Campaign says McCain didn't hear question on attack book
(CNN) - John McCain's campaign is denying Democratic charges the presumptive Republican nominee flippantly dismissed a new book attacking Barack Obama that includes several documented falsehoods.
Asked by the Associated Press earlier Friday what he though of author Jerome Corsi's new book, "The Obama Nation," McCain said, "gotta keep your sense of humor."
Related: Book blasted for 'vicious innuendo'
Those comments were immediately slammed by the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee, which e-mailed its 3.4 million supporters declaring, "John McCain thinks smears and lies are funny."
"Despite pledging to run a respectful campaign, McCain is just standing by while Corsi and his publisher, former Dick Cheney aide Mary Matalin, poison this presidential race," read the e-mail from DNC Rapid Response Team.
Watch: Is Obama being swift-boated?
But McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said later Thursday the Arizona senator actually did not hear the question, and would not be commenting on the book.
The book, which is expected to debut No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, repeats many long-discredited falsehoods about the Illinois senator, including the claim that he is Muslim.
Corsi, who has said he's on a “mission” to take down Obama, also co-wrote "Unfit for Command" - the 2004 book that spawned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
From CNN Politics
- Trump's legal team argues impeachment process a 'charade' January 20, 2020 06:36 pm
- READ: White House Senate brief argues impeachment process a 'charade'
- First Alan Dershowitz said you can be impeached without committing a crime. Now he says you can't be. January 20, 2020 06:07 pm
- Inside Mitch McConnell's plan to keep the Senate in 2020 January 20, 2020 10:05 pm
- 51% say Senate should remove Trump from office January 20, 2020 09:35 pm
- Senate debate over McConnell resolution expected to begin in open session Tuesday January 20, 2020 10:36 pm
Hey CNN.... did anyone bother to read or edit this story before it was published??
The last line says "the 2004 book that spawned the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacks against then-Democratic presidential nominee John McCain."
I think it meant to say John Kerry.
You people are so pathetic.
Um...the 2004 Democratic nominee was John Kerry....not John McCain.
Might want to copy-edit this a bit better.
He cant hear, he can't recall the names of countries we have invaded correct, he needs Liebermann on his shoulder prompting him, he cannot use a computer, and he wants his wife to particiapte in a topless competition.............and we want him as president of the USA ? China must be smiling as they wait to be the next super power, cause sure as heck the USA wont be if this guy is president. The mans day is done. Retire !
Um, the man can't hear either? And responds anyway? So when the ask you if its okay to "push the button" you'll answer regardless of what you heard?
This man is TOO OLD I SAY!
Or....he did hear and is playing dumb or playing on his age. I wouldn't be surprised if he heard, responded and realized what he said afterwards.
Ugh! It drives me crazy that the media ignores his age issues! They are real! He's gonna take us to war with Czechoslovakia!
Didn't hear the question, did he hear all the others? What a bogus excuse. Is this what you want, when he gives a bad answer he claims that he can't hear the question, not good McCain, not good for you and not good for our country.
Obama 08'
So McCain, 72, is getting hard of hearing, is he?
So McCain has both a hearing AND a memory problem?
By contrast, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Senator Obama is "well-equipped: physically, mentally, and politically".
After seeing photos of Obama body-surfing in Hawaii I have to agree.
i just hope and pray to god american voters wont fall for swiftboat lie like they apparently did in 04 this has been the worst seven and half years that average americans ever had to endure WHEN IS THE MEDIA GOING TO SHOW THE LIES THEY DINT FOR BUSH WELCOME MCBUSH
And what a lame excuse is "he didn't hear the question". So at 71 years old McCain has not learned to clarify questions before answering?
Picture him in a meeting with Putin answering questions that he cannot hear or does not understand? McCain is a disaster waiting to continue the ruination of America.
he did not hear the question correctly? people this is who you want in the whitehouse? a fool who is incapable of listening.
So what then was Mr. McCain responding to when he said "gotta keep your sense of humor."?
You report that Mr. McCain's spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said later Thursday "the Arizona senator actually did not hear the question."
Does Mr .McCain give out answers now for questions that were not asked/he did not hear?
Report the whole story please.
Hmmmm?
I think Obama put it best Republicans take pride in being ignorant.
His aide is not helping him with the whole getting old thing. If he did not hear he should not have answered. So much for the straight talk express. He should have condemned the book the second it was released if he wants to have the positive campaign on the issues he says he does. Oh wait he threw that out the door with his Paris Hilton ad. This man is a pack of lies who will lead us into eight more years or war.
You should answer questions you don't hear. What kind of president does that make?
Bestseller Book IT IS THE FIST PUBLIC GLIMPSE AT WHAT IT UNCOVERED OR HIDDEN INNUENDO, ACCUSING , OBAMA / PRESS. WANTS TO SEE MORE EVIDENCE ABOUT MORAL VALUES.
Corsi is the scum of the earth.
I will use as many IDs as I can to make you think John McCains support is greater than it is. It is part of my Operation Chaos game plan that my fearful leader, Rush Limbaugh, the school dropout, told us to do.We believe evry word he tells us because we dont have a mind of our own and cant make any judgements without him.Rush is our Savior.
It's about time. If he didn't hear the question, why did he answer it??
C'mon John McCain–speak to it yourself and stop letting the McCain Camp cover it up for you. WHAT were you answering if it wasn't the question?
ALSO you are lying about Barrack Obama's taxing increases, leaving the impression it is on ALL the taxpayers when in reality it is not and is geared to the people and companies that make the most money...who can more readily help this country and ALL the PEOPLE and not just themselves.
BS is BS! So much for honesty.
Hearing is the first to go.................pretty important to hear things correctly so you can determine if someone is spreading lies...........especially if you are Commander and Chief. This is a pretty sad thing coming from the Ole Maverick.
Sense of humor? Where was the joke again?
And people are going to vote for a blatant lier. Not me.
Obama 08
The Obama camp should now come back and accuse him of playing the "Age Card".
I guess it was humor that drove Russia to attack Jokershvili's little mountain goat nation of Yorja?
Its easy for McSenile to claim he didn't hear the question, the hearing is one of the first things to go. No integrity.
Obama '08/'12
If the book contains any "documented falsehoods" why doesn't "Senator Urkel" sue him for slander or something? Any lies someone says about him probably isn't as bad as the truth anyway.