MSNBC ad for McCain documentary said McCain "mastered the art of straight talk"

Summary: Promoting a documentary on Sen. John McCain, an MSNBC announcer asserted: "Before he was a senator, before running for president, John McCain mastered the art of straight talk." MSNBC has made numerous references to McCain's "straight talk."

In an advertisement for an MSNBC documentary on Sen. John McCain, the announcer adopted a McCain campaign talking point and asserted: "Before he was a senator, before running for president, John McCain mastered the art of straight talk." The ad aired on the 11 a.m. ET hour of MSNBC Live.

Despite repeated falsehoods by McCain and his stark inconsistencies on numerous issues, Media Matters for America has documented numerous uncritical references to McCain's "straight talk" on MSNBC. Most recently, on the 4 p.m. ET hour of the February 21 edition of MSNBC Live, anchor Contessa Brewer identified McCain by the name of his campaign bus, the "Straight Talk Express."

Media Matters has also extensively documented MSNBC host Chris Matthews' repeated praise for McCain, having noted that he frequently suggests that McCain offers "straight talk," and has twice stated that he "deserve[s]" to be president.

From the 11 a.m. ET hour of MSNBC Live:

ANNOUNCER: MSNBC tonight: Pilot. POW. Hero.

McCAIN [video clip]: We will never surrender.

ANNOUNCER: Before he was a senator, before running for president, John McCain mastered the art of straight talk. An all-new MSNBC documentary premiere -- Decision 2008: The Candidates: John McCain. Tonight at 10 on MSNBC.

—B.J.L.