John McCain and "my friends": We count the times he said it

It is the most pronounced verbal tic in modern American politics -- John McCain's incessant use of the phrase "my friends."

For months, it has provided blog fodder. During the Republican National Convention, it spawned a truly inspired Slate offering from Paul Collins, who traced the phrase's use through the ages (one of his conclusions -- "as a crowd bludgeon in modern political speechmaking, 'my friends' can be laid at the feet of one man: William Jennings Bryan).

Occasionally, it's been reported that aides have advised McCain to curb his use of the line. But clearly, that's a losing battle -- in Tuesday's 90-minute town hall encounter with Barack Obama, the Republican uttered "my friends" or "my friend" (directed at a specific questioner) 24 times.

Just as clearly, given McCain's body language and his dismissive "that one" reference to Obama at one point, he doesn't include his Democratic rival in that circle of pals.

One word that wasn't heard once: "maverick," a noun that was ubiquitous in last week's debate between vice presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

For that matter, neither McCain nor Obama saw fit to drop the names of their running mates during Tuesday night's proceedings.

-- Don Frederick

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Comments

[Tom]

I thought I was the only one that complained about the constant "my friends" mention.
You'd think with all the prep he was given, his handlers would have told him to omit that sappy phrase. Maybe Cindy likes it.

[steve rodriguez]

Let's see in Election 2008, you can not say, "my friends," "community organizer," "that one," " Bill Ayers," or " Barrack Hussien Obama," these are the words that are no longer accepted, some of them even deemed to be racist, by the race palying Obama camp! Funny but America used to be a country where free speech prevailed. Things are changing so fast!

[Dave]

I still don't understand the Ayers issue the Repubs are trying to push. Obama was 8 when the Weather Undergroud was doin this, and when he finally did meet him Ayers was a very well respected professor and citizen of Chicago.

Contrast this with McCain being 58 at the time of the Keating debacle and being labeled as having "poor judgement" by congress after the investigation.

Now people...which one worries you more

[MyTwoCents]

And how many times did "that one" use the words fundamental and fundamentally?

[Mtobias]

What did Mr. McCain learn from the Keating Five?

He obviously did not learn that deregulation of the S&L industry was bad for the thousands of people who lost their savings and pensions. And over $130 billion in 1990.

He did not learn that deregulation of the financial industry would cost us at least $700 billion in 2008.

Why would we promote someone who learns nothing from the 'worst mistake of his life'.

[Kendall Baxter]

And I thought that the LA Times never had any useful information...can't wait for the Biden ladies and gentlemen count.

[Katie]

While we're keeping track of redundant words and phrases, can you tell us how many times Obama used some form of the word "fundamental"?

[rckstrdave]

McCain's friends live in mansions and steal tax dollars from poor people. John has to do a lot for them, or they'll quit giving his campaign money.

[Polly]

Really? That is important enough to comment on? Really? How petty.
I think it is more important to hear Obama tell me about taxes and Healthcare. It is more important to hear John McCain's response to the support of Israel.
I am getting tired of this petty crap from both sides. Cut it out.

[Brian In Middle River MD]

Almost, but not quite as much as we've heard Obama's "Bottom Line" or Obama supports claiming that someone's "Character" should not be an issue.....

Why does the media refuse to feed on Obama's refusal to recognize he was Naive in his choice for allowing a terrorist to host a meet and great coffee without knowing some background on William Ayers... Or how after twenty years of service, he could not know Reverand Wright's politcal views.... But the media can write all about McCain's choice of using the term "My Friends"... Such Bias we don't need.... Character we do need....

[GEAH]

And how many times did Sen. Obama say "understand"?

[kurt]

this is all you got? you writing this is more boring then the debate

[john]

Truly insipid commentary...it seems to be the product of a "room temperature" IQ, meant to "enlighten" primates of a lower order. Keep up the good work!

[Matt Sparks]

Any time he says it, I just substitute the word "Comrade"

[Can't stand Obama]

It is a bit irritating, but it's an old and meaningless story - it's been going on for some time. There are worse tics a candidate could have.

However, it is not nearly as irritating as Obama's obnoxious PREACHER VOICE and FINGER POINTING (he struggles with curtailing the finger pointing)

There is no way we would vote Obama just for the fact that we couldn't stand hearing his sermons and preachy obnoxious voice for the years to come. WE ACTUALLY TURN OFF THE TV WHEN OBAMA SPEAKS. It is sooooo annoying.

At least McCain has a soothing calm voice and he doesn't point fingers.

[Jim]

John McCain didn't mention Sarah Palin once in the debate...he DID mention Joe Lieberman three times! If McCain gets elected, expect Palin to step down so that John McCain can have the VP he wanted all along!

[Dave]

Seriously? Could you "nit-pick" any more possibly? You'd probably serve your readers more if you would focus on the important stuff - like the issues. That's what we should all be keying in on, not the use of some favorite expression. And although I don't believe he was being dismissive with the "that one" phrase, so what? It's a frickin' debate!! Are they supposed to always be totally civil?

[Rodney]

It was interesting that John McCainn did not make the same crazy accusations like Obama being a terrorist, or being a Muslim, or being unpatriotic un-American. Is McCain a coward that can't slander someone that is there to fight back? or maybe McCain doesn't believe what he lets others say for him or says in his negative ads. I think the media shouldn't play the ads or repeat the accusations that a candidate isn't willing to say to the face of his opponent.

[ReggieH]

Get this straight John, we ain't brothers, we ain't partners, and we aint' friends and if Wall Street get's away with my money you're gonna be sorry you ever met me!

[Orn R. Critter]

Maybe the version of Maverick, popularized by TV's James Garner among others, including the gambler/card-playing component probably offensive to a lot of Bible-thumpers, wasn't the image that McCain wanted to evoke in his depiction of a guy under control as he drew the "check the record," "I reached across the aisle," and "That one" cards.

[Scott Woodley]

I was hoping someone at the debate would have brought up a bigger and deeper issue than the current economic crisis - that is, the lack of credibility and the loss of faith in the US Government that many people now have. What the politicians say and what they do are two different things and there is precious little integrity left in Congress. Many people don't believe the empty rhetoric and are fed up with the squabbling. The politicians all talk about helping the middle class but the trend continues to to allow a few people to get extremely wealthy at the expense of everyone else.

When the Enron debacle unfolded, the time was ripe to make a change, but congress did nothing while a few people took millions of dollars and working people lost their entire life savings. The American people are currently being ripped off by big oil companies and congress is impotent because the special interests run the show.

We are in the midst a crisis of the heart and values, and a new plan hatched from the same old place will not fix things. How about a loud call by all of us to bring honesty and integrity back into our political system, not more of the same empty promises from either party?

[hinnis]

Why don't you count the times Obama said "uh," "you know," and other useless statements. Or how about counting the number of times Obama lied through his teeth. That would be a more informative article than a discussion of McCain's reference to "my friends." Are you mainstream media types running out of ways to assist your Messiah in this election? I guess the answer is, yes.

[JinTX]

Do you even know what a verbal TIC is? A tic is involutary, you pompous jerk. If you really think it IS a tic, why would you mock it?

Are there ANY news outlets left willing to actually cover the election of the most powerful position in the WORLD like adults?

The politicians are in constant "please the press" mode, giving you what you want - taunts and trash.

It would be REALLY helpful if the major press agencies would try covering the real issues. Most of you have completely ignored the truth in the housing meltdown, in spite of audio/visual recordings of career politicians defending absolute failures. You sat by while House and Senate investigations were initiated then hijacked by conspiracy theorists, and did NOTHING to expose the insanity. (ie Katrina, 9/11)

Most of you will be retired before the REST of us get to suffer the consequences. Thanks - MY FRIENDS.

[eric]

nobama 08

[Doug Walberg]

McCain's us of "My Friend" sounds like a Used Car Salesman. Yuk!!!

[Chris Smith]

Give me a Break! No, the media isn't bias! You don't have anything better to do?

[Elaine]

My husband and I turned it into a drinking game. We took a drink evertime McCain uttered "my friends" - Sadly, as I write this, I sit at my desk with a terrible hangover.

He's so out of touch. So contrived. So not genuine.

[Whatever]

Did you also count how many times Obama said "uh" and "um"?

Something out of nothing.

[Mary]

Leave him alone, will you? I like Obama and probably will vote for him; but jeez, can't you come up with something better. Why do you say how much Obama says fundamental? Please get literate!

[Tsiangkun]

MY friends don't call people, let alone Senators, 'that one'.

'That one' is a fine response to questions like which car do you like better, or which doughnut do you want. McCain's use of the phrase struck me as disrespectful, intolerant, and completely inappropriate.

As it stands, only one candidate said health care is a basic human right, so I am voting for that one.

[Rick Short]

What we didn't hear either candidate say (properly) is the full truth about their and their opponent's positions on key issues.

You would think, given the time and manpower each team enjoys, that both candidates could accurately and eloquently elucidate the details of, and differences between, their stands on the important things.

Could it be that these truths really don't serve either team's goals? Could it be that such information isn't meaningful to the voters?

I'm not sure if we, the people, deserve better or are getting exactly what we deserve.

[unkalledfor]

Seriously people, how is this an issue or even something worth discussing... Big deal, he says "my friends" a bunch of times.. It's his way of "connecting" to the people...

[Ken Isaacson]

Hmm. Hearing McCain use the phrase "my friend" gives me about the same level of warm and fuzzy as if he used the phrase "trust me."

[Ben Grey]

I dont see an over abundance of red cars because I'm not driving one. I watched the debate and didn't notice for the same reason. I wasn't looking for it.

[William]

You know people should really start to do some real research on both candidates and make an informed decision when voting. Listening and reading all the partisan B.S. that comes across the main stream media can only point people in one direction, and let me tell you it's not the right one. Why is it that any time something goes in favor of Obama you here all about it, and when it's in favor of McCain you couldnt find it if it was pasted to your forehead. Last night in the debate McCain might have said "my Friends" a number of times... So What! Why arent we hearing about why Obama didnt talk about the fine that McCain indicated on small businesses? Why arent people questioning wheather that tax break for businesses making leass than 250k is net income or gross income? Why arent we hearing about Obamas problem with generalizing, and never giving details, and avoiding talking points intentionally? Why is it that Democrats say we shouldnt be talking about Obama's ties with the shadiest of shady people becasue of the economy, when the economic crisis we are in has not changed in the slightest even after this deemocrat charged bailout has been passed? Is that possibly because the democrats want the heat to be on republicans because we have a republican president now? How dare Obama use a Terrorist attack that no one had any control over, and take president Bush's comments about not letting the attack thwart our every day way of life, out of context. He is not a person we want controling our government. DO THE RESEARCH PEOPLE.

[Roger Rabbit]

Hahahahah!

I was personaly irritated at a word both of them used....

"Fundemental"

OMG.... I heard Obama say it like 3000 times and McCain another 300

Fundemental, Fundelmental, Fundemental

Ohhh and one more....

George Bush....Awwwwwww!

Is Obama runing against George Bush? or McCain?

If I do not vote for Obama it is because he irritates me I want to hear him campaign against McCain not Bush!

[Bob]

You got it wrong. .. it's Obama that always say that. Nice bias, jerks.

[Chip]

How about Obama's incessant use of "that's why it's so important that..."?

[my little stand]

What a stupid waste of a journalist's time. I hope your bosses don't pay you alot, because it's wasted money. Counting how many times someone says "my friends", like this is something illegal? Or important!

What is your problem? Do you hate McCain that much? Your bias is so obvious, I could puke.

[J]

why don't we count the times the leftist moron said "deregulate"...or we could just replace that word with "promote socialism".

since russia is such a highlight in the global economy...seems like a great idea...idiot.

[Jerome Thomas]

McCain clearly lacks the education, sophistication, diplomacy and basic intelligence required of a United States President in these sensitive and troubled times. Barack Obama is an educated, worldly person who brings a global vision to the office of president. He represents a major change from the arrogant, swaggering image of an ignorant boob like George Bush, to the image of a fair man with the strength of body and mind to guide our powerful nation. John McCain is not up to this job.

[brent]

Um, Doug? Why is it that Obama's habitual use of "um, uh, um, uh, um, uh, um, uh, um, uh, um," isn't even noteworthy, and yet your obvious slam against McCain for using a friendly figure of speech is? (No pun intended.)

By the way, how does it feel to be part of a dying newspaper? Aren't you guys about to see 75 of your colleagues in the "esteemed" (cough, cough...) LAT newsroom go missing to job cuts? I wonder where they'll go to draw on their "liberal" skills and still make a living. It's no wonder you guys are in the tank for Obama; he'll probably nationalize your jobs along with everyone else's.

Yeah, nationalization of journalism -- now THAT'S a good idea. ...NOT!

[James Murphy]

This may be the most riidiculous article I've ever read.
Why don't you next time analyze how many times Obama starts out his answers with a deep breath and the word, "Look" Why don't you write an article with some actual substance instead of a liberal bias blog on nothing more than utter garbage

Jimmy Murphy
Chicago

[Alan]

I noticed the phrase too and it really annoys me when he uses it, though I'm not sure why. Clearly its insincere (he doesn't know us), but is that it? Is it the immediate sense of familiarity that should be reserved for actual friends?

[Jorge Pedraza SGT US ARMY]

John Mc Same is not my friend. I am a decorated veteran just back from Iraq and John Mc Grumpy tried to derail the GI Bill that would grant me education benefits. Shame on him and he will never be my friend nor believe it or not will he be the friend of americas soldiers, sailors and airmen. I am supporting Senator Obama basically because I saw first hand how he treated my comrades at Walter Reed and the legislation he has authored for veterans. OBAMANOS! Vote Hope not fear vote for the man with intellect and integrity.

[Jay]

John McCain and "my friends": We count the times he said it.
________________________________________

and that bit of news should keep me from voting for McCain? Where in the world does the L.A.Times recruit it's reporters? Grade school?

[John]

Obama is toast. Who cares how many times McCain said "my friends"....does it really matter?

http://www.FastArizona.com/McCain.html

[T. Guy]

OMG that so decides it! I could never vote for a guy who says "my friends" so much.

[brent]

Well, I guess I meant to type "Don." Oh, well...my points remain the same.

[Joe Wilakers]

We count the times Don Frederick says "we" when he's only referring to himself. I can't believe this pedantic, non-observation came in at the top of google news. McCain has always used this phrase a lot. It makes him unique.