You’d think the David Letterman-John McCain mini-feud would have blown over after a day, with both sides having better things to do (McCain had an economy to fix, Dave had to interview Paris Hilton), but on Thursday, neither side was shutting up about it. On the candidate’s side, his spokesperson Nicolle Wallace went on NBC’s Today and claimed the senator had bowed out of the Late Show at the last minute because he "felt this wasn’t a night for comedy." Which was not the false excuse McCain had given Letterman. He’d told Dave he needed to fly to Washington right away to help solve the economic crisis, but he actually remained in New York until the next day and had been getting his face made up for an interview with Katie Couric during the Letterman taping he’d skipped, as Dave revealed via live feed. For his part, Letterman continued zinging McCain for weaseling out on him on a way that seemed inconsistent with his straight-talking war hero reputation. (Watch the meat of Letterman’s mean but funny diatribe here.) Dave even brought up McCain’s snub in passing during his chat with Hilton, who mentioned having been dissed by McCain herself.
Meanwhile, the fallout continued. Reaction was apparently mixed at CBS; Letterman employee Craig Ferguson backed his boss in this Late Late Show monologue, while CBS News staffers were reportedly livid that Letterman had embarrassed McCain (and, by proxy, Couric) by hijacking their feed. More than one pundit has suggested (here and here, for instance) that Dave’s continued lampooning of McCain could have a real-world political effect; not that Dave’s rants will persuade voters to pull the lever for Obama, but they could make voters see McCain in a less flattering light. A more cynical view suggests that Letterman will keep milking this feud for as long as he can, as he did his one-sided feud with Oprah, culminating in an eventual conciliatory visit from the senator which Letterman and CBS will hype for ratings, after which all will be forgiven, and Dave will go back to making jokes about George W. Bush’s stupidity and Bill Clinton’s libido (still comedy gold, even all these years later).
What do you think, PW-ers? Will Letterman’s continued pounding have an effect on potential McCain voters? Is he just drawing this disagreement out for ratings’ sake, or does he have a valid complaint? And if it is valid, has Dave gone from legitimately aggrieved to merely petty and petulant, or is his lampooning of the candidate still funny?
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I understand that Letterman felt snubbed and maybe he needed to vent a little, but it’s getting out of hand. Dave’s version of “McCain is immediately flying off to Washington” is not necessarily the actual truth, but more likely his version of what happened. The “it’s not a night for comedy” excuse from McCain’s camp is not necessarily the whole truth either, but a true sentiment, anyway. If Dave doesn’t see the difference between McCain showing up on Late Show vs. sitting down for an interview with a hard news program (although I can’t stand Katie), it’s time to hang up the microphone, Dave. It’s a stressful, ugly and urgent time for our country and a late night comedy show is no place for a presidential candidate at the moment. It’s time for Dave to shut up about it, and it’s time for McCain and the rest of Washington to start making some smart decisions, fast.
He is acting like a 2 year old throwing a tantrum. Grow up Dave. It wasn’t funny the first night and is even less so now. I think his lack of ratings is getting to him.
I think this is the best stuff Letterman has done in years. Keep it up, Dave!
Letterman still has a show?
still funny
I’m appalled that McCain or the McCain camp would allow a lie like this to occur. Integrity and honesty is of paramount importance to me, and as a decades-long Republican who just hasn’t been able to get behind my party’s candidate, this is a HUGE black mark for McCain. It’s not about not going on Letterman, it’s that he lied about it, and that speaks volumes to me about his integrity and trustworthiness. I don’t blame Dave for his ranting – McCain deserves every embarrassment it may cause. He made his own bed, now he can LIE in it.
McCain lied. Again. Dave busted him on national TV. GO DAVE.
Remember the effect Chevy Chase had on Gerald Ford’s election.
Oh boo hoo. Who cares what Letterman says anyway? Network television is dying. He is a has been that never was. So, Dave, you think you know how a battle-tested hero is supposed to act? You haven’t got a clue. McCain owes you nothing except the loathing that you and all Hollyweed so richly deserves. You are not fit to lick the man’s boots. Get over yourself. You’ll never be another Carson.
Watch the first clip again. Dave’s main point has nothing to do with the snub. He thinks it’s ridiculous that McCain would talk about suspending the campaign. (“You don’t *suspend a campaign!*”) By cutting to Couric, he’s not complaining about being snubbed. He’s pointing out that McCain gave him a phony excuse and then didn’t suspend his camapign at all, but went on national TV to call attention to his virtue. Par for the course.
Dave WHO????
GO Dave. Keep it up.
still funny man, very funny.
It’s a freakin comedy show. How dumb do you have to be to cancel last minute on a comedy show? You are inevitably going to get clowned. McCain is an idiot and deserves all the ribbing. As long as it’s funny, and so far it has been, Dave should keep doing it.
McCain brought it upon himself. Everything that Dave does brings upon its own consequent as well. If people feels his ranting is too much, they will switch off. In the end, it is a fair game with proportional outcome. McCain did lie and that’s the bone of the matter. His knee-jerk decision-making process continues to be borne out on a daily basis. Cancelling of the Letterman appointment, getting on a Katie Couric segment, suspending the campaign, postponing the debate, then agreeing to debate, saying Palin is more qualified than Obama, then refusing to let Palin do what leaders do ie talk to the press, the list goes on.
Dave Letterman is a comedian. He’s funny at times but whenever I hear him try to talk about a serious issue, it’s almost always laughable.
Letterman’s remarks on Wednesday night were not “mean” by any stretch of the imagination. He discussed McCain’s POW background at length and with great respect, and his audience applauded. Then, as Letterman got more information, he pointed out that McCain had lied to him about the cancellation, and proved it with the footage from Couric’s show. Letterman also brought up the obvious — if McCain was unavailable for a commitment, why not send Palin in his place? From where I’m sitting, Letterman behaved responsibly throughout. What we need is more honesty and more transparency in politics, not less. Letterman has struck a blow for the former and against the latter. If people are having a problem with that, then maybe — just maybe — they have rejected our traditional American values (remember liberty and justice for all?).
Read this article. Hilarious!
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/26/palin-should-step-down-conservative-commentator-says/
Here’s an excerpt: Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is “out of her league” and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party. Palin’s interview with Couric drew criticism when the Alaska governor was unable to provide an example of when John McCain had pushed for more regulation of Wall Street during his Senate career. Palin also took heat for defending her foreign policy credentials by suggesting Russian leaders enter Alaska airspace when they come to America. Palin was also criticized last week for appearing not to know what the Bush Doctrine is during an interview with Charlie Gibson. “If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself,” Parker also writes.
i think you can tell gary susman is a mccain supporter. there is some serious passive aggression in this article. it’s not time for letterman to hang up his mic, because his job is to get attention, wether favorable or unfavorable, and he is doing just that.
This is golden. Letterman is having a great time with this. Very funny. The truth is: he likes McCain. Just busting his b*lls.
Is Dave Letterman so filled with himself that his late night show is more important than this national financial disaster?
Scott Mann, if he wants to be president, he owes everyone in “hollyweed” (who happen to be american voters also, just like you) honesty. you should really look into what the “u” means in usa.
It was a no-win situation for McCain. You can be sure that if he had shown up at the late show, Obama would be all over him about appearing on talk shows when the country was in crisis.
It’s one thing for McCain to cancel. It’s another reason entirely that he apparently lied to Letterman about his reason for cancelling. So much for straight talk. I’m not impressed.
GOB, I think you hit the point pretty well. Going on a late night talk show isn’t the same as going on a news program. Yes, the situation didn’t consist of entire truths, if you want to call them that, but Mccain went on to do something more productive than talking on Letterman.
And yes you can say that mccain asked for it when he skipped out. and yes he did, but only to a certain point. a couple quick jokes maybe. It’s a little much. The excuse isn’t about politics or anything like that. It’s a way to try and be polite and say you can’t make it to the show (while trying to give a reason) because you have to do something important (even if that’s talk to the public though a serious interview) for the country and you have to do your job as a senator.
Letterman? Are you kidding? Who cares. He stopped being funny years ago. Always the same smarmy lame-ass guests sucking up. I prefer infomercials.
Awweee, come on guys, Dave has brought humor into this mess that is our economy (the worst in my lifetime at least!!!) He DID get dissed, with good reason, but McCain used this entire “stunt” as publicity for his campaign…it had nothing to do with the economy, he was searching for the spotlight, and he got it….we all know he needs it after choosing the moose hunting woman (which he thought it would sway women voters….NOT)….keep it going Dave, Love Ya….your loyal watcher!
I used to be a BIG David Lettermen fan- but over the years, I have detected his left-wing leanings and lately- he acts as if he is a latter day Mort Sahl.
He’s not.
The economy is in crisis and McCain was doing the job he was elected to do and is being paid to do.
Unlike Barry- he knows this baliout is going to be catastrphic- as written by the Democrats.
Barry just yearns to vote “Present.”
McCain- gets things done.
Not just an “empty suit.”
The debate tonight should turn the tide for McCain BIG TIME.
Barry won’t have his beloved tele-prompter with him !!!
just more lies by McCain. Only a fool would believe McCain.
Mr.Letterman! Why are you too ridiculous about MacCain’s cancellation?
You can’t earn for living if he does not let you interview. Right?