(CNN) – When John McCain agreed to appear on the day-time talk fest known as The View, he may not have been expecting too many hard-hitting questions.
But the Arizona senator was aggressively pressed on VP candidate Sarah Palin's qualifications to be vice president, as well as his new negative campaign ads that several independent fact-checks have called downright misleading.
Co-host Barbara Walters immediately asked McCain about a remark he’d made that Palin might just be the most "marvelous running mate" ever, asking, "that's not a little strong?"
"We politicians are never given to exaggerations or hyperbole, as you know," McCain joked, before praising Palin as the most "popular governor in America" and one who has united a "spark in America."
Walters went on to press Palin's reformist credentials, noting McCain has served in Washington for more than two decades and asking repeatedly, "who's she going to reform, you?"
McCain began to answer by saying Democrats have held control of Congress for two years, before Walters quickly interrupted: “But tell me who she is going to reform - we aren't talking about the economy, we're not talking about housing, she was chosen to reform, who is she going to reform?"
"The Democrat Party, the Republican Party, even an independent," McCain said, appearing somewhat frustrated, "She'll reform all of Washington."
"How? What will she do," Walters appearing somewhat exasperated said. "What is she going to reform specifically, senator?"
McCain said Palin had a strong record on vetoing earmark spending. "The fact is she was a reform governor, she took on an incumbent governor of her own party and defeated him. She sold the airplane and fired the chef –" he began.
"She sold the airplane at a loss," an unrelenting Walters interrupted.
McCain was later pressed on the increasingly derisive tone of the campaign, and his new television commercial that carries the widely discredited claim Obama supported comprehensive sex education of kindergarteners as an Illinois state senator.
McCain defended the ad’s claims, as well as those of a Web ad that said Obama’s “Lipstick on a Pig” comments were directed at Palin. He added that if Obama had agreed to a series of townhalls he’d proposed, the tone of the campaign might have been more amicable.
"If we had done what I asked Senator Obama to do, I don't think you'd see the same tenor of this campaign," he said. “Why don't you ask Obama the next time he's on this show why won't he be in town meetings with me?"
"You bring us Sarah Palin and we'll ask Obama," Walters quipped.
From CNN Politics
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I'm for Obama but attacking Palin on rhetoric is dangerous because the finger can be pointed the other way to Obama.
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Why would the tone be different is Obama agreed to a town hall meeting?
You didn't get your way so that justifies your lies???
What BS!!!
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People too often forget that Barbara Walters is one tough customer when it comes to asking the serious questions and in this case I think McCain walked right into her minefield.
Thanks, Barbara. We needed this. It shows McCain for what he is.
So if Obama doesn't do what he tells him to do, he's going to tell outrageous lies about him? What is THAT? The man has been out of high school for more than fifty years, yes?
Ive always adored Bab and love her even more now!!!U go girl!!More power to u.
Way to go View ladies. Hopefully the rest of the networks take YOUR lead and blast the old man. When pressured, HE CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH. In time, neither one of them will be talking to the press.
What were the pins that someone placed on McCain & his wife's lapel?
Could it not be that Barack Obama was the only one to wear a flag pin on 9/11?????
Congratulations to the women on the View for asking the real questions that the main stream media should be asking. The MSM is more interested in lipstick, petty ads, "gotcha moments", unreliable polls and stirred up controversy. Guess everyone should watch The View for real answers. By the way, Jon Stewart had a hilarious segment with Karl Rove criticising Kaine before the VP selections and said he was just a governor and wasn't qualified. Then they show him praising Palin who is less qualified. Then he showed O"Reilly unmercifully ridiculing Jamie Lyn Spears unwed pregnancy and blaming the parents. Fast foward a few months and he's praising the Palins for the same thing. A bit of hypocracy don't you think?
Squirm you little Republicans! Squirm!
SOUNDS LIKE BARBARA WALTER IS VERY MUCH FOR BARACK OBAMA. SHE NEEDS TO GET A LIFE.
I REALLY THINK IT IS TIME FOR BARBARA WALTERS TO LEAVE TELEVISON. RETIRE PLEASE. YOU ARE LOSING IT.
LETS PLAY FAIR.
I loved every minute of it. Go girls. Great stuff. Great questions. Whoopi's facial expressions were priceless. That's the way most of
the country feels about this ticket today after last night's debacle.
mccain and palin are the biggest joke in the history of american elections, I have never seen such liars and distortions of truth since thelast rovian election by dubya and lord chenader. The GOP are scared because they know the real change is coming and soon they know they are going to be out of power. Yes we the people have made up our minds we are sitting back and waiting until 11/4, then you will see like the primaries the largest number of democrats in history come out and rip power away from the GOP and give it to Obama and Biden, where the power belongs with us. Where we can help the people. Get out your check books GOP ers its payback time. The middle clas is rising up and demanding that we the people are heard. Obama/ Biden, and Clinton will be there and alot of other brilliant democrats this is our time lets take back our country...
Sounds like Babs is a little jealous. She didn't get the interview with Palin so why not trash her? If she knows so much then why doesn't she run for office instead of interviewing those who do? I know little about politics but being a woman I know when I see jealousy. How about Cindy sticking it to Babs later on in the interview when Babs asked how many homes they own and Cindy said, "that is not part of the campaign". Way to stick up for your man! She was getting Babs back for jumping on McCain as soon as he sat down and not letting him answer.Babs clearly had her mind made up about Palin and was not going to let him explain how she was going to reform Washington.
MEOW!
Obama is great... everyone else apparently sucks.
So why does Obama need so MUCH help in a year where no democrat can lose and no republican can win?
S-man I think you meant the UN because Russia is not even part of NATO so to say they have veto power is impossible.
Go Barbara! It's about time someone called him out on his lies. Everyone in the press knows he's lying, but no one comes out and says it. Good for her!!!!
You go Barbara Walters...finally someone asking those questions the way they should be asked...McCain did not seem very comfortable at all!!
@Hitler Youth
Obama interviewed with O'REILLY
Maybe this signifies the END of the post RNC media LOVEFEST for McCain/Palin !
Since the RNC, all we've seen is a media lovefest for Palin.
Barbs lost any credibility when she'd say one thing to Trump and another to Rosie then deny it to the other. She's about as credible as the Koolaid man. Spin spin sugar!
You go Barbara!!!
Barbara Walters-you rock.
It's about time someone asked the hard questions of Mr How dare you question me, I'm a POW.
Man! Bush and Cheney are both angels compare to Sarah Palin. I will miss Bush and Cheney.
Why should I make a point of what the view says,I don't they should be on tv.
Do you think that maybe the women from the view are sexist? They hate women? They hate men, that use women, to get women not to hate him?
McCain's a liar but he's not stupid, he had to know that this was going to happen eventually. It sure is about time!