OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) - After days and days of denials that they had anyone playing Obama in debate prep sessions, two McCain campaign aides admitted to CNN they were using a stand-in for the Democratic nominee: former GOP congressman and OMB director Rob Portman.
Portman has been playing Obama in mock debates, including a two-hour session Thursday night in McCain's Virginia apartment, and one at an Oxford high school hours before tonight's debate.
Ironically, in 2000, Portman played Joe Lieberman in mock debates for then VP candidate Dick Cheney.
Now Lieberman is a close friend and supporter of McCain's, and a regular on the road with him.
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IT DIDNT HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
McCain was lying up there... I caught him many times!!
He wants war war war... war in Iraq, war in Iran, War in Afgan, War in Pakistan, War in Georgia... where else?? OH YEAH... now problems with SPAIN??
Obama has a plan... his plan cannot be done all at once. Just because he has all these issues at hand he wants to put into process that is going to cost money doesnt mean he is going to just jump and put it all in all at once. GET REAL PEOPLE... be LOGIC here!! But his plans are BETTER than McCains
Financial Advisors have even said... JUST earmark cuts will not help at all... it wont even put a dent. And Earmarks for Obama, it is for the WHOLE state of Illinois which has Chicago a huge City... and I am sure it went to good use. He has said, its itemized and listed for all to see on a website. So its not like it went to nowhere. That is what the Government has set up to help states get EXTRA funding for certain Projects!! BUT there are others in GOVERNMENT that like to have the excess spending for THEMSELVES, for PERSONAL things!!
I believe we need a tax break!! We make a paycheck for 2 weeks of over a certain amount and taxes take out over HALF of our check!!! Tell me that is right!!! I would like to keep more of my money!!
Taxing businesses... these business CEOs are pocketing so much money you would not believe it... and then they retire with these HEFTY packages in the MILLIONS of dollars!! I could live the rest of my life without working for a ONE Million!! These guys are already millions rich and get a multi million dollar retirement package... WHILE the workers of their companies get MINIMUM PAY!!
Liberal doesnt matter to me... CHOICES matter to me... McCains Choices vs Obama has been wrong time and time again. Just like his stupid suspension of his campaign and nominating Palin as his VP running mate LOL
Lobbyist need to stop and it wont stop with McCain while he is keeping them in his pockets!!
Did you know on a poll I saw... Majority of those making over 100,000 were more for McCain and those making less for Obama???? WONDER WHY??? because these Lobbyist and Big Spenders and CEOs want McCain to help keep money in their pockets!! While the rest of us little people go broke!! Let the rich prosper and buy more houses now they are cheap because US LITTLE PEOPLE are losing them!!!!
I wonder if McCain had problems looking at Portman during these mock debates... since he sure was too intimidated to look Obama in the eye at all during the debate.
ARE THEY SERIOUS?
THEY THINK THEY DID GOOD LMAO!!!!
Who cares? McCain is an OLD MAN. Vote the future of our country...vote Obama.
G -–R---E----A---–T------------JO B---
C O N S I D E R I N G---M C C A I N---–F L E W-----
F R O M----D C----M I N U T E S---–B 4 --–D E B A T E
Well, does this surprise anyone? More lies.
He also ran an ad that stated "McCain wins Debate" BEFORE he agreed to come to Mississippi to debate.
Will he ever stop the lying??? McShame!!
Shouldve practiced more because McCain clearly lost big time on his best subject.
How sad for them to do that.
Is there anything McShame DOESN'T lie about?!?
Someone forgot to hand McCain a FLAGPIN!
Prepared to lead! I think NOT!
Obama/Biden 08/12
CNN Quick Vote
Who fared better in the first presidential debate?
Sen. John McCain 27% 33453
Sen. Barack Obama 67% 81556
Neither 6% 6821
Portman, a pround member of the Reich Wing.
Portman, a proud member of the Reich Wing.
Lieberman would have been a lot better running mate for you than Caribou Barbie, but your stuck now, so along with "suspending your campaign" as a publicity stunt, GREAT DECISION!
McCain with his lies could not lokk in obamas eyes.
He acted like a clown, not presidential at all.
Obama 1 McCain 0
Give it to him Obama!
Another lie!
Did He Look At You During The Prep?
Oh, and did anyone notice that the more McCain lied, the faster he blinked his eyes???
I respect McCain as a patriot; however, let's face it...even John agrees that the administration has led the US into the turmoil we are in today; add to the fact that McCain is so focused on continuing the fight in Iraq, it's clear that if he gets elected we are no better than where we are today....it is definately time to see where the other candidate can take us, and hey, let's face it....if he doesn't cut it, we vote him out in 2012.
Like I said, we can't get much worse.
The fact that they rehearsed for the debate Thursday night signaled that McCain had probably intended to go to the debate in the first place, and that his decision to "suspend" his campaign as a show of bipartisanship is an absolute farce.
What–the McCain campaign has been lying again? Sorry to say I'm not surprised.
Thanks, but no thanks
But who did Obama's team use to play McCain? (My guess is it was Joe Biden.)
it doesn't matter who played obama, mccain doesn't care. he'll just say that his opponent doesn't get it, he'll go over his time allowed to speak, resort to stump speeches, harp about his experience, and basically put everyone to sleep. McCain is ready to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, not the POTUS.
McCain scares me.
Stop wasteful spending, but war war war!
So lets have some straight talk:..........Talk to Palin about my foreign policy stance.
Should have used a black man so McCain could have practiced looking at one. He wouldn't give Obama the repect he would have given any white contender. No eye contact is a sign of contempt and disrepect. Why doesn't McCain act like Obama is his equal?He's either scared or preduduce-ot both.
"After days and days of DENIALS that they had anyone playing Obama in debate prep sessions"
CNN let's call a spade a spade:
After days and days of LYING that that they had anyone playing Obama.
Why does this guy have any support in the United States? He lies even when he doesn't have to
Yes, Senator McCain- thank you for making me proud of the 20's. But you offered nothing about the 21st century and beyond! Here, I learned alot from Obama, not you. Thank you for confirming my decision about voting for Obama as the next President that will move this nation forward!
Keep up the good work, Rob!
Is that all you have. Why don't you play the real deal.
Obama lied about Kissinger. Where is that on this list?
Why is the McCain campaign so against telling the truth? Why deny they had a Obama stand-in for debate prep. That is standard practice and what anyone who is trying to seriously prepare does. You need a live body to throw curve balls at you so you can practice not getting flustered or angry and to get you thinking about how you might counter such remarks.
I guess we have found one more thing McCain has in common with Bush – In all things – lie. Even if the truth won't hurt anyone. Lie.
Yes, Senator McCain- thank you for making me proud of the 20's. But you offered nothing about the 21st century and beyond! Here, I learned alot from Obama, not you. Thank you for confirming my decision about voting for Obama as the next President that will move this nation forward!
So what? They lied again. Nothing new. I'm trying to remain fair and intelligent but this entire election is silly right? Right? Mr. Obama is obviously better educated, has better ideas, and is entirely more honest with the public (for a politician, its all relative) than is Mr. McCain's campaign
Wow, they really go through a stage drama like that? Call me naive, but I had no idea this thing call Presidency was an act. Come on people, we need REAL leadership!! People asre sick of the puppet strings being pulled. This world is real, we have real problems and I don't appreciate knowing we witnessed a rehearsed act. I'm not interested in being entertained. I'm interested in learning and believing that you can lead our country.
They are all playing a bad joke on Americans.
OBAMA 08
All losers!!!Go OBAMA/BIDEN
Portman should have been giving Palin "Mock Interviews"
Byron Dorgan, Senator from ND, finally some explanation and reasonable direction for this economic mess.
If we could get Ron Paul and Byron in a room, we could have a solution to this debacle.
LISTEN UP CONGRESS!! IF YOU HAVE EARS LISTEN !!!
It bears repeating:
Yes, Senator- thank you for making me proud of the 20's. But you offered nothing about the 21st century and beyond! Here, I learned alot from Obama, not you. Thank you for confirming my decision about voting for Obama as the next President that will move this nation forward!
Obama won this debate, in every way possible; just look up the post-debate polls!
I thought Obama won hands down.
What I’ve found most interesting over the whole course of the Elction season Primaries included, is how truly lazy the American public is when it comes to our government. 20 out of the last 28 Years we’ve had a Republican President and 14 out of the last 16 Years, the Republicans have controlled the Congress, even now people think the Democrats control the Senate, but it’s 49 – 49 with 2 Independents that lean toward the DEMS, but no where close enough to overturn a Presidential Veto! Plus People talk about Experience as an Issue, and I have to say President Lincoln had less than Obama and Our Founding Fathers had less than Obama and between them we Formed a Nation and survived a Civil War, It was their Vision and Inspirational Leadership that did it, as Most Good Presidents do!
LOL !!!!!
OBAMA 08
He was doing this Thursday night, you say? Guess they didn't need his help with the economy, after all.
Birds of the same feather flock together. Two old guys with no vision for the future. Play mate or check mate?
Hmm, maybe they should have had him play Biden for Palin since she's so similar to Cheney it's scary...
Uh......who cares?
After days and days of denials that they had anyone playing Obama in debate prep sessions, two McCain campaign aides admitted to CNN they were using a stand-in for the Democratic nominee: former GOP congressman and OMB director Rob Portman.
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More blatant lies from the man that lies and has to hide his military records.
NO NO NO McWarmonger
We need to tak our country back for US. Obama/Biden '08
Um it really doesn't matter. ..it will not help McCain...he is clearly not the leader we need
I trust Obama to think before he says anything
McCain will be the same old same old -- READY – FIRE – AIM
I'm sold on Obama. I do NOT trust McWarmonger with my money or my life.
Given the McCain campaign's self-destructive tendancies, how long do we have to wait for the minstrel show pics from someone's cell phone...
Funny way of suspending your campaign.
I don’t see someone who was prepared if he could not give us answer as to why he voted for Bush’s taxed cuts that benefits a small percentage of American population while almost 90 some percentage of people are faced with foreclosures, job loss. And then after all this financial crisis, call on the same people working doubles to get by, working two jobs to pay for mortgage to bail the lobbyist and CEO’s mistakes. If you have free highway with no police manning it what did you expect?
Funny way of suspending your campaign.
What I SAW:
Obama 44, McCain 22 (net)
It was your own panel of 6 bipartisan "experts" CNN. You can't not report that. Pony up, don't equivocate. Even if it costs ad revenue, how can you honestly equivocate?
What he means is that they used one of his empty suits as the Obama stand in. They just put a empty suit behind the podium. The Democrats did, I mean. Just now.
Seriously, would Obama know the truth if he tripped over it? God help this country if Obama were to get in office.
Time and again, the McCain campaign as well as McCain have lied to the general public. So...this is not really news
Lieberman is a disgrace to the Dems.
What a joke.... These guys(MacCain Campains & their looser candidate) r even afraiding of maintining the american savier OBAMA.... Maybe they thought it will deepen their(Republican) grave after 8years of their arrogance around the world and suprisingly even in their own country(CATRINA-New Orlens)..... But that's TRUE!!!!!!! THEY(Republicans) JUST DONT DESERVE TO BE GIVEN ANOTHER 4YRS... GO BARACK OBAMA.... GO....
Was McCain able to look Portman in the eye during the "mock" debate?
So this is what McCain really did while 'working' on a failed bailout plan... I see. It is a bit ridiculous to make up such an excuse to prep for a debate. He isn't even president and is already lying to us. Sounds like Bush, again.
No lie seems to be too petty for the Straight Talk express it seems.
who cares??
McCain started off in the muck: he invoked Ted Kennedy in the most egregious and blatantly canny attempt to drag the viewers by the heart into his camp.
McCain went on like a kicked dog through the rest of the debate, fearful of ever looking Obama in the face, even as Obama directed his comments straight at him. Never once did McCain direct a comment at Obama.
In every question, McCain seemed to get more flustered, and was even making sniffing sounds like he was ill near the end of the debate. Obama's demeanor was always prim, calm, and intelligent. McCain's was confused, ill-equipped, and angry.
Barack Obama won this first debate handily.
Bush stood in for McCain for Obamas mock debates. He was SPOT ON
Who cares who got in the best one liner or the best sound bite? We need to deal with the real issues facing our country like healthcare, global warming, high gasoline prices, ending the war in Iraq, home forclosures, and the economy. I want to hear what is going to be done about these problems, not who is the better speaker or who misspoke about an issue. The election is less then forty days from now and the American people deserve better.
McCain won the debate – hands down.
Looking at McCain tonight the world knows why we are in the mess we are. He's an angry, greedy, dirty old man who needs serious help. I'm sure he wanted us to feel he was tough and in command and all I felt was pity for him. His attitude would provoke any leader to declare war on the U.S. He is dangerous and is in no position to lead anyone. I hope his supporters saw how mentally unstable he really is. Obama on the other hand had a very good night. He showed he does know how to LISTEN and reach across party lines. McCain showed nothing but anger. It's his own fault it took him 50 years to get this far NOT Obama. Maybe instead of TRYING to be sarcastic he should learn some manners. Again, Obama definitely won this hands down.
I notice CNN thinks Obama won the debate. Oh well, now we have ONN.
as usual with the Republicans, they lied. Even when asked a simple question about who took the place of Obama in the preperations, they lied. Do they believe McCain practiced with a cardboard cut out?
Admittedly, Obama could have used a cardboard cutout when he practised and gotten more intelligent answers than the moderator got from McCain tonight.
Ticker is getting dumb with Headlines....Ok,I was there with my pimp,mcshame. Can we discuss the issue please? I fill sad for ignorant Americans that are not dual citizens,incase the economy melt down with Mcshame being the potus.
OBAMA 08-012.
I would like to hear somebody making a comment about Mccain's judgement mention to Obama. How much more could Mccain have than Obama after he choosed Mrs Palin and Obama Biden? The way I look at it Obama would like that you get an experience president if he is not there and Mccain is just trying to pull an ace from the sleeve.
That's impossible! McCain couldn't have been spending 2 hours Thursday on debate prep because he had suspended his campaign!!!
Independents and undecided voters will determine who won, but John McCain looked like he was enjoying the debate a great deal more than Obama.
With all that time spent on debate prep and to have only "held your own" against your opponet, makes you wonder "if" you can "hold your own" come Nov.
Denials!!!!!!!
That is all you hear coming out of this campain......what is wrong with these people......this is serious.....why do they prefer to deny little none important things.....can only imagine what they would do or deny referring to greater and more important issues
Why denials that they had anyone playing Obama in debate prep sessions?
So, was McShame looking at Portman in the eye ? McCain gorsses me out for not having the respect to look at his rival in the eye. I have always taught my kids that if you are telling the truth, then you can look someone in the eye. Not doing so..inpires distrust.