McCain lied about the "cone of silence"!!!

[darius15]

In yesterday's Saddleback Forum, pastor Rick Warren on two occasions referred to John McCain's "cone of silence", implying strongly that he had not been able to hear the questions posed to Barack Obama ahead of time -- questions which were, in many cases, identical to the ones posed to McCain.

This was Pastor Warren during Barack Obama's segment last night. Apologies for the capitalization -- it is in the original transcript -- but emphasis is mine:

NOW WHAT I'VE DECIDED IS TO ALLOW FOR PROPER COMPARISON I'M GOING TO ASK IDENTICAL QUESTIONS TO EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES SO YOU CAN COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. NOW SENATOR OBAMA IS GOING TO GO FIRST. WE FLIPPED A COIN. AND WE HAVE SAFELY PLACED SENATOR MCCAIN IN A CONE OF SILENCE. EACH OF THE INTERVIEWS WILL BE SEGMENTED INTO FOUR DIFFERENT SECTIONS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN EACH SEGMENT WILL DEPEND ON HOW SUCCINCT THE SENATOR IS.

Warren again referred to the "cone of silence" at the very beginning of McCain's segment. McCain's response is obviously a joke, and a pretty funny one at that, but the important part is that Warren is implying that the cone of silence is an actual, physical place:

Q. WELCOME BACK TO THE SADDLEBACK CIVIL FORUM ON THE PRESIDENCY AND WELCOME SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN. NOW MY FIRST QUESTION WAS THE CONE OF SILENCE COMFORTABLE THAT YOU WERE IN JUST NOW?

A. I WAS TRYING TO HEAR THROUGH THE WALL.

However, Warren was just interviewed by CNN's Rick Sanchez, and apparently told him that McCain was not in the church during the first half-hour of Obama's segment. (I did not see the segment myself, nor does a transcript or video yet seem to be available). Sanchez has now suggested that Warren implied to him that he (Warren) thought McCain was in the "cone of silence" when he told the audience as much, but later learned that McCain was not.

This is highly despicable behavior, folks, on the part of McCain, Warren or possibly both. There's simply no way around it.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/pastor-warren-contradicts-self-on-cone.html

[Botany]

1. Of course he knew the questions before he started

I watched all of 5 minutes and it was plain to see that he knew the
questions and had answers ready.

[Coexist]

2. if you got that from 538 you should include the link:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/08/pastor-warren-contradicts-self-on-cone.html

[darius15]

7. my bad

i'll put it in the OP. thanks

[gaiilonfong]

8. It was also on CNN with Rick Sanchez

UNBELIEVABLE

[thunder rising]

3. Jesus people lie ... that is a fact. They lie and they support murder and Jesus forgives them.

[dbonds]

4. He did say he was listening through the wall...

then gave his Mr Roper style laugh. (3's Company reference)

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I did not watch it, but fromthe transcript excerpts I have read, it seems very obvious that

McSame knew what questions would be asked before he came on stage.

[Diane R]

6. It was so obvious he cheated. This really needs to be exposed. Do all republicans cheat?

Just like Bush's debate wire. This is absolutely disgusting.

[JackBeck]

9. Like he couldn't have listened to it on the radio, on his way to the venue.

:eyes:

What's sad is he'll receive another pass from the traditional media and the elite, fundy audience that gathered to hear his stump speech. But at least the media will get a fresh batch of sprinkled donuts as a reward.