A hallmark of any political season is the Gaffe, usually an error made by a candidate in something they said. But not all gaffes are the same and this season has seen the rise of a new form of Gaffe, we shall call The McGaffe.
Political season gaffes can come in all shapes and sizes, from the innocuous, funny slip of the tongue, such as Vetoing every beer. to the more serious intellectual misfirings that may be more represent a serious lack of knowledge on the part of the candidate such as confusing the Sunnis and the Shias. Some gaffes are hard to categorize, like delivering hot bottled water to dehydrated babies. Others are actually truth gaffes, where a candidate reveals something that they wish they hadn't, like it's not too important when troops come home from Iraq.
And then some gaffes are nothing more than a lie that is rebutted by facts and actions elsewhere. An example of this would be declaring Iraq safe despite evidence that it is not.
And important sub-category of a lie-type gaffe is the McGaffe.
What is a McGaffe?
A McGaffe is when a politician makes a statement of fact that is rebutted as false by their own words or actions.
What causes a McGaffe?
As a recent phenomenom, it is hard to know why exactly. Some posit that is a product of an outdated way of seeing the world. Before the 24 hour newscycle, the internet, youtube, and the information age, a candidate could say something and have relatively good faith that their prior comments on a similar topic would have no relevance.
Another theory is simply that a candidate forgets what they said earlier. Of course, instead of saying "I don't recal saying that" and outrightdenial of it is instead offered.
And a third is simply that the candidate wants to have it both ways, ie. always trying to say the "right" thing depnding on the circumstances.
Example of the McGaffe
1) Hillary Clinton and the Media
The stated fact by John McCain: A Newsweek interviewer asked McCain about whether reporters had been fair to Clinton during her presidential run, pointing out that the presumptive Republican nominee had said during his Tuesday night speech that "the media hadn't recognized, or had overlooked some of the attributes that Hillary Clinton had brought to the race."
McCain denied making the remark. "I did not [say that] — that was in prepared remarks, and I did not [say it] — I'm not in the business of commenting on the press and their coverage or not coverage," he responded.
Rebuttal by John McCain: In McCain's election night address, McCain had taken a swipe at the press. "Senator Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage," he said. "The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes receives."
The stated fact by John McCain: During a Republican debate McCain was asked, "Is it a problem for your campaign that the economy is now the most important issue, one that by your own acknowledgment you're not well versed on?"
McCain's response: "Actually, I don't know where you got that quote from. I'm very well versed in economics.
Rebuttal by John McCain: The Wall Street Journal, which on Nov. 26, 2005, published this quote from an interview with McCain: "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
The Boston Globe's Political Intelligence blog, which last Dec. 18 published this quote from McCain: "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. ... I've got Greenspan's book."
The stated fact by John McCain: McCain was asked by a New Orleans reporter why he voted twice against an independent commission to investigate the government’s failings before and after Hurricane Katrina, and he incorrectly stated that he had "voted for every investigation."
Rebuttal by John McCain: McCain actually voted twice, in 2005 and 2006, to defeat a Democratic amendment that would have set up an independent commission along the lines of the 9/11 Commission. At the time of the second vote, members of both parties were complaining that the White House was refusing requests by Senate investigators for information. Source: Factcheck.org
4) McCain on Obama's Environmental Record
The stated fact by John McCain: McCain attacked Obama's record on the environment during a campaign stop in the Florida Everglades.
"Sen. Obama has no record of being involved in this issue that I know of," he said. "I will stick by my record and my commitment of many years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Rebuttal by John McCain: Barack Obama, McCain, and Joe Lieberman co-sponsored a bill in January 2007 titled "Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act" designed to reduce GHG emissions.
5) McCain on Privatizing Socail Security
The stated fact by John McCain: McCain in a New Hampshire town hall said, "I’m not for, quote, privatizing Social Security. I never have been. I never will be."
Rebuttal by John McCain: On C-Span in 2004, McCain said, "Without privatization, I don’t see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits."
Conclusion
The McGaffe is an especially difficult mistake to answer successfully. One McGaffe is probably understandable, two, less so, but a series of McGaffes and you have to wonder, does this guy think we are stupid?
Try and work the McGaffe into your lexicon, "Did you see that McGaffe by McCain the other day?" and "Christ, another McGaffe form McCain, I've lost count on how many that is."