Query

Did John McCain REALLY say that to Cindy? And haven’t any reporters even asked?

Has anyone in the mainstream press asked John McCain to confirm or deny Cliff Schecter’s report of what McCain is supposed to have said to his wife with reporters present? Schecter cites three reporters as eye (ear?)witnesses, but doesn’t name them. The McCain campaign didn’t return calls from The Raw Story asking for comment.

Of course, it’s not easy to even ask the question without using language inappropriate in polite company, but I think the phrasing above would do it. If McCain feigns ignorance of the comment in question, “slather on the makeup” is a non-obscene key-phrase.

Of course, RBC is extremely polite in its use of language, so we would never think of quoting the offensive words McCain is supposed to have used. Nor would we encourage you to view the video below: certainly not at work or in the presence of children or others with delicate ears, and definitely not if you’ve had recent abdominal surgery and worry that uncontrollable laughter might cause your stitches to part.

Update I showed the video to a friend who thought it was very funny but immediately added “Of course that never happened.” Maybe the video needs to be edited to mention Schecter’s book.

Brian at Backseat Driving has more. McCain was asked the question at a town hall and refused to answer. His campaign has denied the incident.

Author: Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com