Have the news media dropped the “Cone of Silence” story too quickly? Was candidate John McCain cheating?

Why hasn’t Sen. John McCain been badgered as to why he wasn’t sequestered as the TV audience at the Saddleback Church “debate” had promised? Where exactly was he? With whom did he talk during his time on the loose? Did he use his or anyone’s cell phone during this time?

Just as, if you remember, the news media dropped the visible and strange “bulge” under the jacket of George W. Bush’s back during the Presidential debate in 2004. Was Bush cheating?

The “Cone of Silence,” was the phrase used by the Rev. Rick Warren, the conservative leader of the Saddleback Church. Warren was interviewing Sen. Barack Obama and told the TV audience that his opponent, Sen. John McCain – who would get the same questions – was sequestered so that he had no opportunity to know what the questions would be when he took the same stage later.

It then became clear that McCain wasn’t in any “cone of silence,” but was in a motorcade on the way to the church.  It’s clear then that someone could have relayed the questions and given McCain the opportunity to be prepared to answer. He did answer amazingly quickly and succinctly when it was his turn.

What makes me doubly suspicious is that Karl Rove, President Bush’s so-called “Brain” is also an advisor to McCain.

Here’s a passage from the book, “Machiavelli’s Shadow – the Rise and Fall of Karl Rove” by Paul Alexander, a former reporter at Time and other magazines:
“Another weird episode would occur in the campaign, this one during the debates. Salon first reported the story. Here’s a press account, published on October 9 of the Salon item: “What was that bulge in the back of President Bush’s suit jacket at the presidential debate in Miami last week? According to rumors racing across the Internet this week, the rectangular bulge visible between Mr. Bush’s shoulder blades was a radio receiver, getting answers from offstage counselor into a hidden presidential ear-piece. The prime suspect was Karl Rover… When the online magazine Salon published an article about the rumors on Friday, the speculation reached such a pitch that the White House and campaign officials were inundated with calls.”

The mystery bulge on the president’s back would never be solved, notes Alexander.

The mystery of whether McCain got an unfair advantage likely now will never be known, as we don’t know what President Bush had on his back during the presidential debate.

Warren did ask McCain as he started, “Now, my first question: Was the cone of silence comfortable that you were in just now?”

McCain ducked it with an attempt at humor: “I was trying to hear through the wall.”

With Rove involved in the McCain campaign we can expect more dirty tricks from the Republican’s presidential campaign.

It’s the only way Rove operates and Alexander’s book details just how Machiavellian and dirty Rove is.

My guess is that McCain got an earful before he joined Warren and Obama on stage that night. And I wouldn’t doubt Rove played a role.