John McCain is getting a free pass from the media

[TheresNoMoney]

When was the last time this guy got any negative press coverage? The media continues to paint him as a "maverick" when the guy has voted with Bush 90% of the time over the past 7 years. He is/was one of the leading cheerleaders for the Iraq War, and only wants further continued escalation.

Everyone says that Barack Obama hasn't been "vetted" and only gets favorable press coverage, yet no one mention that John McCain has gotten a total free pass from the press so far.

[Saxwsylvania]

You must have been watching CNN.  They have an interest in making sure that Obama looks "unvetted".

[Reaganfan]

When was the last time this guy got any negative press coverage? The media continues to paint him as a "maverick" when the guy has voted with Bush 90% of the time over the past 7 years. He is/was one of the leading cheerleaders for the Iraq War, and only wants further continued escalation.

Everyone says that Barack Obama hasn't been "vetted" and only gets favorable press coverage, yet no one mention that John McCain has gotten a total free pass from the press so far.

This appears to me...and it's still early...to be the first election cycle where I truly don't see a media bias either way. Yes, Obama gets slight-friendly media, McCain gets slight-friendly media...but generally I have seen much better reporting from the networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, CNN).

First of all, people have overwhemling respect for what he went through as a POW. He will likely be the only chance the heros of that war have a President, and also probably the only chance the Silent Generation (Born 1925-1945) will ever have a President.

I think it is a few things. The fact that he has distanced himself from Bush (I honestly don't believe the two like eachother all that much) and also voted against the tax cuts in 2001 because they didn't restrain spending and his views on torture and global warming.

Democrats keep saying McCain can't win because of Bush's unpopularity. I think that's the reason he CAN win. Many independents will look to his head to heads with President Bush as a favorable image, added on to his Teddy Roosevelt progressive Republican approach. He comes across HONEST and didn't buy the nomination and also isn't 100% liked by conservatives.

People are sick of partisanship. Obama is a liberal. Clinton is a liberal. McCain is a maverick and always will be a maverick. People look at McCain as the prime example of non-partisan politics.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

...four legs good... two legs better...

[TheresNoMoney]

John McCain stopped being a "maverick" after the 2000 election. He has aligned himself with Bush on most major issues over the past 7 years.

[Saxwsylvania]

Well, he's definitely more of a maverick and has been more successful at reaching out to the other side than Barack Obama.

[exopolitician]

Well, he's definitely more of a maverick and has been more successful at reaching out to the other side than Barack Obama.

lol..

[MODU]

I would say Obama has received more of a "free pass" than McCain.  All the stations were covering the McCain/Limbaugh/Hannity/Coulter fight for weeks (for example).

[PBrunsel]

Now, now simmer down Scoonie, my good man from the Granite Hills. Let me try to get what your saying. McCain is not a maverick! Perish the thought!

President Bush has about a 30% approval rating and Scoonie claims McCain's voted with him 90% of the time. Let's do some "maverick math" here. You see, McCain would stop being a maverick if he voted against Preisdent Bush about 60% of the time, however, he only votes against a very unpopular president 10% of the time.

Seeing how 70% of the country doesn't like the president, I'd say that was the "status quo." McCain only hates the president 10%. If that isn't being a "maverick" then I don't know what is!

[Wakie]

Wait for the general election.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Well, he's definitely more of a maverick and has been more successful at reaching out to the other side than Barack Obama.

lol..

I am laughing as well. Obama clearing has a track record that suggests he can work across party lines. He's sponsored so many bipartisan bills that he seems like he doesn't have a party. He makes mccain look more partisan than Jesse helms.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Mr. Scoonie also believes the right-wing smear machine is the prime source of attacks on Obama, rather than the Clinton Smear Machine.

We had how many threads here about the irrelevant radio right and other right wingers attacking McCain (which the news media loved), but he's forgotten about those.

[TheresNoMoney]

Mr. Scoonie also believes the right-wing smear machine is the prime source of attacks on Obama, rather than the Clinton Smear Machine.

I believe the Muslim smears and homophobic smears are coming from the right-wing. The other less over-the-top smears are coming from the Clinton camp.

[Reaganfan]

I had on CNN a few minutes ago, and they went live to a McCain rally in Wisconsin...and I couldn't help but hear him say "This President signed into law spending bills...if we hadn't had done that..." and it almost sounded as if he was from the opposite party. That's true appeal to the center.

[TheGlobalizer]

McCain will get hammered in the general.  You gotta know the Keating Five thing is coming back to life.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

...when the guy has voted with Bush 90% of the time over the past 7 years.

I assume we're all smart enough here to take that for what it is—a measure that has no real usefulness outside an attack ad.  Most of that 90% are just simple procedural votes which have little if anything to do with ideology.