The Brian Lehrer Show

Why does the media continue to call McCain "the straight talk candidate"? It wasn't even a year ago that many people I know were wondering if he was taken by body snatchers and replaced with a political panderer. Can we put this "straight-talk" title to rest? He's a career poltitcian like all the others.

Unless the NYT has another shoe to drop I predict this to be the "next Blair."

As a citizen who can sort of count on exactly one newspaper in this country to *have* journalists and *take* risks I sure hope there is another shoe!

I don't believe this is part of any anti-McCain "agenda" or "tactics." After all, The Times endorsed him as the Republican candidate. This is a newsworthy story and national interest in the character of McCain has never been higher. It would only be suspect if this came out closer to the general election.

Politicians need to raise tons of money to be re-elected in our stupid system. Big money lobbyists help them do that in return for sub-conscious favors. There is a synergistic relationship.

In regards to why the Times endorsed McCain...

Did the caller READ that endorsement? Not exactly an enthusiastic endorsement...

This conversation is absurd. The story is not McCain's sex life or the NY Times. Why aren't you talking about the issue of McCain's unethical behavior at many times in his career, most flagrantly in the Keating Five affair, but in reference to the relationship with this lobbyist, the times he went to bat for her interests and those of her clients, which the Times listed.

Has anyone noticed that all backs are up? Well, why? It's a story about McCain and it's being reported. Why is it assumed that it was released to malign the man? Have we become so suspicious and cynical that we question a story? I just took it to be reporting on the part of the NYT, and I'm not defending them, I don't even read the rag. We have to stop reading into everything we read.

I agree wholeheartedly with comment #6...it amazes me how this guy remains the darling of the press and then when some legitimate questions are actually raised by the press.."Oh, it's a hit job". Yeah..perhaps...but there are some valid issues here concerning our democracy and the way our government works...anyone care about that? Or are we too rabidly excited to bash the Times (and I am no great fan of the Times either by the way)?

Here is the real scandal in an article that seemed to create no ripples in the McCain loving press. I would not vote for him but I kind of like McCain (for a Republican at least). But the article linked to below makes me frightened to think of him as President.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/107581/output/print