pulled a Checkers 

Indulged in maudlin, self serving self pity on TV ( or anywhere else for that matter)- as in Tricky Dick Nixon's famous "Checkers" speech-(check it out- it was priceless!- and timeless).

Mom pulled a Checkers when nobody would eat her tuna casserole. The candidate pulled a Checkers on national TV when he was beaten by Stephen Colbert.

pulled a Checkers by magill March 22, 2008