Otis

Doesn't look like it to me:

As former GOP Senator Rick Santorum put it, "Everybody has a McCain story." Over his tenure in Congress, McCain has had angry, expletive-laced exchanges with a number of his colleagues and peers,- both Democrat and Republican alike- many of which have been covered extensively by local Arizona and nationwide news sources. Below are the ten most notable among them.

1. Senator Ted Kennedy - On August 6, 1993, the Boston Globe ran a story detailing a heated verbal exchange between Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and McCain. Kennedy was at the lectern delivering remarks, when McCain began walking toward him from across the Senate floor, mocking the Massachusetts legislator. McCain shouted at Kennedy to "shut up." A stunned Kennedy fired back at McCain, telling him, "you shut up...and act like a Senator."


2. Democratic Rep. Marty Russo (D-IL) - In its December 1985 issue, Atlantic Monthly described an altercation that took place just a few years after McCain had been elected to the House for the first time. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) found himself in the crossfire between the two Congressman, who were angrily shouting "seven-letter and twelve-letter" epithets back and forth at one another, when the exchange became violent and they began pushing and shoving one another. The two were separated from their tangle by a few other legislators who were nearby.


3. Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson - Newsmax, the "conservative perspective" political publication run by Chris Ruddy, didn't cut McCain any partisan slack in a July 2006 article, in which it recounted a dust-up between McCain and some local government officials in his home state. Speaking at a luncheon at which McCain was in attendance, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson was among a group of local mayors fielding questions from the Arizona Congressional delegation about local land issues. In the midst of one answer from Johnson, who helmed the city from 1990 to 1994, McCain blurted out, "Hold it a minute. Somebody write down everything this guy has to say. You know what, we need to record him. It's best to get a liar on tape."

Taken aback, Johnson offered the Senator a chance to speak privately, saying, "Senator, if you have a problem with me, why don't we go out in the hallway and talk about it."

McCain fired back: "You're God-damn right I have a problem with you! They've been treating you like a princess in Phoenix while they've been burning me over this damn deal, and I'm sick of it!"



4. Unidentified GOP Senator - Accounts of McCain's outburst at a Senate GOP policy lunch has reached near-epic proportion, having been written about by just about every blog and news site from Newsmax, to DailyKos, to the Huffington Post, to Wonkette, and so on. During a vitriolic exchange between McCain and another unnamed Senator who took a position contrary to that of his colleague from Arizona. McCain became infuriated, jumping from his chair and calling his fellow Republican a "shithead," prompting an immediate demand for an apology. McCain stood up again and issued it...sort of. "Okay, I apologize," he said. "But you're still a shithead."



5. Senator Pete Domenici - Newsweek's February 21, 2000 edition highlighted an exchange between McCain and Republican Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico, Chairman of the Budget Committee. In staunch disagreement with a particular portion of a budget amendment, McCain exploded. "Only an asshole would put together a budget like that." Domenici, who'd been in the Senate nearly 30 years by that point, gave a restrained reply, noting that even in the most heated debated throughout his entire career, no one had ever used that kind of language toward him. McCain didn't back down. "I wouldn't call you an asshole unless you really were an asshole."



6. Unidentified GOP Senator- In 2006, Ron Kessler of Newsmax wrote that much of McCain's unpopularity in the Senate stems from his 2000 campaign, when the vast majority- in fact, all but four- of his colleagues backed George W. Bush in the GOP primary. One of McCain's top aides recounted a telephone conversation between McCain and another Senator, who was explaining that he'd already committed to supporting Bush. When he finished, McCain bristled. "Fuck you," he said, and hung up, never to speak to him again.



7. Senator Strom Thurmond - In an article titled "Senator Hothead," The Washingtonian recounted one particular encounter between McCain and then-92-year-old Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. McCain was giving an opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing when Thurmond, the committee chairman, interrupted to inquire as to whether McCain was finished so that the proceedings could be moved along. McCain glared at Thurmond and thanked him for his "courtesy." McCain later confronted Thurmond on the Senate floor, and a "scuffle" ensued. "The two didn't part friends."



8. Senator Chuck Grassley - The same Newsweek article that outlined McCain's confrontation with Domenici pointed to a similar incident with Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. The two were debating issues related to soldiers who had been reported Missing In Action in Vietnam. After a blistering commentary by McCain, Grassley took offense. "Are you calling me stupid?" he asked.

McCain didn't miss a beat. "No, I'm calling you a fucking jerk."



9. Senator John Cornyn - On May 18, 2007, The Washington Post reported that McCain had locked horns with another one of his GOP colleagues, this time Senator John Cornyn of Texas. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill of 2007 had caused an enormous rift among Republicans, and the two Senators found themselves on opposite sides. Cornyn objected to a provision of the bill that allowed for what he perceived as too many judicial appeals for illegal immigrants. McCain called his objections "chicken shit" and accused Cornyn of making petty tactics to sabotage the whole bill. Cornyn took immediate offense.

"Wait a second here. I've been sitting in here for all these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You're out of line."
Then McCain, who'd been spending a lot of time away from Washington on his presidential campaign, got a little more out of line. "Fuck you!" he shouted. "I know more about this than anyone in this room!" McCain apologized shortly afterword.



10. His Own Wife, Cindy McCain - In his new book, The Real McCain, Cliff Schecter, a journalist and frequent contributor at the Huffington Post related perhaps the most disturbing of McCain's tirades. During his 2000 White House bid, the Senator was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, his aides, and three journalists who spoke to Schecter on condition of anonymity, but independently confirmed each other's accounts of the incident. Cindy McCain playfully ran her fingers through the Senator's hair and teased, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain reddened and fired back, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollup, you cunt." After he'd cooled down, McCain apologized, saying he'd had a long day.

__________________

Crabbok

nice! McCain should post on these forums!

Stuff like this is silly though, everyone curses here and there, everyone has a bad day now and again, and we ALL have said and done things were not proud of. Calling a co-worker a fucking jerk, is rude, but it happens and honestly makes McCain sound more human and less like a "Cookie-Cutter" Politician to me.

I just hate the media when they expect a presidential candidate to have a snow white record with a lifetime of absolute perfection.

__________________

Lamil

Cindy McCain playfully ran her fingers through the Senator's hair and teased, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain reddened and fired back, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollup, you cunt."



LOL OWNED


But seriously, what would happen if anyone disagreed with him after a bad day. Fuck you ::hits red button:: ?

__________________

Otis

Having an record of behavior unbefitting the office he holds does not bode well for his seeking an even higher office.

Yes, calling a coworker a "fucking jerk" is just rude when you work at McDonald's. But when your job requires that you display a certain amount of restraint, dignity and decorum at all times, a propensity to losing one's head becomes unacceptable.

Having the President of the United States flipping out and calling someone a fucking cunt in public is never a good thing, even if it's deserved.

__________________

Arty

My previously meager support for McCain has been increased reading these... save the last one. Thanks for sharing, Otis!

Anyone who will tell Ted Kennedy off is worthy of my vote!

You look at anyone's career (especially in politics), you'll find at least 10 instances of rudeness and innapropriate behavior that can EASILY be construed as evidence that the person is unfit. He's obviously passionate about what he belives in, doesn't take bullshit... I fail to see how those traits are necessarily bad ones.

If you want to bash McCain, bash him on surrendering conservative principles on the economy, immigration, and not stepping up to end this presidential race with a knock out punch. A guy like McCain should be able to obliterate Obama, break through the messiah complex, and have a landslide victory. Unfortunately, he's more concerned with being everything to everyone... which just pisses everyone off and opens him up to bullshit bumper sticker comments like "McSame" and "McCain = 4 more years of Bush"

**EDIT**


.. and having a president who's too terrified of offending someone and pussy-footing around everything isn't good either. Given the choice, i'd rather have John Wayne than a "clean and articulate" puppet who doesn't stand up to anyone.


edited 'cause of my slow response.

Otis

I'm aware the trailer trash crowd gets off on this shit. But McCain already had your vote, despite your "meager support" claims. The rest of your post gives you away.

And we've had 8 years of John Wayne. I'll pass on another one, thanks.

__________________

Arty

Let me ask you somthing, and i'm not baiting here,I honestly am curious. Do you sincerely believe that McCain will do more damage to this country in terms of ecomony, national safety, standard of living, etc. than Obama would?

I have a hard time seeing that. Everything I've heard out of the DNC playbook this cycle has been "the country is broken in every way and we're going to fix it". I will readily admit that there are lots of issues that could be improved, but I don't believe that drastic overhaul of social programs, national defense policy, and a rewriting of the roles of the three branches of government are going to do ANYTHING to make my (in the general "us" way) life better.

Otis

Yes.

__________________

Arty

Well, then there's not much I'm going to be able to say to say your mind so...

perhaps we can agree whoever gets elected, their first presidential duty should be to call Hillary up and tell her, "You look like a trollup you fucking cunt!"


/shrug... there's always hope.

drychnath

Anyone ever watched a british parliament meeting? Compared to those, this is tame. I'm talking about literal screaming at one another, shouting matches, and the occasional physical scuffle.

What's wrong with a politician that actually speaks his mind, and has the courage to defend his convictions? It'd be nice to get some people on Capitol Hill who are forthright and courageous, willing to say exactly what they mean, and giving America exactly what they need to hear, instead of all of the usual sneaking and disingenuousness.

__________________
EQ2: Avenger Drychnath Malcherion -AB

Everything is on a great scale upon this continent, the rivers are immense, the climate violent in heat and cold, the prospects magnificent, the thunder and lightning tremendous, the disorders incident to the country make every constitution tremble. Our own blunders here, our misconduct, our losses, our disgraces, our ruin Are On a Great Scale.
-Lord Carlisle