go over and turn off FOX and get some real news.

[Col Joe Bento US Army Ret]

bama has a ten times better sense of humor than Mc Cain and it is no laughing matter that Mc Cain has a bucket list already and cant tell a Shia from a Sunni wihthout Leiberman or Graham nearby to clarify for him at will. It is also not funny that Mc Cain did not support the GI BIll and therefore dishonored our nations troops. He has lined up with George W. on damn near everything and if you want four more years of this nonsense and want to see our constitution burned forever then vote for the old gray wrinkly fellow some of you find hilarious. I believe it will be hilarious to watch the Obama landslide this November.

YES WE CAN be funny and YES WE WILL WIN IN NOVEMBER! SI SE PUEDE!

[Nathan]

Pick Obama and you might start to get respect again from the rest of the world. Pick McCain and you will probably go to war with the world (with England sitting out) and lose in dramatic fashion. I know, I know ... the ultra-nationalists will claim America can take on the whole world with one arm tied behind it's back, but take a look at Iraq ... now imagine China and Russia seeing an opportunity to take out the school's biggest bully so they can assume that role. But what do I know, I'm only a Canadian and we never have been in a war.

[Fred Jones]

Barack Obama's Resume:
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[LARRYTHE CABLEGUY]

OBAMA IN A LANDSLIDE IS MY PREDICTION! YES WE WILL TOO BAD FOR ALL YOU LAUGHING AT MCCAINS LAME ATTEMPTS AT HUMOR. WHY VOTE FOR SOEMONE WITH A BUCKET LIST? MC CAIN IS SO OLD HE USED TO WON SIDNEY POITIER. NOW THAT IS FUNNY I DONT CARE WHO YOU ARE..

YES WE CAN!