Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Noonan: 'Over' Didn't Mean Mac

But she does apologize for 'vulgar epithet'

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2008 7:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – Columnist Peggy Noonan has been catching flak since being caught on tape saying "It's over" during a frank assessment of John McCain's veep choice. But the Wall Street Journal writer insists she wasn't pronouncing Mac's White House hopes dead —she was simply remarking that the days of the GOP's base being connected to mainstream America are over, she writes.

Noonan, who said she feels "mugged" by the media after the flap, also apologized for using a "vulgar epithet" during her informal comments during a break on an MSNBC television panel. She used it while blasting the party's drive to chose a candidate not for experience, but for a person's effective role in an intended "narrative"—what the party hopes to communicate about itself.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

Sarah Palin, left, is joined by John McCain, right, and daughter Piper at the end of her speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Sarah Palin, left, is joined by John McCain and daughter Piper at the end of her speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

John McCain joins his running mate, Sarah Palin, on stage after her speech to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan speaks during a remote interview on 'Meet the Press' March 23, 2008 in New York City (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I am certainly sorry that someone abused my meaning in the use of the words, 'It's over', and I'm sorry I didn't have the Kay Bailey Hutchison thought before this morning. - Peggy Noonan

The party can no longer assume that its base is utterly in line with the thinking of the American people. And when I said, 'It's over!'—and I said it more than once—that is what I was referring to. - Peggy Noonan

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Hot Mic Catches Noonan on Palin: 'It's Over'

Right-leaning pundits overheard ridiculing McCain's VP pick

(NEWSER) - The hot microphone strikes again. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan was caught today saying "It's over," as she assessed John McCain's chances in the wake of his Sarah Palin pick, Politico reports. Fellow righty Mike Murphy called the choice of Palin "gimmicky" and "cynical." The comments were picked up by a live mic after the two taped a segment today on NBC. More»

GOP Hopefuls Embrace Pledge to 'Repeal It'

Health care reform law opposition becomes Republican litmus test

(NEWSER) - The push to repeal health care reform has become a rallying cry for GOP candidates pushing for big congressional victories this year and eager to show their willingness to take on the Democratic agenda. In Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist and conservative upstart Marco Rubio agreed on little else in a weekend debate, during which Crist used the issue to appear just as ready as Rubio to fight President Obama. John McCain and Sarah Palin delivered a similar message while stumping for his re-election. More»

Sarah Palin Stumps for McCain

Tea Party hero lends support to former running mate

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin spoke at a rally for John McCain today in Tucson, the first time the two have stumped together since the 2008 presidential campaign. McCain is in a tight primary fight with JD Hayworth, who is attempting to paint the senator as insufficiently conservative. Palin delivered some much-needed Tea Party cred: McCain, she said has been "leading the fight against reckless spending for decades." More»

In 2012, GOP Goes With Heart (Palin) Over Head (Romney)

Who knows, maybe her star power will make her the next Reagan

(NEWSER) - No matter what kind of gains Republicans make in the midterm elections next year, it’s going to be tough to unseat President Obama—and that’s why the GOP is going to choose Sarah Palin, its heart’s preferred candidate, over Mitt Romney, its head’s favorite. Or as Matt Lewis puts it, “If you’re going to lose anyway, is it better to lose atop the horse you really want to ride?” More»

Bush Disses Obama, Palin in Aide's Book

Obama 'has no clue,' while Palin isn't 'remotely prepared'

(NEWSER) - George Bush apparently didn't think much of Barack Obama as a candidate. “This is a dangerous world, and this cat isn’t remotely qualified to handle it," he's quoted in a new book as saying. "This guy has no clue, I promise you.” GQ has excerpts of Speech-Less: Tales of a White House Survivor, by speechwriter Matt Latimer, in which Bush also dismisses Sarah Palin as a candidate and John McCain's campaign in general. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Noonan: 'Over' Didn't Mean Mac