McCain to Murtha: “Lighten up and get a life”
posted at 10:49 am on April 26, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Sounds … familiar. I don’t disagree with him, but St. John has already punched the “lighten up and get a life” ticket twice now. He’s got to come back with something different next time lest we conclude that this is either a campaign-approved pat answer to all accusations of “insensitivity” or that he’s simply not imaginative enough to come up with anything more clever by way of the artful putdown. Like it or not, there is a principle of diminishing returns to this sort of thing. Those of who’ve seen the Jim Carrey “I’ll see you in hell” skit from SNL know the truth.
I don’t know. Maybe he heard one of his kids say it and just thought it was super-snappy and impressive, like Rick Rossovich waxing eloquent in “Roxanne” about how “extemporaneous” the night is. Hang in there, Mac.
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Maybe it’s the official campaign slogan.
SouthernDem on April 26, 2007 at 10:53 AM
On the outside chance it came down to hin and a Dem, I would probably vote for him. In any other scenario not so much.I would still love to see him down on his knees begging forgiveness for that PITA bill he co-sponsored.
bbz123 on April 26, 2007 at 11:01 AM
2008 is going to be a hold your nose and vote for the least terrible cndidate. I appreciate what McCain did in Vietnam, but his support of massive illegal immigrant amnesty is why I can not vote for him.
deadbackpacker on April 26, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Reminds me of Walter Mondale saying “Where’s the beef?”
Btw McCain looks really really tired. I don’t think he has enough energy to go out gardening with the grandkids.
boru on April 26, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Fred!
Fred on April 26, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Murtha should apologize to every soldier, military parent and every Marine that ever served for supporting our enemies and putting the military in harms way in order to support his political agenda and that of his anti-American party.
His service to this country has been noted and reversed with his service as a politician starting with ABSCAM
Hening on April 26, 2007 at 11:21 AM
It’s the Nixon/Laugh-in strategy….hey look I’m cool!
Thanks for your service John, time to move on.
Limerick on April 26, 2007 at 11:24 AM
I think that’s what it is. Everything done and said by these presidential candidates is calculated.
Rick on April 26, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Guys, lighten up and get a life. Beating up on McCain is not great idea. Try to get used to him now or never. McCain is such a sweet guy.
Ouabam on April 26, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Guys, lighten up and get a life. Beating up on McCain is not great idea. Try to get used to him now or never. McCain is such a sweet guy.
Ouabam on April 26, 2007 at 11:43 AM
My wife watches that dreadful show, so I got to see the finished product, and McCain was not very eloquent. I know Clinton and W have lowered the bar on eloquence, but when Sawyer asked him what the difference would be in his Presidency, compared to Bush’s, he was lost. Lost.
Jaibones on April 26, 2007 at 12:00 PM
I agree with Henning. The one owing an apology is Murtha, undicted co-conspirator of ABSCAM.
I admire John McCain for publicly supporting the war. I hope the this public support stiffens the back of the rest of the GOP.
georgej on April 26, 2007 at 12:08 PM
When I saw Murtha’s feigned outrage, I thought of the soldiers he imagines he speaks for. What would they be thinking?
Same thing as McCain, “Lighten up and get a life.”
Nice Deb on April 26, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Murtha was flapping his wings so fast I thought he was going to fly away. What a buffoon.
Malpaso on April 26, 2007 at 12:43 PM
You all know how I feel about McCain, but I have noticed that he is not at the top of his game. He does seem tired.
Rightwingsparkle on April 26, 2007 at 12:57 PM
I recieved a campaign e-mail from McCain sent out to supporters and I loved this part, so I thought I would share with you guys:
I don’t seek the office out of a sense of entitlement. I owe America more than she has ever owed me. Thirty-four years ago, I came home from an extended absence abroad. While I was away, I fell in love with my country. I learned that’s what good for America, is good enough for me. I have been an imperfect servant of my country ever since, in uniform and in office, in war and peace. I have never lived a single day, in good times or in bad, that I haven’t thanked God for the privilege.
Rightwingsparkle on April 26, 2007 at 1:10 PM
John, buddy, I don’t like you one bit, but cuz I’m a nice guy I’ll give you a freebie, retire that phrase, its lost its effect.
Bad Candy on April 26, 2007 at 1:27 PM
McCain’s not a bad guy, but until he gets smart on immigration, I’d like him to lighten up the race and get out.
doufree on April 26, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Righwingsparkle, thank you so much for sharing that excerpt from the McCain letter. I cried. Not having suffered, not even a mm of what he did, not having sacrificed hardly, just having had the privilege to be a naturalized citizen of this wondrous country, having had absolute freedom to create, to be whatever/whenever/however, and to help others, he speaks for me.
If only this letter could be understood by the Murthas. It is such tragic ignorance that they don’t know the difference.
Entelechy on April 26, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Sparkle, Entelechy, thanks for that.
Dude, isn’t citing Roxanne one of those things you’re not supposed to do in front of guys?
Anwyn on April 26, 2007 at 2:38 PM
“Lose the War” Murtha vs. “Limit Free Speech” McCain…
Can I hope that they both lose?
gekkobear on April 26, 2007 at 3:34 PM
I don’t think that “Lighten up and get a life” is the real story here. I’m no John McCain fan, but to me, that is just nitpicking. The real story is the incredible hypocrisy of murtha pretending to care about the troops in this video. He, of all people, is the one who owes the troops an apology.
MarkM on April 26, 2007 at 3:44 PM
It’s obvious that he is lumping “slow bleed” Murtha in with others who try to horse collar him with PC threats. He gets it. Others comments and questions aren’t designed to do anything except to get McCain to crumble under PC pressure. So the response is exactly the same……
“All I can say to Murtha and others….Lighten up and get a life.”
csdeven on April 26, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Allah, McCain is actually recycling that line more than you know… check out Fox & Friends this morning. He and his wife appeared, faced almost an identical line of questioning, and delivered the “lighten up and get a life” and repeatedly said “I’m gonna continue to use humor”.
I’ve got a new one he can use 2 or 3 times before it gets old too… Next time he faces one of these situations, he needs to just shrug his shoulders and make a face like he couldn’t care less and say “That’s how I roll, next question…”
RightWinged on April 26, 2007 at 5:18 PM
I like McCain. You know he went on John Stewart’s Daily Show and took a pounding. You want to see politicians FACE THE PEOPLE THE PUBLIC, not all this bubble BOY BULL, where you get talking points and staged press conferences with limited Q & A.
John Stewart is not stupid and is usually very polite and nice, asking tough questions shyly, but Stewart was on fire. McCain stayed on point, we have to win, blaaa blaaa. Of course he addressed the happy talk about his Market shopping trip in Baghdad. Too bad. He put all his eggs in the IRAQ AND BUSH Basket. He will lose. He does have a temper that scars me a little. Age? Does not bother me too much. However compared to the other GOP idiots, Rudy, Mitt and some actor that is not even running, McCain would be my GOP pick.
**Unfortunately a Dem is going to the white-house regardless, unless the Sunnis and shiites have peace day, hug and make up, drive al qaeda out and all run around with american flags and REALLY greet us as liberators. (This was an excerpt for Georgie W’s dream every night.) Its a nice dream but it ain’t going to happen. This is the heart of Islam and they are real particular about letting christian occupying forces take over THEIR land. The Iraq people don’t want to be there. They want to get on with the business of killing each other. We should let them.
**Unfortuantely because I don’t like any one party to have complete control like Karl Rove tried. We got 6 years of GOP rule and it was beyond horrible it was a tragedy to the nation and world. I don’t want an all Dem show either.
gmcjetpilot on April 26, 2007 at 6:14 PM
–sigh– Pilot, where to start with this drivel? During those six years of ‘control’ , the Demos were in charge of the Senate for over a year, the 2003-04 majority was far too thin for anything close to ‘control’……
no, wait, you said “beyond horrible”. Why am I talking to anyone who talks like that?
Janos Hunyadi on April 26, 2007 at 8:13 PM
He should have done an impression of John Murtha. muahaha, of course wanting and probably doing this kinds of things (as well as Qualesk spelling) is one reason why I’m not running.
Btw, Murtha’s rant was a straight up case of the pot calling the kettle carbon fiber.
- The Cat
MirCat on April 26, 2007 at 9:24 PM
I would vote for almost any GOP candidate before McCain, but…
McCain’s response to Murtha is dern near perfect. At this point, making a serious response to Murtha only legitimizes his
attack.
petefrt on April 26, 2007 at 9:57 PM
A barb I agree with coming from mccain..great on you mccain. Retire now though :) plz
Highrise on April 27, 2007 at 2:26 AM
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