Cose: Fallout from Letterman's McCain Interview | Newsweek Ellis Cose: Facing Facts

Journalist of the Year

It falls to a comedian to give McCain a proper grilling.

By Ellis Cose | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Oct 17, 2008

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If only more journalists were like David Letterman. On Thursday night's "Late Show," Letterman confronted Sen. John McCain. He tenaciously pressed the presidential candidate on the accusation repeatedly hurled about by his running mate, Sarah Palin, that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists." And he eventually got McCain to concede (if only in the most backhanded and ungracious way) that the charges—which happen to be ridiculous on their face—were just "words."

The interview made for fascinating television. After several pointed questions about Sarah Palin, McCain asked, rather wistfully, "Have we pretty well exhausted this topic?"

"No, no. I'm just getting started," Letterman replied, and then asked whether Palin had, in fact, said that Obama "pals around with terrorists." Interestingly enough, McCain's first impulse seemed to be to feign ignorance. "I don't …," began McCain. Presumably, he realized the absurdity of denying knowledge of a charge that became the centerpiece of his campaign, and changed course in midsentence. "Yes," he answered and then proceeded to try to defend the allegation—which refers to an association with William Ayers, a figure from the radical politics of the 1960s who is clearly no "pal" of Obama's.

Letterman was having none of it. Unable to get McCain to admit Obama was not "palling around," with Ayers, he tried another tack: "OK, so all right. Let's say we give her [Sarah Palin] William Ayers. He was 8 and William Ayers was 29. But they palled around."

At that point McCain interjected, "There's millions of words said in the campaign. Come on!"

Millions of words said in the campaign. Those particular words happen to be extremely biting and divisive. They accuse Obama, in short, of accepting terrorists into his circle of friends. And Palin has compounded that charge with an assertion that Obama is not like "us."

Posted By: Nowforthetruth @ 10/23/2008 8:16:11 PM

Obama in this video, addressing his work with ACORN litigation relating to the community reinvestment act and the failure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as they relate to the current real estate and financial crisis, states that, and I quote:

"Subprime lending started out as a good idea, helping Americans buy homes who previously could not afford to. Financial institutions created new financial instruments that could securitize these loans, slice them into finer and finer risk categories, and spread them out among investors and around the country, as well as around the world. In theory, this should have allowed mortgage lending to be less risky, and more diversified."

He further states:

"The original idea was a good one, which was, lets see if we can distribute risk more broadly, and make it easier to provide loans to people who otherwise might not be able to get one."

Listen for yourself. You cannot dispute the mans on words recorded live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related

Obama in this second video is campaigning at a convention of Acorn and I believe two other "Community Activist" organizations. Ask if he will be their ally if he becomes President, Obama says, quote:

"Yes, but let me say that before I even get inaugurated, during the transition we are going to be calling all of you in to help us shape the agenda. We're going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America."

See and hear it for yourself. Obama promised that Acorn and other groups like it will setting his agenda if elected:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU
See also: http://www.newsweek.com/id/164972
Stating that Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act wasn't what caused the meltdown, and noting that "economists on both sides of the political spectrum have suggested that the act has probably made the crisis less severe than it might otherwise have been."
See also:
http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboards/thread.aspx?threadid=808692&boardsparam=Page%3d2

Below is a link to C-SPAN video clips of the Congressional hearings at roughly the time McCains attempt at S.190. to fix Fannie and Freddie. See for yourself who said what.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
See also
http://www.newsweek.com/id/164732 from this web site. (oops!) stating that Freddie Mac was spending tax payer money to target Republicans in 2005 who were trying to regulate Fannie and Freddies fraud. Democrats were not targeted, as the were all in the tank with Fannie and Freddie to kill the regulations. Hear that, the article admits that Republicans were trying to regulate Freddie and Fannie, and Democrats were trying to stop it from happening as a means to facilitate the Community Reinvestment Act.

Member Comments

Posted By: JimInNashville @ 10/29/2008 10:26:08 PM

Now, if Cose can just tell us how Letterman gave Obama "a proper grilling," I'll start believing that elephants can fly.

Letterman remains the single most obnoxious, unfunny, self-important individual in the American entertainment industry. He plays relentless softball with Democrats and nothing but hardball with Republicans. That's "journalism" for Cose.

Pathetic. As your circulation figures sink like a rock, keep in mind that readers like me once paid you real cash to read your magazine every week. Now I simply show up now and then to see how low you've sunk.
Posted By: eldejota @ 10/24/2008 1:46:42 PM

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Posted By: Nowforthetruth @ 10/23/2008 8:16:11 PM

Obama in this video, addressing his work with ACORN litigation relating to the community reinvestment act and the failure of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as they relate to the current real estate and financial crisis, states that, and I quote:

"Subprime lending started out as a good idea, helping Americans buy homes who previously could not afford to. Financial institutions created new financial instruments that could securitize these loans, slice them into finer and finer risk categories, and spread them out among investors and around the country, as well as around the world. In theory, this should have allowed mortgage lending to be less risky, and more diversified."

He further states:

"The original idea was a good one, which was, lets see if we can distribute risk more broadly, and make it easier to provide loans to people who otherwise might not be able to get one."

Listen for yourself. You cannot dispute the mans on words recorded live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1M1T2Y314&feature=related

Obama in this second video is campaigning at a convention of Acorn and I believe two other "Community Activist" organizations. Ask if he will be their ally if he becomes President, Obama says, quote:

"Yes, but let me say that before I even get inaugurated, during the transition we are going to be calling all of you in to help us shape the agenda. We're going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America."

See and hear it for yourself. Obama promised that Acorn and other groups like it will setting his agenda if elected:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU
See also: http://www.newsweek.com/id/164972
Stating that Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act wasn't what caused the meltdown, and noting that "economists on both sides of the political spectrum have suggested that the act has probably made the crisis less severe than it might otherwise have been."
See also:
http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboards/thread.aspx?threadid=808692&boardsparam=Page%3d2

Below is a link to C-SPAN video clips of the Congressional hearings at roughly the time McCains attempt at S.190. to fix Fannie and Freddie. See for yourself who said what.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
See also
http://www.newsweek.com/id/164732 from this web site. (oops!) stating that Freddie Mac was spending tax payer money to target Republicans in 2005 who were trying to regulate Fannie and Freddies fraud. Democrats were not targeted, as the were all in the tank with Fannie and Freddie to kill the regulations. Hear that, the article admits that Republicans were trying to regulate Freddie and Fannie, and Democrats were trying to stop it from happening as a means to facilitate the Community Reinvestment Act.