Thursday, March 20, 2008
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McCain Throws Aide Under the Bus for Twittering YouTube Link
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
5:51 PM
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Today, John McCain suspended an aide -- Soren Dayton -- for distributing this controversial YouTube video about Barack Obama and Rev. Wright. As campaigns spokesperson Jill Hazelbaker told Jonathan Martin, Dayton was "reprimanded by campaign leadership."
I defended John McCain when he distanced himself from that radio show host in Ohio who repeatedly invoked Obama's middle name. To me, the radio host was making a tawdry attack, meant to imply Obama was Muslim. And McCain was doing the right thing by not engaging in that sort of campaign.
But this situation is a bit different.
In reading his Twitter message (shown above), Dayton merely wrote: "Good video on Obama and Wright," and included the link. That's it. And for that, he was suspended.
Here's why I think this move might have been politically unwise. Suspending Dayton for passing this video on implies by extension that the message of this video was in some way incorrect, or, at least, not respectable. But, as I've written in the past, it is entirely legitimate to question Obama's affiliation with Rev. Wright -- as well as to highlight Obama's evolving positions.
From Geraldine Ferraro to Samantha Power, this has been the year for apologies and terminations. My question is whether John McCain is willing to throw everyone under the bus the minute they do something that might be embarrassing to him.
Perhaps I'm naive, but I've been told that campaigns actually attack their opponents from time to time. It is unclear precisely what Dayton's job for McCain was (a source tells Jonathan Martin that Dayton was doing "low-level political work for [deputy political director] John Yob."
Dayton was a fairly prominent blogger, and one would suppose he was doing more than simply "low-level" work. Perhaps he wasn't -- or perhaps this is an example of a McCain aide taking another shot at a guy who is already down.
Still, reprimanding him may cause future McCain operatives to think twice before doing their job. Is McCain recommending a sort of "limited war" in which the enemy can shoot at us, but we can't shoot back?
Standing on principle is a good value, but so is supporting your subordinates and so is loyalty. It takes political courage to stand up for your team -- even if it may cost you politically. Is McCain too concerned about wanting to come across as a nice guy?
Hazelbaker emailed me the following statement (which is the same thing she sent Martin):
We have been very clear on the type of campaign we intend to run and this staffer acted in violation of our policy. He has been reprimanded by campaign leadership and suspended from the campaign.
Though they have been clear on the type of campaign they want to run, it is still unclear if, or when, Dayton will be reinstated.
Of course, it is not unheard of for campaigns to engage in a bit of deception involving the leaking of negative information. For example, it is entirely possible that Dayton distributed it under the direction of a campaign superior. It is possible Dayton believed the campaign would have wanted this out there -- but that not telling them would give them plausible deniably.
It is also entirely possible that he has agreed to be the "fall guy" in an effort to save Senator McCain face. In fact, it is likely this little controversy will result in more people viewing this video -- which would obviously be a net-plus for McCain (who gets to remain above the fray).
But -- because this particular video added little to the narrative -- it is more likely that Dayton merely passed this link on, not knowing it would be a big deal -- and that the McCain campaign has chosen to punish him for this. What Dayton is really guilty of is failing to follow the maxim that you should never interfere when the enemy is in the process of committing suicide.
If McCain has any cause to be angry, it's not that Dayton made an ethical lapse -- it's that he made a political one.
Dayton distributed the video via Twitter. The default setting on Twitter allows anyone to "follow" a Twitterer. In other words, it would have been easy for anybody who wanted to catch Dayton (or any other operative, for that matter) in a gaffe, to sign up to receive his messages.
Most folks who use Twitter, do so in a very casual and personal manner. One source who follows Dayton told me that Dayton most likely didn't think he was Twittering in an "official" capacity. Still, anything you write can and will be used against you.
Dayton has since deleted his Twitter account.
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Yes but Clinton got nicked by Obama on the African robe thing and that was similar that campaign staff was emailing it, though they certainly didn't originate it...McCain is playing good defense since he must NOT be seen as taking advantage when Obama and Hillary are so good at keeping this in the news...Go, Geraldine calling Wright a bigot today - let them do it, certainly not McCain |
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McCain has spent his life betraying the people and principles he claimed to represent. I am one conservative who will vote for Hillary before I will vote for McCain.
The Republican Party is greatly underestimating the comtempt millions of conservatives have for McCain. |
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I'd already seen the you-tube but I don't work for McCain. Now millions more will see this nicely edited piece carving up Obama with his own "words" by giving an assistant a short vacation...That's priceless but actually free publicity, you guys, all while keeping the "high road". |
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I knew McCain would go into typical limp Repub mode. Better not point out facts about one's opponent lest ye be thought of as being mean. sheesh. |
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John McCain is famous for it, didn't you know he really wants the dems to get elected and there,s something in it for him! ha ha! |
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We the People of the United States of America have the right to have our borders and our laws respected and enforced.
Citizens of other countries illegally in our country have no right to demand anything from our government. They most certainly have the right to petition the governments of their home countries for change if they are unhappy with their home country. If they want to be Americans, we have a path to citizenship, more generous than any other nation, and it starts in their home country.
We need to insist on the equal protection, application and enforcement of the law or devolve into anarchy. Our Republic only functions if everyone follows the same rules. We should not change the laws to accomodate those breaking them.
If America annouces to the world "We can't stop you, so come on in" with another amnesty, the deluge will be overwhelming. If 3,000 a day didn't get your attention, then wait until it's 10,000 a day. We cannot sustain this influx and survive as a nation. We must speak up and speak to each other about this and not let false claims of racism or bigotry be used to intimidate us into silent assent. America is not Congress' to give away. America belongs to We the People. Speak to your neighbors, speak to your coworkers, but please speak up to your Congressmen and Senators. It's O.K. for us to enforce our laws, no really, it is.
Someone please tell Sen. McCain.
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Concede now, the Democrats and MSM will love you more. |
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I think McCain is going to need to move the straight talk express from that bus to a car smashing monster truck for better efficiency. That poor bus can't take many more bumps. |
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I agree with you! I have e-mailed and used numbersUSA.com to contact Senators and Reps. in my state and honestly I don't think they care, I still havn't seen their names on the list, only two, even if we contacted John McCain, unless millions of people do it, and even then I don't think he will care. |
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We could organise a national protest day like the Hispanic communities did, oh no, that wouldn,t work, we would all lose our jobs if we took the day off!!! |
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If he is willing to do this for something as mundane as this, he will definately do it as Pres.
He will fire his Sec. of Defence, DHS Sec., VP when they attack a critic. You use your surogates to fight your battles so you keep your hands clean(er).
We currently hear a lot about "Judgement", what kind of judgement is being shown here. McCain does not understand who he is fighting. He seems to think he is fighting the very ones who support him.
This is poor judgement on his part and his attempt to be the "Saintly" one this election cycle will come back to bite him.
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That was a stupid video that insulted the viewer. It was a rehash of old material, and not very well executed, at that.
It added nothing to the search for ***truly*** disturbing stuff about Obama. I'd fire an employee for doing such a sandlot prank, too.
It was an asinine publication, and showed appalling judgment for someone who might considered themselves to be a "professional."
McCain doesn't need the puerile asininity or cutesy underhandedness that rules the Obama and the Clinton campaigns. For that matter, none of us do.
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Why would anyone want to be anywhere near this guy? I hate to say it but it may very well be that Hillary IS the best candidate this year. I would never vote for her so why would I ever vote for McCain? The guy is a nut. |
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to grow a pair...unless he's afraid of Hill-Billary tearing them off.
W/O= |
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us to believe he took all his captors threw at him in the Hanoi Hilton without breaking? The more people he throws off or under the bus the less I believe it.
W/O= |
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I still MUST vote FOR him...the two alternatives are no alternative at all. In fact, both of them are downright dangerous for my country.
W/O= |
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Had you the b@lls to make the Hanoi Hilton comment about McCain in front of me, I would have caused you serious unhappiness. You punk kid.
The First Amendment allows one to express yourself as you see fit, and also allows others to respond to your expression as they see fit.
Of course, you're a sac-less troll. Who are you whoring for? Obama? Clinton? Soros?
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McCain is the one taking Soros' money. |
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As dear old Woodrow Wilson once said "There's such a thing as being too proud to fight"..or words to that effect; and look what that desiccated WASP got us at Versailles?
I know this will get some enraged, but I've had the sneaking suspicion for years that unlike the WWII generation of politicians and statemen, the Vietnam Era generation of veterans is just not up to it. |
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... from his days as a POW?
Apparently, John McCain is the ONLY person on the McCain staff qualified to hurl insults at political opponents?
John McCain: The Great Defender of Liberalism
Am I a total fool for trying to support this guy? (rhetorical question. no reply necessary.)
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I respect John as a true patriot, a war hero, and a person who I trust to adhere to the principles for which this nation stands. His loyalty is to, above all else, the country and the constitution especially when those loyalties may clash with personal loyalties. Unlike Bush and his cadre of neophite neocons who have no problem throwing our country's principles under the bus over their loyalties to men, I'm convinced McCain will protect us and our liberties far more. Wether it be Hillary, Barak, or John - I will be proud again of the office of the President. All 3 have my vote of confidence. So, whoever wins in '08, America wins because it's not Bush. |
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Support him if you must, but don't say anything that might hurt the Democrats feelings or you'll be the next one thrown under the wheels of the "Straight Talk Express". ;) |
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You have to understand that he is obsessed with pleasing the MSM, here and abroad. He is like an insecure child with an inflated ego dreaming of "making it big". Hollywood and Washington are full of them. |
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Think about this: McCain is using very smart tactics here by staying "above the fray". He's got to do this to keep independents and those that are getting sick of these bickering dysfunctional democrats. He's also very smartly announcing the firing of his aide and in effect the McCain camp has in fact directed people to that video on YouTube by doing so (not directly but curiosity will have people seek it out). This is the only way I knew about the video, and the site has had huge hits since yesterday because of this. Very smart... |
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is the answer to the question:
'Is McCain recommending a sort of "limited war" in which the enemy can shoot at us, but we can't shoot back?':
For the past ten years McCain has been best at throwing conservatives, his constituency, his colleagues and his fellow party members under the bus.
McCain is not going to fight a war during or after the campaign in any theater except Iraq/Afghanistan. And the reason he will keep us at war in Iraq is to hold onto conservative and Republican voters.
I am a staunch supporter of our going into Iraq and Afghanistan. But I also think we ought to do whatever is right going forward meaning. And if the time comes that it is deemed best by competent military officers and diplomats to pull out of Iraq, I will support that.
But I doubt McCain will ever agree to leave Iraq and Afghanistan because the perception that McCain is best qualified to prosecute any war is the only thing giving him a prayer of a chance to win this election and he's not likely to be willing to give up the one thing that might secure him a second term, too. |
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McCain will lose if he doesn't quit...
...pokin' conservatives in the eye!
From Novak today:
"John McCain's team that is taking over the Republican Party has decided on Bobbie Greene Kilberg, a liberal Republican from Virginia long detested by conservatives, to run the party's national convention in St. Paul, Minn., in August."
REV. WRIGHT WAS A GIFT TO McCAIN- the DEMs are TRYIN' AS HARD AS THEY CAN TO GIVE THIS THING TO McCAIN!
BUT HE WILL LOSE IF HE DOESN'T QUIT WITH THIS LIBERAL SH*T! Enough already- conservatives will only take so much from this guy.
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SHAME on any conservative who says that they would rather vote for Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama rather than Senator McCain just shows that many conservatives have no vision for the long term and that they don't understand or care that this country under democrate rule will be even worst off.
Just take a look at the debaucle with the Congress......at this time.
Barak's continual meltdown is only fodder for the Clinton's and the conservatives should be looking for ways to show the differences between themselves and the democrates to the rest of the Nation.
We all know McCain is a liberal conservative, this is not news! But I'd rather have a known quality whom we can fight, then an unknown quality (Barak Obama) which we don't know much about and therefore don't know really how he is going to act in the most important position this Nation has.......
I don't believe Barak is all that strong, i think he is weak and is prone to listening to his mentor, wife and those who probably have a piece of him.... This is what we are seeing now.
DO NOT LET YOUR EMOTIONS GET THE BETTER OF YOU AND END UP PUTTING BARAK OR BILL CLINTON BACK IN OFFICE, THINK PAST YOUR ANGER........
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John McCain will have to earn our votes by upholding the laws of the land, not changing them to accomodate those breaking them. It's up to him. |
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There is no such thng as a liberal conservative. McCain is a moderate at best. |
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McCain is just what the Dems need - A useful idiot dupe who can be blamed for all their failures. As long as their partners in crime in the MSM continue to massage his ego, he will continue to dance to their music. McCain's stellar performances at Annapolis and flight school should be ample evidence of his lack of intellectual prowess. To put it simply - he is just plain stupid.
If he is elected, the Republican Party will go the way of the Whigs. |
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borg 1 expresses all that needs be said. John Mccain, Clinton, Obama not enough difference to waste your time examining. Our only hope is increasing seats in congress and at state levels. I won't vote for Hillary or Barak, but Mccain will not get my vote either. |
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McCain is an Lying, Arrogant Rat Ba$tard!
He loves to stab Conservatives in the back, every chance he gets.
He is also a Senile Geriatric! He knows were at war. But he's not sure who with or who's being trained where.
He's got his lackeys "Liberalman" and "Graham the RINO", touring with him all over Europe and the Middle East.
They looked like the Abbott and Costello, trying to figure out who was being trained in Iran.
McCain can't wait to launch a full scale war against Iran.
I think he keeps Graham around to help dress him and change his Depends.
He has done what no other Republican could ever do.
He has convinced me that Hillary is the most Conservative and Trustworthy Candidate running.
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McCain will continue to throw Republicans under the bus as long as the MSM rewards him for doing it. He has been rewarded by the MSM since 1999 due to his willingness to make Republicans look bad. How many Democrats has McCain throw under the bus since 1999? None.
Get used to it. McCain will continue to do this even when the MSM turns on him to help the Democrats to win the White House.
He is just NOT that bright and doesn't believe his "friends" in the MSM will turn on him.
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Lets hope it was an act of profound political strategy and not just another episode of "McCain's Animal Farm". |
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Anyone Stupid enough to work for that Lying Arrogant Ba$tard, deserves to be ran over by the bus.
McCain has ran over half of his team already.
Any RINO that would support McCain, deserves what they will get.
Hopefully, the RINOs will smarten up and throw the Senile Old Fart to the Curb!
Then maybe we can find us a "Conservative"!
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I just read an article on the New Republic and was laughing hysterically as the Dems tore themselves apart and low and behold I come over here to read worse behavior from you guys.
I am not nor will I ever be a Republican because they are beholden to too many groups that don't have my best interest at heart. That said I am fully ANTI-DEMOCRAT and have been since I was 7 years old. It was easy to see that these people were collectivsts and the enemy of the ideals of this nation.
Yes McCain is not a hardline social conservative but you know George Bush with his cut taxes and spend policy has been a joke in the fiscal conservative arena so I don't see McCain as much different. He at least will stand up to our enemies and as for this guy twittering when he should not have: DISCIPLINE wins wars and campaigns and he is trying to instill it in his troops. To say he is not ballsy is just the dumbest thing I've heard. McCain the moderate is the best you can hope to have win this year given the anomosity against the republican party and its still going to take the dems imploding to pull that off. |
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It seems to me that this may have been planned.
McCain comes out and condemns his aide, thereby distancing himself from the video but at the same time calling attention to the video.
It's not rocket science. |
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Of course then, if my theory has any merit, one has to conclude that either McCain would rather run against Hillary.
Or...McCain could be figuring that B. Hussein Obama
has the nomination sewed up and is beginning to campaign against him. |
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