Patterico's Pontifications

8/18/2008

Cone-of-Silence-Gate

Filed under: 2008 Election — DRJ @ 5:33 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

I’m somewhat surprised the “McCain cheated at Saddleback” story is gaining traction but it seems to be with the mainstream media. ABC News’ Political Punch blog is now calling it Cone-of-Silence-Gate, although that may be tongue-in-cheek, and has already run two stories on the topic here and here.

Ironically, it now turns out that both candidates were told the general topics of Warren’s questions in advance and were given the following 2 questions in advance:

What is your greatest moral failure and the greatest moral failure of the United States?

Who are the three wisest people you know?

It’s ironic because Obama has been especially criticized for his answer to the latter question, in which he included his wife Michelle and his Grandmother as 2 of the 3 wisest people he knows. Now we know he had time to think about the question and ponder a response, which puts it in a different light for me.

In the short term, Obama’s answer was politically savvy because it helps him at the upcoming Democratic Convention. Obama’s focus on the women in his life – women he says are the wisest people he knows – will help convince Hillary supporters he’s a strong supporter of women. I expect Obama to remind Democrats of this answer and even use clips of it at the Convention.

In the long term, Obama’s answer was not wise because it was so political. I don’t think Obama really wants Americans to believe that, if he is elected President, the first people he will turn to for answers to the most pressing problems are his wife and Grandmother. Not only is it a poor message for a potential President to send, I doubt it’s even true. But it is PC.

UPDATE: ABC apparently abbreviated the question. Perhaps it was an oversight or perhaps it was to make Obama’s answer sound better, but here’s the full text of the “wisest people” question [emphasis supplied]:

“WHO ARE THE THREE WISEST PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN YOUR LIFE AND WHO ARE YOU GOING TO RELY ON HEAVILY IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION?”

— DRJ

46 Responses to “Cone-of-Silence-Gate”

  1. So Bambi had access to the questions ahead of time? And he produced such poor answers?

    Also, I believe Bambi actually had THREE questions ahead of time, and not two.

    steve miller (b589d7)

  2. Would this be the same grandmother who he described as a “Typical White Person”?

    I ask merely for clarification.

    Drumwaster (5ccf59)

  3. I suggest that, to make it all fair again, we ask Rick Warren to hold the same event with the order of appearance reversed. That way Obama can show what a stud he is.

    Mike K (155601)

  4. In considering whether it will help convince Hillary supporters he’s a strong supporter of women, there is the possibility of it backfiring. These women are seriously ticked off and how they will take to such obvious pandering is unknown. I assume they will give their full support but only because of Hillary’s speeches, which will no doubt implore them to. I’m guessing Hillary’s supporters will see through his pandering to them but in the end they’ll follow their leader, Hillary’s lead.

    Dana (a6cd33)

  5. Steve Miller,

    That’s true. According to ABC News:

    “Warren also decided to press his proposal to have an emergency fund to care for orphans, and decided to give them a heads up, but he was only able to reach Obama with that question, partly because McCain arrived late, Ross says, at around 5:20 pm Pacific.

    “So it was a level playing field except Obama had the extra Intel of that question,” Ross says.”

    For the purposes of my post, however, I was interested in the questions the candidates had the most time to think about. The orphan question wasn’t one of those questions.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  6. DRJ, you are classy AND scrupulous.

    steve miller (b589d7)

  7. #5 DRJ, … classy AND scrupulous.

    Nice posts DRJ, and I second the motion. Your one woman band plays perfect music.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  8. I thought his Grandmother was a racist typical white person.

    JD (5f0e11)

  9. JD – I thought his Grandmother was a racist typical white person.

    It’s working. I’m confused. Is she not the typical racist white Grandmother that he thought he knew? Or did he think he knew her racism, except that it was her wisdom that made him realize that he couldn’t typically think about knowing her?

    (In Hillary Screech):
    What did B.O. know, and when did he know it!?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  10. #7, Only a racist would point out that Bambi’s a racist. It takes one to know one.

    Bambi’s a sexist too. Can you believe that he thinks so little of the intelligence of women voters that he’s willing to pander so obviously and not expect any blow-back. Boy, you just wait till he presumes to open a car door, or pick up the lunch tab. Is he in for a rude awakening, or what?

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  11. DRJ,

    I don’t think Obama bought even a short term reprieve with his inclusion of Michelle. Remember, her senior thesis is available for examination (although I still haven’t seen an actual translation into a known language). All I see in his response is the fact that he’s whiffing with the 35 Fs as well as the blue collars. Damage control does not indicate political savvy and in this instance, with those examples, there’s more than a tiny reek of desperation. He might have picked women who have accomplished more than simply putting up with Barack Obama.

    Rick Ballard (0a8990)

  12. It’s “3 am” and the nation needs a decision that will impact us for years, or worse, destroy two hundred years of sovereignty and independence. Quick—–wake up your grandmother and wife so they can remind you what your “pay-grade” is.

    Rovin (a5d8b7)

  13. JD – I thought his Grandmother was a racist typical white person.

    It’s working. I’m confused. Is she not the typical racist white Grandmother that he thought he knew? Or did he think he knew her racism, except that it was her wisdom that made him realize that he couldn’t typically think about knowing her?

    Wait a second… Is he throwing his throwing of his grandmother under the bus?

    Ok, I officially need a program. I can tell the bus tossing from the non-bus tossing without a program…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  14. This is like one of those English comedies where everyone is running around slamming doors.

    I can’t tell what Bambi will do next. It’s so exciting!

    steve miller (b589d7)

  15. If the question asked had been about who had most strongly influenced him in his decisions in the past, then this might have been a truthful answer. His wife and his maternal grandmother might indeed have been the most influential people in his life.

    But he’s not running for “husband” or “grandson” right now, and his decisions if he gains the office he seeks will be a bit more consequential than “Do I wear the blue necktie or the red necktie?” or “Should I go with Gramps to the poolhall again or do my homework?”

    One the most rigid and narrow-minded hyper-feminist could be impressed with this answer, and they’re presumably in his camp already anyway.

    This was a terrible, awful answer, considered from any angle.

    Beldar (3f7dae)

  16. #9, I agree (see #3), and its revealing that Obama thinks women so clueless and easily managed. He’ll no doubt trot out his wife and his racist grandmother to further work it. He is not a friend of women in assuming them so pliable. The question is, are these women going to fall for it?

    Dana (a6cd33)

  17. Oh — and on the “Cone of Silence” nonsense: Why can’t the media interview one of McCain’s Secret Service agents to ask if they were ever in earshot of a television or radio broadcast of Obama’s answers? McCain advisers like Charlie Black have already denied that they were, but they’re subject to charges of bias; but this seems like a relatively straightforward factual question that ought not be against any Treasury Department/Secret Service policies to answer.

    Beldar (3f7dae)

  18. beldar – We all know McSame was on the phone with Shrub and Rove planning their strategy for perpetual war.

    JD (5f0e11)

  19. DRJ – With all these other stories, please don’t lose sight of John Edwards’s penis.

    Tnx.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  20. I’m surprised he didn’t say Hillary and Oprah.

    Leave mom under the bus and the grandma too.

    Mention Aunt Esther and he’s all set for Denver.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  21. Hs it wandered of again?

    Rick Ballard (0a8990)

  22. I just heard Rick Warren on the radio saying the idea of McCain cheating was complete BS, fwiw.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  23. Which would be “Has it wandered off again” if I were used to this preview function.

    Rick Ballard (0a8990)

  24. #15, Dana, you’re correct. We are on the same page, only you were there first.

    But now I’m having second thoughts, women can be pretty gullible when it comes to something they want to hear. You know what I’m talking about.

    Sometimes, you just can’t lay it on too thick. I misunderestimated Bambi, he isn’t going to waste national TV time appealing to higher order functions, not when a little soft soap and flattery will do the trick. I suspect this guy’s been manipulating women all his life. He’s good at it.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  25. What has been under-reported is that on the “Who are the three wisest people you know?” question, Warren specifically told Obama not to choose his wife:

    OBAMA: Excluding you of course –

    WARREN: And your wife.

    OBAMA: I was going to say — you know, there are so many people that are constantly helping to shape my views and my opinions. You mentioned one person I’d be listening to, and that’s Michelle, my wife, who is not only wise, but she’s honest.

    — Not only was his answer lame, it wasn’t even within the guidelines. And he was given this ahead of time! Can you say *choke*?

    Icy Truth (1d424e)

  26. Why can’t the media interview one of McCain’s Secret Service agents to ask if they were ever in earshot of a television or radio broadcast of Obama’s answers?

    C’mon master Beldar—–certainly you know that neither the media or the left-tards would believe the SS agents. We all know the “cone of silence” is made of steel that can be easily melted.

    Rovin (a5d8b7)

  27. Secret Service agents couldn’t divulge why McCain was late, much less the media environment of his limo.

    steve (2d9859)

  28. If McCain had been held in a bank vault with an Obama staffer holding an M-16 to his head, the Kosites would be claiming that McCain’s people somehow “got to” the guard. Floating a conspiracy theory is a sure sign of desperation.

    Icy Truth (1d424e)

  29. Rick Warren said one of his people was with McCain the whole time after he got to Saddlebrook and that the TV monitor in the room they had been in had been puposely disable the previous day.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  30. “…women can be pretty gullible when it comes to something they want to hear. You know what I’m talking about.”

    I would love to strenuously object, however…

    I will say that Hillary’s followers are as intense in their loyalty to her as Obama’s worshippers are him. On top of which, these women feel betrayed, which as we all know makes for anything but pliable, easily assauged individuals, let alone en masse. This is not his typical weak-in-the-knees estrogen crowd to smooth talk.

    He’s going to have to walk quite a tightwire if he hopes to grab their vote. And what he absolutely cannot do is choose any woman other woman than Hillary to be his VP (which I don’t believe will happen). That would be political suicide.

    I can’t wait for the convention!

    Dana (a6cd33)

  31. On top of which, these women feel betrayed, which as we all know makes for anything but pliable, easily assauged individuals, let alone en masse. This is not his typical weak-in-the-knees estrogen crowd to smooth talk.

    In fact, attempts to smooth-talking such a woman usually leads to things being thrown at your head…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  32. I thought his Grandmother was a racist typical white person.

    She is, JD, and that’s the beauty of it. He’s appealing to the people in the church and to the general electorate–typical white people (racists). And he doesn’t like Clarence Thomas. He’s not really black at all!

    Patricia (f56a97)

  33. I fully understand if it’s your head, Scott. You’re not using it, and you’ve got it coming anyway.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  34. When Barack says that Michelle is one of the three wisest people he knows—then I have to say that he doesn’t get around all that much. He needs to widen his circle of “wise people”.

    The answer was pathetic.

    Mike Myers (31af82)

  35. If my husband were running for POTUS and he were asked “Who are the three wisest people you know in your life and who are you going to rely on heavily in your administration?” and he answered me, his wife, I would shudder and think, Oh boy, we’re in big heap of trouble here.

    To me thats the problem with Obama’s answer – obviously it was asked in the context of assuming Obama were the president, who would he rely on… not in his personal life. Big problem, this.

    Dana (a6cd33)

  36. daleyrocks #18,

    Thank goodness I have you to bring me back to the important issues so I won’t let those nice things Steve Miller and Apogee said go to my head.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  37. DRJ – I try to be a giver.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  38. Michelle for VP. You go girl. Why pussy-foot around, go for it. Slick Willy will understand even if Hillary takes a while to get onboard. (She’s really the role-model here.) Sure, it was a bit tough on ‘ol Algore, but he warmed up to it eventually. Besides, nobody pays any attention to him anyway.

    So, why take a chance on hurt feelings. Put the power behind the ears front and center. “Bambi and the Battle Axe – Vote for Real Change,” It has the ring of truth about it.

    Ropelight (4a83c9)

  39. Ropelight – They will make you work for your government checks, though. Battle Axe said so. So libs may not like that.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  40. I’ve updated the post to include Dana’s point in comment 35. Thanks, Dana.

    DRJ (a5243f)

  41. Come on people, it’s so obvious that McCain had his head out the window and his moles in the audiance were relaying smoke signals to him.

    Taltos (4dc0e8)

  42. Drumwaster, getting ran over by the Hussein bus made grandma a wise woman.

    Hussein got slapped around worse than my grandma used to slap the quilts to get the dust out of them. Well, no one slapped him around other than himself. It’s really hard for a liar to remember all of the lies. McCain had no problem because he believes what he says and tells the truth. Ask him the same questions next year and get the same answers. Ask Hussein O the same question next week and get a whole different set of answers. A con man winging his way through life.

    Funny that a Black American can work his way up to the SCOTUS and some know nothing, do nothing Johnny come lately ‘Black’ (according to Hussein) takes a crap on him.

    Scrapiron (d671ab)

  43. “WHO ARE THE THREE WISEST PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN YOUR LIFE AND WHO ARE YOU GOING TO RELY ON HEAVILY IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION?”

    Michelle, his racist Grandmother, and political advisors. He had this question in advance, and this is the best he could do? Miss South Carolina talking about US Americans could have come up with that answer.

    JD (75f5c3)

  44. Obama just did a bombing run upon HIMSELF!! As Bugs Bunny would say, “What a Maroon!”

    PCD (5c49b0)

  45. “WHO ARE THE THREE WISEST PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN YOUR LIFE AND WHO ARE YOU GOING TO RELY ON HEAVILY IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION?”

    Michelle, his racist Grandmother, and political advisors.

    I feel safer already… *rolls eyes*

    Scott Jacobs (a1c284)

  46. Scott – That was demonstrably racist.

    JD (75f5c3)


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