Hot Mic: Pundits Caught Bashing McCain's Choice

The first rule of being on television is even when the mics are supposedly off, never say anything you wouldn't say on camera. Because only the engineers know when the mics are really off. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan and Time columnist Mike Murphy forgot that rule after appearing with NBC's Chuck Todd and were caught on tape disparaging John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for VP. Murphy -- a former McCain adviser -- says the choice is "cynical" and "gimmicky." Noonan's opinion is even stronger.

PN: It's over.

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

CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.

PN: Saw Kay this morning.

CT: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --

MM: They're all bummed out.

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

PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullsh*t about narratives --

CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.

MM: I totally agree.

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

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

CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.

MM: Yeah.

Watch it yourself but be warned that Noonan, the former Reagan speechwriter, uses some harsh language (though since she's a lady, she does apologize for it). The fun begins about 40 seconds in.



UPDATE: In her latest column, Peggy Noonan addresses the controversy and explains her candid comments, with what seems to me to be no small amount of backpeddling to protect her standing within the GOP. Read it here and judge for yourself.