So I've finally watched Countdown and the segment that interested me most was the one on McCain's tax schism (and schizophrenia). Basically, McCain has now returned to the "no new taxes pledge" which is directly opposite what he said on Sunday's This Week broadcast (and also said in 2005). So who in the world really knows what he believes? I sure don't.
But there was something else that confused me. McCain took the question about taxes from a cute little girl, and his answer was somewhat charming. Definitely it was good theater, and I think it's great that he's taking questions from younger folks.
The whole thing seemed a little staged to me, especially coming after Club for Growth's freakout. It seemed like a real about-face from McCain's long-standing proposition that aside from his open remarks, his town halls are completely unscripted.
To be fair to McCain, his town halls have produced many unscripted moments, to his 100 years in Iraq comment to his more recent skirmish with a fellow veteran over his position on veterans medical benefits.
But in recent days, McCain's pre-town hall speeches have become more oriented towards messages of the day, and now it seems like he's being fed pre-planned questions. If that's the case -- and it sure seems likely that the question was scripted -- doesn't that really undercut the "authenticity" of his town halls?
Here's the video -- what do you think? Could it have just been a random question? Or is it more likely that it was orchestrated in advance?
© Jed Lewison