Tweet
Sarah was better at writing stuff down
John McCain wants you to know that there wasn’t something devastating hidden in Mitt Romney’s 20 years of tax returns that stopped McCain from picking Romney over Sarah Palin. The reason McCain didn’t pick Romney, McCain says, is simply because Sarah Palin was a much better candidate. From Politico:
“Of course not,” McCain told POLITICO when asked if the contents of Romney’s tax returns disqualified him from the selection process. “I don’t know what depths these people won’t reach. Obviously, it’s just outrageous. That’s just outrageous. It shows the – it’s so disgraceful for them to allege something that they have absolutely no knowledge of.”
Asked why he chose not to go with Romney, McCain said: “Oh come on, because we thought that Sarah Palin was the better candidate. Why did we not take [Tim] Pawlenty, why did we not take any of the other 10 other people. Why didn’t I? Because we had a better candidate, the same way with all the others. … Come on, why? That’s a stupid question.”
The “he has nothing to hide, he simply sucked worse than Palin” defense is a definitely a new one, but I guess it is better than having even top conservative pundits speculate Romney has something damaging to hide.
Comedy aside this does highlight why Romney’s refusal to release his earlier tax returns has become such a big political problem. It is not that tax returns themselves are super important; it’s just that a decision not to release them is basically impossible to defend. Even top Republicans, conservative pundits and Romney supporters are struggling to come up with a real defense for Romney’s decision.
65 Comments
Jeez, even Sarah had sense enough to write down on her hand the answers to entirely predictable questions.
Poor John could not think to say, “well, he was fine, and we would have been proud to have him on the ticket, but we felt Sarah Palin would be a better match for that period.”
And maybe John was right; Sarah is the better candidate. This is called a “gaffe.”
Let’s face it, Ace is addled. America really dodged a bullet in missing the McCain Administration.
But his campaign’s response is fascinating: suddenly, last night, we learned on MSNBC that Steve Schmidt never saw Mitt’s tax returns. Only Culvahouse (the vetter) and Rick Davis (the campaign manager) saw the returns.
Why aren’t they being asked about Rmoney’s taxes? Clearly they were disqualifying.
Was Ace asked if he thinks Sarah should be invited to Tampa?
Because, you know, she hasn’t been.
what’s to hide?
John McCain didnt hide his wealth. he had six or seven homes. Even he couldnt keep count.
I don’t understand why release of tax returns is a problem. Just have his accountants make up bogus ones.
When I read McCain’s comment I thought if this is true, that he thought Palin was a better candidate, that’s even worse. Sarah Palin, the most superficial, unprepared train wreck of a public figure in the modern history of the United States.
That’s not even damning with faint praise. That’s just damning.
Does McCain hate Mitt saying Sarah is the better candidate hurts Mitt more than his taxes would unless Mitt never paid taxes.
Um. I think he did that in the first place.
:-)
I was having second thoughts about that.
Isn’t the one he released something like 55 pages long?
What’s the probability that accountants could produce many years of same without making glaring errors, that crowd sourcing would find…
Given the great job/s McCain did vetting Sarah for VP can we really take McCain at his word he even asked Mitt for his tax returns?
Eh? McCain actually thought Joe Lieberman was the BESTEST candidate evah!
So that tells you volumes about McCain, who didn’t know how many houses his beer heiress wife owns.
But if Palin truly is “better” than MittBot, then we’re all in a world of hurt.
10 people McCain passed on for VP in favor of Sarah because Sarah was the better candidate? Does McCain blame the entire GOP establishment for why he lost? Is this his revenge damming with faint praise?
Given that some of the 10 I am sure are on Mitt’s VP list now Mitt cannot pick any of them without people wondering what made them a weaker candidate than Sarah.
Sarah’s only skill was getting the 30%ers worked up at hate rallies. I wonder how many votes Sarah cost McCain?
Is McCain saying these other ten would have cost him even more votes?
Fine bring up the McCain is stupid and or crazy angle its a proven theory. My McCain hates Mitt the GOP and his 10 other VP picks I admit is only speculation.
Still if this is McCain trying to help Mitt well with Friends like these who needs enemies.
Arrgh! I have to stop thinking logically when speculating about the GOP’s motives.
Mitt worked with Nuttyahoo (Boston Consulting Group, iirc) in 1976 and they’ve been best buds ever since. Mitt’s foreign policy advisers are neocons of the nth degree, except the one or two who completely shamed themselves like I-used-to-be-prez-of-WB Wolfowitz.
On the domestic side, his advisers are (drum roll) Mormons.
BTW, I learned a day or two ago that Brent Scowcroft is a Mormon.
Gore thought Lieberman was the best veep candidate.
Windowless Willard the wonderfull businessman.
For the top notch businessman he is whose company specialized in flipping other companies and making sure he was first creditor in line when they went belly up, he sure seems to be challenged transferring ownership of his own company and getting his taxes filed on time.
Only if Mitt never paid taxes or paid a very low amount. Next question why did these people let McCain make such a statement if thats true I am not doubting you.
But this raises an interesting question. About Mitt’s control of the GOP even Dem’s who have a rep for being disorganized don’t make these kinds of mistakes.
A mistake like this shows Mitt is not in control of the GOP’s hive mind message and neither is anyone else like Karl Rove.
This is amateur hour stuff. You don’t have the last GOPer running for President defend the current GOPer running for President with a defense that makes a statement that relies on the assumption that McCain saw Mitt’s taxes and then news comes out thats not true.
Never mind having McCain defend Mitt by saying Mitt and the other 10 VP candidates were worse than Sarah.
McCain is a big time GOPer his statements should have been vetted.
Did McCain’s VP vetter get a job vetting for Mitt?
Gore like McCain was wrong:)
I think the PTB forced Lieberman on Gore. they sure didn’t like each other.
That way, if Gore stepped too far outside the neo liberal agenda they could have been sure they had a neo con backup, I doubt they would have hesitated either, the plan was in motion.
I don’t think McCain was down with Palin either,esp after she took over the campaign.
As we’ve seen from the right’s plethora of candidates this year, the pickings are slim to appeal to voters at least.
No, the smart boyz thought that a sexy woman would energized the base base. Instead, she energized SNL
I don’t think Romney was even on the short list for McCain.
Any bets Mitt won’t release his tax forms because he knows to do so would sink him and discredit the entire Corporate Wing of the GOP?
The American people by a large majority already support taxing the rich more if Mitt paid less taxes than a guy making $50,000 then he loses the votes of the $50,000 and under crowd. If Mitt paid no taxes even for 1 year then the numbers of Americans who support taxing the rich more will increase.
Bush at his worse still had 20% something of the vote if Mitt didn’t pay taxes for even 1 year then Mitt gets Bush numbers on election day.
The Fundy Wing of the GOP will blame the Corporate Wing of the GOP and won’t vote for another Corporate GOPer for a generation.
I doubt anybody tells McCain what to say anymore.
Agreed but if McCain were to say that well that makes Mitt look even worse.
You beat me to it! ;-) Lieberman also speaks volumes about Gore, who, by the way, is fat… which must be good for John McCain.
Geroge Will said it simply, Mitt has more to lose by releasing his tax returns than by not releasing them. Must be some really BIG stuff in there.
But they had McCain between a rock and hard place.
If the GOP can’t keep McCain on a leash Mitt has problems. Sarah ties Newt for most unpopular pol in America last I checked McCain saying Sarah was a better choice than Mitt hurts Mitt.
If McCain were to say that Mitt didn’t even make the short list but taxes were not the problem. Then McCain is lying or we have to wonder just what else worried McCain even more than that?
At least Snowbillie didn’t lick her comb — in public.
I think McCain loathes Palin with the passion of a million white-hot suns. I think Palin was forced on him bc the PTB wanted McCain to LOSE to Obama, whom they’ve used to pass even more draconian legislation that McCain coulda got thru.
Plus they PTB thought Palin would make the Repukes “look good” due to Hilary’s attempt to run for POTUS. Duly noted that since 2008, conservatives have pushed sexism as far out there as possible. Conservatives destest the lady-parts; they hated Palin, so Aisles & Murdoch were forced to buy her off with tv time.
JMHO, of course.
No but the Snowtrash children lick their hands in public…
And thats the best he could come up with??? Ok valid theory Onitgoes has already pointed out the McCain is stupid and crazy angle but Arrgh the level of stupid and crazy still is shocking.
As a long timer at the Lake I do find it surprising I can still be shocked.
Oh, it’s complex. McCain has been sayiong pretty much anything he wants for the past three years. Let’s not forget, he was a rogue before and he owes nothing to the GOP now. IMO< Romney would have upstaged McCain and that's why he wasn't chose. Taxes or no taxes. I b et they n ever even got that far.
Why is McCain being nice to Sarah all of the sudden?
Yeah, well McCain’s statement does reek of vengence and revenge, doesn’t it?? I don’t think McCain EVER wanted Palin to be his “running mate,” and as she stole the spotlight from him during the campaign, it just cemented his loathing.
On some levels, I don’t blame McCain for wanting to trash the GOP. They certainly did him no favors. Of course, McCain, whore that he is, sold himself out to the highest bidder, so he only has himself to blame.
Everything I have seen, as I have done a lot of research on this, is that MCCain was totally on board with Palin as “his only hope” to win, given the other candidates that had already turned down the offer.
I think he honestly and sincerely does not blame her for the loss. He thinks he woulda lost anyway. See my #36
Agreed but McCain is a kiss up look at how he hugged Bush after Bush leaked lies about McCain’s adopted kid being his illegitimate kid. McCain acting horrible to Mitt means McCain does not think Mitt can win.
And here I thought GOP Wisconsin vote fraud was going to give Mitt the win.
Remember, McCain was a rogue. He knew he had to bow down to the PTB at the GOP to get the nomination. He did that. UNfortunately, he just ran at the wrong time.
I didn’t know that about Scowcroft, either, but unsurprised. Truly Mitt WILL surround himself with Mormons should he win. Which gets back to my ongoing redundancy of saying the PTB will ensure that Zero “wins.” Firstly, why change horses yadda yadda. Secondly, an AA “Democrat” can get the 1%er policies passed easier & quicker. And (drum roll), I doubt the 1%ers trust Mormon Mitt 100% with his Mormon hierachical cult surrounding him. Barry’s easier to control.
Let’s remember that 60% of the republican party wanted somebody other than Mitt to get the nod.
I’m pretty sure that MNcCain was in that 60%
Yes, I agree. Plus a TON of conservatives – including my family – HATED McCain bc, at one time, he actually made sense and was in favor of policies that – gasp! shriek! shudder! – were beneficial to the 99%.
I’m pretty sure that it was mainly bc of Palin that my fundie family was willing to hold their noses and vote for Ace. They all wept (really) when “Palin lost.” No tears were shed for Johnny-boy.
I certainly won’t argue that. Remember, Mitt has not historically been a true republican.
Yes it does
Joe L was his first choice nobody but Grover thought Sarah was on the short list for VP not even the GOP talking heads.
McCain acts like a Maverick to get attention seeing Sarah steal the spotlight then help cost him the election I’m sure drove him nuts.
What better way to screw over Grover and the Corporate GOP who forced him to take Sarah, than to back Sarah over Mitt while defending MItt.
Exactly. I think the PTB “chose” MittBott bc they do like his Bainful background. But they truly don’t want RMoney – or any other so-called “Republican” – to “win” this time around.
You might recall that I kept saying the “Republican Primary” was nothing more than Kabuki Show this year. IMO, there really were NO (zero, nada, zilch, bupkiss) true contenders in that whole Klown Kar Kontest.
The 1% want Barry. The end.
Yeah, but in the end, it’s really small potatoes. McCain gets his “revenge” talk, but who’s gonna remember it 24 hours from now, much less in the Fall?
This is interesting and fun to laugh and speculate about. but really, it’s pretty meaningless. Who really pays attention to McCain anyway?? Other than political junkies: NO ONE. The end.
I agree. while everyone has been basking in the afterglow of Obama’s lies he has done more damage than McCain could ever have done. McCain might even have allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire.
Palin was just window dressing that wilted in the window.
They just thought it would look good to have a woman on the ticket, even as they attack us with everything they can think of.
McCain finally gets the nod to run in a year when NO republican could have stood a chance. Heck, my rightwing BROTHER even voted for O.
You really think McCain does not blame Sarah for his loss? Then who does he blame Corporate GOPers who let Obama out raise him in campaign cash? If so then attacking Mitt a GOP Corporate fat cat makes sense.
I wonder if rich Mormons cut McCain off when he didn’t pick Mitt?
The idea that McCain thought Sarah would be a better VP will make news. Sarah still makes tons of news I think Mason made a joke once about how to get comments at My FDL.
Just write a Sarah diary.
Eh? Truly Sarah’s sun is setting. Sure this’ll make some noise, but believe me, it’ll all be over before you know it. It’s fun to laugh about it, but it’s not going to make any difference in the campaign. JHMO, of course.
I am sure Sarah is tweeting McCain thought she would make a better VP than Mitt right now. I wonder how many of the other ten VP candidates McCain had are on Mitt’s VP list.
If Mitt chooses one of the other ten then we bring up the fact that McCain vetted all of them and still though Sarah would be a better VP.
McCain says Sarah would be a better VP than Mitt and ( fill in the blank as to Mitt’s VP choice ) would be a great headline.
Given how many comments a Sarah Diary can still get here the MSM very well might pick up the story.
Yes, exactly. The GOP let Johnny Ace have is day in the sun because he kinda-sorta “earned” it, and anyway, who cares cuz he’s not gonna win. Tossing Grifterella into the mix was, on some levels, truly kind of brilliant. Let’s face it: it shook things up in a BIG BIG way. The PTB pulled some wool over my eyes, and I admit it.
Palin definitely served her purpose which was to GOTV for Barry. Think about it.
And, I agree.
I disagree I think this might be the biggest gaffe of the campaign not made by Mitt himself. It might even be the biggest gaffe if you include Mitt.
But I gotta go good talk:)
Not only that, but we’ve finally reached a tipping point where a bazillionaire white robot in wierd underpants from Mars is more “Other” and scary to the general public than a brown guy. He can’t go Jindal fast enough.
ROTFLOL!!! Dude, you win the Internets today!
Love it!
OTOH, you are also telling the truth. Ain’t it amazing? I guess this why, even through my rage & disgust, I remain a political junkie. It kind of IS “the greatest show on earth.” Too frickin’ much.
At this point, the GOP could nominate Sarah Palin to run for President and the election wouldn’t turn out much worse for them!
…in bed.
(It’s a game.)
If the 1% want Barry, then why are they giving so much more of their money to Willard?
Because he doesn’t want to admit he was rash and foolish.
Well. He may have a case. Snowbilly was/is beloved by many wingers. Those same people wouldn’t piss on Romney if he were on fire (not that I’m wishing such a thing…)
Agree with you about Lieberman, and from the ineptness of the Democratic voting challenge in Florida, I wonder if there were top Democrats on board with the Republicans. Gore, after all, in his nominating acceptance speech, did give a semi-populist address that veered significantly to the left of Bill Clinton. (And I remain very suspicious of Ralph Nader’s real role in the election.)
Or, the “truth”. :)
McCain thinks Palin was a better VP candidate than Romney…what a cut! Let’s see, using a little deductive reasoning…that must make Romney the worst candidate in political history!
Wow, great endorsement of your party’s presidential candidate, John!