McCain unfit for office: spokesman admits campaign is going to say anything to win

[ProSense]

Spokesman On McCain Strategy of Campaign Lies

09.13.08 -- 7:19PM By Josh Marshall

From NBC's First Read ...

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said this to the Politico about the increased media scrutiny of the campaign's factual claims: "We're running a campaign to win. And we're not too concerned about what the media filter tries to say about it."

Basing a campaign for high office on a strategy of deliberate lies is not an issue of tactics. It calls into question the character of the candidate and his fitness for office.

Wheels come off Straight Talk Express?

Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2008 6:33 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
For a candidate who prides himself in "straight talk" -- and whose political image in part is based on that truth-telling reputation -- Saturday proved to be a brutal day for John McCain and his campaign.

<...>

Not surprisingly, the Obama camp has pounced on all this, issuing a memo to reporters entitled "Unraveling the myth of the Straight Talk Express." The memo argues, "Since naming Governor Palin as their vice presidential nominee, the McCain campaign has distorted, distracted, and outright lied to the American people about her record in a desperate attempt to hide the fact that a McCain/Palin Administration would be nothing more than a continuation of the failed Bush policies of the last eight years."

And it concludes, "While the media is slowly starting to call the McCain campaign on their dishonest tactics, McCain’s staff boasts that they don’t care. As a McCain spokesman told the Politico, 'We’re running a campaign to win. And we’re not too concerned about what the media filter tries to say about it.'"

See below for the entire memo...

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[Captain Hilts]

1. ALL campaigns do that!

[ProSense]

2. All campaigns do what?

Lie about everything?

Really?

[Captain Hilts]

5. No, READ - all campaigns will say anything to win.

FDR trashed US participation in the world court - something he had campaigned for throughout the 20s. Half his staff and Eleanor didn't speak to him for days. He also trashed Hoover for high spending and running a deficit! Then there was his "I hate war" and promises to stay out of the war despite the actions he was taking at the time.

JFK was a master - the "missile gap" was right wing crap he sold.

Bill Clinton - 'nuff said.

Kerry - out photographed huntin' and shootin' critters.

Obama - FISA, also supporting the Supreme Court ruling on firearms in DC after supporting the law throughout the "Chesapeake primary,"

Whatever it takes. It works.

[Occam Bandage]

11. So...wait. You equate McCain's campaign with Kerry going hunting?

And with Obama offering measured support for a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a bill he liked?

[LaStrega]

14. Okay ...

List one ... *one* ... lie Obama has specifically said in reference to McCain.

Just. One.

Cause there's several McCain has said SPECIFICALLY in reference to Obama.

Your argument is ridiculous. Apples and oranges come to mind.

[Occam Bandage]

3. All campaigns lie about everything in order to win? Really? Man, O is behind the times.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Not on the DC gun law, a woman's right to choose he's not. Then, there's FISA....nt

[Occam Bandage]

9. What about Obama and a woman's right to choose? He's pretty clearly and consistently pro-choice.

[Captain Hilts]

12. Yes, he is. I don't doubt that, but his comments about 'depression' about being pregnant not...

being good enough excuses to have an abortion rubbed a lot of women the wrong way. It trivialized the decision to have an abortion and those who make it.

[Occam Bandage]

13. ...so, Obama said something that you think was probably sorta insensitive to some women.

Yeah, that's totally the same. I mean, Obama holding and expressing a (perhaps awkwardly-worded, and perhaps mildly insensitive) opinion as to when people should have abortions--while also making it clear that he is not going to force his own opinions on others--is totally a good example to use to defend the claim that McCain's making-shit-up rampage is not out of the ordinary.

[cliffordu]

4. That's concerning.

[karynnj]

7. That is NOT true and in most cases would lead to complete disaster in the polls

Give me an example of a Democratic campaign where there were so many lies. I know it is not true for Kerry, Carter, Dukakis, Mondale or Humphrey. I followed all those campaigns. It is not happening in the Obama campaign. Gore, who was picked by Clinton because he was one of the cleanest people in politics was accused of exaggerating - but it was not true. Even Clinton, who had to back away from a few things he said, did not run a campaign of lies.

I think in saying this you have smeared every Democrat listed.

[PresidentObama]

8. Hi, ProSense. I realized this fact when I saw the "Obama wants sex ed for kids" advertisement.

They don't care how low or untruthful they get.

They just want the White House, at any cost.

[Imagevision]

10. Mccain standing next to Palin looks pathetic...

[leftrightwingnut]

15. They should change the billing: Palin-McCain

McCain himself is running on Palin.