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

My friends, you can still go to Twitter and sign up for free automatic and instant alerts of every new Ticket item sped directly to your cell.

Comments

[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.