McCain praises Schmidt and Wallace, says “it’s time to move on”
posted at 6:57 pm on November 18, 2009 by Allahpundit
I held out on Palin posts today as long as I could but some drama simply must be blogged, my friends. A diplomatic statement by Maverick, and no doubt an attempt to exert a little authority in defense of his loyalists, but the famous McCain temper can’t be suppressed forever.
I figure he’s at about DefCon 3 here.
“There’s been a lot of dust flying around in the last few days and I just wanted to mention that I have the highest regard for Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace and the rest of the team … and I appreciated all the hard work and everything they did to help the campaign,” he said.
“I think it’s just time to move on,” he said…
“Campaigns are high-pressure situations. The only more high-pressure situation that I’ve been in is combat and prison,” said McCain, a Navy flyer shot down during the Vietnam War and held prisoner for 5-1/2 years.
“But you know, I’m proud of Nicolle and Steve and (senior campaign official) Rick Davis and (senior adviser) Mark Salter and I’ll always have great affection for them,” he said.
McCain, who has largely kept silent in the high-profile run-up to Palin’s book release and tour, said he remained proud of Palin, whom he plucked from obscurity as governor of Alaska last year to join him in his campaign.
Er, didn’t he ask his campaign staff just two days ago to not give the story any extra oxygen by eschewing TV interviews on the subject? Does he not realize that defending those staffers from his former running mate will … actually give it a lot more oxygen? It’s not like Palin’s going to follow his lead and agree that “it’s time to move on,” either. She’s got a book to promote and this is one of the chief topics. If he’s trying to smooth this over, he’s doomed to fail, at least in the short term.
If you missed it in Headlines, here’s video of Nicolle Wallace obeying McCain’s wishes — sort of. Such is Wallace’s credibility these days that even Maureen Dowd tends to believe Palin over her. Yes, really.
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Gee, McCain was a POW during Vietnam.
I would’ve never known that.
I wonder if John Forbes Kerry served in that same war?
omnipotent on November 18, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Dunn and Schmidt are big buddies. Dunn is writing a smear book on Palin. The good news is that he’s very lazy. I’ve been reading his blogs.
There is nothing of substance so far. It’s very poorly researched, but then I don’t think he can find much.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Anybody here remember Operation Leper? Schmidt & Wallace need to be backhanded. Maybe McMaverick too, mai frendzh.
OhioCoastie on November 18, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Try harder rino boy. Wallace leaked “the palin shopping spree”.
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Except, John, you lost. Your staff, of whom you hold such high regard, literally trashed your campaign; and after they blew it, trashed Sarah Palin. She has the right to respond and she has. They had their say, pre-emptively -I might add- and now its Sarah’s turn.
It’s not hard to figure out why you got trounced… eeasy Johnie, eeeeeasy boy.
BKeyser on November 18, 2009 at 7:41 PM
McCain also said that Palin gave a good accounting of events and he hoped she sold a lot of books. I think he just feels stuck in the middle and wants all the finger pointing and drama to stop. of course it is a little late for that.
Terrye on November 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM
The Fact that the senator was so quick to support these two when he left Palin twisting in the wind for months on after the election as she was attacked in every which way imaginable tells you something about old johnny boy now doesn’t it? *sigh*
Dritanian on November 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Seriously if you have to go on Maddow to defend yourself. You have lost.
Caper29 on November 18, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I’m not so sure I’d go that far. Other than the Keating banking scandal, McCain started out as a fairly responsible politician. He only seems to have lost it when he didn’t get the 2000 Presidential nomination. He blamed his defeat on Christian Conservatives and spent the next 6 years attacking the Bush administration more than anything else. He even toyed with the idea of becoming John Kerry’s VP nominee. By 2008 it became clear he was a liberal who hates social conservatives and despises Christian conservatives beyond any rational understanding. He only put Palin on the ticket because his original strategy of being Hillary in better fitting pantsuits didn’t play with the Democrats he thought he could woo in lieu of the GOP base.
McCain needs to retire while most of us still differentiate his good service from whatever you want to call his last 10 years of politics.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I’m beginning to think that Palin would have been far better off all the way around if she had turned down McAmnesty’s offer for VP.
GFW on November 18, 2009 at 7:44 PM
If he got any Honor , he should let Schmit and Wallace face the truth.
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 7:44 PM
++++++++
But , she’s a conservative..
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 7:45 PM
I would never vote for any one who hires these people-Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace.
tinkerthinker on November 18, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Well congrats on your score! I miss living in GR but last Spring I got Granholmed out of the state. It was either take a really good job elsewhere or hope against the odds that I’d be able to find meaningful employment in GR.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 7:46 PM
I thought she did a good job in the book explaining it all and Randy Scheunemann, one of her advisors on the campaign trail along with many others, were aware of the situations. In fact, going through the book, she has two so-called enemies: Schmidt and Wallace — she adored everyone else and had so many great things to say about them. Obviously the bad stuff gets picked up, but she does put alot of it on herself. More than once she points out regrets she has about not speaking out more and being more proactive. Mostly it just seems like she wants to tell her side, and I am glad she did. Not nearly the whining people like to push in their reviews and columns. Thought she was pretty respectful and measured and, as always, she praised McCain and his family which makes his reluctance to back her all the more infuriating!
XWing5 on November 18, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Who knows. All I know is that McCain was PATHETIC. Inarticulate, inconsistent, back stabbing, pandering jackass.
Retire old man.
therightwinger on November 18, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Oh, well it’s ok to blindly accept unsubstantiated stories about her then. Carry on.
RightOFLeft on November 18, 2009 at 7:47 PM
McCain should remember the saying “but what have you done lately?” Does he really want this to be where he makes his last stand; against Sarah the Warrior? Whom he brought to us… John… Let. It. Go.
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You have done you duty with great honor. Spend your final strength defeating the Marxist bast*rd who lied and connived to take the WH.
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Help the cause John… Admonish Barry… and cheer as Sarah soars.
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RalphyBoy on November 18, 2009 at 7:48 PM
In the video Andrea asked her about this and all she said is she has respect for John McCain. I think Sarah was mad at Andrea there at the end. Interfering with Sarah signing autographs and asking her about the newsweak cover and this situation.
Brat4life on November 18, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Is it me or do these two look like men — I have had a couple of adult beverages — but they kinda look like she-men ..
wheels on November 18, 2009 at 7:49 PM
It’s been well documented that John Kerry’s war service was embellished complete with demanding Purple Hearts for wounds requiring a band-aid to treat.
John McCain spent years as a POW under horrific conditions. I, for one, would just as well not compare the two Senators or in any way discount McCain’s military service.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 7:50 PM
McCain was obviously re-educated in Vietnam. He was also taught to infiltrate.
I can’t wait until no one remembers his maverick name.
father on November 18, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Sarah has a great future; nothing but good things in store for her. These other 3, not so much. Sure hope Mac retires. It is indeed time to move on.
james23 on November 18, 2009 at 7:51 PM
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=33D91FFD-18FE-70B2-A87D66E6D1BFE37B
For those who didn’t keep up with the original blow-out with Schmidt and Wallace and other staffers.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Rinos do as rinos please. You and Schussafavavava.
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 7:53 PM
The problem, IMO, was that everybody knew he was pathetic from the very beginning. The day after securing the nomination, largely through engineered primaries than any real passion with the base, he walked into CPAC and declared himself the second coming of Reagan.
It was at that moment I knew he was doomed. You simply don’t go into an important event like that and insult your audience with lies.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 7:54 PM
I’m not a Republican. In name only or otherwise. Having said that, feel free to call me RINO to your heart’s content; it doesn’t offend me and it’s accurate in spirit if not in detail. Just FYI.
RightOFLeft on November 18, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I liked John when he uncorked on policy issues. He’s extremely bright.
I wasn’t so crazy about his demeanor or campaign personality stuff. Everything Sarah said about being sort of stuffed up applied to him, too.
They kept trying to make him nice. I thought he was best when he let the edge show more. People might not have felt warm and fuzzy about him, but they did hear his points.
And he was right.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 7:57 PM
McCain being a hero is questionable. He was taken captive and immediately he’s telling the VC that he is a catch.
“My granddaddy was a US Navy Admiral.” (while he bats his eyes)
“I’m definitely a pawn – so treat me well, please thanks.”
Like his daughter said, “do they know who the Fook I am?”
father on November 18, 2009 at 7:57 PM
He’s trying to be “bipartisan.”
Wethal on November 18, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Yeah, I knew “we” were headed for defeat the moment he won the nomination. Did he even go to CPAC before 2008? So disingenious.
therightwinger on November 18, 2009 at 7:58 PM
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Thanks… Right on target.
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RalphyBoy on November 18, 2009 at 8:02 PM
The year before he tried to sneak in without losing his street cred with the MSM. He wanted to rent a suite in the same hotel and hold court, but not publicly be seen as attending CPAC.
The hotel was booked solid. Heh.
Wethal on November 18, 2009 at 8:02 PM
I understand the sentiment, and praise McCain’s service — few others have given as much, except those whose names are carved on The Wall — but he was always in a philosophical struggle against his strong WWII Admiral dad.
I’m no shrink, but it seems he’s always been in that rebellion, God love him.
TXUS on November 18, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Perhaps the staffers agreed to his request in exchange for his statement.
orange on November 18, 2009 at 8:10 PM
They haven’t kept out of it at all. That’s all Schmidt and Wallace are doing now is talking to media defending themselves.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Move on indeed. Bye, McPain.
Maquis on November 18, 2009 at 8:13 PM
the portrayal of palin as a maligned woman suffering from betrayal by the mccain team is basically the plotline for the tabloid conflict between jennifer anniston and angelina jolie. the only difference is that jennifer anniston doesn’t feed her tabloid drama while palin has taken an active hand in trivializing herself with this stupid nonsense.
in a couple weeks palin will be making a book tour stop at ft. hood to sell copies of her ghost-written vanity biography over the warm corpses of last week’s massacre there. she is beyond tasteless. she is repugnant.
eh on November 18, 2009 at 8:13 PM
When you have lost MoDo, you’ve, well, lost…
John should have just stayed out of it…the campaign punks have had their say, let SP have hers. It is her turn.
d1carter on November 18, 2009 at 8:14 PM
O/T but Sally Quinn has the most sophmoric viewpoint of Christianity.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Which situation was Randy Scheunemann aware of specifically? The tension between Wallace/Schmidt and Palin, or the other stuff about putting her on a diet or sandbagging her with the Couric interview (which, now that I think about it, doesn’t even make sense unless Wallace was some kind of mole for the Obama campaign)?
As far as Palin accepting some blame, I’ll take your word for it that it’s in the book. She’s not doing herself any favors by spreading it around, though.
RightOFLeft on November 18, 2009 at 8:17 PM
And as scumsuckers like you know , she had booked to be there before the “non terroristic-jihad attack” , and they told her to visit even after the attack. And att the same time your president stopped the investigation of why they missed the terrorist.
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Can you imagine this doofus as President? uh, the watch is squabbling with the XO. Time to jump in and choose sides! No wonder he couldn’t get his own flag.
Chris_Balsz on November 18, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Musical interlude of course!
Burning Down the Tent!
Mr. Joe on November 18, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Apparently she sells some books and gets some attention.
the_nile on November 18, 2009 at 8:22 PM
how’s the view from up atop the coffins?
Chris_Balsz on November 18, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Hum…Yeah…I’m sure he’d love to move on… must just chap his a$$ that the majority of us really voted for Palin…. I got my book today so looking forward to reading it ….might not go to the office tomorrow!
CCRWM on November 18, 2009 at 8:25 PM
He had his chance to put a lid on this crap after the election. Way too little, way too late.
Jim Treacher on November 18, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Especially after McCain, Schmidt and Wallace gave up on the campaign after the meltdown in mid-Sept.
Palin fought on.
Sapwolf on November 18, 2009 at 8:28 PM
I switched to HGTV when Sally Quinn came on…
CCRWM on November 18, 2009 at 8:28 PM
No way!…tanya whoever just stated that Palin is intimidated by O’Reilly…you have got to be kidding me….wonder how much OReilly paid her to say that…back to HGTV… glad my husband isn’t home or I might have to listen to that tripe…
CCRWM on November 18, 2009 at 8:33 PM
I think I actually agree with him. Arizona~please help this ‘maverick’ move on…..back to Sonoma and the hell out of the SENATE!
HornetSting on November 18, 2009 at 8:35 PM
NO DUH!
God, what is an atheist like that doing writing about Faith? WTF?
You can tell she hates religious people. I’ve detected that same behavior and they are always Dems or elitists.
Sapwolf on November 18, 2009 at 8:36 PM
I saw that segment and Sarah was not intimidated, but she was what is referred to as ‘guarded’. And of course everybody is with Bill.
Sapwolf on November 18, 2009 at 8:39 PM
So Juan, you praise the folks that trashed your presidential run, you were a weak candidate, your consistent habit of poking your finger in the eye of conservatives caused the base to stay home because they couldn’t stomach the idea of pulling the lever for you. Those folks gave you bad advice time after time during your bumbling campaign. The only thing you had going for you was the selection of SP as VP. Suddenly people started getting excited and showing up to your rallies again. (let us not forget that prior to that you couldn’t fill up a small banquet hall) These same idiots that you defend now saw Sarah as a threat and did their dead level best to destroy her (and you) during the campaign. Then blamed her for the loss, which is laughable.
Now you defend them…..Get a clue old man.
conservnut on November 18, 2009 at 8:42 PM
I suspect Hannity got a much better interview. Bill thinks that he’s terrific at interviews. Actually, good interviews are those that get the person to open up.
Oprah is better than people give her credit for being.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Sometimes even you and I agree.
beachgirlusa on November 18, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Am I the only one that thinks it’s disingenous to label a post about McCain expressing pride and support for his campaign staff and his former Veep candidate
“WAR?”
cs89 on November 18, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Could you believe the bit about how Sarah isn’t consistent? And then her “evidence” was that Sarah surely didn’t want to lose. Hello? In other words, Sally imagines the inconsistency and then serves that up as proof.
I swear. I must be getting too old here for TV. *haha
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 8:44 PM
A+
beachgirlusa on November 18, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Too late, many of us will never forget Capt Queeg for his participation in the assault& battery of the 1st Amendment,sorry the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Bill.
If that was his only sin against the Constitution, many of us would still hate him. But with him the hits keep on coming.
As for Schmitt & Wallace, never ever trust these people, or people like them. Not with your campaign, your name, or your public image. For these people it is just a paycheck and potential for an in at whatever office you are running for. Whether you lose, get pilloried, or end up personally holding the bag for the bills they ran-up, they don’t care. They are not your friends.
Listen to their advice, then listen to the advice of people you really respect & trust, then follow your instincts. If you run for office and have advisors that you feel you can not trust or whose advice is contrary to you own personality or best interests, curb the ba*^ards.
McCain, I hope he loses his next run for office.
thmsmgnm on November 18, 2009 at 8:58 PM
This coming from a vicious lying smear artist that spreads evil defamatory rants about RS McCain. Your one of the idiots that accuses him of being a racist.
You have no honor and therefore no credibility to be judging Mrs. Palin.
Your a pathetic snake.
True_King on November 18, 2009 at 8:58 PM
That meme is getting tiresome.
Squid Shark on November 18, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Steve Schmidt, one of the best and brightest!
marinetbryant on November 18, 2009 at 9:04 PM
You’ve got a sick idea of what it means to be diplomatic. The fact that he has been silent and that he issues this condescending remark about plucking her form obscurity…what a prick!
People have been going easy on McCain. The gloves are now off on him and the prick’s fat dumb daughter.
Blake on November 18, 2009 at 9:10 PM
McCain is in a tough spot. He feels more loyalty to his former aides than he does to Sarah, IMO. On the other hand, he needs the screaming, happy crowds that Sarah will draw for McCain when he campaigns for reelection next year. Without her help, he’s screwed and he knows it. Look for him to toss her under the bus, say, second week of November, 2010.
joejm65 on November 18, 2009 at 9:12 PM
No, it’s you and your fellow trolls who have to piss all over every Palin thread is what is old.
Blake on November 18, 2009 at 9:13 PM
She doesn’t strike me as a doormat. Why help him? At best, she’ll dish right back and be silent.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:15 PM
If it’s a war, I guess that makes me a palintologist, because I sure can’t side with Maverick.
MeatHeadinCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:18 PM
It may be tiresome for you, but do you disagree that without Palin, McCain would not have energized the base – well, unless the vp nom. had been someone perceived to be as conservative/populist as SP?
MeatHeadinCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Long story short, no, he really doesn’t. Arizona is one of those “purple” states, and McCain has been doing just fine there since the ’80s.
RightOFLeft on November 18, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Well, it’s his own damn fault. Honestly, I really didn’t think I could be more disgusted with McCain than I already was. He didn’t deserve the presidency.
beachgirlusa on November 18, 2009 at 9:21 PM
It was the final straw for me.
Same here. I wouldn’t have for voted for him in the first place if not for Sarah Palin anyway.
beachgirlusa on November 18, 2009 at 9:23 PM
She doesn’t strike me as a doormat. Why help him? At best, she’ll dish right back and be silent.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:15 PM
joejm65 on November 18, 2009 at 9:26 PM
So keep denying the obvious. It’s funny.
Jim Treacher on November 18, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Same old Schmidt. Different day.
viking01 on November 18, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Usually, when people say it’s time to move on, it means the heat is getting close to the kitchen.
bflat879 on November 18, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Same Schmidt just a lot more flies.
thomasaur on November 18, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Maverick is trying to protect his daughter from the refrigerator raids that will be coming.
MeatHeadinCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Same old maverick~a day late and a dollar short.
HornetSting on November 18, 2009 at 9:34 PM
That is what invertabrates do, spineless wonders piss when they get scared.
bluemarlin on November 18, 2009 at 9:34 PM
“My fellow Americans, now is the time to move on from the shackles that we will be placed in after I concede to Obama in October.”
MeatHeadinCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:36 PM
I preferr to not listen to losers and Sarah Palin is the only member of the McCain camp that is not a loser.
Piss off McCain, and quit sending me donation requests!
The donation was for a fighter, for Sarah, not for a washed up old Dem lovin, patsy, Piss off!
Arizona dump this fool Please!
dhunter on November 18, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Hell, he was doomed February 5th, 2008.
HornetSting on November 18, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Palin is killing it on Hannity right now.
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Why? Is that when the Biggest Loser aired? /s
MeatHeadinCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:38 PM
McCains campaign was pretty much nonexistent until he brought Palin in. I believe Ms.Wallace was part of McCains campaign, before Palin, and after the loss on election night. To save her “image” she had to make excuses for the loss, and Palin was an easy target.
If she’s ever hired again, I’d think it would be a miracle. She’s a back biting snipey individual, who can’t, or won’t take responsibility for her actions, or lack there of.
capejasmine on November 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Exactly.
Geochelone on November 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM
McShame was a POW during Vietnam and he was one who confessed and made a video that said America was a war criminal nation.
Did you know that?
jarhead0311 on November 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Hannity and Sarah are having quite a fun chat.
AnninCA on November 18, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Thanks for the link. These seditious leaches need to be exterminated. Operation Leper, love it. Name names and make them famous.
Geochelone on November 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM
r.s. mccain is a racist. it’s not even disputable. he doesn’t dispute it himself even.
i guess you’ll have to wait a couple weeks and ask palin.
eh on November 18, 2009 at 9:48 PM
McShame was a POW during Vietnam and he was one who confessed and made a video that said America was a war criminal nation.
Did you know that?
jarhead0311 on November 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Colonel Bud Day the most decorated living Vietnam vet and others kept McCain alive after severe torture and beatings. I will never speak badly of his wartime conduct but however honorable he may once have been he is a pathetic, pandering, miserable little politician who would sell out conservatives in a second to further his standing as a US Senator. An honorable Veteran became a dishonorable Senator and is way past his expiration date.
Get rid of him Arizona!
dhunter on November 18, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Ann, are you talking about that Geoffrey Dunn creature? He is a nasty piece of work. You’re right that’s he’s a terrible researcher.
And he’s friends with Schmidt? That doesn’t say much much good about Schmidt.
juliesa on November 18, 2009 at 9:51 PM
You tell em HS. Move over, we’re comin’ through.
Join or Die.
Geochelone on November 18, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I’ll bring the pitchforks and the cupcakes, Geo.
HornetSting on November 18, 2009 at 9:53 PM
let’s go to the source:
“The Dec. 4 event had not been announced publicly or included in a preliminary list of tour stops published on Palin’s Facebook page.”
its a lie.
eh on November 18, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
dhunter on November 18, 2009 at 9:49 PM
highhopes on November 18, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Whahhhh Whahh twolls r pikin on poor sawah :(
Squid Shark on November 18, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Oh jeez, quit with the nutty conspiracy slander about McCain’s service. Did some Hufftards just register to comment here?
juliesa on November 18, 2009 at 9:58 PM
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