McCain completely misstates facts to Katie Couric

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 8:46am

When questioned by Couric, McCain gives 'the surge' credit for something that happened months before it began. He refers to the 'Anbar awakening', which occurred months before Petraeus was ever in Iraq. Of course, Couric doesn't call him on his lie. So, he gets away with misstating facts while accusing Obama of lying. Can someone please explain for me this alleged favoritism that the media is showing Obama?

Here's the exhange:

Kate Couric: Senator McCain, Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as-- such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.

Updated On: 7/23/08 at 08:46 AM

[Weez]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 9:37am

McCain *and* Katie Couric? Now THERE'S a conversation I'm glad I wasn't privy to. XP

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 9:50am

The bad news is that the Obama campaign had to point out McCain's gaffe to the media. Even if Couric wasn't shap enough to know her facts, someone should have caught this. The good news is that it's now getting more attention.

This mistake goes well beyond misspeaking on things like the Iraq/Afghan border, which can be written off to his senility. This was a deliberate misstatement of fact that was used to impugn Obama's position.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 3:50pm

It boggles my mind why Katie Couric doesn't see the importance of trying to restore any kind of journalistic integrity to the medium. I understand she makes a wad of cash either way but time and time again she acts like she doesn't care. Her ratings are in the tank and she is irrelevant.

She had a chance to completely reinvent something and she chose to read her copy and smile. Meanwhile Meredith Viera took over her wildly popular Today Show spot (which was/is NOT a news program) allowing Rosie O'donnell to come along and BLOW daytime talk of the water making The View one of the most important/relevant shows on television.

I'm not asking these people preach liberal bias, I'm asking them to present truth based on fact. What this country needs now are strong journalists. Not bloggers, real journalists doing real work being objective and presenting the truth to Americans.
The video.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 3:54pm

Updated On: 7/23/08 at 03:54 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:04pm

By the way, I went to the CBS News site and could find no reference to McCain's lies on either their home page or their political page. I believe the unedited interview is available on the site, but there is no reference to his controversial comments.

Again, where's the media's liberal bias?

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:16pm

I find it VERY discouraging presenting the truth and facts in an objective form is considered "liberal media bias" to Americans. If Americans think that proof based on facts can be disregarded as "bias" because they can't agree with it we are hopeless.

Well this is much bigger than what McCain said or did, CBS went ahead and edited it to their liking. That is a HUGE disservice to their audience.

I would argue that this is not bias for McCain it's bias for the "horse race."

[Elphaba]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:55pm

"McCain completely misstakes facts to Katie Couric"

sheesh, GET A VERB!

"mistakes" is not a verb

(he makes mistakes, he mistakenly told her, etc)

but NEVER would anyone say "He mistakes facts to..."

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 5:53pm

Thanks for pointing that out. I changed it to "misstates", which is what I had intended to type.

If I want people to pay attention to McCain's gaffes, I should expect no less of my own.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 6:05pm

Wait, now it gets even better. According to McCain, the surge now started before the surge:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/23/mccain-denies-making-gaffe-on-timing-of-troop-surge/