McCain Campaign Criticizes CNN Over Sanchez Piece

‘How Do We Beat the Bitch?’ Question from Supporter Becomes YouTube Hit

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/14/2007 11:22:00 AM

Sen. and presidential candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) chastised CNN Wednesday for a piece on the previous night's "Out in the Open" segment with Rick Sanchez.

According to a CNN transcript of the show, Sanchez showed a video of McCain with a group of supporters responding to one supporter's question -- "How do we beat the bitch?" -- in reference to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.). McCain attempted to laugh off the comment and did not upbraid the supporter for the term, saying that it was an excellent question.

Sanchez set up the piece by saying, "You know, this could be real bad for John McCain," saying later, "This is a fellow senator that he's talking about. No matter what you think of Hillary Clinton, is John McCain done as a result of this? Is this going to become a viral video? This is the kind of question that we've got to examine at this point."

Sanchez later in the piece called McCain "a good American," but said, "I think he could be in trouble for this from women."

Sanchez was right about the viral part, with the video and comment becoming fodder for numerous blogs and several versions of the clip appearing on YouTube.

"It is disappointing," McCain campaign manager Buzz Jacobs said in a statement bicycled to reporters Wednesday, "that Mr. Sanchez would choose to engage in sensationalism in the hopes of generating a story. It not only reflects poorly on him, but on CNN. If Mr. Sanchez had even the faintest perspective on the race for the White House, he would know that Sen. McCain has expressed his utmost respect for Sen. Clinton numerous times on the campaign trail, as he did at Monday's event in Hilton Head [S.C.]."