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highplainsdem

(49,045 posts)
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:49 PM Jul 2012

John McCain: I Didn’t Pick Romney Because ‘Sarah Palin Was The Better Candidate’

Source: TPM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended Mitt Romney from Democratic speculation that he passed on him as a 2008 running mate after reviewing his tax returns, saying Sarah Palin was simply the better choice at the time.

McCain called the tax claims “outrageous” and “disgraceful” in an interview with Politico Tuesday. He said he chose Palin “because we thought that Sarah Palin was the better candidate.”

“Why did we not take [Tim] Pawlenty, why did we not take any of the other 10 other people,” McCain said. “Why didn’t I? Because we had a better candidate, the same way with all the others. … Come on, why? That’s a stupid question.”

Former McCain adviser Steve Schmidt told the Huffington Post this week that the campaign was primarily concerned Romney’s vast wealth would make the ticket difficult to sell to average Americans, but didn’t believe Romney’s taxes were a liability.

-snip-

Read more: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/john-mccain-sarah-palin-romney-vp.php



Much as Romney must have wanted McCain to say his tax returns wouldn't have been a liability, he CAN'T be happy about Sarah Palin being described as a "better candidate."

Re what Steve Schmidt told the Huffington Post -- Schmidt himself never saw the tax returns.

Link to that HuffPo article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/mitt-romney-tax-returns-n_n_1677556.html
63 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
John McCain: I Didn’t Pick Romney Because ‘Sarah Palin Was The Better Candidate’ (Original Post) highplainsdem Jul 2012 OP
Palin's more qualified than someone? nt NoGOPZone Jul 2012 #1
McCain deciding: savalez Jul 2012 #63
he doesnt lie cindyperry2010 Jul 2012 #2
Lol. The hits keep on comin' So Palin is BETTER than Romney? Spin FAIL. progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #3
McCain: Romney is worse than Palin KurtNYC Jul 2012 #36
This would make a great political ad TBF Jul 2012 #53
for a minute I thought this had to be from the Onion maddezmom Jul 2012 #4
I was thinking Colbert Report dixiegrrrrl Jul 2012 #12
So Rmoney Wasn't Qualfied To Be A VP - But McCain Now Thinks Rmoney Is Qualified To Be President?... global1 Jul 2012 #5
strange isn't it? maddezmom Jul 2012 #13
Oh my! It doesn't say much about the rest of the field when Palin was considered Arkansas Granny Jul 2012 #6
Wow, you think that came out wrong? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jul 2012 #7
One thing to say about this: Happyhippychick Jul 2012 #8
Begs the question AsahinaKimi Jul 2012 #9
Palin was a better candidate than Mittens? The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2012 #10
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Roland99 Jul 2012 #11
..plus Mitt looks like shit in make-up and heels... truebrit71 Jul 2012 #14
Oh sweet Jesus this just gets better and better. nolabear Jul 2012 #15
Well that's a great recommendation there, John. Thanks for all your help. sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #16
Thank you, McCain, for giving us awesome campaign material Hugabear Jul 2012 #17
LOL graywarrior Jul 2012 #18
Oh, my. My, my, my. Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #19
As Jed Clampett would say... louis-t Jul 2012 #58
"Sarah Palin was the better candidate" struggle4progress Jul 2012 #20
Oh now THAT is funny ismnotwasm Jul 2012 #21
That is hilarious. Deep13 Jul 2012 #22
Is that scary, or what? Yikes !!!! judesedit Jul 2012 #23
With friends like this who needs enemies? n/t indie_voter Jul 2012 #24
John, that wasn't a stupid question, just a stupid answer from you. CanonRay Jul 2012 #25
"Sen. John McCain _defended_ Mitt Romney" Lex Jul 2012 #26
Thank you for clearing that up for us, Senator McCain magical thyme Jul 2012 #27
Sort of a non-defending defense. bemildred Jul 2012 #28
Nonsense Spider Jerusalem Jul 2012 #29
What a train wreck. Rose Siding Jul 2012 #30
I hope that is on video; it's perfect for an Obama ad...n/t Blue Meany Jul 2012 #31
I can imagine what the rest of the world is thinking about us, U.S. and our so-called elections. RC Jul 2012 #32
As a Canadian, let me say this about that... GliderGuider Jul 2012 #40
McCain just dished a major world-class insult on Romney Jessy169 Jul 2012 #33
But Mittney was a whole governor and Palin was only a half-governor. nt valerief Jul 2012 #34
it's office Palin is better than Romney samsingh Jul 2012 #35
Oh snap! Iliyah Jul 2012 #37
Who wrote the script for this campaign, Rodney Dangerfield? nt GliderGuider Jul 2012 #38
That's great Renew Deal Jul 2012 #39
There are two explanations for this. RDANGELO Jul 2012 #41
It doesn't have to be either/or nichomachus Jul 2012 #45
McCain just handed the election over to POTUS musiclawyer Jul 2012 #56
If I were Romney, I'd stick to my standard response and ask for an apology. nt SacoMaine61 Jul 2012 #42
ok, I've given it a second's thought. nobody could be that stupid. nobody. magical thyme Jul 2012 #43
LOL! Ouch! That has got to leave a mark! nt Lucky Luciano Jul 2012 #44
The Romney Campaign Replies RobertEarl Jul 2012 #46
Mitt DEMANDS McCain to cease the Palin is better than me attacks maddezmom Jul 2012 #47
This keeps getting better and better! Zyzafyx Jul 2012 #48
Well they were obviously experts at vetting candidates DefenseLawyer Jul 2012 #49
Walking it back bongbong Jul 2012 #50
Well, at least we knew when Palin quit all her jobs -- with Romney, we're not sure. n/t nichomachus Jul 2012 #51
Grifter WAS more qualified than Flip-Flopper bongbong Jul 2012 #52
This message was self-deleted by its author Writely Wrong Jul 2012 #54
the headline barbtries Jul 2012 #55
Way past time to retire John ... GeorgeGist Jul 2012 #57
He's telling the truth PSPS Jul 2012 #59
Reading these posts is why I belong here... mountain grammy Jul 2012 #60
What a pathetic group of people if that's the best they can do Marrah_G Jul 2012 #61
So she would make a better backup president than Rommel? Whooof. Kablooie Jul 2012 #62

progressivebydesign

(19,458 posts)
3. Lol. The hits keep on comin' So Palin is BETTER than Romney? Spin FAIL.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:51 PM
Jul 2012

what does that say about Romney?? Palin was pretty much laughed on the political stage, and he's saying she's BETTER than Romney?

Oh... they keep delivering for the Democrats every time they open their mouths.

global1

(25,285 posts)
5. So Rmoney Wasn't Qualfied To Be A VP - But McCain Now Thinks Rmoney Is Qualified To Be President?...
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:53 PM
Jul 2012

hmmmmmm.......

Arkansas Granny

(31,535 posts)
6. Oh my! It doesn't say much about the rest of the field when Palin was considered
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:53 PM
Jul 2012

to be a better candidate.They certainly didn't raise the bar very high.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
9. Begs the question
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:57 PM
Jul 2012

If according to McCain, that Palin was the "better Candidate", then why is Palin not running for President?
Easy Answer could be:

1. McCain is lying.
2. McCain is incompetent.
3. All the above ?

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,900 posts)
10. Palin was a better candidate than Mittens?
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 01:59 PM
Jul 2012

Mittens isn't going to like that: They didn't reject him in favor of Palin because there was something dodgy in his tax returns; they just felt Palin was the better candidate. I suppose ol' John was trying, in a thoroughly inept way, to defend Mittens by saying they didn't find anything bad in his tax returns - but it sure didn't come out very well.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
17. Thank you, McCain, for giving us awesome campaign material
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:01 PM
Jul 2012

"Romney: Even McCain thinks he's worse than Palin."

Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)
19. Oh, my. My, my, my.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:02 PM
Jul 2012

Did McCain actually think that saying Mooselini was a better candidate than Mitt...IS A GOOD THING???

And this might actually HELP MITT?????!!!!?!





HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!

Deep13

(39,154 posts)
22. That is hilarious.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:11 PM
Jul 2012

Just to be clear, that brain-dead, lying, self-promoting, quitter is BETTER than Romney.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
27. Thank you for clearing that up for us, Senator McCain
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:26 PM
Jul 2012

Happy to know that you considered Sarah Palin a better candidate than Mitt Romney for VEEP.

In what universe does a failure to qualify even to run for a supporting role suggest one is qualified for the leading role?

If Mittens didn't make the cut for candidate VEEP in 2008 -- on the cusp of the financial collapse, no less -- then why in the world should we consider him for a higher office now?

What additional experience or knowledge launches him over Sarah and into your own role?

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
28. Sort of a non-defending defense.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:28 PM
Jul 2012

I guess anything is better than talking about how the tax system reallly works.

 

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)
29. Nonsense
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:29 PM
Jul 2012

Palin wasn't in any real or meaningful sense "the better candidate"; the reasons for her selection over Romney or anyone else had to do with a) throwing red meat to the nutcase right-wing GOP base and b) a pathetic attempt to neutralise the historic nature of Obama as the first black candidate nominated to the Presidency by a major party by having Palin be the second woman nominated by a major party (part of the harebrained calculus involved probably included the idea that Palin on the ticket might get some women voters who had been Clinton supporters in the primary, which is just...ridiculous really). Palin was only "the better candidate" in terms of calculated appeal to the base and as a balance to the perceived moderate McCain (let's not forget that if McCain himself had had his way Joe Lieberman would have been his running mate).

 

RC

(25,592 posts)
32. I can imagine what the rest of the world is thinking about us, U.S. and our so-called elections.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:45 PM
Jul 2012

And it ain't complementary.

Jessy169

(602 posts)
33. McCain just dished a major world-class insult on Romney
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 02:50 PM
Jul 2012

If McCain were to tell the truth, it would sound like this: "Look, we were desparate heading into the convention. Polling showed that there was no way in hell I could win without the T-Party vote, and my fuddy-duddy persona and my willingness to compromise with the Democrats was a major turnoff to the T-Party voters. I needed someone for VP who would energize that group of insane nitwits -- I mean, patriotic Americans. Clearly, Sarah Palin was just the crazy bitch, uh, fine candidate who could do that."

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
37. Oh snap!
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:05 PM
Jul 2012

So basically what McCain is saying that Mittens is less qualified cause we already know that Palin wasn't and still is not too bright - LOL

RDANGELO

(3,435 posts)
41. There are two explanations for this.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:19 PM
Jul 2012

Either McCain just threw Romney under the bus, or he is going senile

musiclawyer

(2,335 posts)
56. McCain just handed the election over to POTUS
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 04:26 PM
Jul 2012

Ad: will show verbatim transcript and pic of smiling McCain

Ending will be: " Even Staunch Republican ohn McCain think Sarah Palin is more qualified to be POTUS than Mitt Romney"

Pic of POTUS in the situation room: " I'm Barrack Obama and I approve of this message. "

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
43. ok, I've given it a second's thought. nobody could be that stupid. nobody.
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:20 PM
Jul 2012

Now I REALLY want to see Mittens 23 years of tax returns. All of them. All 5 million or however many pages.

Whatever is buried in there must be a DUzy.

 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
46. The Romney Campaign Replies
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:34 PM
Jul 2012

First, McCain was the worst candidate ever. And why is he still alive?

Two, Sarah and Williard are equal, except that Sarah is a woman.

And third: We are gonna need a bigger bank account.

 

DefenseLawyer

(11,101 posts)
49. Well they were obviously experts at vetting candidates
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:48 PM
Jul 2012

So that lukewarm endorsement carries a lot of weight.

 

bongbong

(5,436 posts)
50. Walking it back
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:50 PM
Jul 2012

They'll be walking back McWrinkley's comment "Palin was better than R-money" as fast as A Boy Named Sue-Nu-Nu had to walk his back.

"What I meant to say is that I didn't want to have a VEEP who was richer than I was. Oh, wait, that doesn't help much, does it?"

 

bongbong

(5,436 posts)
52. Grifter WAS more qualified than Flip-Flopper
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 03:56 PM
Jul 2012

Believe it or not, snowmobile Snooki created more jobs in her state than R-money did in his.

Proof? Wasilla was number one in meth labs when she was mayor.

Response to highplainsdem (Original post)

barbtries

(28,815 posts)
55. the headline
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 04:22 PM
Jul 2012

made me laugh out loud.

if it wasn't for the pathetic corporate media in this country the republicans would already be written off to history. i mean if palin OR romney can be considered "good" candidates for anything at all.

PSPS

(13,621 posts)
59. He's telling the truth
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 05:24 PM
Jul 2012

Palin was the price McCain had to pay to get the thumper endorsement. It had nothing to do with Romney's tax returns.

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