David Letterman continued to rip on John McCain last night on the air. McCain canceled his appearance on the show Wednesday night just a few hours before airtime, leaving Letterman to scramble to fill time. McCain personally called Letterman and apologized, saying he had to get back to Washington right away because “the economy is about to crater.”
Letterman had MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann fill McCain’s spot, and they discovered that instead of going on Letterman’s show as scheduled, McCain was sitting talking to Katie Couric at the time he was supposed to be on. They even showed the live feed that had McCain being interviewed at the time.
McCain didn’t leave NY until Thursday morning
Letterman again expressed his annoyance at McCain on the air last night. He mocked his voice when retelling the story about how he called and told him he couldn’t come, only to turn around and go do an interview with Couric at the same time. Letterman said of course he was understanding that McCain had to take care of the economy, but that he felt really dissed when he discovered that wasn’t the case. He also said that instead of jetting back to Washington right after the Couric interview – he didn’t leave until Thursday morning.
“He said ‘everything’s fine, don’t worry about it, the Senator is on his way back.’
“So not only did he not go back right away, he stopped in to see Katie Couric on his way out. So then we looked at it and we said ‘Ok, well, I understand that’s news and this is nonsense.’
“But then after Katie Couric – right to the airport – No. We find out today he didn’t really leave until this morning.” [audience groans]
“What we learn now is the economy held on enough, just barely held on enough for him to get back there.”
“Whereas you can see 24 hours ago, I felt like a patriot… like I was doing my part… I was going to help in my own little way get this economy out of crater.
“Now I’m just feeling like an ugly date… I feel used. I feel cheap. I feel sullied. I feel cratered.”
[Transcribed from video of The Late Show, found on their website.]
Letterman said he would then “divulge a part of the private conversation that I think comes under the heading of national security, and I know I’m going to be investigated and I don’t care. He said to me on the phone, he said ‘I think people would rather see Sarah Palin, and maybe I’ll send her for you next time.'”
“One, suggesting there will be a next time, and I’m not sure that decision is his, and two, that maybe if there is he would bring Sarah Palin and she will come in his place… We’ll just wait and see, is he a man of his word or not?”
CNN has more details of last night’s Late Show. Paris Hilton was one of the guests and it sounds like they had a few laughs about their mutual issues with McCain. Paris was featured in an ad by McCain’s camp mocking Obama’s “celebrity” status. It featured footage of Obama in Berlin with the fake “Obama Obama” chanting over it which never happened at the event – I was there the whole time. Photos of Paris and Britney were used to illustrate their point that Obama is popular.
He described Hilton — Thursday’s guest whose celebrity was once used in a McCain campaign ad to mock Democrat Barack Obama — as McCain’s first choice for a running mate.
“Here’s how it works: You don’t come to see me? You don’t come to see me? Well, we might not see you on Inauguration Day,” Letterman said.
Noting that McCain wanted to postpone Friday’s first debate with Obama, Letterman said running mate Sarah Palin wanted to put off her debate with Democrat Joe Biden until after Election Day. Letterman said Palin’s meeting with world leaders at the United Nations was like “take-your-daughter-to-work day.”
Letterman’s Top 10 list was “surprising facts about Sarah Palin,” read by citizens of Wasilla, Alaska, where she was once mayor.
No. 10: Palin “sometimes calls John McCain grandpa.”
Later in the show, Letterman couldn’t resist another mention of “that John McCain” while chatting with Hilton, who replied, “I heard he dissed you. He dissed me.”
Milking the moment, Letterman consoled her: “You had a little run-in with him, too, didn’t you?”
[From CNN]
Letterman is not used to being dissed. McCain’s people issued an apology that kind of didn’t sound like one. They said “We deeply regret offending Mr. Letterman, but our candidate’s priority at this moment is to focus on this crisis.”
John McCain is shown at the Clinton Global Initiative in NY on 9/25/08. It looks like he did that yesterday too. Credit: WENN. David Letterman is shown looking serious before a game of tennis with Maria Sharapova on 4/21/08. Credit: FPZ/Fame Pictures
The problem Dave had here is not only did he get left in the lurch with no guest less than 2 hours before taping, which let me tell you is a nightmare, it’s the McCain lied about it. He didn’t take off for Washington until the following morning. Especially stupid when he is taping an interview AT THE CBS BUILDING that is on the internal feed. Why lie about something like this?
Letterman needs to get over himself. And comb his hair!
Oh yeah, he had to run off and fix something, like no one else could take care of it? What was he doing when it got into this mess? Team Obama.
This isn’t about McCain so much as it is about Letterman and his ego being hurt. Dave needs to grow a pair and quit whining. He’s not the king-maker he thinks he is. Team Leno!
I don’t think this is a Letterman ego trip at all. It’s a common courtesy thing. I’d be pissed too, if someone as high profile as John McCain pulled a no-show- only to be proven a liar about why! Dave has every right to rip on someone who positions himself as a “Straight shooter” who is honest. He is a liar and this is just more proof.
McCain lied to him!!! I hope David Letterman continues to let everyone know about it! If it was such a crisis, then how did McCain manage to do an interview with Katie??? He was doing an interview during the time slot that he was supposed to be taping Letterman…
I don’t know about the rest of you – but I really like to call liars out on the carpet – so big applause to Letterman.
Absolutely Ron and MSat. This isn’t some flake celebrity canceling with a lie at the last minute, this is someone who want’s to be POTUS and is trying to convince voters he’s an honest no bull kind of guy.
I thought Letterman was well within his rights to be angry and amusingly so.
I understand why dave is mad but he is acting whiny! Im not McCain supporter either. But he is acting like McCain went to Disney World. He went to Katie Couric whom sorry to say Dave, she is a little more respectful then being on “The Late Show” 😐
People don’t want to hear your whining anymore Dave. We are much more concerned about the financial crisis. Of course Dave has no worries there does he?!
I think it’s hilarious and I am so happy that someone is calling McCain’s bullshit.
Rushing off to Washington to fix the economy? Really? Hmm…maybe you should have worked on that during your time heading economic committees, no?
Especially BS since when he got to DC he just sat there in silence for like 40 minutes. Why? Because what the hell would he have to offer? He’s an old politician, not freakin’ Superman catching a falling chick.
If you want to go to Katie Couric instead, DON’T BOOK ANOTHER SHOW FIRST THEN CANCEL! Keep your commitments. It is insanely difficult to find someone to show up within 2 hours for a national appearance, most actors are working and can’t do that kind of last minute gig. On top of the fact that they had spent 2 days worth of advertising promoting the appearance….for nothing. Dave has been acting petulant, but he has every right to be pissed off about this.
This is not about Letterman. It’s about a foolish old politician who’s scrambling to appear on the shows that he feels are more important, and lying about it.
I’m fairly sure there are enough politicians in Washington at any given moment to take care of the crisis (which never even existed last week! the economy was solid just last week!) that we won’t miss one old flipflopper.
I can’t wait to see the debate. He’s going to look like an ass.
It’s just inconsiderate.
I mean, who are you going to have on stand-by when you’ve booked the presidential nominee?
Dave is totally within his right to rip him a new one- I can’t see why McCain thought he could get away with this. He has been acting very erratic this week, suspending his campaign and all, just in time to not have to do the debate.
Also here is the rest of the top ten, which I found quite funny, and the person who read it :
10.Sometimes Sarah calls John McCain “grandpa”
-Interior Designer, May-Lynn Pauling
9.She stole that sexy librarian look from me
-Grasshopper Aviation Pilot, Dave Glenn
8.Recently passed legislation to build a bridge to Funkytown
-General Manager of a Mexican Restaurant, Jerry Ochoa
7.Does great impression of Tina Fey
-Banker and Race Car Driver, Erika Bills
6.Favorite meal: moose nuggets and beaver jerky
-Private Music Teacher, Ana Hartman
5.Working on “Knight Rider” spin-off about a talking snowmobile
-Virtual Golf-Shooting Range Owner, Calvin Culverwell
4.Favorite book? “Late Show Fun Facts” — available at fine stores everywhere
-Flight Paramedic, Steven Heyano
3.Once spent a week in the hospital after attempting to put lipstick on a pit bull
-Dental Hygenist, Kathy McCone
2.To improve her foreign policy experience, she recently went to the International House of Pancakes
-Deputy Mayor and Chiropractor, Kris Larson
1.Only person I know who’s not afraid to go hunting with Dick Cheney
-From the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Lyn Carden
@ MSat: Absofrickinglutely! This is not only about common courtesy, but about LYING , and lying badly. Yet more proof that this guy doesn’t need to be in office; I was a die hard Rep, but will not put up with this kind of crap.
Dave Letterman, from what I’ve seen and heard, can carry a grudge for a LOOONG time, and in this case, he has every right.
For goodness sake, it’s called humor! It’s not that he is on an ego trip as much as a great opportunity to get ratings. Let’s face it, Letterman is getting a lot of press out of this and good for him since he’s pretty funny. The really funny part is the stupidity (or arrogance) of the McCain campaign. Either you didn’t really think he would find out (? both on CBS, doubtful) or you figured Letterman wouldn’t call you on it (? how long did he pursue the whole Oprah thing – years).
Not only did McCain stay in NY overnight Wednesday- he made a speech at the Clinton Global Initiatives Forum the next morning.
Is McCain so f-cking senile that he didn’t think people would notice?
@Kaiser.
Two possible answers:
1. Yes; or
2. No, but he thinks he’s above all the rules that apply to other people. Haven’t we had enough of that in the last 8 years?
@Syko – I have a hard time trying to figure out what’s going on in McCain’s brain – sometimes he comes across as straight up SENILE, sometimes as this sad, petty, immature, nasty f*ck who takes childlike glee in doing whatever he wants and saying whatever lie comes across his desk. 👿
Kaiser – exactly what we want running this country!!!
Syko, right? But even on a bad day (or week, or month, or year) he’ll get at least 45% of the vote. Kind of like how Bush *still* has like 30% approval – who are these people? Are we living in the same country?
I’m rubbing my hands with glee. Keep it up, McCain!
i think katie couric is going to cover the palin/biden debate, so they’re probably kissing ass big time hoping she’ll be kind to spalin and not call her out on her idiocies. first they give katie a rare exclusive interview with spalin, then mccain cancels on dave to give katie an exclusive interview with him. clear cut case of “we love you katie! please remember the exclusives we gave you and don’t show us up to be the incompetent fools that we are!”
it’s like they’re high schoolers trying to win a popularity contest. sad. and tragic if katie forgets that she’s a journalist and acts like she’s a puff piece copy reader. ask the hard questions katie!
Team Obama!
@Kaiser. I know. Scary, huh? And of course they don’t need the majority of the popular vote to win, because Gore DID have the popular vote, but the Supreme Court and Katherine Harris made sure he didn’t get in.
I was living here in Florida for that election. The ballot really WAS confusing, especially the absentee, which I voted. Names were not listed in the same order on one side as they were on the other. I don’t recall the absolute specifics now, but it was like they might have had Gore listed as candidate 2, but over on the other side where you blackened your circle, he might have been listed as number 1. So if you were logical about it and blackened the second hole for the second candidate listed, you weren’t voting for the guy you wanted.
Doesn’t matter, they threw most of the absentee ballots out anyway. Too much trouble to count. In my county alone (and it was not one of those that received media attention), there is a population of about a million, and they threw out over 22,000 ballots. Big percentage, when you consider how many of that million voted. Or tried to. Many many people in predominantly black areas were turned away from the polls as having incorrect voter registration. I’d thought that kind of thing ended back in the 1960s.
Anyway, I have friends who still think Bush is doing a good job. Amazing. I don’t think he ever has done a good job, can’t stand him or any of his cohorts, and live for the day when his criminal ass has to leave the white house.
@Syko – The whole 2000 election stuff makes me cry – I was a Dem organizer then (but not in Florida), and I think I cried for three weeks straight after Election night.
Did you vote in the FL primaries? What’s your county’s method this year? Computer balloting with NO PAPER TRAIL? That’s how it is where I live now – and I’m in a swing state, too. 👿
McCain lied, acted unprofessionally, foisted a roaring idiot on the American public by having a niknompoop like Palin even on the ticket. I mean how desperate were they that a woman who’s barely educated with a bunch of f’d up kids, with no experience running her own state well, and that’s who they thought would be right as a heart beat away from being president, to a nearly 80 year old candidate? My dog is more qualified, and looks better in lipstick I might add.
Dave called it – who would want flakes like this running the country? No I.
The irony is, the comedy shows (especially Jon Stewart) are sometimes doing a better job of educating the public than the so-called “news” shows, which tend to repeat the candidates’ press releases.
Letterman is an over paid celebrity who thinks he’s all of that.
McCain’s National interest is first and foremost.
Get over yourself letterman. It’s no wonder I don’t watch your Carson copy hack show.
Kaiser, to tell the truth, I don’t know how they vote here now. I opted, when I moved back here from Oregon, to always vote absentee. In Oregon everyone votes by mail anyway, there are no polling places. And with my schedule, leaving for work at 6:45, getting home at 6:45, it’s not possible for me to get to the poll. So what I do is fill in little circles with black ink. I did vote in the primaries. I try to always vote.
Before GOING to Oregon in 2004, though, I did go to the polls, and they were using the pencil-fill-in-the-circle method. But then you put the ballot into a scanner of some sort, and they didn’t laugh at all when I called it a shredder. Some people.
Jim, are you really that clueless?
@Syko – Well, it’s still pretty easy for some counties to “misplace” absentee ballots. My poll has touch screen – it’s very easy to read and manage, but THERE IS NO PAPER TRAIL.
*shiver*
Syko, I answered you but I’m being moderated. Once you see the “bad” words I used, you’ll laugh.
Poor Letterman! I’m sorry for McCain’s choice penalizing him… but on the other hand Letterman’s reaction tells more about who he is than many of his shows. Get over your ego David it makes you sound like a goof. 😆
Letterman whiny??! Hurt ego??! Are you kidding me? The man’s having the time of his life with this – he’d be derelict in his duties as an entertainer to NOT milk and ridicule it for all it’s worth. McCain provided the material, Dave just ran with it.
But looks like I’m in good company since most people here seem to be enjoying it as much as I am!
Get over it, Letterman. Enough is enough. Jokes? Yea! Attacks? No!
Oh hell, we all forgot – we are not allowed to attack Republicans. Only Democrats are fair game in this society ruled by Patriot Acts and WMDs.
He isn’t attacking. He’s making jokes. McCain did something very very stupid, very two-faced and he lied. He deserves the exposure.
This whole Letterman episode reminds me of the Johnny Carson/Don Rickles cigarette box fiasco. Absolute hilarity, probably one of the funniest sketches he ever did.
Right on Dave for calling a liar a liar and making us laugh while you’re doing it. It’s mind boggling that people are defending McCain and his BLATANT lies.
I agree with MSat. I think it was bad form on McCain’s part.
Carson copy hack show? I always saw his brand of humor as entirely his own.
Republicans are like that. Arrogant and think everything shpould be fit around them.
MCcain saving the world? Bah!That was a funny one. From insiders in Washington, he did more harm than good.
Friday is here, there is no deal yet, has wall street crashed? Paulson even went on bended knee, how dramatic. 🙄 You gotta love Americans. Who needs movies any more?
What ultimately is really stupid about this is how the candidates are ALL (Democrat and Republican alike) spending too much time on their freaking IMAGES and people’s perceptions of them rather than being on task about what the country needs to do. My sense is that both McCain and Obama are reluctant to really commit on any difficult issues because their strategists are in terror of losing the swing voters. Lose your integrity but by God, win at all costs….
If McCain really HAD gone to DC, that would have been a saavy political move.
All the politicians are playing to the public, so we are getting just what we deserve.
I think Letterman has the right to be annoyed, its not personal but its business and it would have left him in a scramble to get someone to fill the spot, kinda rude. and did McCain REALLY think he wouldn’t be found out? Does he not realise that he’s in the public eye now? everywhere he goes will be documented by someone!
I’m aussie but I really hope you americans do the right thing for everyone and vote in Obama. It doesn’t just affect the US, it affects the whole world. Obama represents change, and moving forward, whereas McCain is much of the same, you know? And I would never come to the USA if it was run by Sarah Palin, F- that! The woman is relgiion obsessed and if she’s put in power she will probably start more wars.. did you hear what she said about the iraq war? that its what god intended. How the hell would she know what god intended? she’ll ruin the environment trying to drill for oil, but worst of all, demolish everything women have worked hard for (ie the right to have the choice of what they do with their bodies) and thats the last thing this world needs more of! If McCain wins it will be a disaster!
i totally agree lindseey! as an american i am scared to think that obama will not win, because stupid people think, i’ll vote for the woman! without thinking about what she actually stands for. or the people who won’t vote for an african american. if mccain wins, i’m out of here. i’ll move.
The mannerly thing to do would have been to explain that McCain would have preferred to concentrate on news issues and maybe just popped in for 30 seconds to say hello and apologise on air for cutting the interview short. That way everyone would have saved face. What’s that old adage? – it’s one thing to lie, but it’s quite another to be found out so foolishly.
Kaiser and Syko, re. 2000 election, I don’t blame you for being upset, many of us on this side of the Atlantic weren’t delighted either. But I have to say I did catch a few interviews that Gore did and to be honest I think he muffed it. He came across as stiff and patronising and could see why Bush’s “Gee shucks” schtick would be popular.
To a certain extent it would be nice if this stunt by McCain did damage his standing to an extent, but I don’t think it will. I’ve thought for quite a few weeks now that the Republicans will get it again. You’re in a time of economic crisis and in times of war or financial upheaval people will not vote for radical change.
I was talking with people in the politics game and they agree and feel that, despite what we think, Palin was a master-stroke.
I think she’s basically Dubya in a skirt.
@Mairead – Yeah, yeah. Gore was and is kind of a stiff – a brilliant stiff, and a decent man. He ran a crap campaign, and even then, he won the popular vote. The biggest thing going agains him was the press – they hated Gore, and bent over backwards to ensure a Bush victory.
Not so much with McCain – the mainstream American press is currently in full revolt… Letterman is the least of McCain’s problems.
Re: Palin – when conservative types like George Will hate Palin, she’s got problems. The Biden/Palin debate will be very interesting.
Why watch David Letterman when you can improve your entertainment with Jay Leno???
David Letterman’s show has become a has been and just down right silly. If Letterman does not understand the importance of our economy over his pathetic show, he needs his head examined. Also, it was very ugly of him to show Senator McCain in his make-up room. Do yourself a favor and just stop watching David Letterman! That’s what I have decided to do. Jay Leno’s show is definitely more entertaining!
“Also, it was very ugly of him to show Senator McCain in his make-up room”
That wasn’t his “make-up room,” unless it’s also Katie Couric’s “make-up room” and said room has a news desk with 42 cameras pointed at it.
Long story short: McCain blew it and then tried to cover his tracks by having some minion spin PR plates for him. What nobody seems to have pointed out amidst all of the “Letterman sucks/he should quit whining” comments is one small fact: Dave has always had the greatest amount of respect for McCain, considers him a “hero,” and there’s a certain amount of hero worship involved. So when his hero lied to him this way, and left him in the lurch, it cut a bit deeper than the usual last-minute cancellation would have done.
McCain lied. No matter whether you like Letterman’s show or not, the fact is simple: McCain lied. And when caught lying, he didn’t ‘fess up to it — he kept on lying. McCain could have just told the truth, but preferred not to do so. And when anyone lies in such a public fashion, that person is going to take the heat for it.
As to those of you who say Leno has a better show: do you think Leno would have dealt with this any better? He would have been just as pissed off as Letterman.
Oh Come ON! Letterman has every single right to be mad about it. the fact is simple, McCain lied. if he wanted to do the interview with Katie it is not a problem, if he do it the right way i.e arranging schedule, let letterman knows a couple days before instead of lying with that “national economy” issue when he didnt even leave until the next day!
think about it USA, your next president is not only going to be your new commander in chief but also represent you infront of the world.
I am so sick and tired hearing how foreign people and country hate America because of Mr. Bush. I really want USA to be respected highly as she deserves. the next president is not for USA only, it is for the world, I can only imagine the worst about another republican in the white house..
failing economy, global warming, soldiers abroad, woman’s right to have an abortion, same sex marriage, universal health care, so many things we need to improve..
Who cares??? Letterman, are you that important? I am staying up late writing a proposal, and didn’t turn the channel. Background noise and all of sudden Letterman on and talking about Alaskan accents….who cares? Letterman is acting like a little girl called ugly-I stopped watching this guy when he had to bring his own mom to boost his ratings….never a clever boy! Whine away! Who cares? 🙄
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