Friends of Liberty: McCain refers to Americans as 'my fellow prisoners'

Nick Juliano and David Edwards
Published: Wednesday October 8, 2008

The
last two years John McCain has spent on the presidential campaign trail
seem to finally have transported the Republican candidate back to the
Hanoi Hilton he called home for five and a half years. At a campaign
stop in Pennsylvania Wednesday, McCain referred to his supporters as
"fellow prisoners" in a botched attack on his Democratic opponent
Barack Obama.



"You and I together will confront the $10 trillion debt the federal
government has run up and balance the federal budget by the end of my
term in office," he said. "Across this country, this is the agenda I
have set before my fellow prisoners and the same standards of clarity
and candor must now be applied to my opponent."



Judging by McCain's pause, he expected that to be an applause line. Silence greeted him from the perplexed crowd.



Standing behind her father, Meghan McCain briefly furrows her brow,
apparently recognizing the 72-year-old senator's gaffe. Vice
presidential nominee Sarah Palin also is flanking McCain on stage, but
it is less clear whether she recognizes the mistake.



McCain makes no effort to correct his mistake, but he seemed flustered
when the crowd didn't erupt at the line. Glancing down at his prepared
text, McCain charged on through to the next line in his speech...