Letterman Grills McCain
Friday October 17, 2008
Six and a half million viewers tuned in to watch John McCain grovel to David Letterman last night and admit he "screwed up" when he bailed out on him last month. (Video and transcript available.)McCain returned to the Late Show to make amends with Letterman, who has been mocking him relentlessly ever since he hastily canceled his appearance on the show, only to sit down instead with CBS's Katie Couric.
"I screwed up," McCain said, shrugging apologetically. "But look at all the conversation I gave you….I haven't had so much fun since my last interrogation."
Letterman said he was willing to put the episode behind him, but unfortunately for McCain, that's when the real grilling began. Letterman repaid McCain by subjecting him to one of the toughest interviews he's had during the campaign.
McCain appeared visibly uncomfortable as Letterman hit McCain with a series of hard-hitting questions about the hate speech at his campaign rallies, whether Sarah Palin is really qualified for the job, and McCain's ties to G. Gordon Liddy, a famous "domestic terrrorist."
Here's Letterman asking about Palin: "In your guts, in your stomach -- you're a smart, tough, savvy guy. If I were to run upstairs, wake you up in the middle of the night and say, 'John, is Sarah Palin really the woman to lead us through the next four, eight years? Through the next 9/11 attack?'"
"Absolutely," said McCain, who made his usual claims for her competence. "Have we pretty well exhausted this topic?"
"No no," Letterman replied. "I'm just getting started."
Watch a video clip and read the full transcript.
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Comments
Letterman at his very best!!! Especially in the 2nd half of the McCain interview! Good to see that both -at least somewhat- kept their sense of humor in all of this though.
Though this was a tough thing for McCain to do, he came off seamlessly! I am a Democrat, and I’m voting for a man who is not afraid to admitt he made a mistake, and can laugh at himself. McCain kicked A at the “roast” and then went on to kick A again on Letterman. He was intelligent, well spoken, funny.. for those who say he’s too old you should watch both! He’s got more energy than most 20 year olds! I like him. He is a brave soul indeed!
Came off seamlessly? The interview was yet another embarrassment for McCain, who withered under Letterman’s blunt questioning. He may have laughed things off by saying he screwed up, but that just reinforced the prevailing belief that his whole campaign “cancellation” was a stunt that backfired. McCain could not make a convincing case for why Sarah Palin is prepared for the presidency. And he had no answer for how he can attack Obama for his connection to Ayers when McCain has been palling around with Gordon Liddy, who was involved in domestic terrorism plots involving break-ins, firebombings, assassinations, and kidnappings.
It’s unfortunate for McCain that a record number of people tuned in to watch, because they saw him for the fraud that he is. Kudos to Letterman for asking the tough questions that the mainstream media has been afraid to ask.
You watched Letterman and the Roast and you think McCain flubbed!? Then you are just a liar! My entire office, even the ones voting for Obama, had to admitt MCCAIN kicked A on both shows and he has shown himself to be relaxed and smooth. OBAMA? YOU COULD SEE THE FEAR IN HIS EYES! HE CANNOT RELAX, AND HIS JOKES WERE STRAINED AND UNFUNNY! You inject your politics into everything.. You just KNOW MCCAIN did an EXCELLENT job!
It’s so cute when you scream in all caps, Holly. Fear in Obama’s eyes? Let’s be real here. The guy is a cool as a cucumber at all times. Besides, fear is mostly a Republican thing…couldn’t run a campaign without it.
Holly, get real Mc Cain couldn’t get anything right if his life depended on it. He is an old washed up loser, and we will be in a world of trouble if he gets in for President. We don’t need another 8 years of the same failed policies in Washington. America needs an intelligent President this time, and although I wanted Hillary to be President. I realy admire Obama. We need him for President. He is not the one running a nasty campain. He has always stayed cool and collected no matter what those losers McCain and Palin threw out to slander him. They should be ashamed but do not have the class to be ashamed. They are liers and cheaters. All they care about is their agenda and not what is best for America…