John McCain Calls Barack Obama 'That One' During Debate: Was It Rude or Not?
By Richard Sisk
Daily News Staff Writer
John McCain referred to Barack Obama as "that one" last night, a moniker Team Obama said bordered on disrespect.
"There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies. It was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know—That one," McCain said, indicating Obama.
"You know who voted against it? Me," McCain added.
Moments after McCain used the phrase, Obama spokesman Bill Burton e-mailed reporters: "Did John McCain just refer to Obama as 'that one'?"
Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, making the rounds on the morning talk shows Wednesday, said he didn't read much into McCain's reference to Obama as "that one," or the Republican's unwillingness to make eye contact with his opponent.
Biden chalked it up to "part of his style" when McCain's on the attack.
"I thought that was odd," said Obama strategist David Axelrod, "but I'll let others decide" whether it was a dis.
"I don't know if he [McCain] was disrespectful" but "I think he looked angry and agitated," Obama adviser Robert Gibbs added.
McCain advisers dismissed suggestions McCain intended the remark to be rude. He referred to Obama as "that one" when noting which candidate voted for a President Bush-backed energy plan.
Was McCain's use of the moniker "that one" in reference to Obama offensive? Join the discussion below.
Reader Comments
U.S. DON"T CARE
As a Republican. I don't care what people say, when the economy is jacked up as it is right now, I don’t give a flying fig who controls the Presidency. McCain’s views is killing my family business. I can’t take this Bull anymore. I work too hard to let a fickle minded man who doesn’t have the commend since to pick a person who speak a sentence without memorizing it. This is ridiculous!! My family sacrificed and worked too hard to be where I am at right now!! I don’t need a dim witted Barbie doll to help a senile old man who wants to obtain brownie points!! My family and life is on the line here, I can’t afford to pay my mortgage this month and I’m a builder!! I’m at the point in my life where time is running out for me. Forget McCain, I’m sick of looking at him, he has contributed to this era. As far as I am concerned, the color of the green (economy) trumps the color of Black. My family is hurting, and I’m tired of the greedy CEO’s on Wall Street taking our money to bail them out!!
disrespect?
i feel that if people believe that this was disrespect, they obviously weren't paying attention to the fact that throughout the first debate obama referred to mccain as john, and mccain reffered to obama most every time as Senator obama, just shows the level of respect he has for his opposing candidate. and obama ist just immature about bashing the republican party when he speaks.
reform
Charlie you are not going to get any reform from McCain just more of the same old Bush ideas.Not a new idea in his head.You republicians will defend a dead horse all the way to the glue factory
advertisement
