John McCain's "That One" Comment

McCain's Odd Term for Barack Obama During Presidential Debate

Oct 7, 2008

The TV news industry picked up on the McCain "that one" label. It suddenly brought the question of racism to the forefront of the campaign for some commentators.

John McCain may not have meant anything offensive when he referred to Barack Obama as "that one," but in politics intentions mean little. Politics is about perceptions and some people may perceive "that one" as a racial slight.

The October 7, 2008 presidential debate was fairly uneventful from an issues standpoint. Neither Democratic candidate Barack Obama nor Republican candidate John McCain said much that was new. Both candidates repeated their well prepared talking points that the American public has heard many times before.

McCain's Term for Obama

However, 24 hour news networks need something to talk about. They must fill a lot of news time so they hire a lot of political analysts to do it. One of the things they picked up on was two words spoken in passing by John McCain. Just two words that spoke volumes to the commentators.

John McCain was referring to Barack Obama's vote on an energy bill in the senate. McCain said it was "loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one." McCain pointed at Obama as he said the words "that one."

McCain Debate Mistake?

This raised the eyebrows of analysts at Cable News Network. CNN has eleven commentators and two anchors doing post debate analysis. It didn't take them long to get around to talking about "that one." CNN Senior Analyst Jeffrey Toobin was first. Toobin said of McCain, "I think that's going to be memorable and I don't think that's going to be a happy memory for him." Toobin is a former federal prosecutor and New Yorker Magazine columnist who has been around politics for a long time. He seemed to think "that one" would be the water cooler talk the next day.

Presidential Campaign Racism?

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux drew comparisons to a similar term used for female candidates in this presidential campaign. Malveaux said the term "that woman" was considered condescending and patronizing. She suggested the term "that one" had similar undertones. CNN made sure to repeat a clip of the "that one" comment immediately following Malveaux's comments as they went to a commercial.

McCain "That One" Insult?

John McCain has been in politics a long time. He is not a stupid man. McCain obviously was not trying to insult Obama. However, with a TV news industry that hyper analyzes every word, these two words may end up being all that anyone remembers from the second McCain-Obama debate.

The copyright of the article John McCain's "That One" Comment in US Elections is owned by Kent Ninomiya. Permission to republish John McCain's "That One" Comment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Oct 8, 2008 7:08 AM

Guest :

He said "that one" because he is upset Senator Obama is winning. He is racial and an ageist comment. Basically he was saying that he felt Senator Obama is inferior to him, not worthy of him speaking his name. It was very ugly.

Oct 8, 2008 10:30 AM

Guest :

While I can't argue with the fact that the news media (namely CNN) was delighted to jump all over the "That one" comment from Mccain, prior to hearing the barrage post-debate commentary, my wife and I sat on our couch floored by the lack of respect he showed Obama by saying it.
I've seen the argument made on a few websites and blogs that nothing was meant by not looking at or addressing Obama by his name, but it seems to me that at this stage of the race it would be impossible for the Mccain campaign to acknowledge the comment as a miff, mistake, or misnomer.

Oct 8, 2008 11:55 AM

Guest :

I don't think McCain had a freudian moment, I don't think he has any secret racial hatred. Instead, I think he was about to say "that guy" and froze up, instead calling Obama "that one". It was particularly unfortunate seeing as it was coming at what should have been a watershed moment in the tide turning for McCain. Instead, he's reduced to an embarrassing sound-bite, one that his campaign is now trying to pass off as intentional. (Also not a good move in my opinion.)

Oct 8, 2008 12:08 PM

Guest :

Clearly a racist comment on McCain's part. If McCain was looking for a way to energize the democrats, then he succeeded. Democrats aren't interested in having a president who's supported by the KKK (yes, the KKK supports McCain; coincidence?). Even republicans aren't too keen on being labeled racist. Yet, they support a candidate who is clearly prejudiced against blacks. Shame on McCain. OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!

Oct 8, 2008 12:28 PM

Guest :

Unfortunately, John McCain displayed a lesser than virtuous personna around his character. His "That One" comment was not only totally disrespectful to one of his peers, but did hint of a man inherently angry, easily agitated, and out of touch with society today. i would be very fearful if Mccain were preseident and another country peeved him off. How would he treat that? Another Iraq and words of disrespect.

McCain "Da Maverick" and "ex-Brother in-law thrasher" Palin need to just go away.

That One '08

Oct 8, 2008 10:09 PM

Alicia Mae Prater :

I think he was starting to fumble with his words and that informal way of pointing someone out slipped out. A career politician would be expected to be more composed, particularly one who wanted all of the debates to be in that format (town hall), thus the networks picked up on it. If McCain's running mate had said it, it would be thought to be her "folksy" way, but McCain is not that type of person in public.

Nov 14, 2008 3:01 PM

Guest :

I happen to like <a href="http://www.johnmccain.com/">John McCain</a>. I'm sure he's a great person. But I'm glad he's not going to be the president.