Open Mic Night: So tell us how you really feel…

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former McCain campaign advisor Mike Murphy and conservative pundit Peggy Noonan got caught by an open mic during a commercial break speaking honestly about how they really feel about John McCain’s choice of Governor Sarah Palin, just after lying to Americans from the GOP talking points memo during their interview.

Finally some "straight talk" from a couple of hard core Republicans.

If you don’t know, Mike Murphy is one of McCain’s closest confidants, an architect of his 2000 campaign, and someone who still gives him advice, informally. Peggy Noonan is not only a former Reagan speechwriter but really a high priestess of all things conservative and a Wall Street Journal columnist.

Here’s a rough transcript of what each said.

Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state government work.  Engler, Whitman, Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush.  And these guys, this is all how you want to (inaudible) this race.  You know, just run it up.  And it’s not gonna work.

Noonan: It’s over.

Murphy: Still, McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.

Todd: (inaudible about) Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

Noonan: I saw Kay this morning.

Todd: She’s never looked comfortable about this.

Murphy: They’re all bummed out.

Todd:  I mean, is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?

Noonan: The most qualified?  No.  I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives and (inaudible) the picture.

Todd: Yeah, but what’s the narrative?

Murphy: I totally agree.

Noonan: Every time the Republicans do that because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at and they blow it.

Murphy: You know what’s really the worst thing about it?  The greatness of McCain is no cynicism and this is cynical.

Todd: And as you called it gimmicky.

Murphy: Yes.

Hat tip to Mark Nicholas at Mark Nickolas’ Blog