by Frank James
National Public Radio's news quiz show, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," had a very funny segment Saturday on the fresh and embarrassing revelation that Sen. John McCain's website plagiarized recipes from Rachel Ray, attributing them to the all-but-official Republican nominee's wife, Cindy.
Host Peter Sagal, who's got some Groucho Marx in him, mined what looks like it will be a productive seam of McCain jokes for the duration -- the 71-year old senator's age.
Here's Sagal's exchange with Roxanne Roberts of the Washington Post and Tom Bodett, the guy who says "We'll leave the light on for you" in the Motel 6 ads.
Sagal: You might've thought that John McCain had a good week with the Democratic candidates saving him the trouble of making him look bad. But he dealt with his own scandal as well when investigative journalists discovered that his campaign had stolen what?
Roxanne Roberts: I love this story. Recipes from the Food Network.
Peter Sagal: Yes. (Bell sounds. Audience applauds and laughs) So until a few days ago, if you had checked on Cindy McCain's page on the McCain campaign website, you would have found some, quote, "McCain family recipes" listed there, including such scrumptious entrees as ahi tuna with Napa cabbage slaw and something called passion-fruit mousse which we thought was, at first anyway, a term of endearment for her husband. "Oh come here you passion-fruit mousse you (audience laughter.) And don't forget to bring the defibrillator.
PS: But (audience laughter and applause) it turns out each and everyone of the recipes supposedly served for years down at the McCain ranch were lifted word for word from Food Network chef's Rachel Ray's web page (audience laughs.)
PS: It's true. the McCain campaign said it was the mistake of a low-level staffer. (laughter) They'd take care of it. They've since posted the real McCain family recipes. Which are two cans of Ensure with a Geritol chaser. (audience laughter and applause.)
Tom Bodett: I wonder what happened to that low-level staffer is sleeping tonight.
PS: With the fishes I believe. A nice baked fish I assume. (Very Groucho-esque.)
RR: ... Bitter herbs.
PS: This is true, actually. Right before the show I went to the website and I checked it again. The recipes are gone. And instead it's Cindy McCain's travel journal. You click on that and you find out that in 1996 she flew into Bosnia under sniper fire. (Audience laughs and applauds.)
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Comments
NPR broadcast something that's anti-Republican?
What a surprise.
As surprising as the fact that the Democrats in the Swamp reprinted it.
Posted by: Bruce | April 20, 2008 10:16 AM
A child raised in the elitism of the "Military-Industrial Complex" , Senator McCain knows only to well, the advantages of wealth. For him to portray himself as man of the people, is ludicrous, if not hysterical!! I haven't even mentioned his wife's wealth, which is even greater than the Clinton's wealth!. No, he can take all the cheap shots he wants to, against Senator Obama, the fact still remains that he has been satiating himself at the public trough for many years. It his high time he own up to that and to revisit his role in "The Keating Five " scandal. All he will have to do is wave the flag and promise us anything and he'll be in place to continue the abysmal record of the most incompetent President that America ever voted into office, twice!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 20, 2008 10:19 AM
Bruce, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" is a segment that involves celebrities making fun of current events. It airs every Saturday and is pretty neutral politically. The fact that the media has picked up the "McCain Family Recipes" story is because it shows the true character of the family that is trying to occupy the White House. The McCain's now have an unfortunate history of plagiarism even when it comes to something as benign as "family recipes".
If Hillary Clinton were a former drug addict that stole painkillers from her own relief organization and also stole recipes from the Food Network, do you think the media would report on it?
Posted by: Bubba | April 20, 2008 11:30 AM
RNC Bruce,
I missed the part where you said it wasn't true.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | April 20, 2008 11:33 AM
Now let me see if I have this straight; Obama is the elitist?
(' Napa cabbage slaw and something called passion-fruit mousse')
Posted by: C.Morris | April 20, 2008 12:21 PM
Cindy's Family Recipes
Magic Happy Passion Fruit Punch:
4 Vicodin
6 Percocet
1 6-pack Budweiser
1 Cup Passion Fruit Puree
Blend first three ingredients. Pour over ice. Enjoy!
Place Passion Fruit Puree on counter with warm milk and cookies for old man.
Pass out on couch.
Repeat nightly.
Posted by: Haywood Jablome | April 20, 2008 1:35 PM
Who cares. p.s. Bruce still crying as usual.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | April 20, 2008 4:13 PM
FYI Ms. Ray's first name is spelled "Rachael."
Posted by: Jean SmilingCoyote | April 21, 2008 7:44 AM
Apparently Bruce has a blind spot and didn't notice that they also took a swipe at Clinton. But, like most theocns, Bruce doesn't need to see the entire picture to make up his mind.
Posted by: PBJ | April 21, 2008 12:06 PM