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!!!