Last week's Democratic debate in Philadelphia was an abysmal display of journalism. By sticking to trivial topics for half of the debate, ABC sought to provoke controversy without asking the candidates serious questions. The Huffington Post's Jason Linkins wrote that the debate "ventured into territory so utterly asinine that I could scarcely believe what I was witnessing."
Ironically, the mainstream media have been giving John McCain a free ride while trying to pin Clinton and Obama with manufactured "gotcha" questions. In fact, they don't seem to be challenging McCain at all. So there's no reason to think ABC's brand of pseudo-journalism won't continue tomorrow morning, when George Stephanopoulos will interview McCain on his show.
Ironically, the mainstream media have been giving John McCain a free ride while trying to pin Clinton and Obama with manufactured "gotcha" questions. In fact, they don't seem to be challenging McCain at all. So there's no reason to think ABC's brand of pseudo-journalism won't continue tomorrow morning, when George Stephanopoulos will interview McCain on his show.
We used satire in this video because we felt it's our most effective way to make a point about the shoddy journalism coming from ABC. The network was so desperate to stir up controversy at the debate that Stephanopoulos took incendiary remarks from FOX's Sean Hannity and tried to pawn them off as his own question.
We can't let the FOXification of the mainstream press continue. What's more, we can't allow journalists like Stephanopoulos to give John McCain a free pass. What are the satirical questions you think Stephanopoulos and his colleagues should be asking McCain? Post them to the website and let us know just how shoddy their journalism has become. We'll award the best (meaning worst) satire. It's high time we hold ABC to higher journalistic standards!
And please support the work of Campaign for America's Future in forcing intelligent questions onto Sunday news shows. Weekend Watchdog's Bill Scher wants Stephanopoulos to ask, among other things, why McCain hasn't given "consistent straight answers about what seven years of conservative economic policies have done to the American economy?" Weigh in with your own substantive questions.


If John McCain becomes President, one of his first actions will be to crank-up the draft. Without a draft, we cannot sustain our presence in Iraq. Especially for another 100 years.
Ron Paul? The guy who cozies up to white supremacists, gladly takes their money and endorsements, and publishes a racist newsletter? Ha!
Dear John,
You, Hillary & Barack are liars. Other than Ron Paul, are there any honest politicians?
Just asking.
McCain says among the first things he will do is either capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. If he knows how to do this why hasn't he told George Bush and the rest of the Republicans?
Johnny-boy,
What do you see as the potential for trying to rub out all Democrats from the political process, a tactic that the second President Bush has attempted with mixed success, but only through remedial and unrefined tactics like presidential signing orders, secret law, extreme interpretations of executive priviledge, and so on. How do you plan to remove Democrats and other "outsiders" from the political process? Or, failing that, do you have a plan to install yourself (or maybe just the Republican party) permanently in the presidency?
Do you think you or your Conservative Party would stage a Terrorist Attack on or against the USA after the Presidential Primary's (The timing would be crucial) so, you could tout your military background that YOU have recently been bragging about and use this to get elected?
That should read "FEWER Jobs. More Wars."
Really. It should.
John-boy,
Do you lie awake at night thinking about your future - contemplating the possibility that you someday may go on trial for War Crimes?
John is the one will do the right thing and will be the least in the pockets of the special interest… that I 100% McCain!! He is a straight talker! War hero! He is a fiscal hawk!! He hates earmarks! He fights the pharmaceutical companies; he stood by Iraq when it was unpopular. He is kind of cranky and no push over. I like that!! Obama is a talker boy. But, no real substance, just blah blah blah. The few things he has said equal a BIGGER government and more deficit spending!!
Have you ever had a real job, or have you always been a parasite of the state?
Mr McCain, Some people say you are a hate-filled bigot working for the same banking/investment elite who brought the Bush and Clinton families to power, and it does appear you hire banking and defense lobbyists to counsel your campaign, so if you're not an elitist bigot, as some say, then you must be very out of touch with your own staff, if you claim to be for American values, is this not a lie? Which is it?
Re: Poor Camera Work on Carly Fiorina(This Week 5/11/08):
Please investigate why ABC had many bothersome "camera wiggles and shakes" of Fiorina while she was answering questions from George Stephanopoulos on This Week interview (5/11/08).
"Camera shakes/wiggles" made it difficult to listen and concentrate on her answers, and gave Fiorina an overall "unsteady" appearance.
What happened ?!
John-o,
You have expressed a commendable admiration for our soldiers, saying that they are the finest young men of our nation. Would you let your daughter date a black Pfc. with a GED? How about a tattooed kid named Gonzalez?
Can you give us a reason to believe that anything other than your career matters to you?
Johnny,
Years from now, when you loll in some sunny clime writing your memoirs, perhaps having served as President of the United States, tens of thousands of enlisted men will be living with colostomy bags or white canes or missing legs or the ruins of faces. Does this in any way bother you?
On second thought, I withdraw the question as irrelevant. Pardon my foolishness
Johnny,
If an Iraqi army attacked your home state in an endeavor to impose democracy on the United States, killed thousands of your fellow citizens, and left your daughter of seven years screaming in agony as she died of burns, what would you do? Would you accept Islam with gratitude and embrace democracy? Or would you fight the invaders? Would you spend the rest of your life trying to kill as many of them as you could, in any way that you could?
Just curious.
This is an assinine exercise
Sounds like the writer from the Nation- which has compromised it's journalistic integrity by whoring for the Obama campaign, despite the fact that HRC's campaign is more progressive.
Hint: If you want to play "we're above the frey"- don't do attacks on people's personal lives.
And I hate McCain- and will vote for whomever the Dem nominee is. The Obama campaign has, however, been patronizing, self-righteous and entitled. It is an echo chamber of college kids and professionals congratulating themselves.
Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for being brave enough to make such a necessary effort to make truth known. I think all those that are criticising you below are simply afraid of not being able to believe something that they have not questioned for so long. Thank you, really.
Why do you all waster your time maintaining a website dedicated to putting down the next President of the United States? ;)
This is another waste of brain time. Please get a real life. People are no longer dumb or numb enough to believe that this is real journalism vs. comedy. Ha, ha, ha... Now, please can you get serious?
John - would you release a psychological profile of yourself, including any recent IQ tests? Do you think you are smart enough to lead America, or will you be a puppet of the military industrial complex? Do you think you were mentally damaged from your days as a POW, are you naturally dumb, or are you just plain ignorant? Are you dumber than Bush? Have you visited www.dumberthanbush.com and would you like to comment?
To be such a war hero, and have gone through so much in your life, why does it seem you are running an election campaign that lacks fight? You are an arrogant ass, who is right most of the time, be what you are and stick to you guns....he who tries to make everyone happy ends up making no one happy....
Senator, Sen. Obama has been called an elitist because he was educated at Harvard. After eight years of President Bush, do you think the American
people still want to vote for a regular guy like yourself instead of an arrogant know-it-all?
Senator, you've said that the economy is not your forte and you've demonstrated some confusion about Al Qaeda and Iran. Do you think your opponents campaigns will suffer because they don't bake or can't bowl?
1. Considering what "some say" is the undeniable success of the surge, do you think that Clinton and Obama love America as much as you and Gen.
Petraeus?
That website for Straight Talk Express is www.bitstrips.com
For a satirical look at John McCain, please check out my bitstrip series "Straight Talk Express". I've put a lot of research and thought (and hopefully, wit) into it and it's going strong at over 40 daily episodes so far.
When you really think about it, what does it say about our state of affairs when Sen. McCain is the best the Republicans can muster as a Presidential candidate? And then again, look at our choices on the Dem's side. I'm just mad as hell and I don't want to take it anymore. With that said, the video was funny.
Senator McCain, why did you divorce the mother of your children and one month later marry a much younger drug addict?
Very funny video. I wish journalists would ask some of these questions of McCain. Especially the one about him being an elitist. Or are there too many fooled by his calling everyone, 'my friends'.
you are all fucking idiots. you do not research your topics and have no lives that is why you spend your time doing stupid things
How can you campaign around the country expressing your respect for our military and advocating staying in Iraq .... and not sign on to S.22 for their benefit??
Senator McCain, George Bush suffers from chronic brain syndrome due years of alcohol and cocaine abuse.It is rumored that you suffer from ptsd as a result of being tortured as a prisoner of war. Don't you think this puts you at risk for making kneejerk decisions under stressful situations? Oh, by the way, where is your lapel pin?
WOW!!!!
i read a few of the comments and have 2 say WOW!! bryce you sound scary,,,hateful...and unfortunately like some other americans...maybe like terrorists!!! History keeps repeating....if u study say Vietnam 4 one...really do some research....and look @ Iraq...Look 4 the bigger picture!!! It takes more courage to turn the other cheek!!! This war is tearing us apart....financially...spiritually and it will take a long time to heal!I can only hope the majority of Americans will see thru McCain's blustering and not believe what they see on the "boob tube"!!!
Some important reasons not to vote for John McCain
http://www.seedburst.com/?page_id=35
Pat get your facts strait there is no "cause" in Irak Bush just sees him self as Regan, a spreader of freedom and democracy) even though that region is in complete cahos and most Irakies think it was better before the US came into Irak. And Obama never said he would go into Pakistan the same way we went into Irak he said He would take action againt terrorist cells in the tribal regions if Pakistan did nothing. They are are "allies" and there for must take action when thay can and btw the war on terror is more important and preceded the war in Irak
All I know is... the democrats policies make no sense. John McCain believes we should stay in Iraq to finish the cause, while they believe leaving will have no consequences.
FYI-Obama said he would go into PAKISTAN!! You call Mcain a war mongerer? He only wants to finish the war safely.
Mr McCain - Isn't it true that most people who have a history if being held as a prisoner of war and who have been tortured may have some issues psychologically that could be detrimental to anyone expected to lead a country especially during a time of war? Mr McCain, have you ever been treated for your PTSD and if not, don't you think it about time you recognize that the outbursts of anger and your attitude may in fact be due to the unresolved issues surrounding your PTSD?
US Citizen,although I agree that all this divisiveness is off putting,the fact remains that there is a very good reason for the anger many feel over the results of 7 years of republican rule.McCain is trying very hard to distance himself from Bush and is getting a lot of help from the so called liberal press.This site does a very valuable service in shedding light on McCain's record as opposed to his vote pandering public statements.
I was led to these blogs via a friend. I have voted Rep. all my voting years, and this election found with no uncertainty that Obama is the only person to lead this country anywhere over the next four years. But I am repulsed by the blogging. It doesn't seem to matter if it's against McCain, Hillary or Obama. It's a bunch of angry Americans trying to bash another, which makes no sense, that's third world behavior. How about trying to come up with positive suggestions or solutions for the world to read!
Isn't it true that your campaign employs a lobbyist for United Technologies which is trying to take over Diebold, the manufacturer of those electronic voting machines that leave no paper trail and can be programmed to give you 100 votes for every time a person votes for a Democrat?
Are you trying to commit voter fraud and steal the election like the last guy did?
All we can do is dirve down Fox ratings by not watching any of there networks controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, this includes: Fox network, Fox News Channel, and all of his other holdings in cable TV, movies, local TV stations and newspapers worldwide, "too much power in too few hands."
Its funny how much dirt McCain has when exposed on this "liberal" website. Good luck finding anything like this in the main stream media. Its funny how Neo-cons complain about the media, and its "drive by" style of leftism, but when it comes down to it the media is much farther right than left. You have seen all the smut in the world dropped on Obama and Hillary and none on McCain.....thx fox news for your fainess and balanceness lol
I challenge ANY senator or house member to get on nation wide television and explain how a family of 4 can possibly make it on minimum wages with the cost of gas and the soaring food cost AND why are the citizens of the US paying such high prices and NO-ONE in the political areana are attemting to do anything about it.. Maybe if the polititions paid their own way in life, then maybe they would be in touch with reality!!!!!!!
Senator McCain, do you think iffen I get better edumacated I'd be able to make the kind of money your blowup doll, er wife makes?
Aw sorry, she didn't earn it, her daddy did.
Mr. McCain, can you explain exactly why you find the prospect of bombing a sovereign nation and killing innocent men, women, and children a viable alternative to diplomacy and, worse, appropriate for a poor attempt at humor?
We are so sorry to see how sexist you are Senator, that you failed to even show up for the vote to give equal pay for the same work for women. And you even said women need more training and education. Why are you still in the 1800's Senator?
I wonder, do women in the military make less pay because they have no penis? I bet they die the same!
I bet, like most Republicans, women are just objects for having sex with to you, Senator?
I wonder if a woman pilot would have had the poor judgement to crash 5 planes and get herself a POW?
Senator, we know you have PTSD and that is probably why you do not release your medical records, why you have explosive outbursts, why you have difficulty focusing and confuse Iraq, Iran, Sunni/Shite, etc.
Do you take medication or therapy for this affliction?
WHY, Senator, do you collect Social Security? You are a millionare and dumped your wife for this rich wife you have! Do you need to collect social security?
Why do these republicans whine constantly about how SS is defunct and broke, AND THEN COLLECT IT WHEN THEY DO NOT NEED IT!!!??? LET ME GUESS SENATOR, YOU GET MEDICARE TOO?!!!????????
HYPOCRITES!
In your constant pandering and flip-flopping Senator and against what great Republican leaders before you did, I'm wondering if you will also seek the endorsement of the nutbag Baptists in Kansas that scream nasty hateful things (that you apparently also believe) at soldiers' funerals?
Have they endoresed you? Where will you draw the line, Senator, in your hypocrisy?
Did you not realize how dadgum SICK and scary that was to watch a potential world leader sing your sick "Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran" song?
Did you really think that was funny? You are twisted then.