John McCain, Charles Grassley Physical Altercation Confirmed By Washington Post

Sunday's Washington Post features a front-page story examining the notorious temper of Sen. John McCain, including a first-hand account of McCain's physical altercation with fellow GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.

It was early 1992, and the occasion was an informal gathering of a select committee investigating lingering issues about Vietnam War prisoners and those missing in action, most notably whether any American servicemen were still being held by the Vietnamese. It is unclear precisely what issue set off McCain that day. But at some point, he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity to describe him. Grassley stood and, according to two participants at the meeting, told McCain, "I don't have to take this. I think you should apologize."

McCain refused and stood to face Grassley. "There was some shouting and shoving between them, but no punches," recalls a spectator, who said that Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey helped break up the altercation.

Earlier this month, The Huffington Post first reported on charges leveled in Cliff Schecter's book, The Real McCain, that McCain had physically attacked GOP Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi. At the time, McCain issued a non-denial denial, saying the reports about his temper were either "false or exaggerated."

But in the Washington Post today, McCain aide Mark Salter confirmed that Renzi and McCain had a very heated exchange:

Reports recently surfaced of Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican, taking offense when McCain called him "boy" once too often during a 2006 meeting, a story that McCain aides confirm while playing down its importance. "Renzi flared and he was prickly," McCain strategist Mark Salter said. "But there were no punches thrown or anything."

Comments

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Where are all the Clinton fans trumpeting the recent Gallup poll that has Obama ahead again? Again Obama is ahead of all democratic nomination polls. Time for Hillary to drop out if she does not win by more that 10 points in PA which she does have a decent chance to do considering it has the second oldest population in the US. Forget about all the other 50 ways that demographics are broken down. The only real demographics that have been voting consistently more for Clinton are the elderly. This makes all the sense in the world since the elderly are more conservative about real change.

[flyfysher]

What exactly is 'real change' and how would Obama go about effectuating it?

[bushmocker]

Getting elected and finally putting that fat ass elephant out to pasture .

[KarenKaren]

"effectuating"?

Ending the war and not taking federal PAC money are examples of real change.

[BOBONDE]

MC CAIN'S TEMPER DIS-QUALIFIES HIM FROM BEING PRESIDENT, IS HE ON MEDS? IS HE IN REHAB FOR HIS TEMPER? HE'S A HOTHEAD WITH A ITCHY TRIGGER FINGER.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Now Clinton is attacking Obama after Obama said Clinton is better than Bush. Give me a break at least he did not say he was better than you Hillary. This is the same type of BS we would have to deal with if Clinton stole the nomination. McCain is better than Bush based on his character. Bush and McCain both have big tempers but at least McCain has some honor and is not a total liar.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

The new McCain campaign theme song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pklr0UD9eSo

[Ariadne]

Or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCim7mmLWRA

[loki]

Hmmm, Now I might be interested in seeing Hillary win, just to see her and McWar go fist to cuffs during a debate. If Hillary can dodge bullets , she surely can take on a 75 year old man wearing depends.

[Kirby]

This wearing depends thing should be a cause for much concern. We all know the embarrassment which was caused when President Bush vomited on someone at a state dinner in Japan. If, in his travels, he should acquire dysentery this could be a great embarrassment for the whole country, as the product depends does not guarantee total containment of fecal material in liquid form.

Does anyone know how long he's had to use them? Don't ask him as the s--t is liable to hit the fan in his temper tantrum.

[jewel4Obama]

Who cares, this is old news. Let's focus on more current issues, there's plenty to choose from!

[BlackmaninAmerica]

This is not going to be reported by the MSM. You can forget it. His temper will have to be reported by independent groups. Most of the MSM is pro-McCain, more specifically, Fixed Noise.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

Psssst. It is being reported in the Washington Post. Can't get much more "MSM" than that.

[Nyland8]

There's "reporting" - which is page 18 on a Saturday ... and then there is Reporting - which is front page M-F with subsequent follow up stories pursuing other examples.

Which is the WP planning?

8

[aristippe]

Are you kidding, the right loves this kind of knuckle dragging behavior. I'm surprised its not all over fox during adverts for UFC and the WWF.

[Turnip]

One expection pointless acts of childlike aggression from republicans.

look at dubya repeatedly dropping barned.

bad example. that would be pointless acts from intoxication.

[ZekeBundren]

McCain is a loose cannon.

He politics are personal rather than rational, and since his first negative national exposure for helping Charles Keating fleece the public, every part of Johnny's record shows him to be both emotional- a simpleton, and a loose cannon- a dangerous man.

If there is any good news it is the possibility the center, the political group most likely to determine the next president, will actively weigh the pros and cons of the candidates this fall and end the worst leadership crisis in United States history by electing the Democrat.

[Turnip]

Republicans went from supporting cowards like bush and cheney to the physical agressiveness of mccain.

the common thread?

insanity.

[unclesmedley]

Fishsandwiches...

There are plenty of examples out there of people of color, poor folk and other, nominally underprivileged people who, particularly during the 60s and seventies, finagled affirmative action programs to their benefit.

Obama is not such an example.

He is a legitimate smart guy: top of his class, president of the Harvard Law Review, tops on his bar exams, a multi-faceted attorney who worked in several areas of specialty--and taught constitutional law at UChicago.

You, on the other hand, seem a little bit foolish and quite bitter. Perhaps it is your diet..

[fishsandwichesr2good]

At least I'm smart enough to hit the friggin' reply button you moron.

[pertello]

Any doctors here to comment on the appearance of John McCain's swollen face (left side)?

[Bostonkalloway]

lmao... halarious but not a bad idea.. lol

[lornejl]

I'm not a medical doctor, but it appears he has Zachary disease.

[kburlz]

It appears to be Fred Flintstone disease.

[Amalek]

It is a residual of the cancer that he has. That is been reported so many times.

[S1m0n]

His face has had the paralysed look of a botox addict for a while now.

[pertello]

I'd like to point out the serious lymphedema John McCain is suffering on the left side of his face. Any doctos here to confirm this?

[JulieSA]

It's well known he had surgery to remove a stage 2 melanoma and to biopsy the sentinel lymph nodes.

[ched]

What's the difference between GWBush, whose dad got him into Yale, where George Jr, managed to get "gentleman's C's", and John McCain, whose daddy and grandaddy got him into the Naval Academy, where he graduated at the bottom of his class?

What's the difference between GW Bush, who failed at everything he ever undertook, including his cushy national guard post (AWOL), Harkin Energy (SEC violations), and even the Texas Rangers (traded Sammy Sosa), but still managed to make money on each transaction (Harkin bought out by daddy's friends when on the verge of bankruptcy; Rangers interest sold after daddy and friends arranged to have State of Texas build him and his partners a free stadium), and John McCain, who failed or nearly failed at everything he undertook in his adult life, including getting through the naval academy, flying planes in the Vietnam war, withholding information under torture (after he crashed yet another airplane), his first marriage (to a woman who stood by him the entire time he was imprisoned, only to get dumped when he returned to a woman who had been disabled in a car crash during his absence, and who raised his first "batch" of children)?

Answer: Nothing. There is no difference. Both are the talentless children of gentry who have been prevented or rescued from failure by family connections. Both were born on third base and think they hit a triple.

[toby25]

Who cares that John McCain got into an argument and shoving match with some other senator 16 years ago ??? Is this supposed to be some kind of scandal on McCain? and with a fellow republican no less. That kind of fits his "maverick" reputation. Don't bad talk the troops around McCain or he will straighten you out. That is a good thing to alot of people....probably not too many around here but it is a good thing to many others. This a hardly a bad story compared to Obama and his weather underground buddy or Rev Wright being his close spiritual advisor and Hillary Clinton making up stories bout almost being shot down in hostile fire in Bosnia.

[desmirl]

McCain is an unstable bully, and he's not fit to be within a mile of the 'football'. Oh, and he's not a war hero, either. While he was a captive (he wasn't a POW because we never declared WAR on North Vietnam) he collaborated with the enemy. And he's an adulterer and a slime ball who deserted the woman who waited on him for a rich blonde who could back his campaigns with her money. McBombBombIran is the worst choice for President in the last 100 years.

[KBAR]

Don't forget the Rezko attachment that is just now being veted.

[nk007]

KBAR:
What is this obsession with Rezko! What exactly does it have to do with the story about McCain's temper? Are you just repeating and repeating this over and over again so as to brainwash voters about Obama's character. You people are so despicable!

[BWonka]

rezko - greek word meaning NORMAN HSU.

[savertime]

There is nothing to vet. Rezko contributing money, buying a piece of property, nothing illegal rhere. It's done all the time. Ask Hillary about Whitewater; or maybe travelgate.
We would all love to know which 900 FBI files Hillary requested for her review.

[kburlz]

Right, becuase Hillary has no shady supporters.

[dwillisno1]

Bad talk the troops? Charles Grassley? Not likely. Grassley one of the more decent repubs in the senate. In some ways a more legitimate Maverick than McCain.

[gomonkeygo]

It's pathetic that he attacks his own party members! He can't get along with other Republicans - how is he going to deal with a Democratic Congress! If he possibly gets elected, it'll be a quagmire. He'll look back fondly on Vietnam, then.

[BWonka]

Yeah who cares that the guy in charge is such a child he can't control his temper, calls his wife a C**t, cheated on his first wife, kept his "honorable lobbyist" on his bus with him, and has flip-flopped more than Mutt Romney. This is the future of the FAILED Rethuglican party - the one that gave us the WORST President ever. And wants to follow it with someone who'd be a close 2nd.

[NotBeatenYet]

Yeah, who cares about that shoving match!

At least McSame didn't hit him with his Poise Pad!