John McCain bails on David Letterman, and the host is not happy

Hours after John McCain announced he was suspending his campaign to focus on fixing the nation's ailing economy, he pulled out of his scheduled appearance on the "The Late Show with David Letterman."

As our colleague Matea Gold reports on the Show Tracker blog, Letterman told the audience during the taping of Wednesday's show that McCain had called him personally to apologize for bailing. According to Letterman, McCain said he couldn't appear because he was rushing to the airport to get back to Washington.

But midway through the broadcast, Letterman appeared to learn that the Arizona senator was actually still in New York. In fact, McCain was just a few blocks away, at the CBS News headquarters. He was preparing for a last-minute exclusive interview with Katie Couric.

Incredulous, Letterman interrupted his interview with Keith Olbermann (who had filled in as a substitute guest for McCain) to show the audience a live shot on the internal CBS News feed of a makeup artist putting the finishing touches on McCain while he waited to talk to Couric.

“He doesn’t seem to be racing to the airport, does he?” Letterman said, shouting at the television monitor: “Hey, John, I got a question! You need a ride to the airport?”

The senator and the comedian have always had a friendly rapport. If McCain had appeared as planned on Wednesday, it would have been his 13th appearance on Letterman’s show. It was the venue where he announced his White House bid in 2007.

Letterman began his broadcast praising McCain, calling him “an honest-to-God hero." But then he turned critical, questioning McCain's decision to halt his campaign.

“I’m more than a little disappointed by this behavior,” he said. “ 'We’re suspending the campaign.' Suspending it because there’s an economic crisis, or because the poll numbers are sliding?”

“You don’t suspend your campaign,” Letterman went on. “Do you suspend your campaign? No, because that makes me think, well, you know, maybe there will be other things down the road –- if he’s in the White House, he might just suspend being president. I mean, we've got a guy like that now!”

Letterman later said today's events were an indication "that something is going haywire with the campaign."

We have a video excerpt on the jump; just click the Read More line.

--Kate Linthicum

The Top Ten Questions People are Asking The John McCain Campaign

#10 “I just contributed to your campaign – how do I get a refund?"

#9 “It’s Sarah Palin –- does this mean I’m pars’dent?”

#8 “Can’t you solve this by selling some of your houses?”

#7 “This is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?”

#6 “Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, Genius?”

#5 “Are you doing all of this just to get out of going on Letterman?”

#4 “What would Matlock do?”

#3 “Hillary here –- my schedule is free Friday night.”

It’ll be interesting here to see if Barack Obama feels the need to suspend his campaign to go down there and work on the economy.  He’s also a senator.  And his running mate, Joe Biden, he’s also a senator.  So there, those two guys have to get back to work.  So, of course, they’ll suspend their campaign.  Don’t you think? 

The Democrats are now at a real disadvantage because Barack Obama has got to race back and fix the economy.  So does Joe Biden.  He has to race back and fix the economy. But the Republicans have Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.  The Alaska economy is fine.  It don’t need fixing.  It’s fine.  So she’ll continue the campaign.  So the Democrats are really in a hole now.

#2 “Is this just an excuse to catch up on napping?”

#1 “This is President Bush –- what’s all this trouble with the economy?”

Comments

[Mike K.]

No one seems to address Letterman's proposal of replacing McCain with Palin. If anyone has seen her interview with Katie Couric it was pathetic. She did not have a clue what she was talking about and rambled off topic without answering questions. McCain's campaign suspencion is purely political and disgusting.

[Chris]

It seems that many people here are missing the point. John McCain LIED about why he was not able to appear on the show. This wasn't about David Letterman taking things too personally. He did start off the show praising the Senator. Letterman is not only the host of a late night show; he is a voter and expressed his opinion on the news that Senator McCain was suspending his campaign. He was within his right to express his feelings about this. Yet he did not get very critical of Senator McCain until he learned that he hadn't rushed back to Washington – as he stated he was doing – but instead was appearing on another program.
If the Senator felt it was in his - or the Country's - best interest to do the interview on CBS News instead of the Letterman Show, that would have been fine I think. But the point here is that John McCain lied. In the last week we have seen a shift from a very honorable man to what John McCain's become. I, like many other who posted here, always felt that the Senator was above many others in Washington when it came to honesty. Not anymore. The McCain camp will do just about anything at this point. The desperation that they are showing lets me - as a voter - see more of what I can expect from a McCain White House.
Letterman also had every right to suggest that McCain should not suspend his campaign but instead should be able to send in Sarah Palin to replace him on the campaign trail. We are to believe that she is ready to be President in the event that John McCain were not able to serve out his term in office, yet she is not even able to continue a campaign while the Senator attends to his responsibilities? Everyone, including Letterman, should be able to point this out without being attacked.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and name calling someone who doesn't share yours doesn't prove anything. I am not a huge fan of Letterman in general (not my type of comedy, etc.) but he had every right to share his opinion - especially after being lied to by a man he has a lot of respect for.

[thesportsaffiliate]

How do you just cancel like this on a high profile show. If we are in a crisis, why dont you come on TV and talk about it. Are you pressed for time ? This might have been a very bad move.

[AHMIowa]

Letterman was right to have felt snubbed - I have never seen him this obviously angry before.

And McCain displayed his respect for the truth here - he didn't have the guts to tell Letterman that he was choosing to go on a different show, so he made up an excuse - and got caught.

Sounds like the actions of a 13-year-old, not a potential President of the United States!

And Dave was also correct in asking why Palin couldn't have filled in - she was in town, too!

The Repub campaign is just flailing - and an embarrassment to this country.

[Gardoglee]

Personally, I have been watching other things most of the time for years. Letterman has lost most of his edge. However, he was far more entertaining last night than usual.

It's just too bad he didn't get someone like Biden as the replacement guest. Of course that would not have happened. The Democrats are not stupid enough to put themselves in the position of looking like they were feasting deliberately on McCain's defection. And the Republicans appear to not be stupid enough to put Palin in front of the public.

It sort of makes you wish Dan Quayle was still out there. He may not have been Jack Kennedy, but at least he could appear on a talk show all by himself.

[Pam]

Letterman needs to lighten up. Sorry, your show is not quite as important as the nation's economy, Dave. Katie Couric trumped you! Get over it. Thanks to the McCain fodder, your show was actually much more entertaining than usual.

[ColoradoClaire]

Re: " I remember when Letterman used to be funny. Now he's just an aging jerk."

And I remember when John McCain was a moderate Senator and reasonable candidate. Now he's just an aging jerk."

[Bob]

Note to the neocons:

The issue here isn't Letterman; the issue isn't McCain suspending the "campaign" & debate (to rush back for a photo op).

The issue here is MC CAIN LIED -- and HE LIED to someone who has been very accomodating to him, and HE LIED AND GOT CAUGHT IN HIS LIE.

If McCain feels he can lie to someone he knows and likes, what does that say to the level of trust THE PEOPLE can invest in what he's telling US?

[John]

McCain is just another Republican liar. Anyone angry at Letterman or calling him a cry-baby is avoiding the issue. That is: that McCain and Palin are unfit to lead this country.

[John Fabiani]

We only have Letterman's word that McCain lied. I don't see why I should accept the facts as stated. Before I judge I'd like to hear a response from McCain.

[Campbell]

Letterman needs to grow up. Talk about a spoiled brat. If its not about Obama whining for a debate its letterman.

[Vivi]

Letterman owes Senator McCain an apology. He came across as a spoiled brat who didn't get his way. He doesn't get that the economic crisis is more important than he.

[Robert H Rawley]

McCain was canceling Friday's debate in the hopes he could use the Veep debate time slot so Palin would not have to face Biden. He was not honest with Letterman. He could have used the slot on Letterman to cement unity on the bailout, but knee-jerked his tactics again.

Stop with the Late Show bashing. If the show is so unwatchable, old and tired, why did McCain Announce His Candidacy on the show? Why was he going on it again last night?

[Monty Waterhouse]

Obama was asked about the economy and he said it was above his pay grad.

While McCAin rolled up his sleeves and got to work, Obama was at the gym.

Who do you want for President a guy tht jumps in and gets to work, or a candidate who is more concerned about a debate.

Seriously do we NEED a debate, after 4 years of campaigning I really think we know what we need to know about these two candidates.

[Larry Clifton]

Poor davey... better watch that BP, you know what the doc told you.
We’re bailing, but who punched the hole in the boat? Bill Clinton with bipartisan support in congress signed off on deregulation in 1999.

Is it Time to debate and place blame, or to go to work and repair what we cam?
Whether one blames Obama for his ties to Fannie-Mae or McCain for his, blame is hardly the the pertinent question. Besides, neither man is to blame, or both - that’s just politics. Blaming congressional Democrats for allowing this to happen on their watch, or going back into time to blame a Republican Congress is not foremost on our collective mind. Attacking our embattled president is pointless, history will judge him and he will wrap up his administration in a few weeks and turn it all over to John McCain or Barrack Obama. By most accounts, Congress will remain largely in its present Democratic-controlled composition. In time, the ongoing investigation will give us some investment guru heads to lop off, but none will be that of a politician.

Media too politicized to help

Today, the media portrays all events in encrypted, politically-tainted sound-bites that lead one down a trail crowded with half-truths, headline grabs, and agenda-driven productions offered by poll-taking, heavily biased air personalities or “news-readers” who often don’t know much beyond what was presented for them to read on a teleprompter or assigned by a behind-the-scenes editor. Because we cannot rely on our media to introduce a bipartisan conversation, this is a time for citizens to seek clarity, more than superficial opinions of who is to blame for the current economic melt-down. The reason for our financial collapse is bipartisan in nature. Ironically, there is adequate blame to go around rather evenly. Homeowners, investment gurus, mortgage houses, banks and politicians alike took advantage of an open-ended credit policy dangerously deregulated by Democrats and Republicans alike and signed off on by President Bill Clinton in 1999.

What are origins of the current economic crisis?

Here is a bird’s-eye view of the sky-is-the-limit policies that have sent our nation’s economy reeling toward the ground in 2008. In 1933, after the market crash of 1929, the U.S. economy teetered on the edge of total collapse and the Glass-Steagall Act was passed to separate and regulate the Commercial and Investment functions of major banks in America. The banking Act of 1933 also founded the Federal Deposit Insurance Company (FDIC) which insures bank deposits by the U.S. government. The bill strongly regulated the Investment banking industry, holding Investment bankers to similar collateral formulas as Commercial Banks. Eventually, as the U.S. economy recovered, the investment bankers, who were no longer allowed to take deposits but were collaterally balanced, stood on solid ground. The sense is that our economy grew safely, if at a slower than contemporary rate.

The banking industry began seeking repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in the 1980s. The industry was lobbying to remove the bulkhead separating Investment banking from Commercial banking, so that the coveted revenue of commercial banks could be deregulated and used by the investment and securities arm of commercial banks. Removing the firewall would enable commercial lenders, for example, Citigroup, the largest U.S. bank as measured by assets, to underwrite and trade mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt. Ultimately, the firewall was removed by a bipartisan bill that in final revision, passed in the 1999 Senate by a bipartisan 90-8-1 vote and in the House by an equally bipartisan vote of 362-57-15. President Bill Clinton signed the veto-proof bill into law and the commercial earnings and deposits of banks became available to securities trading and investment bankers. In a nutshell, commercial banks invested very heavily in mortgage-backed securities and other obligated debt, and when the building industry bubble burst, mortgage-backed securities failed in mass, crushed by the massive weight of unrecoverable mortgage debt. When homeowners in record numbers living well beyond their means on creative and variable-rate mortgage loans stopped paying their mortgages, the lending banks and mortgage houses that provided the doomed transactions via predator loans knocked huge, gaping holes in the stock market and crippled our banking system with debt.

Today, many of the same politicians who voted to do away with the firewall between investment securities and commercial banking are dealing with the 700-billion-dollar bail out that would hide the incredible loses behind government loans, or additional deficit spending if you prefer. Either way, you pay….

Why did congress and Clinton pull the plug on regulations?
It is not my intention to force any reader’s eyelids to close so tight that eye drops must be utilized to separate them. Nonetheless, as consistent with my column, which is designed to inform, evoke and provoke meaningful conversation, I have included the principle arguments for and against preservation of Glass-Steagall as framed by 1987 congressional research and published by Wikipedia the free on-line Encyclopedia.
http://www.examiner.com/x-852-Atlanta-Civics-Examiner
The argument for preserving Glass-Steagall (as written in 1987):
1. Conflicts of interest characterize the granting of credit – lending – and the use of credit – investing – by the same entity, which led to abuses that originally produced the Act
2. Depository institutions possess enormous financial power, by virtue of their control of other people’s money; its extent must be limited to ensure soundness and competition in the market for funds, whether loans or investments.
3. Securities activities can be risky, leading to enormous losses. Such losses could threaten the integrity of deposits. In turn, the Government insures deposits and could be required to pay large sums if depository institutions were to collapse as the result of securities losses.
4. Depository institutions are supposed to be managed to limit risk. Their managers thus may not be conditioned to operate prudently in more speculative securities businesses. An example is the crash of real estate investment trusts sponsored by bank holding companies (in the 1970s and 1980s).
The argument against preserving the Act (as written in 1987):
1. Depository institutions will now operate in “deregulated” financial markets in which distinctions between loans, securities, and deposits are not well drawn. They are losing market shares to securities firms that are not so strictly regulated, and to foreign financial institutions operating without much restriction from the Act.
2. Conflicts of interest can be prevented by enforcing legislation against them, and by separating the lending and credit functions through forming distinctly separate subsidiaries of financial firms.
3. The securities activities that depository institutions are seeking are both low-risk by their very nature, and would reduce the total risk of organizations offering them – by diversification.
4. In much of the rest of the world, depository institutions operate simultaneously and successfully in both banking and securities markets. Lessons learned from their experience can be applied to our national financial structure and regulation.[13]

[Shawn from GA]

Letterman was dead on. I share his anger and frustration with the Republican party and this week has kinda been the last straw. (At least, I hope it is).

You guys should have picked Romney!!! McCain is a trainwreck!

Besides, how is McCain going to help fix this thing? He's just going to get in the way. He's already proven he knows nothing about the economy and finance.

[Hoosier Gabe]

Ummm....Yeah sliding poll numbers. Even in traditionaly republican states like Indiana where Barrack Obama has 32 offices and McCain has 0. Indiana where Barack has visted 5 times since the primary and Biden has visited twice while McCain Palin are a nogo. Indiana where DAVE LETTERMAN IS FROM DOOFUS!!!!!!!! In fact Dave letterman is perhaps the most popular Hoosier on television. Indiana where more than one poll has McCain behind Obama. Dissing one of the states most cherished Icons while your oponent has his veep campaigning in the state on the same day may be the dumbest thing I have ever seen occur in a political campaign.

[Larry linn]

President Bush, "the Worst President in history" is able to manage two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, deal with the invasion of Georgia by Russia, manage the devastation in the Texas and Louisiana by a hurricane, deal with Korea reactivating their nuclear program, etc. McCain did not even read the three page bailout proposal until Tuesday. McCain then suspends his campaign “to provide leadership”? McCain has exposed the limits of his myopic mentality. If he honestly believes that the condition of the United States of America is more important than the campaign, he should give his concession speech today.

[AGRARIA]

That Senator John McCain would be repudiated by any sensible individual for not appearing at a social and entertainment event at present is absurd. I only regret that time constraints obliged Senator McCain to decline Mr. Letterman's invitation via phone rather than through blue-black ink on 100% cotton paper.

There is a reason why David Letterman is referred to as the HOST of his popular television show, Late Night with David Letterman. Mr. Letterman's show is a social forum, a diversionary entertainment; a corporate salon, nothing more.

In any context of true significance, Mr. Letterman is, indeed, a lightweight. Politicians are not and should not be at the beck-and-call of peevish, self-important salon-hosts.

As a HOST, Mr. Letterman issued an invitation to a GUEST, Senator McCain. Mr. Letterman's GUEST sent his regrets. Mr. McCain followed etiquette and protocol. Mr. Letterman, on the other hand, is found wanting in both realms. That Mr. Letterman's social events are scripted and televised makes no difference.

Mr. Letterman's spiteful, mediocre reference to "Metamucil" could not better illustrate Senator McCain's judgment in choosing to apply his focus elsewhere.

Why would Senator McCain, or anyone for that matter, squander their valuable time to appear at an uninspiring and uninspired entertainment event hosted by a person who cannot control his own spiteful hostility towards recalcitrant guests?

It seems that Mr. Letterman is a HOST deserving of a dwindling salon-circle, as he cannot refrain from denigrating the GUESTS he invites to his corporate social functions if they do not behave in the manner that Mr. Letterman would like.
.

[StandUpGuy]

There's is old phrase of doing someone a "solid," a true statement of friendship and loyalty for a good reason. Months ago, Letterman did McCain a solid by letting him give his presidential announcement on his show.

McCain then craps on Dave with his lame excuse about getting back to Washington. That is the sign of a liar and a disloyal individual.

By doing this, Letterman had every reason for go off on McCain. Whatever you may think of him, Dave wears Carson's mantle and needs to be respected as such. You don't diss Dave.

It is also a good reason why Letterman questioned McCain's bravery, that a hero wouldn't do this. But McCain did it.

Therefore, it must now be said that John McCain has lost his moral authority as a hero and can only be labeled one way.

Coward.

[DaisyDooks]

You tell 'em, Dave!! Right is right; wrong is wrong. Don't get it twisted.

[Ryan]

It appears Letterman just found out he is not as important as he thinks he is.

[Registered Voter]

Kudos to Letterman for calling McCain what he is, a manipulative old fool. His behavior as of lately insenuates that McCain may be suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's.

[M.]

My concerns aren't really about McCain telling a lie to avoid the interview- it's about the repeating inconsistencies in the way he (or his associates) runs his campaign by now.

The current situation, all media bias aside, should raise a couple of eye-brows concerning the abilities of him to run the country with his current line-up, because things won't just miraculously get easier once he is in office.

Let's hope he gets his act together quickly so he can at least give Obama a run for his money.

[memyselfandi]

Insults on a blog are completely unnecessary. Just as we have a right to give our opinions here, Letterman should have a right to give his opinions on the LETTERMAN show! I thought it was hysterical and right on point the way he called John McCain out watching him get his make-up touched up for the interview with Katie Couric. This in no way endorses promotes the Obama campaign, other than to show that McCain was not true to his word on this one very small issue. However, if he cannot be open and honest about something so small, how can we trust him on much larger issues. It is not like he didn't know that he was going to do the Couric interview when he called Letterman to cancel. Man up and say 'I'm not coming.' Simple. Straight-forward. Honest.

I find it quite disappointing that McCain has seemed to really flip-flop on many issues in the past month especially. He started out fairly weak before the primaries, but really seemed to be making a strong showing once it was clear that he became the Repub nominee. Since then. . . he has seemed to be floundering and really lost. It is unfortunate that this Letterman thing is one of the many missteps over the past few weeks that has just really made the entire McCain campaign seem inept.

[Paul West]

Hope this works

[Laura]

All I know is that I won't ever watch Letterman again and I will NEVER vote for Obama, I don't want his change!!

[Shannon Weber]

John McCain knows that he cannot win a debate with Barak Obama. As far as I am concerned, McCain/Palin showed their hand today. They know that they are going to lose and they want to try to drag Obama/Biden down with them. I am thrilled that Mr. Obama did not fall for McCain's act. Barak Obama has always had my vote, and no kind of 'political posturing' by John McCain will change that.

[Jon Davis]

Letterman is a true moron. There is a reason his getting pushed off the air. Letterman should just declare itself as being in the tank with Barack Apollo Obama

[w]

mccain lies to everyone, get used to it

[donna burks]

I used to watch your show faithfully everynight, but the way you treat republicans, just cause you are a democrate, I won't be watching you show anymore.
You have more scrupples than you showed that night.

[Jenn :-)]

Food For Thought:

This merely adds to my gut feeling...

Let’s try to forget our political parties! Normally, I wouldn't care to discuss politics (for they're personal!), BUT I must speak my thoughts! I'd have major concern for ANY person who was unable to tell reporters the number of homes in possession, be it a Republican, Democrat, male, or female! I’m sure that all candidates are coached on their personal finances.

When I’ve seen McCain on TV, I’ve unfortunately been reminded of my late father's downward spiral from Alzheimer's, and I now seriously question McCain's mental wellness. Looking back, things that we originally thought were just silly we now recognize as the start of our horror. When my lifelong liberal Democratic dad began to praise Bush's decisions, it was quite clear that something was indeed wrong! If you wonder how I can question McCain’s mental state, I can only tell you that besides witnessing the horrors of Alzheimer’s, I spent eleven months in a local nursing home (where various forms of dementia were all too common!).

John McCain's choice of a running mate was completely out of left field and a surprise to everyone. Personally I am rather insulted by McCain opting for running mate who's never been thrown into the national spotlight! Having a big sis in D.C. has shown me the hard work and dedication that's required to hold any position in our U.S. government. I’m all for a woman in the White House, but at least let it be one who has EARNED her way there!

Originally, McCain was against any torture of our prisoners of war, but at the time of the vote, he supported it. I wonder what had changed, but perhaps something internally was changing. If he had stuck to his original decision, no one could have called the former POW un-American and many of our senators could have followed their hearts and rallied behind his leadership. For one to personally know the horrors of war, and yet support a bill that now allows the US to torture its own POWs greatly disturbs me!!!!!

Looking at “before” and “after” photos of our presidents clearly illustrate the physical toll the presidency takes on them. John McCain is too old to make that sacrifice! I just had to share my reasoning and concern.

I wonder if he ditched Letterman because he FORGOT he had an interview when he accepted Katie's invite. Things that make you go "Hmmm"...

[Indycrat]

It is fascinating that people would be angry with Letterman for reporting an honest-to-God, real-time story that he happened to find himself in the middle of. I am certain that David Letterman planned to interview John McCain when he woke up yesterday morning and would rather have done so than be swept up in the latest Republican theater to distract Americans from its manifest misgovernment. Seriously, Letterman has welcomed McCain on his show twelve times. Would those angry with or disparaging of Letterman have him suppress his knowledge or sincere reaction?

[Mark Johnson]

A man of honor is true to his word. McCain lied. Dave is calling him out. McCain needs to apologize. I hope Dave roasts him nightly until he does. Maybe a 72 year old dog can still be taught some manners.

[Beth D]

I used to watch Letterman about 15 years ago or so. I didn't realize he still had a show. He was funny back then. What happened to him? He seems pretty grumpy and mean now. He needs to retire now.

[Damfino]

Well, reading through the comments is certainly a trip since it's glaringly apparent that those of you calling Letterman a whiner didn't actually watch the footage from his show. Guess you couldn't take time away from all the McCain-loving, Letterman-hating nonsense you absolutely HAD to type.

I suppose it doesn't help that the article is actually pretty misleading in terms of the tones Letterman was using. So the author either needs to learn to write articles which convey things accurately...OR needs to stop twisting things to fit an agenda. Whatever may be the case.

Seriously people, watch the clip. It's actually quite funny. And Letterman praises McCain's heroism quite a bit (more so than I ever would), and even tries to explain away McCain's lie as perhaps something he was coerced into by advisers or CBS itself. Letterman also deprecates himself by making cracks about how he's small potatoes.

In regards to his assumption that something's going wrong in the campaign, the reasons he stated are actually sound ones: it's well-known...you DON'T suspend a campaign. You're running for President, for the love of Pete, you should be able to handle more than one thing at a time. And where is his running mate? It's happened before....Presidential nominees have had crises they've had to deal with while campaigning. So they take some time out of their campaigning schedule to deal with those issues while their RUNNING MATES take the campaigning lead. So where is Ms. Palin? No doubt relaxing in that tanning bed she had installed in the Alaska Governor's Mansion.

So this image of Letterman screaming and boo-hooing about how McCain "done him wrong" (which is the impression I got from the ARTICLE) is completely off-base. He was calm, he was inquisitive, he was confused. And the guy's been around long enough and seen enough political circus tricks, we MIGHT actually benefit a bit from his insight.

[Damfino]

"Sorry, your show is not quite as important as the nation's economy, Dave. Katie Couric trumped you!"

So you're saying that, to John McCain, Katie Couric's show is more important than the economy?

You can't have it both ways, sorry.

[me]

Considering McCain helped to bring legislation to prevent the current crisis some years back, and was shot down by democrats, and democrats like Barack, Hillary and Chrris Dodd have all received substantial financial backing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac I, personally, will trust McCain's judgement on this issue. ( http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0 ) Barack Obama is in Wall Street's back pocket, as well as Hollywood's. Why for a second would I believe he has my best interests at heart? He may want to lower my taxes, but why should the successful pay for it? Since when does success mean you should be punished?

[Mark]

Thank you David. I just had an epiphany – I kid you not. I changed my vote to McCain, and you aided in my decision. My new benchmark for deciding who should occupy the most powerful position in the world has now become that person who is not endorsed by Hollywood. You are indeed that most immature, comfort saturated, deluded creatures on the face of this earth. The old adage that claims “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupt absolutely” speaks volumes for me tonight. You are the best example of how a rich, popular, and powerful human being cannot handle those very attributes that entices the egotistical side of human nature. I now vote for the person who is loathed by the delusional Hollywood elite. Thanks for the direction! Anyone that does not understand my new perspective is also under the same delusion–-you do not recognize your condition. Please understand… you are ONLY a comic, and nothing more. That last laugh is on you.

[Kevin]

Letterman is a jerk. The viscious pettiness behind his response is just further evidence. This guy should be of the air. Even before they cut to the Couric interview, Letterman had McCain replaced with Kieth Obermann--probably the wackiest left wing nut out there with a voice to the public (there are wackier ones but they walk around the city screaming to no one in particular). So Mr. Obermann is how they balance an appearance by Obama? This is fair? The Letterman interview was going to be a hit job and McCain was wise to avoid it.

[Censorship is Unamerican??]

Censorship is alive and well in Amerikka! Thank you L.A. Times for leading the way!

BTW, you should look up the definition of C-R-E-D-I-B-I-L-T-Y... :)

[SteveA]

"I'd rather lose and election than lose a debate."

-- John McCain, Sept. 24, 2008

I'd say suspending your campaign is a good way to loose both.

[Stephen G.]

Letterman--always a poor substitute for Leno--is on the way out.

The choice of Olbermann to replace McCain shows just how vindictive the SOB really is.

No way will I ever watch Letterman now....

[Iam]

Letterman is a talker....and the numb-minded watch his 'version' of the news and then causes societal friction.

The big divide in the country is not between Democrats and Republicans, or women and men, but between talkers and doers. Think about the things that have improved our lives the most over the past century-medical advances, the transportation revolution, huge increases in consumer goods, dramatic improvements in housing, the computer revolution. The people who created these things – the doers – are not popular heroes. Our heroes are the talkers who complain about the doers. (Quote by Thomas Sowell)

[vann]

hey let's all come together in a bipartisan way and agree that 1. Letterman is not funny and never was and 2. McCain is a lying weasel. 1 is debatable, 2 is a fact. He said he was gonna go on the show, he didn't. For all you right-wingers that think Letterman is left wing, why did McCain announce his candidacy on the show? Wouldn't you be pissed off if you hosted a television show and the guy canceled and lied about it at the last minute?

[smallvoiceofreason]

wow....did Vivi even read the article or watch the video before posting? "Letterman owes Senator McCain an apology. He came across as a spoiled brat who didn't get his way. He doesn't get that the economic crisis is more important than he. " So I guess if I'm supposed to go on a television show and I cancel at the last minute, and lie about it, it's the television show that owes me an apology. Woooow. I'm used to right-wingers near-psychosis regarding any political issue, but this is full-blown locked-in-a-padded-cell crazy.

[Peggy Love]

Thank you David Letterman, for holding McCain's feet to the fire. The McCain/Palin campaign continues to mock, deride, and insult the American people. No wonder Letterman was able to mock, deride, and insult back so easily. He was just giving as good as we've been getting.

[kim stanbury]

You have got to be kidding.... We have been facing a huge financial crisis in America, and we are supposed to be worried about David Letterman's ego and whether he is offended by John McCain's cancellation? Surely, David Letterman has had other cancellations of actors, singers etc...at the last minute before. I believe John McCain, thought appearing on an entertainment program would not be appropriate given the financial crisis looming. I am sure the Katie Couric quick interview was last minute and because it is a news show seemed to make sense to do as he was leaving to go to D.C. Considering the fact that David Letterman had had a good relationship with John McCain, (he has been on his show 13 times) it is peculiar that he decided to rant so much about this.
Very immature! And very shameful.

As far as you bloggers out there calling John McCain a weasel, that is ridiculous. This man fought in a war, and was held in a POW camp and was tortured for 5 years. what have you sacrificed? What have you gone through?
Surely, not anything that can compare to his experiences. A weasel? I don't think so. I think the Weasel here is all of you bloggers who don't even now the meaning of sacrificing for your country.

John McCain could have come out of the experience hating or resenting the country that sent him to a losing war. Instead, he fell in love with this country when he was being held a prisoner in another country. It changed him, and he realized it was not about himself but about putting country first. He has been putting country first all the while, trying to make this country a better place for all of us.

He is an honorable brave man who deserves respect.

[SueMVetforObama]

David Letterman was the first to be back on the air after 9/11. His broadcast was a return to normalcy in that horrendous time.

He will always be an icon, and McShame is stupid enough to lie to him, so I hope Dave keeps it up until the election.

Kudos, Dave! Uncovering McCain getting made up on Couric's show was masterful! He never left the city of NY for DC until the following afternoon.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[Haha]

I'm so glad I'm not a US citizen :)