Still no Sarah Palin, but Larry King chats with John McCain anyway

Well, tough times for old Larry King.

As the Ticket reported last week, LK still doesn't have the media star Sarah Palin and her ratings on his CNN show to compete with those Satans over at Fox. And there's only, what, five more nights before the election. So it's not looking good for the veteran talk-show host who's been covering these presidential races since the second Grant administration.

Last night Larry had to settle for John McCain. He's the Republican presidential candidate, which is important and all. But he's not her.

McCain's been around the talk-show circuit a few hundred times. They talked about the usual things. Larry doesn't seem convinced that McCain's gonna win.

"Are you anxious?" "Are you worried?" The Arizona senator said the usual about knowing and liking that he's the underdog, but he feels the race closing. "You know," McCain said, "I love the underdog status. I just want to leave that status at the time the polls close."

They talked about all of Obama's money. Well, not all of it. There's too much to talk about really in an hour show. McCain made his points that his Democratic opponent had committed to public financing if McCain would do the same. McCain did. Obama didn't.

"What has happened now," McCain said, "are there are....

...hundreds of millions of dollars that are undocumented credit cards. We don't know where they came from. We don't know who contributed it."

Later, he added, "Sen. Obama has not told the American people the truth. So, therefore, he now is able to buy these half-hour infomercials and, frankly, is going to try to convince the American people through his rhetoric what his record shows that he's not."

McCain called Obama's repetitive strategy of tying him to President Bush "a very intelligent campaign tactic," but said the American people had figured out how different McCain and Bush are on such things as climate change, the Iraq war, Guantanamo and torture.

He dismissed talk of dissension between the McCain and Palin camps. "I have about 5,000 'top advisors' that can be quoted by the media," he said. "We get along fine. She's a maverick. I'm a maverick. No one expected us to agree on everything." And he cited drilling in northern Alaska as one example.

When Larry pressed him on the Alaska governor's experience and capability, McCain responded: "I would remind you that there was an obscure governor from Arkansas, that not too many years ago -- that gained the presidency. And he had no national security experience.

"He would never match up, as much as I love Bush I, with him on national security. We had just won the Gulf War. Sarah Palin understands these issues. She understands them very well. And frankly, with a lot of conversations that I've had with her, she's an incredibly quick study."

McCain repeated his criticism of The Times newspaper and Tribune Co. for not releasing a videotape mentioned in a news story last spring about a dinner where Obama spoke about a Palestinian friend.

"Maybe it means nothing," McCain said. "Maybe it's just a social event. I don't know. But why should they not release it? And why shouldn't the Obama campaign want it released?" More on that over there in the newspaper pages.

Larry also asked the senator if Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama was about race and the Arizonan replied, "No."

Larry pursued the race issue and McCain expanded:

"Look, there is racism in America. We all know that because we can't stop working against it. But I am totally convinced that 99 and 44 one hundredths percent of the American people are going to make a decision on who is best to lead this country.

"These are one of the most difficult times in our history, both domestically and national security. I have faith in the American people that they'll make the judgment for the best of reasons, not the worst of reasons."

The interview's complete transcript is available here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: CafePress.com

Comments

[membery]

"He would never match up, as much as I love Bush I, with him on national security. We had just won the Gulf War. Sarah Palin understands these issues. She understands them very well. And frankly, with a lot of conversations that I've had with her, she's an incredibly quick study."

What the Heck does all that mean? Can McCain talk coherently?

[betty]

I find it sad that cnn would not allow obama to purchase
time on the air last night, but gave McCain free 30 minute interview to bash obama. How shameful ! At least obama spends the money that was donated to him on the campaign as it should have been, instead of on clothes. I loved the ad last night, it brought me to tears.

[Joanne Kenosha, WI]

No Sara Palin is because the GOP is embarrassed by her you never know what will come out of her mouth, and McCain could have done the same as Obama did t he could have ran a commerical but his campaign choose to run ROBO calls instead to slam Obama, and look whre that got them, if McCan wants to blame anyone for his poor campaign blame your staff who is running your it.

[bob]

Sarah Palin "I wont let women down" well did it to you.
Sarah Palin wonders why women dont like her?
For the simple reason that she does not understand why they dont....period

[ED]

I agree with McCain "These are one of the most difficult times in our history, both domestically and national security" but who has been responsible for this?. McCain is part and parcel of the Bush and the Republican admnistratin which have engaged " with wars of bloody conques, kidnapping and torture, and recklessfeatherbedding of the corporate oligarchy at the expense of ordinary American." "This week's attack on yet another Soveriegn state, Syria, is a reminder , if any were needed, of the swagering militarism which has marked [the Republican Admnistration]". There is clearly no wonder the American people and the whole world is looking forward to a change in Washington.The McCain/Palin ticket is definitely wolves in sheep's clothing. Voting back the Republicans is akin to sending a bull to clean up the China shop!

[ted krajewski]

can we turn six already?!?

"satans over at fox?" i know this is how your pals probably talk, but do you seriously think that this is the right mindset for someone taking part in the public exchange of ideas? lie to yourself all you want, but if you actually read what writers on the other side say - and you should, every day - you already know that they do not talk about us that way.

mostly they complain about the left bias at all the media outlets other than fox - and with this kind of tripe coming out of the la times and elsewhere in a steady stream, can you blame them? what they don't do, at least nowhere NEAR as much as we do, is personally demonize people who disagree with them.

this, and idiotic nonsense like keeping the obama/khalidi tape under wraps, are exactly the kind of things that have made me, and millions of other liberals whose brains still work, stop buying your worthless newspapers and stop believing what you say.

sooner or later it's gonna bite you - i know you all think that journalistic integrity doesn't matter as much as getting our guy in, but check back in with me about whether that still feels true after none of you have a job anymore.

[kenny]

If I can recall, Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar in England. Was it Oxford or Cambridge University. And he was exposed to national issues before standing for election for governor of Arkansas. He was a policy wonk before becoming President.

John McCain was not talking straight about Sarah Palin.

By the way, John McCain has a signature body language when he is not talking straight. Watch the interview clips.

[Jonathan]

Sarah Palin = Dear in the headlights! Just look at the picture! McCain is a heartbeat away from the glory land and Palin will have her hockey mom finger on the button! Can we say doomed! It's a world of wolves do we want a Dear leading us. McCain is not up to it. Take a real good look at them both. Are we ready to give our country over to them? Are we really ready for that? No!

[TOM GRIFFITHS]

DISCUSTED WITH KING HAD MACAIN ON YOU WOULDN'T HAVE OBOMA ON-BIAST YOU ARE FOX

[Jaime]

Where is Joe Biden? The man hasn't done a major interview in weeks. Democrats have hid him in a closet and when they let him out, he sticks his foot right in his mouth.

[beevee]

MCCain always taks negative about the democratic candidate and tries to tarnish him at every opportunity. I think that his negative campign style has people thinking into his abilities to lead the country. Sitting in a jail as a POW that he constantly reminds everyone about is not experinece of leadership. If it is there are hundreds of others that can beat him. The only thing I have been hearing him and Palin say in the rallies is attacks on Obama and his unfounded connections. These two are disgusting.

[NotJoeThePlumber]

The reason why Palin is not on Larry King, or any other talkshow with the exception of the extreme right-wing Hannity, is that she is a dummy. She is the female equivalent of GW Bush.

Asked by Republican Katie Couric on Republican-owned CBS the most softball of questions, what books and magazines she read, Palin replied "Oh, I read all of them!" Thinking that Palin had mis-understood the question or mis-spoken, Couric tried again: "I mean, what books or magazines are you reading to prepare yourself for [the Vice Presidency]." Palin replied, "Oh, I read everything that they put on my desk." etc. etc.

Palin's interview with Republican Charles Gibson of Republican-owned ABC news went just as badly.

To this day, Palin has not had a single news conference. It is my fervent hope that she continues in the Republican Party, and that the Greedy Oligarch Party is stupid enough to select her for the 2012 election. We would make mincemeat out of her.

[Richard]

McCain at least got one thing right -- I means nothing. Obama goes to a social event with a professor of Islamic studies and suddenly he is back in cahoots with terrorists. This is a mindless, shameless game of hyperbole to incite fear and anger among his increasingly narrow base of extremist supporters.

Calling people names in the attempt to divid a nation and create object fear and hatred toward people they perceive is "other" is destructive to the nation unity we need to confront our economic crisis and our damaged image in the world. Hope not fear should be foremost in everybody's minds come Tuesday.

[peter]

Well, ok, let's try socialism and see how we like it...with 91% of blacks voting for Obama, there isn't a race issue is there? Also, with 60% of those making less than $38k voting for Obama, there isn't a notion of buying votes with a 'tax cut' / er I mean welfare check? But, there is always stimulating the economy from the bottom up? the poor are always starting new businesses....

And, doesn't 35-40% of America work for the government in on form or the other? hmmmm, wonder who they are voting for? bigger gov't perhaps?

[ALICE MANVILLE]

Why bother to vote? According to LK and the rest of the media Sen. Obama has already won. He has his representatives calling all hours of the day and into the night requesting yet more donations. Seems to me that my little pittance could best be used in putting gasoline in my gas tank and not spent on political ad's. Enough already. When will it end? Tuesday can not get here soon enough for me. Thank you.

[DemsDeBreaks]

My faith in the political process will be destroyed if the Republicans are...elected / steal the election again. It seems McCain has made every misstep possible in the last 8 weeks, and it still isn't a blowout for Obama. McCain so obviously intends to continue Bush economic, war, health care and education policies that have been such spectacular failures. Maverick is a joke.

And the backup QB for this 72 year-old, 4-time cancer survivor? The least qualified person EVER to come this close to the White House. Yes, Bill Clinton was also an obscure governor. He was also the longest sitting governor in the USA at that time, and a Rhodes Scholar. Palin wouldn't know the Federalist Papers from the funny papers. She scares me silly.

[greg]

"Satans over at Fox". Wow. Just Wow. You remind me of the Church Lady from SNL in the 80's. What a childish thing to write. And you consider yourself a serious journalist? Really?? You are a disgrace to your profession. Seriously.

[Susan Grant]

As to Kenny's post:
1. What body language are you referring to when discussing McCain?
2. How did Clinton gain his policy knowledge before he ran for Governor of Arkansas?
3. How is McCain not speaking straight about Palin?

If you are going to make these statements, please provide evidence to back them up.

To Tom Griffiths: Please take a deep breath before you post and use a dictionary!

[Al Redlhammer]

5 years in a prison camp. being tortured and brutalized can do strange things to your mind...... I think we are beginning to see the result...... He survived and should be praised. That in and of itself is a victory BUT, where are the successes and track record after that point ?(Other than getting elected to office when your in-laws are very influential) He's as much a war hero as Obama is a Muslim.........
I'm sick of the negativity of that campaign...

[whyhis]

Will Sarah Palin ever release her medical records?

[sobe]

I believe that the airquotes satans over at fox end-airquotes remark should be regarded as satire, mocking those, like me, who do feel that way. Lighten up, dittoheads!

[Kofi]

To NotJoeThePlumber...how in the world do you figure that Couric is a republican?!? You need to do some fact checking!!

[Den104]

Again, the posters here simply try to change the subject when McCain gets any heat. And for anyone to be sensitive to Fox News being called 'satans' is ridiculous. Fox News is the most unabashedly biased news outlet in America. Just like all the Rupert Murdoch news outlets. It's just another attempt to change the subject when things are going poorly for the old war dog. I wonder why no one ever questions McCain on Iran. If McCain is elected, we'll soon have a new war in Iran. He's been wanting that for a long long time. But, no. All we get are questions of Obama's association with academics of one form or another. Once Obama is elected, we can start recovering from the damage caused by the republican party and its intolerant constituency. There simply hasn't been enough heat on McCain and now is the time for that to change. We need to know more about this guy, but we won't find out on Fox News or Larry King. WE need an media investigation on McCain and his running mate....

[chapulin]

Betty, if the Obama infomercial (he with the most money to spend controls the airwaves and can buy a presidency) brought you to tears, just wait until he gets in the White House and starts having to back down on all those wonderful promises he is making now. WITH HIS IDIOITIC ECONOMIC POLICIES, WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM TO PUT IN PLACE ALL THOSE PROGRAMS?

[tom]

Where is Palin? If she is not ready for America to hear her via media, she is not ready to be questioned by senators, and should had back to the moose hunting ground. Before that she has to answer if the designer diapers for baby Trig will be donated to charity....

Oh, by the way, there are all used.... so she owes taxpayers some dollar at the value of September.

Palin will still have a place in America. I think Fox News is tapping to hire her after Nov 4. She will be able to get designer clothing and dump the job as Alaska Governor. If not she will face a Democrat woman in 2012