McCain to staff: Hands off of Hillary
John McCain is telling his campaign staff to lay off of Hillary. So says the Drudge Report. Not a shocker if you’ve been listening to The Maaaaverick’s effusive praise for Hillary–she of such “good character, honesty, and integrity“–over these many months and years.
McCain would prefer to go up against Clinton in the general election, insiders reveal.
He has instructed his campaign staff to “chill out” on countering Hillary Clinton’s torrent of claims and promises as primary voting comes to an end over the next 6 weeks.
McCain made the tactical decision to downplay Clinton’s tale of Bosnia sniper fire, leaving some McCain staffers frustrated and perplexed.
Guess we’re not the only ones he’s telling to “calm down.” Maybe they’ll need to stock up on nose plugs, too.
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I have to agree with McCain on this one. Hillary is politically dead. He will face Obama. Why waste ammunition on the dead.
I think he should stay out of it. When your enemies are self-destructing, stay the hell out of the way.
I have really mixed thoughts on this; on one hand, I feel that she is fair game anywhere anytime. On the other, since I’m not as “smart” as McCain’s handlers, I guess they know best. I am saying this with just a tad bit of sarcasm.
McCain, Clinton in ‘08?… nudge, nudge, wink, wink…
A Dividied Democrat Party can only kill itself. Obama is the lead, so attack him and let Hillary move up in the polls causing a great schism. Yea I said schism.
When is McCain going to start acting like someone who is campaigning for president?
“We may have lost the election because I was completely unwilling to win the election, but at least, my friends, we ran the most honorable (losing) campaign in the history of losing campaigns.”
Something like that when you concede, Senator McCain?
Looking forward to 2012.
Oh and if I may vent just a “small” irritation here, Michelle? To McCain, I am not, have not nor ever will be your friend. Knock off the “my friend” stuff. Thank you, Mr. McCain.
Now if we could get McCain to lay
offout of the Republican party, we could get a conservative candidate.As Wimpy said in Popeye, let’s you and him fight.
No one on here ever said John McCain was the smartest campaigner out there. But, I guess there is no need to say it, when he so aptly deonstrates it for us day in and day out.
deonstrates = demonstrates
Why would he prefer Hillary when he would be a shoe in against Sen. Obama?
POS
Well Hillary did support his amnesty plan.
To paraphrase Napoleon…
Never interupt an enemy while they are making a mistake.
McCains best strategy is for this to go to a meltdown in Denver. The media will be all over it, and as pressure mounts on BOTH candidates they are making more mistakes.
He can play “Statesman” and be above the fray, as they tear both each other, and the Demo party up…
Not to mention all the money they are burning through against each other…
The Clintons are never dead politically. The Republicans make a dreadful mistake in letter her make it to the general election. No way can McCain beat Clinton.
His love fest for that woman is going to cost this nation in a most terrible manner.
I do think Mc Cain should make a few jokes about the Annie Oakley statement by Obama. He can ask Obama if he is afraid of a “straight shooter”, or if he thinks women have no right to protect themselves even if they think like his Grandmother.
“good character, honesty and integrity”.
Is McCain smoking crack?
I think at this point Obama has set himself up nicely to be a sitting duck in the national election with his Reverend Wright, and “bitter people of Pennsylania” debacles. Give this guy some more time, and he’ll keep exposing himself for the socialist phony that he is. So I don’t understand McCain’s reluctance to help Obama skewer Clinton, so Obama takes the Dem nomination. What Obama has sidestepped in the democrat battle, will blow right back in his face in the national election. I have many issues with McCain, and Ill be holding my nose when I vote for him; but he is better than any Dim-ocrat in the White House.
No? The smartest campaigner must be Rudy, or maybe Thompson, or is it Romney, no, how about Huckabee? There’s got to be one who is smarter than the others. I’ve GOT it. . . Ron Paul.
McCain knows what he’s doing and he’s right. Don’t forget Mary Katherine Ham VOTED FOR Hillary.
The most reasonable inference to draw is that McCain is doing his part in Rush Limbaugh’s Operation Chaos: keep Clinton as strong as possible as long as possible to maximize the upcoming Circus-War in Denver (aka Circus City).
Maybe Slick Willy was on to something.
Birds of a feather and all that jazz, ya know.
It’s purely tactical. She’s taking heat from Obama, she can’t survive multiple front attacks. He wants to face her because she’ll be easier to beat.
Let Obama and Hillary kill each other, then attack whichever one is left — Preferably Clinton.
radio relay,
Say no more, say no more
For tactical reasons or out of a like for her over McCain? Voting for Hillary keeps the Dem nomination process going.
On April 14th, 2008 at 2:41 pm, sbw999
At this point, if Clinton wins the nomination, she won’t get the black vote. The black community is famous for their boycotts.
Way. If Clint♂n gets the nomination, the Democrat Party’s most reliable bloc will sit in their cribs on Election Day.
They are the three monkeys:
See no evil.
Hear no evil.
Speak no evil.
We are the fourth monkey:
Have no fun.
On April 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pm, amerpun
For tactical reasons, which is why McCain says to lay off Hillary now - for tactical reasons. I’ll probably vote for Hillary too. Mainly because I think Obama would be a worse president than Hillary - much worse.
I agree wholeheartedly with this..
#2 said
but then he should have never praised her like he did.. if anything, say she is best off in the senate or something like that.. don’t PRAISE her..
She will pat your back looking for the best place to knife you..
he is in the arena watching a tiger and a lion fight it out.. and he’s up against the winner..
I wasn’t living in Arizona for the last 10 years but before,when I was there for 10 years before that, I don’t think he ever had a real challenge for his senate seat..
he’ll be in for a real fight.. hope he’s been training..
Agreed on both counts: This is a tactical decision and Obama would be worse.
Did McShamnesty join Operation Chaos?
McCain is a loser.
Hillary may be a friend of his in the senate but she is very different in her vision for the future of this country. In that respect I don’t know why McCain would say this!
Of course he is saying these things about Hillary. She knows she has already lost the primary and has probably told McCain that when the time comes, she plans to surreptitiously help him win the `08 general so she can run again in 2012 without the intra-party stigma of taking on a fellow Democrat.
Hillary and McCain are not THAT different in the heart of there ideologies..
open borders..
tax breaks..
environmental issues..
hell, even Gitmo..
In the hopes that, if he lays off the attacks on her and goes after Obama, she may be able to recover a bit. He’d much rather face her in the general, as she’d be easier to defeat.
McSame is a master of conditioning the field for capitulation. That’s as aggressive as he gets. His background is founded on deception and is capitulating with Hillary to not investigate what is true about him and what he fabricated (smells like SwiftBoating). And lastly Hillary and McSame may be the new dream ticket. That would insure McSame presidency. You say that would never happen but the capitulator will always cut the best deal possible for self. That’s his version of serving his country.
Hey, Hillary is teetering on the edge of a precipice, so why not give her a little shove McCant?
On April 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pm,
Without the black vote, no Democrat would ever win a national election for President. So I hope you are right, but I hate to count on it. Despite the vitriolic campaign Obama and Clinton are having against each other, I just sense that the Dems cannot wait to close ranks behind one candidate,whoever it is, against McCain.
He want to run against a woman so he can say:
“At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c**t.”
I have to say it: McCain and Hillary are of the same political breed. The political “fight” we’re focusing on really is a red herring to reality - We have no choice.
Okay Thacker, who gives a darn who Mary Katherine Ham voted for, I don’t like her anyway and why you think I’d let that bubble head with her ridiculous opinions influence me is crazy. I also think they’re the same political animal. I really don’t like McCain either although I did volunteer and contribute money to him in 2000. However, he’s completely off the ranch now but I won’t let that stop me from voting for the local guys and gals.
Forgot to add-they make a lovely couple don’t they?
#43 On April 14th, 2008 at 3:17 pm, Rinoalert said:
“He want to run against a woman so he can say:
“At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c**t.””
Be nice, now.
How about something just a wee bit more polite, along the lines of Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin in Saturday Night Live’s “Point - Counterpoint”?:
“Jane, you ignorant slut!”
(Yep, dating myself here…~30 years ago or so, when SNL was new & fresh, and actually worth staying up to watch.)
It is to McCain’s advantage to keep the identity of the demonominee in question. The Hildebeast and the snoBama are doing an excellent job of trashing each other. In a case like this, you lay off the weaker candidate and let the carnage persist. Hence lay off Hillary.
When the fight is over, McCain will look pristine compared to the manure-encrusted survivor of the demoprimaries, especially in the eyes of the middle of the roaders.
Ideally, the fight will go onto the convention and will leave 49.99% of the Democrats feeling screwed.
McCain is being devious. When he says the nice things about Hillary, he is just prolonging the fun…
I tend to agree with others that there’s nothing in it for McCain to attack Shrillary, right? It’s not like she’s going to get the Dem nomination… unless there’s blood at the convention.
McCain really does need to get back from vacation and start raising campaign cash if he or Obummer don’t take public funds. There’s a reason to stay out of it… or use the Dem “bittergate” bonanza to his advantage.
You don’t win elections by taking a vacation in anticipation of the Republican convention or lying low.
*I* care what Mary Katherine says and writes.. but then, I am a male nurse a school boy crush on her as well
GAG!!!!!!
Dave C,
I will say one thing for her, she has a great name-it’s also my daughter’s name but her name is Mary Catherine with the C.
Let’s not forget that Operation Chaos requires McCain to be quiet about Hillary. The game plan for Operation is to let Obama and McCain destroy each other. McCain’s operatives can stoke the fires a little but let’s allow Obama and Billary to selfdestruct. In the MSM, Charlie Gibson and Brian Williams will do their dead level best to rehabilitate Obama. There is nothing we can do about that. Operation Chaos seems to be working just fine. Let it continue longer.
Thank you for letting more people register on your site Michelle. I do think that Sen. McCain should attack both of the candidates on the democrat side more. Perhaps Sen. McCain is being devious and waiting until one of them emerges bloodied from the Convention floor to attack the winner. I sure hope so for his sake. This election is basically his to lose by being too nice to the winner.
The problem with McCain’s campaign is that they try to be too nice—even when the other candidates deserve to be called out.
Obama for instance. Has anyone read Guy Benson’s column at Townhall? Go read it, and you’ll know what I mean.
McCrazy is just being his usual pussified self; no matter which Dhim gets the nomination the Libs will be breaking their necks to get in the voting booth for them, they’ll steamroll McCrazy like a tar bubble, (even blacks will turn out for the witch if she gets it). Maybe you guys haven’t noticed the Dhims fund raising numbers, McCrazy has, that’s why he’s crying about matching funds promises. The @$$hole brought it on himself, good riddance. What goes around comes around. Campaign Finance has got McCrazy by the gonads,and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving fellow.
The Republicans and McCinsane are going to get thumped in the fund raising. La Raza can only donate so much to McCamnesty.
Why shouldn’t McCain be nice to Hillary, since she is obviously angling to be his VP?
I shudder to think how much Mexico (and thereby its proxy agents)has invested in McCain. I really do wish he’d get rid of Hernandez. There’s only so much you can take from a foreign entity before you have to start raising your own money (you hear that Hillary?).
It makes good sense to let Obama and Hillary fight in the cage a little longer.
Well, I stand corrected. TA believes McCain is the smartest.
But, you shouldn’t limit yourself so much, TA. I try to look beyond the horrific field we have had running this year.
In McCain speak it’s called “Reaching across the aisle.”
I’m going to co-sign bit_boy about Hillary and McSame on the dream ticket. Given McCain’s age, he’ll probably be a one term president, so if Hillary handicaps Obama now and alienates young and black voters, she won’t win against McCain in November, but she can reload for 2012.
It’s a good strategy to let Obummer and Billary fight it out. They’re exposing each other for who they really are and they’re blowing through their war chests. Mccain just needs to find a way to be in the public eye more, he has completely faded into the background.
Thanks! I needed that laugh, Walter.
This is good, for now. Hillary and Obama are tearing each other so far to shreds they’ll hardly be recognizable after this. If McCain sticks his nose in he’ll become collateral damage.
Even so I hope he’ll give up this “strategy” once the Democrat nominee is decided. We know he and Hillary are kissy-kissy, so he may not. That’s why him as the Republican nominee worries me.
I’ve been beyond worried that the D.C. establishment gave us McCain as the nominee. I lose sleep over it nowadays. *sigh*
Three difficult questions:
1. Which one is McCain more likely to defeat?
2. If, heaven help us, Americans elect a Democrat president, which of the two will best assure a Republican president in 2012?
3. And if (holding our nose, but loving our country), we had to choose which is most likely to be the better President, which would that be?
Well, McCain clearly thinks Hillary is a softer opponent. I would think she would be easier to do well against in debates, considering her abrasive style. She lacks Obama’s smoothness.
I am tired of having to choose between worse and worser. The two party system has failed America. We the people have lost control of our own government.
I wish people would quit whining. I personally feel that this is a politically smart move on McCain’s part. Let Hillary do the dirty work of beating Obama.
As much as it pains me to say this, I could even live with Clinton as President. Obama truly frightens me. At least with McCain and Clinton, you know what you are getting.
It is said that I’ll be voting (McCain) based on who I believe will do the LEAST amount of damage to the country.
Lindsey
McCan’t is a Republican, like Lieberman is an Independent.
If anything, the Clinton camp should be ratcheting up the attacks on Obama, especially when he keeps putting his foot into his mouth.
Let McCain rest up for the general election. It’s the politically savvy thing to do.
I believe Obama would be easier to defeat than Hillary, so McCain should be careful who he’s rooting for.
If that happens I may actually vote for Ralph Nader
This makes sense to me overall. Keeping himself out of the spotlight allows Hillary and Obama to damage each other. Keeping attention away from himself at this stage of the game is good.
Maybe McCain is watching Rush Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos.” Keeping Hillary alive for a while longer is a good tactical move.
I’ve wondered for quite some time if John McCain is really a Democrat plant.
Perhaps what he needs is to have significant conservative competition to “wake” him up….Bob Barr, anyone?
Yeah, I’m thinking that Hillary is going to kill her own cause without any help from McCain. Personally, I think McCain should just let the Barack and Hillary destroy each other- he can conserve his money until the final nomination. Of course, I would really like for McCain to go on self-destruct too… and maybe we could get a real Republican candidate in the seat.
I am so tired of elections that require me to pick the lesser of two evils. Why can’t the GOP come up with a good candidate? I didn’t want McCain 8 years ago and I don’t want him today.
Why should I vote for candidates that lie to get elected? Why should I vote for candidates that do not support my community’s values, even in their personal lives? Why should I vote for candidates who spread the vile disease of corruption rather than offer a cure?
Do we enjoy being played for suckers?
We can either choose today to defend our freedoms and values with a honest vote, or later, we will be forced to defend our freedoms and values at the edge of a sword.
Well, the Huckster has an announcement coming up. I wonder if he plans ot run for President. Frankly, that would make my day, though I don’t like the guy. It would piss McShamnesty off and possibly make him more conservative because right now he is making ZERO efforts to be conservative and I as one can never vote for him. If Huckstr runs, it will take a large segment of McCain’s vote and he is likely to loose unless he does take real steps towards conservatism, not just telling us to get in line and vote fo rhim cause we have to. I would rather have 4 years of a Carter type than 4 to 8 of McShamnesty liberal followed by 8 of a marxist. But I doubt Huckster will be that selfless.
In some respects, I disagree with McCain…when would a Clinton ever hesitate to gut like a fish a political enemy?
On the other hand, if he did respond, it would certainly be an opening for both Obama and Clinton to be distracted from gutting each other.
This makes total sense if McCain thinks Clinton is toast. He wants to get the votes as many of her supporters as he can and will do nothing to anger or alienate them now.
McCain/Clinton ‘08.
Will McCain tell Billy Jeff to keep his hands of his interns?