Posted by Jed Lewison on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 4:13 PM Pacific

Just because Grandpa said so doesn't mean it's true

Update: I've posted the video (below the fold).

I have been avoiding cable news (other than Countdown) on a religious basis for at least the last few weeks. For some reason, I put on David Gregory's show this afternoon, and Rachel Maddow notwithstanding, all I can say is: what a mistake.

In particular, Jay Carney put on a tour de stupid (or was it a tour de false?), prattling on about how Barack Obama has gotten such an easy ride from the media and how McCain has gotten the short end of the stick. The high comedy was that not fifteen minutes after making such a laughable claim, he spewed forth nonsense about how John McCain was appalled by Bush's rush to war against Iraq.

Carney's evidence? McCain recounting to him a meeting with Bush that took place in March, 2002. In that meeting, Bush supposedly said something along the lines of 'we're taking out' Saddam. McCain says he was appalled by Bush's cavalier, trigger happy attitude. Although Carney acknowledged McCain eventually supported the war, the image he portrayed was one of a reluctant warrior.

But as Joe Sudbay recently pointed out, in January, 2002, McCain was hot to trot against Saddam.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) visited the Roosevelt yesterday and shouted, "Next up: Baghdad!" from the carrier's bridge.

McCain has been pushing the administration to make Iraq and its dictator, Saddam Hussein, the next targets in the war on terrorism.

Pentagon officials and Powell have cautioned against focusing on Baghdad, but McCain said yesterday that Iraq poses "a clear and present danger" to the U.S.

"I think Iraq is going to have to be considered," he said.

I've got no reason to doubt that Jay Carney is accurately relaying the story that John McCain told him, but the problem is that Carney seems to have accepted it at face value.

Meanwhile, the truth is that John McCain was doing the very thing he accused Bush of. The question I have is whether or not Carney was aware of this fact, and if so, why he didn't mention it. And if he was unaware of the story, will he get mad that John McCain took advantage of his gullibility?

::: ::: :::

Update: Here's video.

Just because Grandpa said so doesn't mean it's true

Update: I've posted the video (below the fold).

I have been avoiding cable news (other than Countdown) on a religious basis for at least the last few weeks. For some reason, I put on David Gregory's show this afternoon, and Rachel Maddow notwithstanding, all I can say is: what a mistake.

In particular, Jay Carney put on a tour de stupid (or was it a tour de false?), prattling on about how Barack Obama has gotten such an easy ride from the media and how McCain has gotten the short end of the stick. The high comedy was that not fifteen minutes after making such a laughable claim, he spewed forth nonsense about how John McCain was appalled by Bush's rush to war against Iraq.

Carney's evidence? McCain recounting to him a meeting with Bush that took place in March, 2002. In that meeting, Bush supposedly said something along the lines of 'we're taking out' Saddam. McCain says he was appalled by Bush's cavalier, trigger happy attitude. Although Carney acknowledged McCain eventually supported the war, the image he portrayed was one of a reluctant warrior.

But as Joe Sudbay recently pointed out, in January, 2002, McCain was hot to trot against Saddam.

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