ARLINGTON, Va. (CAP) - In what some pundits are calling a ploy to generate sentiment for his floundering campaign, Republican presidential contender John McCain today said he would take a break from campaigning in order to visit his extremely old grandmother.
"She's 119 next month, God bless her," McCain, 72, told reporters. "And do you know that under Barack Obama's tax and health care proposals, she would be both taxed and fined? He wants to tax and fine people who can no longer even chew. My friends, that's not right."
Some consultants have noted that Obama's recent trip to Hawaii to visit Madelyn Dunham, 85 - the "white grandmother" mentioned in his landmark address on race - paid dividends among undecided voters. "For one thing, it reminded people that he's got a little honkie in him," noted consultant Marshall Sternhagen.
Sternhagen said that McCain could wind up seeing similar results. "At the very least it points out that there's a lot of longevity in his family," he noted. "That's very important for all the people whose vote for McCain is predicated on the condition that he absolutely, positively not die."
In fact, McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, 44, lauded his decision, noting that she'll be becoming a grandmother herself next year when her oldest daughter Bristol, 17, gives birth. "And of course I always enjoy visiting my own grandmother, who's a spry 75, let me tell ya," said Palin. "Back in the trailer park they call her the queen mother."
However, some have questioned whether McCain's grandmother, whom he calls "Mame" (short for "Maimeo," an old Irish term for grandmother), even exists. They note the only evidence has been a grainy video McCain screened for reporters that showed him hugging a woman who then calls him "my bubelah," which is not typically an Irish term of endearment.
"I admire John McCain, and I love his mother, Roberta, carnally," said Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden. "But I've seen that video, and clearly, that's a man, baby!"
Sen. Joe Leiberman - who already came under fire earlier this year for allegedly masquerading as "Negro-American icon" Little Black Sambo in order to endorse McCain - was reached later in the congressional coat room removing a gray wig and housedress, at which point he characterized the accusation as "a bunch of bupkis."
As for Obama, he says that while possibly fictional old grandmothers, like pregnant daughters and eerily robotic spouses, are "off limits" in the campaign, he did want to disagree with McCain's assertions about his policies.
"Look, Sen. McCain's grandmother, if she does exist, would in fact pay lower taxes under my plan," said Obama. "And if she doesn't exist, well, she'd pay even less, probably."
McCain, for his part, says he just wants voters to know he's the type of maverick who'll put partisan bickering aside to have an opportunity to see his loving Mame one last time. "Really, the woman practically raised me," said McCain.
This prompted McCain's mother, Roberta, 96, to respond, "Oh, bite me, John."
- CAP News Staff