(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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Good journalism Republicans state as being unfair ! They would like to see some questions as being a taboo. Opposite of straight talk.
THANKS YOU LADIES............................
HARD CORE QUESTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE ASKED........
SORRY ELIZABETH,,,,,,,,,,,,YOUR THE JOKE OF THE SHOW
If it takes 5 women to host one show called the view. How many women is Sarah going to need to help her be VP? Like 500!!??
As a democratic woman I'm ashamed of the way these attacks are playing out and Barbara Walters is a bitter old woman who doesn't have the pull with the in crowd anymore. It's Obama against McCain for the presidency not Obama against Palin. If you really look at facts and experience then let's put Biden against McCain because Obama doesn't hold a candle to McCain for service and experience and Palin doesn't have the Washington experience Biden has.
it makes me sick how the media sucks up to Obama. Most Americans will see this, though.
HAHAHAH GO BABES! LOVE IT Press these bastids hards.
oh boy....what a bunch of sour grapes in here.... Obamanites..your messiah is going downhill in the polls and you just cant take it....he needs to do another speech?...suck it up.....McCain/Palin is on a roll....
I wonder why Obama had the gut to ask for help from the Clintons.
I still remember his disrepectful remark on Hillary when saying: " Someone, someone had been talking about Health Care for more than 8 years, but still could not fix it ..."
I live in Alaska and I actually LIKE Sarah Palin but there is no way on earth that she is qualified to be President. Obama has gained MY vote.
Get 'em Barbara! About time someone put this guy on the hot seat... now someone needs to ask Palin the HARD questions. The Karl Rove style politics McCain is engaging in is appauling. I have lost all respect for him-
Duh.
And this is the best we can elicit from the so-called "Straight-Talk" express?
Sounds like the "Bullsh__ Express!
When will McCain and Palin, and operatives, realize the American people aren't a bunch of fools, yes there are some out there which they try to capitalize on, but not everyone.
It's about time someone asked tough questions of John McCain. Hopefully the honeymoon is over and America WAKES UP!!!
His evasiveness and Palin's ineptness need to be questioned.
i hope this get on your site.It is by time someone is not afraid to ask real question.
In the other message board, someone mentioned that Biden voted for the war..
Yes he did but he said he made a mistake. Admitting mistake is the first step toward not doing it again...
It's okay if Obama takes earmarks. He never ran on 'Not taking earmarks'. He ran on the mark that we need CHANGE. Washington is where good ideas go to die.
AWESOME!!!! Finally someone willing to call BS on McCain like the media should be doing. His campaign has been nothing but lies and BS for the last 2 weeks.
To those who refuse to be informed voters and keep bringing up Obama's birth certificate:
you DO know that McCain was born in Panama don't you? oh. you didn't? go figure.
and, for you Republicans who keep disparaging Obama by calling him the "Messiah:"
well, that would make McCain the "Anti-Christ."
oops. too much logic for you?
Gee, a Republican not answering the questions given to them? What a surprise! McCain is the same OLD same OLD GOP that only looks after corporate America. He is too mentally feable, too easy to anger, and has no logical reasoning skills (look at his VP pick) MCain is a pig, Palin is a pig, they are both pigs for the GOP.
Go get him Barbara!!!!! It's about time someone tried to nail McCain down on "anything". Even with the small snippets that they showed of the interview between Palin and Charlie Gibson, we still don't have a clue about what she stands for. Possible war with Russia? She disagrees with her own running mate on more issues then not (but she does seem to have a spark of the same kind of temper and sarcasm) Not someone I would want in the White House....she's too unkown.
One more thing....someone needs to remind Palin that she is running against Biden, not Obama.
Town hall meetings.....what's wrong John....can't answer a question that you don't know already have a canned answer for?
Didn't see the view but good questioning on Barbara's part. What power as VP will she have to reform anything. Now if McCain wins and she potentially is the VP and unfortunately becomes President somehow, her reforming tactics would be scarey. She is way too far to the right. Also, how does McCain say she is the most popular Governor in the U.S. I never heard of her before and I gather 99% of America hasn't either. Does that statement mean she is popular in Alaska?? Well good, then keep her there she you like her so much. Alaska, good or bad, is separate from the mainland and thier views and lifestyle are very different from the mainland of the U.S.
I can't believe he is saying that if Obama had only consented to town hall meetings McCain would be treating him with respect and not putting out lying ads. This is the third time he has said that in the last two days.He's punishing Obama for not doing what he wants? I think that is pretty low. Not someone I want running my country.
The interview was good when it got to the National Security part.
This is women who has no idea what she is doing when it comes to National Security. She looked very angry and tense... very defensive as if she were coached to do so...
Very awkward...
This is AWESOME!!!! Finally someone willing to call BS on McCain like the media should be doing. His campaign has been nothing but lies and BS for the last 2 weeks.
awww...that's cute. Crazy old hen thinks she's still a journalist. . .
You know it doesn't get much more insulting than the right – exhalting the fact that her daughter is pregnant. Can you imagine? The same right wing that forces abstinence down our throats and suggests that there are so many African American children born out of wedlock because there are no fathers in the home?!?
The "after 22 years.....he's still my guy", Daddy is right there in the house – or was he out fishing. – when she got pregnant?
Palin's reformist credentials. I am scared of what she will reform.