The Real McCain at Brave New Films

John McCain Talks Black?

2008-08-26T13:56:50Z

Cliff Schecter is the author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him, Why Independents Shouldn't, which was released this past May. The book is an insightful look into the political psyche of the Republican Presidential candidate.

I asked Cliff to talk with me about John McCain's record on issues of relevance to Black voters. With all of the talk in the news over the past couple of days about race in this election, his answers are interesting to say the least.

The Interview

Garlin Gilchrist II: In your view, what's been the most instructive example of John McCain's ideology to civil rights?

Cliff Schecter: First Garlin, thanks so much for providing these questions. And now onto business.

When it comes to Civil Rights, it's an easy one. While he has hired a white supremacist to work on his campaign, employed the man who created the racist ads against Harold Ford Jr. in 2006 and voted against MLK day, the one that sticks out is the Confederate Flag. And here is why: McCain has even admitted himself that he threw African Americans under the bus for political reasons in South Carolina in 2000. McCain blatantly changed his position on the Confederate Flag when he thought it would help get him votes--to appear more racist.

In January 2000, McCain said that "The Confederate flag is offensive in many, many ways, as we all know. It's a symbol of racism and slavery." Yet, three days later, after talking to consultants and deciding that winning was more important than civil rights, he changed his tune to "personally, I see the flag as a symbol of heritage." When the campaign was over, he admitted that if he had "answered honestly" he feared that he "could not win the South Carolina primary." So winning is what mattered. Not as important an issue in this country as the ongoing inequality and racism that African Americans are forced to endure.

McCain Bush "I Think I Love You" John McSame - Captions

2008-09-06T00:48:18Z

I Think I Love You Musical Montage by John McSame McCain Bush, with Captions and Fear Czars like Fox news ect.

McCain Bush, McSame, Fox News, John McCain, cnn, MSNBC, 2008 election, youtube, nightmare, The Real McCain, McSame, McCain, Bush, media, political, Bill O'Rilley

Watch the video

McCain Bush "I Think I Love You" John McSame

2008-09-06T00:48:29Z

I Think I Love You Musical Montage Video by John McSame GW Bush and John McCain are the Same,

McCain Bush McSame Fox News, John McCain, cnn, MSNBC, 2008 election, youtube, nightmare, The Real McCain, McSame, McCain, Bush, , media political, Bill O'Rilley

Watch the video

RNC Resorts to Petty Name-Calling Over "The Real McCain"

2008-08-29T12:17:57Z

Calls for the REAL McCain to step forward are growing louder by the minute. Yesterday, a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed highlighted John McCain's YouTube problem, as a remarkable 1.4 million people have already seen The REAL McCain 2 since we launched it just one week ago. The fact that activists spread this video virally through YouTube made it such an instant sensation, simultaneously suggesting that the general public hungers for the truth about McCain, and that this appetite is something the mainstream media cannot satisfy with its ineffectual, inaccurate reporting about the so-called Maverick.

Republicans desperately hope that the mainstream media won't end its love affair with McCain any time soon. According to WSJ writer Laura Meckler, "the McCain campaign has decided that responding to various and sundry hits like [The REAL McCain 2] would only dignify them." And Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant called us an "anonymous smear job," even though both Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films are mentioned at the beginning of the film. Notice that the RNC had no facts to back up their claim, but instead resorted to petty name-calling.

While we expected nothing less from the RNC, they're going to have to try a lot harder to prevent the 1.4 million who have seen our film from spreading the truth about McCain. And hopefully, the WSJ piece will signal other corporate media outlets to break ranks and follow this lead.

One Million See McCain's YouTube Problem!

2008-09-04T23:21:21Z

We're entering record-breaking territory here. Since The Real McCain 2 launched this past Sunday, over 1 million people have seen it! It's been the #1 most viewed video on YouTube, #1 on the viral video chart, and the #2 story on the Digg Election 2008 page. We're reaching an audience that most cable news shows only dream of.

We knew the press's inexplicably blind love for McCain has led to a dearth of accurate reportage regarding his record on the issues. We knew the corporate media have been going far easier on McCain than on either Obama or Clinton. Now that we have the numbers, we know that the general public hungers for the truth about the so-called "Maverick."

We've reached a critical juncture in this presidential campaign. For the last seven years, the mainstream press has sacrificed its objectivity and courage in a pathetic attempt to appease conservatives lest they be painted left-leaning.

We need to continue spreading videos like The Real McCain 2, passing them along to friends and coworkers, and raising the national discourse until our pleas for unbiased, hard-hitting journalism are heard by the corporate media.

And it has to happen now, especially when the presumptive GOP nominee can't get his basic facts right on Iran. Especially when the press is obsessed with Jeremiah Wright but won't go after McCain's endorsements (which he sought) from the viciously anti-Semitic Rev. John Hagee or the deeply bigoted Rev. Rod Parsley. Especially when White House lackey Ed Gillespie is going on Glenn Beck's show to call for a boycott of NBC. Especially when Bill O'Reilly and FOX News are parroting the White House once again, assailing NBC, MSNBC, and their parent company, General Electric. And especially when Karl Rove is attacking Democrats on FOX News, which refuses to identify him as an informal McCain adviser or maxed-out donor.

We'll keep the Real McCain sequels coming, as long as you continue to spread them along. And please donate to the Brave New PAC so that we can have further success with our Real McCain series.

Watch the video

The Real McCain Goes Viral

2008-09-04T22:47:18Z

No, not my book (one can dream though), but a new video by Brave New Films that does in video form what I hope my book The Real McCain accomplishes in prose--laying bare the fallacy of the "straight-talk" label that has been attached to McCain like a Siamese Twin for the better part of a decade.

The video uses just some of the examples (if it used all, the video would be longer than The Godfather) of McCain's making statements about policy, politics and personal bravado that at best contradict each other and at worst simply don't comport with reality.

It is a must watch.

Watch the video

McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare

2008-09-06T00:39:42Z

There's no question John McCain is getting a free ride from the mainstream press. But with the power of YouTube and the blogosphere, we can provide an accurate portrayal of the so-called Maverick. We can put the brakes on his free ride!

Since we first released The Real McCain a year ago, our REAL McCain series has garnered close to 2 million views, with over 13,000 comments and tens of thousands more in petition signatures! Clearly, John McCain's record is something the public wants to discuss, and yet the corporate media is doing NOTHING to present the truth. We feel obliged to continue countering the mainstream media's love of McCain. And so we thought it was high time for a sequel: The Real McCain 2.

We're doing everything to get the facts out there about McCain. Join us in making a concerted effort to tell the story that corporate media refuses to tell. E-mail this video to all of your friends and family members, news blogs and other local media outlets. And don't forget to Digg it!

According to Cliff Schecter, author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn't: "It is dangerous for a democracy when a presidential candidate can lie with impunity, change positions on a whim, and physically and verbally threaten others and virtually none of it is reported by a besotted media eagerly awaiting the next moment when he might slap their backs in friendship."

The mainstream press may not do their job, but we can surely do ours. It is crucial that we alert the public to the REAL McCain, and it is crucial we act now, before it's too late.

Watch the video

How I Became A Soros Operative (With BNF's Help)

2008-07-09T12:52:32Z

John Gibson said I was one--that is how it really happened. Listen to his radio show the other day. I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I am on Soros' payroll, apparently, and part of a vast left-wing scheme to destroy McCain (as well as all else that is good and decent, I assume).

That is what my new book, The Real McCain, is about. Murky conspiracies. Not, you know, reporting the facts and stuff.

It all started when I worked for this fine company last year and the beginning of this year. Not to mention the wealthly liberal guy who owns my publishing company. Hell, I might even start a War On Christmas when nobody is looking!!

I used to enjoy going on your show, John. Where does all the hate come from? Why no love? I mean, can't we all just get along?? In fact, in the spirit of kindness, if you get me the address, I'll send you a signed copy of the book which broke that story you were talking about on your show(you know, where McCain called his wife a very bad word that rhymes with "runt").

Oh and one more thing. If you can find a way to help get me on Soros' payroll, that would sure be swell. I could use the cash...

Watch the video

McCain's health plan

2008-06-14T21:29:31Z

More at therealnews.com

Denier: The senator's plan would keep many from seeking needed medical care

Watch the video

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2008-03-23T11:08:19Z

Hey folks, it's like really me. That Cliff guy. Whose name is on the blog even though the other bloggers do all the work lately--although we'll take care of that when we rename at our new site.

Which brings me to my point. We're moving to a new site. The fantastic folks over at The Agonist invited us to join them, keeping our own blog but being a part of their site. As you can imagine, when a Top-10 trafficked liberal blog with a wide grasp of everything from economics to foreign affairs invites you to the party, you RSVP quickly.

Taking Back America

2008-03-19T00:03:04Z

Hello folks. I am sticking my head out of my hole for long enough to let you know that my edits on The Real McCain are done!

Yes, happy days are here again. I am at Take Back America right now, and will be speaking on Sir John and the Crack Up Of Conservatism at 11:45 AM. The panel includes noted historian and all-around great guy Rick Perlstein. Should be fun.

So hopefully, like pronto, I'll get back into this blogging thing....

Where The Hell Have I Been?--An Update

2008-02-11T15:54:57Z

I know, a rude, rudderless soul am I. Seriously, I apologize for my lack of posts lately folks. There is good reason. I won't use the usual excuse of my young son, his teething and as a result the number of hours of sleep I get each night--which can be counted on one of Rahm Emmanuel's hands (google him and missing finger, then you'll get that joke).

Nah, that's old hat now. We have much bigger news than that. First of all, some of you may remember that I was working on a book last year called The Real McCain. A look beyond the MSM mythology into what really makes the man tick. That effort, after I had completed 90% of it, was rightfully shelved by myself and my publisher once he became more unpopular than Gigli.

But then something interesting happened. All the other GOPers sucked worse than he does. And you know the rest. Moral: Book is back on with a vengeance, and we are crashing on it to have it ready by August or September.

Second, I am leaving Brave New Films. This point is largely related to the last one. I am doing some media consulting and am still a fellow over at Working America--but will now be adding a fellowship at Progress Ohio and some other opportunities into the mix (the best description I can think of for Progress Ohio is a sort of statewide Moveon.org).

Finally, there's the blog. Obviously, with my leaving the employ of BNF the blog will not stay here. Right now we are mulling our options, but we have been invited to join an already very popular liberal blog, while maintaining our own way of doing things. It is a deal that is in the works, and likely to happen. Otherwise, we'll head back to blogspot. Either way, this blog will continue to exist.

So I am sorry I have not been around very much. And the next month or two promise to be the same. Some days I will be able to put up a bunch of posts, others, not so much. But it isn't because I don't still love blogging. It's because there's a lot of stuff going on.

PS Also, if you live in or near the Columbus area, I will be a featured speaker at the National Democratic Law Students Council convention. It should be a lot of fun, with some great people like Congressman John Conyers and Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio making appearances. So come on by if you are so moved.