by Jill Zuckman
Bensalem, Penn. - John McCain accused Barack Obama Tuesday of saying one thing in Philadelphia and another in Tampa Bay when he's campaigning.
It's a standard charge that politicians frequently level at one another to demonstrate hypocrisy or a loose commitment to the truth.
But this was serious. This was baseball. And it involves the World Series. Politicians, such as Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, have been pilloried before for suggesting they would root for a team other than their own.
In this case, Obama is a White Sox fan. McCain roots for the Arizona Diamondbacks, which his wife, Cindy, owns a stake in.
"I heard that Senator Obama was showing some love to the Devil Rays down in Tampa Bay yesterday," McCain said in suburban Philadelphia. "Now, I'm not dumb enough to get mixed up in a World Series between swing states, but I think I may have detected a little pattern with Senator Obama. It's pretty simple really. When he's campaigning in Philadelphia, he roots for the Phillies, and when he's campaigning in Tampa Bay, he shows love to the Rays.
"It's kind of like the way he campaigns on tax cuts, but then votes for tax increases after he's elected," McCain continued. "Or the way he says he backs the middle class and then goes and attacks Joe the Plumber after he's asked a tough question."
In a quick response to the looming public relations crisis, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said there should be no confusion about Obama's intentions.
"I guess these are the kinds of attacks you make when you have no plan to fix our economy," Vietor said. "Senator Obama said he's rooting for the Phillies. He said nice things about the members of the team who came out to support him, but that doesn't change the fact that they bounced his White Sox out of the playoffs."
Comments
Come on Senator McCain, tell the truth. Didn't you stage that " Joe the Plumber " skit for political purposes ? Come on, now, Senator, the whole nation is watching !! A plant and he still couldn't deliver ! " Joe the Plumber, he ain't !! He ain't even " Joe" and yet, Senator McCain and Governor Palin are quoting him as though he were Marie Antoinette. A veritable fountain of truth and, yet, in effect, he tells the listening public, of lesser means: Let them eat cake !! I want to get mine and I don't care if you get any !! As far as skits go, Senator McCain, this one was about as big a hit as the Hindenberg was !! Unfortunately for you and your cohorts, the Bush Republicans, it blew-up in your face, like most of yours and your incompetent campaign's contrivances !! Back to the drawing-boards, to create another contrived " fear and smear " tactic, I guess, but, be aware, time is running out and America has had enough of you gutter politics !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | October 21, 2008 10:45 AM
Did Obama say in Tampa that he'd be rooting for the Phillies? OR didn't he have the guts to?
Another demonstration of "Profiles in Cowardice" from the empty suit.
Posted by: Disgusted with politics | October 21, 2008 10:51 AM
Everytime McCain has told his torture story, he has said that he gave the line-up of the Green Bay Packers when he was asked about key names of government/military officials. Every time but once, that is. While campaigning in Pittsburgh, he said it was the Steelers line-up. But I'm sure that wasn't pandering.
Posted by: My Aunt Fanny | October 21, 2008 11:58 AM