Mama McCain and the recurring case of foot-in-mouth disease

John McCain's nonagenarian mother Roberta has suffered a recurrence of the foot-in-mouth disease which got her in such trouble with Mormons a couple of months ago (watch here). This time it was a question regarding her son's conservative credentials that tripped her up.

Here's the relevant extract from the C-Span interview transcript:

Steve Scully: This is a political question in terms of how he gets the nomination, but just from what you have seen, how much support do you think he has among the base of the Republican Party?

Roberta McCain: I don’t think he has any. I don’t know what the base of the Repub– maybe I don’t know enough about it, but I’ve not seen any help whatsoever.

Scully: So can he then go on and become the nominee of this party?

McCain: Yes, I think holding their nose they’re going to have to take him.

Scully: Can you explain?

McCain: Well, everything they’ve done and said. … Now I’m really popping off, but he worked like a dog to get Bush re-elected. …He’s backed Bush in everything except Rumsfeld. Have you heard other senators and congressmen backing Bush over eight years? Find me it – give me a name. I’ve not seen any public recognition of the work that he’s done for the Republican party.

Mama McCain is right of course. Despite having a highly respectable lifetime rating of 82.3 percent from the American Conservative Union, John McCain's deviations from the Republican orthodoxy have left him struggling amongst the party faithful, instead drawing his support from moderate Republicans and independents (a fact which, as Roberta implies, could make him the only candidate able to swing it for the GOP this year). And she's only trying to defend her boy.

But this doesn't make the headlines any better for John McCain, who originally wheeled his elderly mother into the spotlight in order to dispel concerns about his own age. After being forced to defend her comments during the Florida debate, this might be one strategy he has come to regret. Watch his response here at 1 min 38.

Comments

[H.Afzal]

Bahahahaha!! Well, at least she's not lying. The Republican party is so off-track with reality, it's amazing to think that idiots like Mitt Romney might make it to the top job. McCain is the only viable candidate and the only candidate worth the job of President. Failure to have McCain as the GOP candidate will surely lead to a democrat victory, no?

[Feral Grognard]

Though I am an undecided independent, I am amused at the deceitful misrepresentation here. This is like someone in the UK being unaware that not all Tory MP's nor Labour MP's are in total agreement with their leadership, once chosen.

Yet, the alternative of being so entrenched in disagreement of ones party leadership as to vote, in effect, helping the other side gain more power, is absurd and inane in common sense suggestion.

It was a politically astute comment for a 96 year old, showing her awareness that her son, McCain, has proven to be, above all, for his view for America over party special interests. Thus as she said clearly and factually, for those Republicans who do not care for McCain’s not towing the party special interests line, if he wins, the alternative, the twin Presidents of Bill and Hillary and her VP Obama, is far worst and devastating to their interests and views for a Republican American future than any disagreement with McCain.

Beyond the article's incredulity and lack of comprehension in the implied logical alternative and astuteness of this commentary, is it being more the true example of foot and mouth disease than the comments of Mrs. MCcain.

[Michael]

What a bizarre take on Roberta McCain! She told the truth, and your reporter is apparently so unused to hearing it that she presents it as foot-in-mouth disease! It almost makes one believe in accounts of media manipulation. Stick around Roberta! You'll be worth listening to throughout the McCain presidency.

[Ravi]

Both Mrs. McCain and her son tell it like it is. I personally believe the American people want the truth and that they are fed up of spinners, left, center, or right.

Since the Senator is the only plausible GOP candidate that has a chance of defeating Billary, if the GOP establishment works to defeat his nomination, there will be just one outcome for the GOP: political oblivion for the next 8 years.

[Dan]

Couldn't have hurt him too much as he recieved the gov. of Florida endorsement last night. :0

[TC Bell]

Let's please be honest here. John McCain has publicly stated he doesn't mind if U.S. troops stay in Iraq for "100 years". It is precisely this mentality that caused independents to vote Democrat in 2006. John McCain is the PERFECT example of a GOP candidate that cannot beat the Democratic nominee.

The only chance the Republicans stand come November is if they nominate an anti-war candidate. Enter Ron Paul. If the country doctor from Texas is nominated the Republicans can win the White House. If any other candidate is nominated you can GUARANTEE a Democratic Executive Branch and Democratic Congress.

Your choice Republicans. Ron Paul or Democrat? Do you really love your little war this much? So much so that you are willing to lose all the elections! If so, that is quite pathetic.

[Tikhon Gilson]

Mama McCain is right. The GOP has treated her son like the red-headed stepchild. But, then, look how they treat Alan Keyes. The GOP only cares about the big money. If you stand for anything other than that, the Republicans will freeze you out.

The likely Republican nominee is Mr Big Money, Mitt Romney. (It's not PC to criticize a Mormon) As an anti-Repubican, I look forward to his defeat in the general election.

[Ursula]

Well - she's right. Helped Bush alright - how loyal.
Something just isn't on the sunny side with this guy. Maybe its the reports of his bad temper - those kinds of reactions are certainly well within the reaction zone of someone suffering ''Post Traumatic Stress" but it was not called that - during the Vietnam War.

I admire his determination - but question his methods

Take care everyone this week!

Grrl

[Bruce]

About midway down the article you can see the problem: McCain equates 8 years of working for Bush with supporting the Republican Party. That dog don't hunt.

[Toni]

Sheesh! I have to jump across the pond to get real news. Thanks Times of London. You are fast becoming my news source of choice. And thanks TC Bell for your observation that there is a viable alternative for sanity in the US - Ron Paul.

[Jason]

Aside from the fact that being a 'Bushie' is about the opposite that you want to be running on this fall, McCains problem is that all the 'maverick' stands he has taken have been on the wrong side of the issue. Instead of taking a stand against Kosovo because it was of no interest to the US and cost us more money than all the earmarks he rails against put together, he took Clintons side and even advocated sending combat ground troops into Yugoslavia. Instead of being against things like no child left behind, which he called a "major milestone", he is for open borders.

The guy talks about less government spending and thinks that bridge funding projects are the problem... no John, wake up. Its programs like Medicare, Social Security, and all your military adventurism. How about the 1 billion that you added to the completely hopeless 'war on drugs'?

This guy would seriously be worse than Bush, and people just know him as a war hero. Its sickening.