John McCain proved this week he would be a laff-a-minute president by perpetrating a curious hoax to steal media attention from globe-trotting Barack Obama.

McCain's staff lied (fibbed, if you prefer) to news media, including influential columnist Robert Novak, that the GOP candidate would choose his running mate by the end of the week.

Novak, the chump who was probably a little fuzzy after running over a pedestrian, finally realized it was "a dodge":

I got a suggestion from a very senior McCain aide . . . that he was going to announce it this week [and] suggested I put it out.They were trying to get a little publicity to rain on Obama's campaign. That's pretty reprehensible if it's true.

Some guys just don't like getting pranked.

Later on the Straight Talk Express campaign plane, McCain responded to questions about the bogus story with a twinkle in his rheumy eye. He blew off reporters, quipping:

What do you want, you little jerks?

I wonder if Mitt Romney was in on the joke?