McCain not in ‘cone of silence’ at Saddleback forum
August 18th, 2008, 11:05 am · 74 Comments · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
In case you hadn’t heard…
“Sen. John McCain was not in a ‘cone of silence’ on Saturday night while his rival, Sen. Barack Obama, was being interviewed at the Saddleback Church in California,” according to this New York Times story.
“Members of the McCain campaign staff, who flew (to Orlando) Sunday from California, said Mr. McCain was in his motorcade on the way to the church as Mr. Obama was being interviewed by the Rev. Rick Warren.”
Warren had said McCain was in a “cone of silence” so he wouldn’t hear the questions in advance.
“Nicolle Wallace, a spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, said on Sunday night that Mr. McCain had not heard the broadcast of the event while in his motorcade and heard none of the questions,” the Times reported.
Rick Warren’s response? None yet but one may be forthcoming.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
So, with all those secret service people surrounding McCain on his way to the faith forum, he somehow managed to break his promise not to listen (did he retreat to a bathroom with a radio?) in on Obama’s questioning?
Yes, that would be the Obama campaign allright, projecting its own code of ethics on one who would not stoop to that level.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Typically when one side gets beat very badly in a competition, the specter of ‘cheating” is usually raised by the looser as a form of defense against a poor, or worse than expected, showing.
I have noticed that Democrats are especially keen to this tactic as in the 2000 Bush-Gore Florida count and in the 2004 Bush-Kerry Iowa count so I wasn’t surprised when i saw this.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Why were they not both at the venue at the same time?
Why did Rick Warren say McCain was in a cone of silence?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Good point, Susan. If there’s ACTUAL evidence that McCain listened to the questions, I’m sure that will come out. McCain wanted the interview conducted with both of them on the same stage at the same time. Obama was “The One” who refused that. Obama also refused to do multiple town hall meetings with McCain. After his performance at Saddleback, we don’t have to wonder why.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
LOL, this is so typical of the Democrats! Vote McCain!
August 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Well, Warren said that McCain was in a Cone of Slience, either he was ill informed or he lied. This is about character people and it’s the basis of the forum, that they get a level palying field.
So, these are all fair questions, deal with it, your guy did not follow through with the guidelines so now he has to face the scrutiny. Talk about whiners.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
McCain didn’t have to listen. McCain’s people could had text , called, faxed McCain or others around him with the questions that were being asked. What really gets me is that Rev. Rick Warren lied where McCain was. This was all for TV and I think Warren supports McCain.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Heather and/or Warren:
There’s no proof that anyone “lied” or that McCain had access to the questions. Why isn’t McCain’s car considered a “cone of silence”?
August 18th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Actual evidence! What more do you need? Lets start with “Was McCain in a cone of silence?” Answered by his own aides, “No.” Those are the facts presented in this blog.
Now we are left with the credibility of McCain and his advisors on whether we will hear the truth about whether or not he heard or was coached on the questions. Don’t hold your breath.
Now I hear people whining because a shadow of dishonesty looms over some peoples predetermined candidate.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
How could his car be considered a cone of silence with all of the technology in communication we have these days? Are you kidding me with that statement?
August 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Why should we expect this “Cone Of Silence” to work any better than the original?
August 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Please read the daily kos piece before looking like an idiot. Although that doesn’t “prove” that he had the questions, it gives a very strong indication that he did. Not that it matters, I doubt that is going to change anyones vote really. And in the long run, McCain is far less competent and articulate and therefore in future debates/forums Obama will do much better than McCain.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
The car isn’t a ‘cone of silence’ because it had a radio in it. The event was being broadcasted LIVE, and anyone with a TV or a radio could hear the questions. How could McCain not know the answer to the questions? Even if he wasn’t listening to the questions on the radio, i’m sure at least 1 of his advisors would have been, and able to phone him in on the information in his car.
Sure there might not be any exact evidence that McCain cheated, but the event was not a fair at all. And to say that McCain was in a cone of silence would be a lie unless you were just misinformed.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
are you KIDDING? were you around during the 2000 election? and the Republican party staging a protest to stop the recounts in Democratic areas? McCain campaign admitted and there is video footage of him arriving at the church AFTER 5pm when BO questioning started!
Get your head out of the sand …Warren shouldn’t have said he was in a CONE OF SILENCE if he wasen’t…the program was on the radio and that’s how I heard it..OF COURSE HE HEARD IT!!!
PLEASE..
August 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Its obvious Warren supports McCain. He helped him out on how he asked the questions, and he laughed like he was joking when he said the $5k comment.
WHY IN THE WORLD is a pastor asking questions anyway of presidential candidates??
I want to know what he will do policy wise, not what he believes when it comes to religion…look at this president and the MESS he got us into, and he is a STRONG believer , says GOD told him to invade IRAQ..IDIOT
August 18th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I meant to type $5million dollar remark
August 18th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Just because you listened to the radio, that doesn’t mean McCain did.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Just because Warren said he was in a code of silence, I believed him…..Does it mean I shouldn’t believe him anymore? did he not know?
The point of the CONE OF SILENCE is to INSURE to unfair advantage to either candidate.
I would have believed him if when asked the question from Warren “how was it in the CONE” he said,….”well actually, I was late getting here and was not in the room the entire time”
THAT would have been the RIGHT thing to say when asked.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Warren didn’t ask “how was it in the CONE?” Just because your guy lost does not mean my guy cheated.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
McCain does not need to beat Obama “badly” on Election Day either ; )
August 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I never said Obama lost ..on the contrary..he won even though McCain wasen’t honest
August 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I’m sure you also thought invading Iraq was a good idea, too Lisa?
and you probably think Saddam Hussein was involved in the 9/11 attacks, too!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I never said “You said Obama lost”. He could have taken a dump on stage, though, and you would be lamenting the lack of Smell-O-Vision. And, yes, I thought invading Iraq was a good idea (regardless of whether Saddam was DIRECTLY involved in the 9/11 attacks or not).
August 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
FIgures….You have NO idea what the facts are!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
If anyone else wants to debate the FACTS, I’m open to it.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
given that both candidates were given a number of questions in advance, does it really matter? Obama performed badly because his answers were bad, not because McCain performed well. I mean really, abortion is “above his paygrade”? He’s not applying to be 3rd Shift Manager at McDonalds, he’s applying for the Presidency, as far as I’m concerned everything is in his paygrade.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
How do you figure I have “NO idea what the facts are”? McCain supported going into Iraq, but wanted to do so with more troops initially. He has “NO idea what the facts are” either? His idea to surge troops worked too. Or, do you deny that?
I am in full possession of all the (unclassified) facts, kathym.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
My trip past the church that day at 5:30pm, Pacific, was interrupted by a big-time motorcade complete with helicopter and about 15 police units. At the time, I assumed it was John McCain’s because I knew Obama was already there. It’s certainly possible that he watched it on a TV in his car. No proof of that, but it seems entirely possible.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
A few comments (above) just appeared on my computer, with the time starting at 12:50 PM — not sure if that was a mix-up on my end and/or the OC Register held them for review until now — if any of you posted to me and are still on here, let me know.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Most of us feel our guy won this round. I’m sick of McCain’s war stories. As for Obama he answered the questions like a lawyer. McCain’s answer to the rich question confirms that he still doesn’t understand economics. The economy and the War is what I will be voting on in November.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Warren (not Rick?):
There’s no proof that anyone “lied” or that McCain had access to the questions. Why isn’t McCain’s car considered a “cone of silence”?
August 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Define: “Cone of Silence”. Is it an actual space or a virtual space. Was he in that cone while travelling. And did he remain in the same “cone of silence” upon arrival at the church or did he get into a second “cone of silence”.
Very suspect to me John.
Oh, why did you not listen to the broadcast while in your automobile.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
In other news: ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is planning a major rally in Dayton, Ohio, for Friday, Aug. 29, stoking speculation on the part of the local Republican Party chairman that the Arizona senator might use that occasion to announce his running mate.
“I was told by the McCain folks that we should start building the troops,” Alex M. Triantafilou, the chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, told ABC News.
Triantafilou was asked to build the Dayton rally by a member of McCain’s Ohio staff. The McCain staffer, whom Triantafilou described as “not a super high ranking person,” did not know if the Aug. 29 event would be McCain’s vice presidential announcement.
But Triantafilou said that the timing of the event (scheduled for the day after the Democratic National Convention ends) and the location of the event (in the state that decided the 2004 election) led him and his fellow Republican Party officials to speculate whether this might be the occasion on which McCain decides to announce his running mate.
“It makes sense to do it here,” said Triantafilou. “The timing seems to be the ordinary timing” for a vice presidential announcement.
The Republican National Convention is scheduled to get underway in the Twin Cities on Monday, Sept. 1, just three days after the Dayton, Ohio rally.
Some GOP strategists not working for the McCain campaign believe that announcing a running mate the day after Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., gives his acceptance speech in Denver, Colo., could help dampen any momentum that Democrats have coming out of their convention.
Asked if McCain was planning to announce his running mate in Ohio on Aug. 29, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers declined to comment.
If McCain is indeed planning to announce his running mate in Ohio, Triantafilou does not see it as a “tip off as to who it is going to be.”
“Ohio is a key battleground state,” said Triantafilou. “The corridor that runs from Cincinnati up to Toledo — the I-75 corridor — is very key territory for Republicans to win the state of Ohio.”
[However] Triantafilou said that he is rooting for a local V.P. prospect: former Rep. Rob Portman. The former director of the Office of Management and Budget and former U.S. Trade Representative used to represent a Cincinnati-based district not far from Dayton when he served in Congress.
“Portman is a gentleman and a statesman and is a brilliant person who has worked very well across the aisle,” said Triantafilou. “Most Democrats would agree that he has worked every effectively across the aisle.”
August 18th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
As much as I hate to say it, most Americans do not like to think. They’d much rather have a John Wayne type answer to complex questions…a straight-forward platitude that sounds great, but doesn’t really mean much. McCain supplies those type of answers, and Americans love it. Not only do his answers not bother us with the irritating need to think, but they sound “strong,” “decisive,” “principled,” and a dozen other “daddy will take care of us” adjectives.
Obama is perceived by some (even in this own forum) as arrogant because he doesn’t give us the 30 second answer. In other words, his answers reflect the complexity of the question. Because his answers are complex, they are far more easily distorted and twisted than McCain’s. In other words, Obama will suffer BECAUSE he puts faith in the listener’s intelligence.. He trusts that we want careful, reasoned responses.
He’s wrong.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Lisa…your not going to get by the facts by posting some other sites reporting…again, not facts
Everyone knows that Saddam had NOTHING to do with 9/11…no DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY.
The fact that you think this, by your own admission, tells me you don’t follow the facts.
If you want 4 more years of the same policies, then vote for McCain.
Hopefully others won’t be as ignorant again this election to believe that MORE OF THE SAME is what they want.
Over 75% of the american population believes that the Iraq war was a mistake. Maybe you should rethink your position.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Well, which one is it then, “everyone” or only 75% believe that the Iraq war was a mistake — no one but the terrorists know, for sure, if Saddam was involved — since I am not a terrorist, I am not saying he was involved, one way or the other. Sounds like you need to get your “facts” straight first.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I don’t believe that McCain heard nothing of what Obama said before he went on. Obviously he did hear it, or why else would Rick Warren the presdier who told the crowd specifically that McCain was in a “cone of silence”. Besides that, Mr. Warren refuses to make a statement regarding the issue. Guilty much?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Well, if Obama wins at least we can sleep at night knowing the fate of the Country rests with him and his 2 chief presidential advisers..
His Wife and Grandma…
August 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I do believe that McCain heard what Obama said before it was his own turn. Obviously he did hear it, or why else would Rick Warren the presdier who told the crowd specifically that McCain was in a “cone of silence”. Besides that, Mr. Warren refuses to make a statement regarding the issue. Guilty much? Plus, it was revealed that McCain wasn’t even in the BUILDING that the forum was. So, how do you know that McCain’s people didn’t hear what Obama said?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Well, which one is it then, “everyone” or only 75% believe that the Iraq war was a mistake — no one but the terrorists know, for sure, if Saddam was involved — since I am not a terrorist, I am not saying he was involved, one way or the other. Sounds like you need to get your “facts” straight first.
Hate to break the news to you Lisa. Even Bush admits Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. But maybe you know more than him.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Warren “refuses” to make a statement regarding the issue? Except on Larry King LIVE, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck …
August 18th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
President Bush never said “I know, for sure, that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11.”
August 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
That means REGARDLESS of whether Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 9/11 attacks, his regime was a clear threat and America is safer today than before 9/11.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
When Warren asked McCain how he enjoyed his time in the Cone of Silence, why did Mr. Straight Talk share with Warren that he had only been in there half the time?
It doesn’t matter whether McCain cheated, he didn’t play bythe rules that had been agreed to by Obama and Warren. Dirty, dirty . . .
August 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Exactly Mike…Pay attention Lisa
August 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Iraq was not a threat…at all..
They didn’t have WMD
They didn’t and don’t have an Army….
Iraq DID have electricity and allot of other essentials that they don’t know
And BO was against the way from the beginning….A war that was never declared, and that had no exit plan by this administration.
Go to Walter Reed Hospital and see what the war in Iraq was done to thousands of men and women to bring Iraq freedom…
Oh yeah and by the way, IRAQ leaders and people want US out!
and the surge didn’t decrease the violence and death, the Suni Shia agreement did….that’s a fact
August 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
It couldn’t be that McCain was listening. He wouldn’t cheat, he’s a war hero. His campaign said that they didn’t hear, and they would never lie, right? McCain would never lie to get elected.* And, of course, no church leader could ever lie or behave dishonorably.**
*Disclaimer: Statements do not apply to John McCain or his presidential campaign.
**Disclaimer: Statement does not apply to Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, scores of child-molesting Catholic priests, or, apparently, Rick Warren.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
WOW LISA; I read to this post of yours and stopped in astonishment at what public education has done to your brain.
You actually said, “Lisa Says:
August 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
How do you figure I have “NO idea what the facts are”? McCain supported going into Iraq, but wanted to do so with more troops initially. He has “NO idea what the facts are” either? His idea to surge troops worked too. Or, do you deny that?
I am in full possession of all the (unclassified) facts, kathym.”
Wow, just wow.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
godalmight -
lol
I dont know how people believe the things they do..I really don’t
by the way, IF the surge worked, wouldn’t the troops, or at least of them, be home by now instead as many troops in Iraq now as ever?
Winning means they aren’t needed and they come home
Watch Rick Warren on CNN now Larry King Live…try to get out of this one
August 18th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
now Rick Warren says the secret service would have reported that John McCain was listening to the broadcast if he was listening!!
Imagine that! the secret service reporting it…..TO WHOM??????????
Since when does the SS report anything to anybody
COME ON RIck , you didn’t really mean that, did you?
August 18th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Shame on Rick Warren!!! He just exposed himself for what he truly is, a “FRAUD.” I just watched Larry King and I could not believe my ears when I heard his response to Larry’s question about the flipping of the coin. How convenient for him and his staff to flip a coin to see who would go on first, and not the candidates themselves. How convenient also that Barack went first while McCain was watching and listening. It was quite obvious that McCain already had the questions and had prepared his answers. I had never before seen McCain answer any question so quickly and with such ease. Nothing would convince me that he did not already have the questions. In fact, he looked pathetic – always referencing Vietnam, come on. Is that why he voted to send young, innocent men and women into an unnecessary war in Iraq? Talk about lack of judgement and leadership skills. By the way, I agree with General Wesley Clark 100 percent — being a Vietnam Vet is not a qualification for the Presidency. By the way, Barack was GREAT. He looked presidential, natural, honest, and convincing.
Obviously, the Republicans are back to their old tricks again — they are desperate and would do whatever it takes to steal the election again and continue four more years of Bush’s arrogance and his failed policies, even using a pastor. No wonder there are so many problems in the world – the “so-called” pastors like Rick Warren invoke God and lie straight in our faces. This is why some people don’t bother to go to church. Rick, even though you’re a pastor, you’re also human and you do sin. Just acknowledge your deception and ask God and the public for forgiveness.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I think this whole thing is a set up by the Repulican. As we all know Republican is very good at playing dirty tricks. Thank God that we have free Media and OBAMA did well at the interview. He explained every answer he had for each quesiton. He was very thoughtful. McSame had just same old BUSH style, being direct and black and white. Sorry we have more colors besides black and white in this world. If being a president as simple as yes or no, as simple as black and white, I think 3 year old can do a good job!
OBAMA 2008!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Dear Xtian Darlings,
I, godalmighty, just want you all to know that none of these men, Warren, McCain, Obama or King for that matter will ever enter in to my kingdom unless they “sell EVERYTHING they have and give the money to the poor.”.
Funny how 99% of Xtians will either skim over or gloss over that simplest of commands.
Silly Xtian Darlings.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
McCain arrived directly after Obama and was in his own silent room before Obama even went on stage.. don’t know where you guys get your info from, but if you watched the president’s arrive (in order), it was impossible for McCain to still be in his vehicle upon the start of Obama’s discussion with Warren.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
If money is your “god” then, of course, sell everything and give it all away. The rest of us use our money to store up treasure on Heaven.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
How can one ‘cheat’ answering questions about one’s beliefs?
I believe the presidency is above BO’s pay grade.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Am I mistaken or are we quibbling over the “cone of silence” from the “Get Smart” TV show, which, by the way, was a fictional show? I thought Rick Warren was using a figure of speech, not referring to a literal “cone of silence”. Does such a thing actually exist? Where does one get a “cone of silence”, and how does one transport it to Saddleback Church? If it was the one from “Get Smart” shouldn’t Barack Obama and Rick Warren been under it, just like Maxwell Smart and Chief used to do? Oh wait, that would make for a rather uninteresting broadcast, wouldn’t it?
August 18th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
McCain has my vote! McCain has so much passion for this Country and Obama doesn’t.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Multiple sources have corroborated that it was McCain’s campaign that acknowledged him being on the road when Obama was already on stage, and while Warren declared that he had put McCain in a “cone of silence.” Obviously, Warren misspoke, but he’s after all human, not withstanding the idolatry of big OC money that seems to have followed him!
Yet, I must add, there is NOTHING I heard from McCain that was not stump… And no matter how well meaning the good pastor may have been, he gave McCain’s fast talk express a free passage to deliver his stock political rhetoric from his campaign stump — even down to his patent “my friends…” — without pressing him to refrain from stumping and urging him to focus on concrete insights like he insistently did Obama to do.
Just because the handful of pundits gathered by Corporate media outlets after “the show,” to brainwash the “information challenged” majority scored the content to favor its Corporate darling, not grasping any depth of content whatsoever. Instead it focused entirely on McCain’s theatrical performance, while editing down Obama’s responses and then judging them lacking in any detail.
Ironically, all the sheep did jump on that bandwagon and forgot that McCain delivered the same “rhetoric instead of substance,” that the eco chamber in the press safely and mindlessly critiques. Non the less, the myopic world view seen through the barrel of McCain’s gun as opposed to a more comprehensive macro vision of socio economics and geo-politics that Obama always offers.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:38 am
McCain answered the questions better because he has over 25 years of experience in the senate and he has conviction behind his faith and beliefs. Obama has 1 year experience, and has no conviction behind his beliefs, he wants to say what you want to hear. And his answer on abortion, my follow up question would have been. When did your daughters rights begin?! He’s not okay with the death penalty, but he is okay with abortion - NICE. The man is just not qualified or prepared to be the leader of the free world. If you think he is, I feel sorry for you.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:17 am
I am appauled at the audacity of Rick Warren, he is a mimister of God yet he sat there and lied about where MCcain was. God happy with you Rick? Thou shalt not lie.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I must agree with someone above who felt that McCain was pathetic. He answered every question with an anecdote about his life 40-50 years ago, predominantly avoiding most of his “maverick” behavior in the past 20 years. Probably because his “maverick” behvior never sat well with the Christian Right Wing. Every time he would wax nostalgic about 40 years ago, I was mentally transported to my Dad’s garage preparing to hear - for the 100th time - the much enhanced stories of bravado and grit that too many cocktails can induce in elderly men. Anyone else take that mental ride? Obama answered from his heart. McCain answered from his old, tattered script.