There's been a lot of discussion on here about McCain's clear violation of the rules at the Saddleback Forum. At this point it's become clear that McCain was not, in fact, sequestered while Obama was being interviewed. One would have to be an idiot to believe that McCain wasn't tuning in to the forum and wasn't discussing it with his close advisers in his limo on the way to the Forum. Even if "traffic" really was the issue, he would be a moron to not listen in.
There hasn't, however, been all that much discussion about WHY it matters so much.
So here is a fictional conversation from the back of John McCain's limo, while watching/listening to Obama being interviewed by Rick Warren. Presumably, if this were organized, one staffer is intently listening to the Obama interview and feeding important points to McCain and the other staffers, who are free to discuss, particularly if this was planned in advance.
Staffer A: OK first off, three people who you would rely on for advice.
Staffer B: First guy should be military, emphasize your military credentials.
McCain: Petraeus good?
B: Great. Do a short version of your Petraeus anecdote, too.
Staffer C: Probably should have a black guy in there.
McCain: Like Martin Luther King?
B: He's dead.
A: Obama is talking about his family and stuff for this one. Ha-ha.
C: What about Rep Lewis? You know about him, right?
McCain: Yeah, definitely.
C: And a woman.
McCain: Uh -- Carly isn't going over so well anymore, is she?
B: Hey you know Meg Whitman, the eBay person? And you know your quick eBay shpiel from your stump, right?
McCain: Yeah. No problem.
A: Second question ...
B: Hold it let's get this first one done first ...
McCain: No, I've got it. Uh -- Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman.
B: Yeah, Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman.
C: Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman.
McCain: Hey, Staffer A, what was that second question?
A: Your worst moral failure and the country's worst moral failure.
B: Don't forget -- advisers: Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman.
McCain: Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman. Got it.
C: For the moral failure, just mention your marriage failing.
B: DON'T mention the adultery specifically.
McCain: Right, the failure of my marriage ...
By the end, as you're pulling into the church, it's a full on briefing:
Staffer B: OK, three people, Petraeus, Lewis, Whitman. Moral failure -- marriage failure. American failure -- America is the best followed by volunteerism speech. etc, etc,
Oh yeah, one more comment. Even Pastor Warren noticed that McCain was answering questions very quickly and eagerly. This is symptomatic of having been coached through the answers. Let's say you are going to cheat on a multiple choice test, you know you can't sneak a cheat sheet in, so you memorize all the answers. In your head you have: 1b, 2c, 3a, 4a, 5c, 6b, 7d, 8a, 9c, 10b. Memorized dead on.
When you sit down to take the test, you're thinking: bcaacbdacb, bcaacbdacb, bcaacbdacb, 1b2c3a4a5c6b7d8a9c10b. The easiest thing for you to do is sit down, fill all the bubbles in, and hand it in -- but that gives you away. So you read them over, perhaps pretend to think about it, and fill in the bubble. But it's really hard to keep yourself from finishing lightning fast, isn't it?