MSNBC Countdown host Keith Olbermann filled in for Republican Presidential candidate John McCain after his last minute cancellation on Late Show with David Letterman on September 24, 2008. Here is the entire hilarious video of Olbermann and Letterman mocking McCain for suspending his Presidential campaign yesterday to deal with the economic crisis. As we all know now McCain did not return immediately to Washington.

Letterman had his producers throw up the CBS in-house video feed, showing McCain getting makeup applied to his face before the interview taping. “Now, he doesn’t seem to be racing back to the airport, does he?” Letterman asked Olbermann. “This just gets uglier and uglier,” he said.

“Let’s punch up Katie Couric’s interview and . . . let’s see what he has to say here. I wonder if he’ll mention me. Hey, John! I’ve got a question — you need a ride to the airport?” Letterman said. “This stinks,” he said, adding, “It’s like we caught him getting a manicure.”

A few minutes later, he joked to his audience: “We’re now told the senator has concluded his interview with Katie Couric and is now on Rachael Ray’s show making veal piccata.”

Source: News of the Day Gets in Networks’ Way

McCain has been a favorite guest of Letterman’s, making 12 appearances over the years. Last year, the senator from Arizona announced his candidacy for president on “Late Show.” At the end of his rant, Letterman wondered aloud if McCain would ever come back again.

“Not after the drubbing you just gave him,” quipped band leader Paul Shaffer.

Letterman has engaged in some famous feuds over the years, including one of 16 years’ duration with Oprah Winfrey and another with rival late-night host Jay Leno. He has also sparred with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. Letterman is often self-deprecating, but he does not like being dismissed.

“We’re in sorry need and short supply of actual heroes like John McCain,” Letterman said early in his show. “But when you call up at the last minute and cancel a show … This is not the John McCain I know, by God. It makes me believe something is going haywire with the campaign. Someone got to him and said, ‘Blow Letterman off, he’s a lightweight.’ ”

But on TODAY, McCain spokeswoman [Nicole] Wallace said, “We deeply regret offending Mr. Letterman, but our candidate’s priority at this moment is to focus on this crisis.”

Source: Letterman raps ‘Late Show’ no-show McCain

Photo credit: CBS News via AP

Even before last night’s Late Show with David Letterman aired, the “hour of ridicule boiled down to nine minutes” video had hit YouTube. (See previous post: Video: David Letterman Reacts to John McCain Suspending Campaign 9-24-08 ) It’s never a good sign when a candidate’s actions–alleged to be putting “country first”–become fodder for late night television jokes. The Top 10 List was hilarious as well:

The Top Ten Questions People are Asking The John McCain Campaign

#10 “I just contributed to your campaign – how do I get a refund?”

#9 “It’s Sarah Palin –- does this mean I’m pars’dent?”

#8 “Can’t you solve this by selling some of your houses?”

#7 “This is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?”

#6 “Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, Genius?”

#5 “Are you doing all of this just to get out of going on Letterman?”

#4 “What would Matlock do?”

#3 “Hillary here –- my schedule is free Friday night.”

#2 “Is this just an excuse to catch up on napping?”

#1 “This is President Bush –- what’s all this trouble with the economy?”

Related posts:

• Video: David Letterman Reacts to John McCain Suspending Campaign 9-24-08
• Video & Photos: Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric CBS Evening News 9-24-08 (Part 1) Palin Couric Interview Video
• Video: Chris Rock on Bill Clinton and Sarah Palin on Late Show with David Letterman 9-23-08
• Video: Bill Clinton on The Daily Show 9-23-08 Full Interview (with Reponse to Chris Rock on Obama)
• Video & Photos: Barack Obama on Late Show with David Letterman 9-10-08 “Lipstick on a Pig” Controversy
• Video: Obama on Letterman “Top Ten Surprising Facts About Obama” 5/1/08
• McCain on Letterman, “Maybe a Little too Funny” (Video)
• Video & Photos: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Saturday Night Live SNL Season Premiere 9-13-08

Video: David Letterman, Keith Olbermann on John McCain Suspending Campaign 9-24-08 [Full Interview Video]