« Beating the “System”
Another Woman to Speak for Obama »



A Cone of Silence Without Legs?

August 20th, 2008
By DORIAN DE WIND

Print Print

The allegations, accusations, innuendoes, counter-accusations, denials, spin, etc., on whether McCain was in fact in a “cone of silence” during Saddleback, and on whether he had the opportunity, the ability, and/or the lack of integrity to overhear some of the questions posed to Obama, continue, but with some abatement.

For those who continue to have interest in this issue, The Huffington Post had an interesting “backgrounder” on this: “NYT Backs Up NBC: McCain Was Not In “Cone Of Silence” Before Saddleback,” additional links and all.

It remains to be seen if this story has any legs left. Having found this “event” quite curious and not fully explained or “mitigated,” I think it interesting to ponder whether such a story would have had longer and stronger legs–especially in the right-wing media–if the not-so-cone-of-silence had been on the other head.



This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 3:08 pm and is filed under John McCain, Barack Obama, 2008 Elections, Politics, Blogging. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 12 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    Once again you've missed the issue. This story would have legs if NBC, the NYTimes or the Huffies were contending that McCain heard the questions asked to Obama in advance of McCain's questioning because that is what is at issue. IF McCain was not in the 'cone of silence', as he and his campaign and the pastor have admitted, AND he listened to the questioning of Obama, THEN, the story would have legs. Thus far, McCain has admitted that he was not in the cone of silence AND....nothing. So far, nobody has made the contention that McCain listened to the questioning of Obama so the story has no legs, much as you try to prop it up.
    • ^
    • v
    Of course, neither McCain nor his campaign are going to admit that he listened to the questions...if he did
    • ^
    • v
    If it had been the other way around, the right-wingers would be screaming, the mainstream media would be dutifully reporting the screams, and Obama would be on vacation in Hawaii. His campaign obviously learned NOTHING from the Swiftboat attacks.

    Yes, the "Cone of Silence" story mattered. It was the latest example of the Christian Right's lying machine in motion. Whether or not McCain "heard" the questions is an asinine question that insults anyone's intelligence, as is "Pastor" Rick Warren's statement that the Secret Service was with McCain and would have "reported" it if McCain had gotten the questions asked of Obama.

    Anyone who watched the show knows that McCain got the questions in advance. But Obama's campaign has clearly not developed a campaign war room like Clinton did in '92 and '96, so they were unable to do anything about it. The way I see it, Obama is on his way to defeat.
    • ^
    • v
    Well, frequent poster, it would only be cheating IF McCain had heard the questions. IF he did not hear the questions, there is no controvery and thus no excuse for Obama to make in regard to his performance because that is the real issue after all; that McCain performed so much better than Obama even though Obama is, we are told, a gifted orator.

    To borrow a line, anyone who watched the show would know that Obama is not a gifted orator and that he will probably get crushed in the general election - on that point we agree. But, once more, the cone of silence story only matters if McCain heard the questions. If he did not hear the questions, it does not matter.
    • ^
    • v
    Had John McCain not performed so well at Saddleback, this never would have been an issue at all. Who cares whether the Senator was in a “Cone of Silence” or not? The real question is, “Did McCain cheat somehow by either getting the questions in advance or overhearing part of Obama’s interview?”. McCain says that he did not. Whether or not one chooses to believe him seems to be based primarily on one’s political persuation.
    • ^
    • v
    PWT: Just keep repeating "McCain did not hear the questions." Eventually even you might believe it
    • ^
    • v
    PWT-

    How would we know if he did hear something?
    And please provide any linkage to Obama "making excuses" for his performance due to McCain alleged listening in, please.
    • ^
    • v
    ell, frequent poster, it would only be cheating IF McCain had heard the questions.


    Well, actually no. The Pastor mentioned on many occasions that while one candidate was taking questions, the other would be in the so called "Cone of Silence". Including while speaking with Obama.

    And when addressing McCain he asked if he was ok in the "Cone of Silence".

    So we know that the event wasn't conducted as promised, and that as much as we may like him, Pastor Warren lies not only to the public, but to his own parishioners.
    • ^
    • v
    How is the weather out in the fever swamps? McCain cheated and Pastor Warren is a liar? Truly, Obama supporters are desperate. He is not the great orator that democrats had hoped for and now they are forced to make excuses for his poor performance, (christoofar - I meant that his supporters were making excuses for his poor performance not that Obama had make excuses for his poor performance). It is good that this event is in the past and now the Obama supporters can hone their excuse making skill for the debates in the fall. Considering how poorly Obama did in this format, they will need plenty of excuses for poor performances when Obama is forced to debate McCain one on one.

    Most people assume that lawyers are good debaters, however, Obama only has a law degree, he never worked as an attorney - it shows. Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach become community organisers.
    • ^
    • v
    PWT: Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach become community organisers.

    I heard it somewhat differently. Lol! Be that as it may, in addition to the "can't teach" part, there's bit of a chronology issue. But for the record, where do Senators figure into your fractured fairy tale?
    • ^
    • v