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Oops! McCain talking points sent to the media instead of campaign workers
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by dunkelberg | September 25, 2008 at 05:35 am
634 views | 84 Recommendations | 28 comments
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Top Clinton Fundraiser Lynn Forester de Rothschild To Back McCain Not Obama
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UPDATE, Thursday - 18:27 GMT/13:27 CDT : Some, John McCain supporters among them, are suggesting this was a campaign tactic instead of blunder. If that is so, it would not be the first time the McCain-Palin campaign has lied to the news media and the public.
Please note: All comments presented prior to the above posting time do not reflect this update.
ORIGINAL POST
You know it's gotta hurt when the staff of the potential leader of the United States pushes the wrong button. This time McCain talking points went to the wrong folks.
In suspending his campaign to address the continuing financial crisis, John McCain's campaign is pushing the theme of "having both parties come together to solve this problem," according to campaign talking points inadvertently released Wednesday.
However, apparently, they only are only if you have to talking points. How proud can you be of the decision if you sit on your talking points? The message does not say.
The memo, titled “TALKING POINTS: SUSPENDING THE CAMPAIGN,” includes a list of points the campaign wants emphasized, and includes this warning from McCain staffer Tom Kise: “Please do not proactively reach out to the media on this.”
As for the gaffe, Kise was a bit surprised.
Told by a reporter that the e-mail had been sent to him and others in the media, Kise said, “F*ck, tell me I didn’t send it to the wrong list.”
Kise said the talking points were meant for McCain volunteers.
Among the document’s “Topline Messaging”:
• To address our nation’s financial crisis, John McCain will suspend his campaign and return to Washington. He has spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of his decision and asked Senator Obama to join him. The campaign is suspending its advertising and fundraising.
Obama spokesperson Bill Burton, clearly, didn’t get Kise’s memo. As TPM reports, Burton challenged the McCain campaign’s assertion that McCain “asked Senator Obama to join him,” saying it was the Obama campaign that first broached the possibility of joint action on the financial crisis:
“At 8:30 this morning, Senator Obama called Senator McCain to ask him if he would join in issuing a joint statement outlining their shared principles and conditions for the Treasury proposal and urging Congress and the White House to act in a bipartisan manner to pass such a proposal. At 2:30 this afternoon, Senator McCain returned Senator Obama’s call and agreed to join him in issuing such a statement. The two campaigns are currently working together on the details.”
Wednesday afternoon, Obama told a press conference he rejected McCain’s unilateral decision to cancel Friday’s debate:
“I believe we should continue to have the debate,” he just said. “I believe it makes sense for us to present ourselves to the American people.”
“Obviously if it turns out that we need to be in Washington, we’ve both got big planes, we’ve painted our slogan on the side of them,” Obama also said. “They can get us from Washington to Mississippi pretty quickly.” The debate is set to take place in Mississippi.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (28)
at 05:43 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's great stuff.
at 07:42 on September 25th, 2008
I great irony that the media seems to be missing here is that he hasn't suspended his campaign. Drawing up talking points is is exactly the kind of thing a campaign does. If he were really suspending his campaign he'd send everyone home.
at 06:19 on September 25th, 2008
It all seems a desperate ploy to deflect focus from a campaign that is slowly unraveling.
The campaign manager whose lobbying entity has been receiving $15,000 per month from Freddie Mac, up to when the government took over and no one seems to knows why the money was given, Governor Palin, answering a question by saying, ".... I'll get back to ya!", dropping the 'D' word, depression .... what's next?
Both Senator Obama and Senator McCain were getting briefed on the ongoing developments. Since neither are on any of the committees working on this, what is the purpose of them being there? To LOOK presidential?
As long as each senator planned to go to Washington to vote on whatever details of this stick up are crafted, that is most important aspect of their input.
at 15:31 on September 25th, 2008
Karen:
That 15K a month is a retainer. Try to find me one action the Campaign Manager has done for Freddie Mac in the last 9 months. Obama is neck deep in Freddie with his advisors who received about 90 million dollars from Freddie. Its not a road to take that leads to a good outcome for Obama. a 9 point lead nationally means nothing. It is the electorial college that matters. The race is neck and neck. Answer me this, if debates where so important to Obama, why did he not agree to the 10 town halls the McCain camp wanted. Obama limted debate.
at 15:48 on September 25th, 2008
at 06:07 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Forget the Campaign, Bush will stay and invade Iran and maybe even Europe since they may rise up against the US by then. Oh yes and Pakistan and why not India to.
at 06:57 on September 25th, 2008
Thanks Paschen, you are back in race.
at 06:13 on September 25th, 2008
please mark it opinion or if there is a lie option chose that.
at 07:50 on September 25th, 2008
Ha ha, Alf, you are so funny.
at 06:35 on September 25th, 2008
If it were me, my reaction would have been the same as Kise's.
at 07:01 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 06:57 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:48 on September 25th, 2008
I love this story!!!!! Shows what behind the scenes is REALLY like. Kise says, "F*ck... me" when he realizes he has screwed up. Which is what the American Public will be saying when and if they wake up one day and have Sarah Palin as President.
at 07:48 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:53 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I am loving this story - very entertaining
at 08:00 on September 25th, 2008
Not a great day for McCain. Not that last night was any better.
at 08:03 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff. I get both McCain and Obama talking points and memos. It is not as big a deal. The gaffe was that someone in the media relations center hit the wrong group.
Developing talking points will go on even with McCain in suspention. Do you really think every paid worker is sitting on their hands while McCain is in DC?
at 08:09 on September 25th, 2008
After looking at that document, it is not the same as what we receive. It is missing vital information that is included. A talking points memo looks much different. This was intentionally prepared for folks like you to repost. Folks will think they really have something and it will become viral. The PR firms whole idea. BTW, I have posted TPM here in the past.
at 12:48 on September 25th, 2008
Actually, I have seen a copy of the original, and it is definitey a talking points memo. Similar to some I saw from Richards and Bush while they were Governor here.
at 14:43 on September 25th, 2008
So have I and it is not an internal memo. It is a TP that would normally go to press. I deal with this every day. It is much to do about nothing.
at 08:26 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff. I can't add anything to what's already been said.
at 08:50 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff. when people are spinning sometimes they fall off or throw things out with the motion forces.... campaign suspended .. that's a real joke... well a real good spin...
at 08:51 on September 25th, 2008
I think it was a hoax by McCain's staff, like a red herring
at 09:37 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
And hilarity ensues!
~Michael
at 10:09 on September 25th, 2008
Hopefully, McCain will just give up and go home and stay there!
at 12:57 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:29 on September 25th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff. I have seen a copy of the actual talking points memo from some of my friends in CBS. It is legit.
I recently posted an article I wrote about last night's David Letterman Show. David Letterman busted John McCain campaigning in an interview on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. He also was campaigning, politicizing the CGI yesterday. His staff has gone on media circles nonstop campaigning his statement he made, and we see just how desperate he is to highjack the political process by avoiding the debate.
He thinks he gets to dictate why annd where the debates take place. He thinks he can campaign while saying he isn't. He thinks he can lie about being in a rush to solve the economic crisis after being removed from it for almost a week, all the while running around giving interviews and rallying his party in support of his political move.
And why didn't he send in his second in command, his campaign running mate, instead of postponing the campaign and debate? Surely, she is ready to do her job of steppng in and acting on his behalf in the event that the Presidential candidate is unable to. Or is she???!!! Apparently, by his actions, even McCain doesn't think so. Isn't that what a VP does? Steps in for the President?
at 14:50 on September 25th, 2008
Its not good politics to go on letterman under this situation. McCain had a comitment with Clinton that he kept. You don't go on letterman when there is a national crisis. If he went on last night the Dems TPM would say that McCain doesn't think the situation is serious by going on letterman. However he told letterman.. big deal... Letterman is a joke. If one speaks of being on the inside of politics and doesn't understand why he didn't go on... I would wonder how much one knew about the process.