The Perils of McCain's "He Couldn't Hear it Defense"

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Friday August 15, 2008 · 2:28 PM PDT

2008/08/15 · 14:28

Asked earlier today about the anti-Obama smears spread by bigot Jerome Corsi, John McCain made of light of them, saying you "gotta' keep your sense of humor" about such vicious falsehoods.

But after the Obama campaign said those comments were out of line, McCain's aides started to backpedal, now claiming that McCain couldn't hear the question.

Here's video from FOX about McCain's comments, and his staff's backpedal. Initially, FOX laughs along with McCain...and then an hour later, they're saying he couldn't hear the question.

Links: YouTube | jedreport.com

Let me emphasize that Carl Cameron's report came an hour after the initial report -- McCain's aides only came up with the "he couldn't hear it" story after they realized what their boss had stepped in.

Color me skeptical. If McCain didn't hear the question, why did he answer it?

Here's how CBS News reported it before McCain became worried about blowback:

A reporter tried to ask McCain about a new anti-Obama book, to which McCain responded cryptically "gotta keep your sense of humor."

McCain staffer Brooke Buchanan then stretched her arms in front of her boss, saying "we’re not doing that," and escorted reporters to the door.

Buchanan is the same aide who claimed McCain didn't hear the question.

Despite the sketchy nature of Buchanan's stroy, both FOX News and the AP have uncritically accepted it.

Another thought: politically speaking, is it really all that wise for a septuagenarian's campaign to try and get itself out of a jam by claiming their candidate couldn't hear what was said?

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I also post at The Jed Report.

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