David Corn: Why Does McCain Repeat His Gaffes?

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/davidcorn/2008/07/why-does-mccain-repeat-his-gaf.html

Why Does McCain Repeat His Gaffes?

By David Corn | July 16, 2008 12:12 AM


Okay, we know that John McCain cannot operate a computer on his own. A few days ago, he told The New York Times that his wife Cindy and political aide Mark Salter help him find the websites he likes to peruse and that he's been learning how to get to these spots on his own. C'mon--how hard is it to turn on a computer and double-click on a browser icon? Nevertheless, this is one candidate who better learn fast how to surf. Not just to show he's no fuddy-duddy Luddite, but to make sure he does not become known as a fool

McCain in recent weeks has often repeated dumb mistakes. He mixed up Sunni and Shia--and then did so again and again. His campaign released a list of 300 economists who it claimed supported his economic plan. Yet after Politico reported that several did not back McCainonomics, McCain continued saying that 300 economists were behind him. Then there's this: the guy keeps on referring to a country that does not exist: Czechoslovakia. On Monday, he bemoaned Russia's attempt to reduce "the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia," which ceased to be in 1993 (when it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia). That slip-up sparked news reports and tittering on blogs. But after all that, on Tuesday, McCain did it again, once more decrying Russia's "reduction in oil supplies to Czechoslovakia."

Sure, all politicians--and all of us--misspeak from time to time. But there is a pattern to McCain's gaffes: after he makes a mistake, he does not correct himself and goes on to restate it. There are several possible explanations for this. One is that because he doesn't use a computer, he does not see the full impact these mistakes have; thus, he does not make an effort to avoid repeating the missteps. After making an error about Czechoslovakia, shouldn't he have made a point to get it right the very next day? Wouldn't you? Another explanation, of course, is that his penchant for repeating gaffes is age-related.

In any event, this apparent McCain trait could come to threaten his campaign. A few more episodes like these--in which he looks discombobulated or out of touch--might give birth to a negative narrative for McCain. (A newsmagazine cover: "How confused is John McCain?") Ronald Reagan, it is true, was a serial mugger of facts, and that did not impede his political career. But McCain is no great communicator, and if voters have questions about his age, this sort of stumbling will reinforce such concerns. So perhaps McCain ought to sign-up for a daily Google alert on himself and check it each night--if only to see what blunders he ought not repeat the next day.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. He is a Republican, and Republicans are incapable of admitting they made a mistake

To correct his gaffes would require that he first acknowledge that he made a gaffe in the first place. Because he cannot make this first step, it is "hold the course" all the way. Kind of like a lemming with the smell of the sea in his nostrils.

[NatBurner]

5. delete

wrong spot

[NatBurner]

2. because the media won't do it

[watrwefitinfor]

3. Senile dementia. n/t

[SurfingAtWork]

4. Because he has forgotten he has made them.

[Hieronymus]

6. Very poor management.

[SoCalDem]

7. 24 years in the Senate has made him sloppy..

Ever listen to those senators on the floor? They LIE and distort ALL the time, and rarely, if EVER, are they challenged.. If someone does call them on their crap, it's usually another lying senator who calms down quickly when his/her own nonsensical speechifying is brought up.. They all operate under a code of silence, no matter the party.. They cover for each other.. McCain is just used to saying whatever pops into his head, true or not..and then backing away from it later, if he has to..

[babylonsister]

9. And the media is complicit in the cover-up. nt

[Drunken Irishman]

8. He's old and not very smart.

[SoCalDem]

12. Yep.. His school time was sub-par

He brags about how he graduated at the bottom of his class (another Geo Bush)

he went from lousy grades at school to a career of crashing planes and being a pow... then riding his fame into congress/senate, schmoozing with colleagues, and being a rich woman's kept man.. Doesn't take a lot of smarts to do any of those things.. he may be brave, but we need a SMART guy this time around..

[Arkana]

10. They HELP him go to his favorite websites????

"Honey, get me to that German scat porn site I like, would you? I'm feeling randy tonight."

[rucky]

11. He's rather look like a consistent doofus than a flip-flopper?

:shrug:

[KurtNYC]

13. Any guess who it the president of Germany these days?

"Putin"

But John is he president of West Germany or East Germany?

[Median Democrat]

14. Maybe Its Not A Mistake - Maybe He's Just Lying

I think the age excuse just gives John McCain a free pass. If Obama repeated a mistatement, the MSM would accuse him of lying. However, if John McCain repeats a misstatement, people feel pity on him for his senior moment. However, isn't it a coincidence that the mistakes often tend to be in his favor? For example, forgetting his vote on birth control before a woman's group? How convenient.