Budowsky's story is accurate, although not particularly well-written, and in fact could be elaborated substantially. Although it didn't come out until after the story was written, McCain also stated during the Couric interview that Iraq was the first major combat after 9/11, a statement that is obviously erroneous but one that CBS also cut. More generally, McCain has been a darling of the media for two decades, appearing on MTP more than twice as often as the next most frequent guest, for example, even though he occupied no leadership position in the Senate most of the time. Several press articles detail McCain's great skill in cultivating reporters, inter alia, by asking them for advice. The result is that some members are the traveling press corps are virtually members of his posse who frequently protect him by reporting what McCain "meant" rather than what he said. Now that McCain is under greater scrutiny by the outside press, it is clear that he contradicts himself on a regular basis and has little understanding of complex issues...such as economics, cap and trade, Social Security, and other issues.