# CNN Reporter: "I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about.." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 28, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773 "2007-03-28T01:41:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/121 "2007-04-04T23:19:42Z")
[QUOTE=DoctorJ] I just can’t believe how politically tone deaf McCain must be to have done this. Both he and Newt Gingrich (whose “Oh, I wasn’t talking about _Spanish_ when I said that bilingual education was teaching children the language of the ghetto” was pure comedy gold) need to learn the first rule of holes–when you’re in a hole, stop digging. [/QUOTE] I don’t watch the late night shows, but are Letterman and Leno making fun of him for this? The jokes just write themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/122 "2007-04-05T01:15:15Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Yup. Of course, it’s been nine days and the thread still stays on the top page of the Pit. I wonder how many of the polite, subtle corrections that reporters have been offering had that kind of lasting impact. Oh, right. None. Bad reporter! -Joe [/QUOTE] You seem to be missing the fact that it is McCain’s utter idiocy in this matter that is keeping the issue current. Too, he just visited Iraq in the last few days. Clearly he wanted to prove Ware wrong. And looked like even more a fool in the attempt. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/123 "2007-04-05T01:23:18Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] You seem to be missing the fact that it is McCain’s utter idiocy in this matter that is keeping the issue current. Too, he just visited Iraq in the last few days. Clearly he wanted to prove Ware wrong. And looked like even more a fool in the attempt. [/QUOTE] Could you post that again? In English this time if you don’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/124 "2007-04-05T01:27:13Z")
[QUOTE=RedFury] Could you post that again? In English this time if you don’t mind. [/QUOTE] What’s your glitch? You don’t like stream-of-consciousness? 😛 The thread is not at the top because people are still discussing Ware’s remark; it’s at the top both because McCain, having made the stupid remark, then visited Iraq - seemingly in an attempt to prove Ware wrong. However all McCain did is succeed in making himself look as stupid as Ware implied and people are talking about McCain’s idiocy, not Ware’s remark. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/125 "2007-04-05T01:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] However all McCain did is succeed in making himself look as stupid as Ware implied and people are talking about McCain’s idiocy, not Ware’s remark. [/QUOTE] Yup. There’s not a word about Ware in today’s E&P piece: [Has ‘Straight Talk’ By Media Derailed McCain?](http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003567454) It’s all about how the press ripped apart McCain’s Bullshit. The story will die once the candidate stops pushing fairytales, or stops being a candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2007, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/126 "2007-04-05T02:55:39Z")
I saw an interview with the head of an Iraq and Afghanistan Wars veterans group and be pretty much blasted McCain for turning Baghdad into “another campaign stop.” So, I’d say that if McCain’s target demographic ain’t buying it, then he’s pretty much forked. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/127 "2007-04-06T23:32:19Z")
[McCain admits he “misspoke”.](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/013482.php) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/128 "2007-04-06T23:43:12Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] [McCain admits he “misspoke”.](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/013482.php) [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > “I regret that when I divert attention to something I said from my message, but you know, that’s just life,” Interesting distinction he makes twixt himself and his ‘message’. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/129 "2007-04-08T17:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Interesting distinction he makes twixt himself and his ‘message’. [/QUOTE] That’s not the way I parse that at all, and I think what he’s actually said is even more bizarre. Diagram the sentence. Somehow, he maintains that attention was diverted _from_ his message, _to_ something he said. I don’t know, maybe he was just trying to lend weight to his previous statement: “Of course I am going to misspeak and I’ve done it on numerous occasions and I probably will do it in the future.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/130 "2007-04-08T18:05:56Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] maybe he was just trying to lend weight to his previous statement: “Of course I am going to misspeak and I’ve done it on numerous occasions and I probably will do it in the future.” [/QUOTE] I suppose his providing an immediate example does make for good pedagogy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/131 "2007-04-08T23:11:24Z")
Yep, he’s backtracking his ass off on 60 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2007, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/132 "2007-04-08T23:49:04Z")
Its agonizing to watch McCain’s political leprosy. There’s a good bit to admire about Sen McCain. For years he would not blot his escutcheon, wouldn’t sell out under torture, but fell apart tumbling when rotted by ambition. And he’s so painfully _bad_ at it! He lies like an inherently honest man, he doesn’t have a clue about how to _pretend_ to tell the truth. Its almost Greek. Good man, one flaw, and the next thing you know he’s screwing his Mom and gouging his eyes out. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/133 "2007-04-09T14:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Its agonizing to watch McCain’s political leprosy. There’s a good bit to admire about Sen McCain. For years he would not blot his escutcheon, wouldn’t sell out under torture, but fell apart tumbling when rotted by ambition. And he’s so painfully _bad_ at it! He lies like an inherently honest man, he doesn’t have a clue about how to _pretend_ to tell the truth. Its almost Greek. Good man, one flaw, and the next thing you know he’s screwing his Mom and gouging his eyes out. [/QUOTE] Almost exactly what I told my wife while we watched him perform on 60 Minutes last night. I only hope that he comes to his senses, bows out of the race and calls for the indictment of President Bush for crimes against humanity. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/134 "2007-04-09T14:50:58Z")
Political leprosy–I like it! good phrase. IMO, McCain sold his soul in the last presidential campaign when he didn’t defend his family. I respect his courage as a POW; I do not want him in charge of the nation. Was Ware out of line? Yes, a bit. But his reasoning was sound, and his experience in Bagdad cannot be discounted. I trust the non-VIP’s version of events, since bringing in any VIP changes any environment. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/135 "2007-04-10T17:11:43Z")
Oh, wow, [it just gets worse](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-On-the-2008-Trail.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin): > [@](#): > > Sen. John McCain said Monday he would have taken his tour of an Iraqi market last week even if he hadn’t been accompanied by heavily armed U.S. soldiers. > > The Republican presidential hopeful said he would have walked through the Bab al-Sharqi market in Baghdad without the military protection, but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort. > > ‘‘I’m not notorious for being nervous about going anywhere,’’ said McCain, R-Ariz. ‘‘I’ll gladly go almost anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, but I did respond and do what General Petraeus asked me to do.’’ :rolleyes: So he either is lying, which makes him look like an idiot, or he’s telling the truth, which makes him an actual idiot. Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/136 "2007-04-10T19:00:17Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Oh, wow, [it just gets worse](http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-On-the-2008-Trail.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin) > [@](#): > > The Republican presidential hopeful said he would have walked through the Bab al-Sharqi market in Baghdad without the military protection, but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort. > > ‘‘I’m not notorious for being nervous about going anywhere,’’ said McCain, R-Ariz. ‘‘I’ll gladly go almost anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, but I did respond and do what General Petraeus asked me to do.’’ : :rolleyes: So he either is lying, which makes him look like an idiot, or he’s telling the truth, which makes him an actual idiot. Yikes. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t he have people to help him calibrate his image better than this? For crying out loud, not only does this make him look tone-deaf, it almost comes off as bragging that he knows more about the specifics of the military situation than Petraeus. Those who have followed McCain know he surely doesn’t actually intend to claim he’s more knowledgeable or braver than Gen. Petraeus, but this comment by itself looks just as dumb as the original stunt did. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773/137 "2007-04-10T19:19:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sailboat] …it almost comes off as bragging that he knows more about the specifics of the military situation than Petraeus. [/QUOTE] I don’t think it comes across that way at all; more that he’s _extraordinarily_ reckless. Not exactly a leadership quality. If he digs that hole any deeper, he’ll be well on his way to campaigning on innovative energy policy – geo-thermal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-reporter-i-dont-know-what-part-of-neverland-senator-mccain-is-talking-about/397773.md?page=6)