Cenk: McCain's Most Offensive Debate Comment Was Not "That One"

[ihavenobias]

By Cenk Uygur

We covered the debates live on , as we always do, so we had instant analysis of many of the moments of the debate. The one moment that was jarring for most was McCain's "that one" comment. Some questioned if it had racial implications.

Honestly, I felt it was just more awkward than anything else. And that if you're going to read anything into it, it should be his general disdain of Senator Obama, rather than an assumption of a racially loaded term. He seems to have the attitude of "How can this young whipper-snapper who is just a first-term Senator dare to challenge me for the presidency?!" As in, "Get a load of that one!"

For me, the more worrisome moment of the debate came when McCain told a young, black questioner, "You've probably never heard of Fannie Mae." We were doing play-by-play of the debate on and I shouted out, "Why not? Why wouldn't he have heard of Fannie Mae?"

Would McCain really have said the same thing to an older, white questioner? It seems unlikely. Of course, it's nearly impossible to separate out age, race and whatever else is going through McCain's head at that moment. Can I say definitively that McCain said that because of the person's race? No, I definitely can't. But that was a moment for me that was more loaded with racial possibility than his reference to "that one."

I think McCain has to at least be savvy enough not to tell someone in the audience that they don't know elementary things that are in the news, no matter what their race is. Chalk up yet another awkward moment brought to you by Grandpa McCain.


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PS---It's not a good idea for the McCain campaign to run with the Ayers/Wright smears considering . As for Palin, she proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has no idea what she's talking about, as evidenced by . Also, it's nice to see someone .

Finally, don't miss John Cusack with Cenk on Meet The Bloggers this Friday at 1pm EST at www.meetthebloggers.org. If you miss it LIVE you can still watch it free on Demand along with past appearances by Rachel Maddow and Michael Moore.

[JerseygirlCT]

1. I think the Republican party has succeeded by never underestimating

the stupidity of a great deal of the public.

And the rash of Sarah adoration out there seems to bear that out.

But it's best not to let on to that when speaking one on one with an actual "public", you know?

I caught that too, and cringed. But I keep running into incredibly stupid people who really believe all the biographical/hero/maverick crap about McCain and think Palin is just wonderful... blech.

[Cha]

4. They should read Rolling Stone's current issue,

"Make Believe Maverick"..totally blows that myth outta the water..and palin's being investigated for Abuse of Power in Alaska(who'd a thunk it?).

Maybe Rolling Stone will do an investigative piece on palin?

[JerseygirlCT]

13. The problem with Rolling Stone

is that they're largely preaching to the choir. I know, I'm definitely part of the choir, and enjoy the heck out of reading the articles!

But you know, when your musical taste runs more to Pat Boone and Ted Nugent, I doubt you run for your copy of RS every month, you know?

[Cha]

17. Right..but there's Independents and waivering

Republicans. The ted nugent fans have their fingers in their ears.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. That's the hope, for sure!

And I do really enjoy those articles. Even, no especially, when they're really snarky!

[ihavenobias]

20. Cringing is the appropriate reaction

:)

[Cha]

2. Rec'd! I think "That one" was stupid and

indicative of mccain's personality and it showcased his penchant for awkward delivery.

I didn't see the debate..only a clip or two(when Obama was reminding us about mccain's singing bomb bomb bomb Iran) so I didn't see it when mccain said "you've probably have never heard of Fannie Mae" but it again sounds just like a stupid jerk thing to say.

Why be so presumptive and arrogant?

[Overseas]

3. I found that comment jarring too. But more like Mr. Ten Homes

just wouldn't realize the rest of us know about the nation's leading mortgage providers because we have to. We don't have $40 million of our own and an heiress wife to tide us over.

But now that you mention it, he may not have said the same thing to an older white person.

But it sure was a dismissive comment. Also as though he assumed the people showed up for the town hall without having read any news in the past three weeks. We're not all like Palin, getting our news from God's direct hotline. A lot of us read papers and watch the financial news.

[unblock]

5. i didn't take it as racist, but condescending as hell.

it's one of those just plain stupid things to say. where's the upside?

[navarth]

6. kick!

[Bobbieo]

8. I'll be honest in this . I am 82 and have heard of Annie May but never heard of Freddie Mac -

I'm not into financial dealings. Pay my bills and let my broker take care of any minor imvestments.

[navarth]

14. 82?? Wow. Good on ya.

My Mom's 83, and I given her two computers, but it never worked for her. (Bless her heart.)

Look at you, posting on DU. Cheers to you, sir. (or madam)

[ihavenobias]

24. That's great to hear!

I wish I could get my mom online, but oh well.

:)

[whopis01]

7. Absolutely Correct

I was shocked when McCain said that young man "probably never heard of Fannie Mae".

The only possible excuse that he has is that he was thinking, "well I'd never even heard of them or paid attention to them until the other day"

[Eugenian]

25. I suppose

he might have meant that because the guy was young, he wouldn't be familiar with them. But even in that (unlikely?) case, he should have known better than to say it. The fact that he's making these gaffes and/or getting facts mixed up almost daily leads me to believe his mind is deteriorating. I don't mean that in an "ageist" way; I've known people much older than McCain who are still at 100 percent, mentally. Some of them are the people I most respect and admire. It is simply an evidence-based observation.

[Essene]

9. i believe most mortgages since the 40s involved fannie/freddie

[Essene]

10. and... "everybody is suffering" was also an insulting comment he made

[OhioChick]

11. K&R

:kick:

[Happyhippychick]

12. I totally agree. This needs much more press, it was racist, rude and condescending.

[ihavenobias]

21. Amen n/t

[seabeyond]

15. my husband was really offended with that camera. he is totally nonconfrntational

and that one riled him into a couple of cuss words.

[ihavenobias]

32. With that camera? n/t

[kick-ass-bob]

16. I completely agree.

"That one" was minor, I was yelling at the TV after he was so condescending to the questioner.

Check Oliver's body language after that little 'quip'.

Jesus, has he no sense?

[pleah]

18. K&R I did hear this on MSNBC earlier this afternoon. n/t

[Azlady]

19. K&R !!

I was shocked & thought that truly says what he thinks about all of us hard working Americans that PAY HIS FUCKING salary!
It was insulting at every level.. Thank you for bringing this up. It was a slap in the face to all americans!

[CherylK]

34. It was!!!

:toast:

[Peace Patriot]

22. Would McDrone have said "that one" of John Kerry, or Hillary Clinton, or, really,

any other Senator...or candidate for President of the U.S.?

I don't know if it was racist--it probably was, considering the other thing he did (presuming a black questioner to be ignorant about Fanny Mae)--but it was most certainly an attempt to be demeaning, as if he were speaking about a kid who's always getting into trouble, and who had broken a window. ("And who do you think did it? That one!") It means reprobate, wrong-doer, ne'er-do-well.

He was speaking of the likely next President of the United States, in that man's presence--and talks about him as "that one"? He may as well have gone over to him, grabbed him by the ear and wagged a finger in his face.

Very, very, VERY bad form. What a thug! Really, his very candidacy is an INSULT to the American people--and maybe the Corpo/fascists who are running him mean it that way (as I think they did with Bush).

In any case, it was a total failure as an act. Obama is so far superior to McCain--in intelligence, in self-control, in demeanor, as a debater, in genuine friendliness and good will, and in every other way--that McCain's attempts to somehow tag him as a less worthy human being were laughable.

[Greyskye]

23. That comment had me yelling as well

I knew about Fannie and Freddie when I was in my early 20's. I was under the impression that every first time home buyer knew about these programs. I sure did, even though my first time home buying experience was for a crappy double-wide mobile home. :rofl:

[OhioChick]

27. Evening Kick!

:kick:

[lonestarnot]

28. I asked myself the same fucking question about that moment, but there were so

many moments! I'll be watching for Cenk on Meet the Bloggers on Friday! Thanks for the heads up! :)

[ihavenobias]

30. I'm looking forward to Cusack too, although I'll have to watch the repeat later n/t

[agentS]

29. If McCain had said that to me

I'd be pretty pissed.
Fannie and Freddy have been on TV ads for years prior to this meltdown.
They've been in the news since before the 8 billion point stock drop as well.

He must think we don't read or watch TV.

[ihavenobias]

33. I agree n/t

[CherylK]

31. Bump!

:kick: