Pull a McCain

meaning to back out on an obligation at the last minute, to not follow through on a plan; to be a no show (popularized by Senator John McCain when he threatened to suspend his campaign and focus on the "Wall Street Bailout" during the 2008 presidential election. Also when he backed out of his first appearance on The Letterman Show) also referred to as "pulling a McCain" or "pulled a McCain"

To have brought someone on board or associated yourself with someone whose embarrassing behavior makes you look bad and brings your character/judgement into question. Ultimately the choice to include this person leads ridicule and failure. This is in reference to McCain bringing on Sarah Palin as a running mate in the 2008 elections.

To walk directly in front of or around a person when they are talking to someone or to a group of people, with a subtle demeanor, head down, totally distracting everyone involved. Based on the presidential debates of 2008, during which Senator McCain did this several times to now President Obama.

Used when you a person claims to know nothing about something, but has the answers to fix it.

To throw a hail mary pass when three seconds are left on the clock.

To go and be a jerk to the people that helped you in the past.

Indicating ignorance on a subject to be somehow legitimate because "I wasn't born yet."

As when confronted by Paul Begala, on HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher, with the fact that Ronald Reagan blamed his problems on Jimmy Carter for many years, Meghan McCain responded, "I wasn't born yet, so I wouldn't know."

To which Begala replied, "I wasn't born during the French Revolution but I know about it!"