Does McCain know he voted for the bailout package?

[ProSense]

McCain Says Bailout Bill He Voted For Is "Putting Us On The Brink Of Economic Disaster"

By Greg Sargent - October 2, 2008, 9:48AM

There were a couple of odd moments during John McCain's interview with MSNBC just now. The first: In a strange verbal stumble, he appeared to harshly criticize the bailout bill he voted for yesterday.

McCain was asked by the MSNBC anchor why he voted for it if it had so much objectionable pork and spending during an economic crisis that has us on the "brink of economic disaster."

"Because of what you just said," McCain replied. "This bill is putting us on the brink of economic disaster." He then went on to say that he'd fought against other pork-laden bills. Take a look...

(Video: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/">Does McCain know he voted for the bailout package?)

It seems like he meant to say he'd voted for the bill, despite the pork, because we already are on the brink of economic disaster, but that's a pretty weird screw-up.

In another moment during some banter about baseball later in the interview, McCain flatly said he wasn't rich.

more

McCain's wingnut base is revolting and are targeting House Republicans.

[groovedaddy]

1. This couldn't happen to a nicer person! ;-> n.t

[Old Codger]

2. first

signs of senility............

[Curtland1015]

3. Awesome! This guy is unraveling!

Perhaps it's one of those deals where he has two personalities and it was the "evil" McCain that voted for the rescue bill?

[SuperTrouper]

7. It's the Alzheimer's baby!

[rucky]

4. Even though Obama and McCain both voted on it...

Obama's been consistent and McCain's all over the map. Even though I disagree with the bill, I respect Obama's reasons for supporting it. I don't understand what McCain's trying to do. Confuse the voters enough to think he didn't vote yes? Does he really think he can get away with that? Does he even see the danger in that strategy?

Will he get away with it?

[TwilightGardener]

5. That's an odd thing to say--totally mixed up. He's coming apart at the seams.

[nyhuskyfan]

6. I'm amazed he voted yes

He would have had an issue to run on for the last month - railing against all the pork that was added on to this bill. He could have gotten up in front of his die-hards and mentioned the Caribbean rum rider or whatever else he picked out of it.

Now that he voted for it, any criticism has to be tempered.

[Egnever]

8. Somewhat surprised myself

of course if it didn't pass and we had a rash of bank failings the next week his position wouldn't have looked so great.

[ProSense]

9. After Voting For Earmark-Laden Bailout Bill, McCain Seems To Call For Bush To Veto It

After Voting For Earmark-Laden Bailout Bill, McCain Seems To Call For Bush To Veto It

McSenile.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Apparently the key word is "pork"--mention it, and he goes into an

autopilot, out-of-context diatribe that bears no relation to the bill in question. He is unable to reconcile his anti-pork/spending shtick with his votes on specific bills--it's all either a meaningless cynical mavericky election gimmick to him, or he believes his own spiel and simply misses how many times he violates his own mantra.

[ProSense]

12. Flashback: On Sept. 23, McCain said a bailout bill with earmarks would be ‘unacceptable.’

Flashback: On Sept. 23, McCain said a bailout bill with earmarks would be ‘unacceptable.’

This afternoon on CNN, Wolf Blitzer replayed a portion of Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) speech from Sept. 23 announcing the conditions under which he would support a bailout package. McCain said that a bill with “any kind of earmarks” would be “unacceptable” and “simply cannot happen.” Watch it:

(http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/02/mccain-bailout-earmarks/">Flashback: McCain vowed to oppose bailout if it had pork.)

Of course, despite the fact that the bill was loaded with special earmarked tax breaks, McCain voted for it — and then suggested that President Bush should veto the bill because of the “insanity and obscenity” of the pork. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck told Blitzer that with McCain’s vote, “he lost the election.”

Oops!

[BumRushDaShow]

11. McCain is trying to distance himself from McCain.

He is worse than Jekyll and Hyde! :rofl:

[Arrowhead2k1]

13. I think he's got his wires crossed.

Pretty bizarre...

[KamaAina]

14. Another ad that basically writes itself

ersatz "debate" format, with the combatants being -- McCain vs. McCain!

Music: Simon & Garfunkel "goin' to the candidates' debate... when you've got to choose, any way you look at this you lose"