#78 Comedy at Hofstra: Logic 101

John McCain created the most comedic moment of the four debates tonight, unintentionally so. My quotations below are probably not exact, but they're more than close enough to make the point.

When asked if/how their views on Roe v. Wade would affect nominating justices to the Supreme Court, McCain replied:

"I won't have a litmus test. The overall judgment that the justices show is what I would consider for me to nominate them."

Sounds clear enough. Except that a minute and a half later in the same set of comments, he said: "I believe Roe v. Wade was the wrong decision. I believe it should not have been made. I would have to question the judgment of any judge who supports that decision."

Sooooo -- McCain will not let Roe v. Wade disqualify any justice from being considered for nomination to the Supreme Court; it's their judgment that matters. But he doesn't trust the judgment of any justice who supports Roe v. Wade. [Ergo, I conclude, he won't nominate a justice who supports Roe v. Wade. But it's not a litmus test for nomination.]

While my head was spinning on that reply, I noticed that Barack Obama had this HUGE smile on his face as McCain came full circle with his logic. Obama understood exactly what John McCain had done to himself, but was gentle enough not to say anything. Perhaps he thought one of the post-debate commentators would have mentioned it. If any did, I missed that part.

Interesting poll taken after the debate:
Question: Who used more negative campaign ads?
Poll Result: Obama 7%, McCain 80%

That was, by the bye, the only poll John McCain won tonight.

-- triton --