Baptist Minister Asks McCain: "Did You Call Your Wife A C**t?" (VIDEO)

Update: As reported by Iowa Politics, Marty Parrish signed in to Sen. McCain's health care conference as a HuffPost reporter. Marty Parrish is not a HuffPost reporter or blogger, nor a contributor to HuffPost's OffTheBus. He was not asked to attend the McCain conference on our behalf, nor did he have any contact with HuffPost staff prior to the event.

At a town hall forum in Iowa yesterday, Sen. John McCain was asked about a story from Cliff Schecter's controversial recent book, The Real McCain, which alleges that during a 1992 campaign stop, McCain angrily called his wife a "trollop" and a "c**t" in front of aides and reporters.

Marty Parrish, a business owner in Des Moines, told OffTheBus's Keith Dinsmore that he asked McCain about the incident because he's concerned about how McCain's temper could impact his leadership.

"A guy who would call his wife a trollop and a c--t just because she had ruffled his hair in front of five guys is not only a jerk, but a dangerous hothead if he ever gets his finger on the button."

"And since the mainstream media has decided to give McCain a free pass, I decided to stand up and, if they gave me an open mike, ask the question that the press refuses to touched. Our country is in a serious crisis after nearly eight years of Bush, and America appears to be oblivious to the danger this guy (McCain) poses to our country."

Read the full and extensive interview with Marty Parrish here on OffTheBus, where you can also take a look at the flier Marty passed out at the event.

Here's the exchange from the forum:

Q: This question goes to mental health and mental health care. Previously, I've been married to a woman that was verbally abusive to me. Is it true that you called your wife a (expletive)?

McCain: Now, now. You don't want to... Um, you know that's the great thing about town hall meetings, sir, but we really don't, there's people here who don't respect that kind of language. So I'll move on to the next questioner in the back.

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Schecter himself writes about the exchange at FireDogLake.

UPDATE: It turns out the man who asked the question is a Baptist minister worried about McCain's temper:

Clive businessman Marty Parrish was escorted from Sen. John McCain's town hall meeting by Des Moines police and members of the Secret Service after asking McCain if he had called his wife Cindy an expletive in 1992.

Parrish, an ordained Baptist minister who holds a master's degree in political science, was questioned by Secret Service agents before being released. He was not charged in the incident. Parrish asked whether McCain called his wife Cindy an expletive related to the female anatomy, as has been alleged in the book "The Real McCain," written by Dem strategist Cliff Schecter.

McCain's response got him a round of applause from the crowd: "There's people here who don't respect that kind of language, so I'll move on to the next questioner in the back."

In an interview with IowaPolitics.com, Parrish said his intentions were simple in posing the question to McCain. The former Joe Biden campaign worker stressed he is very concerned about the Republican presidential nominee's temperament.

"We have a man whose temper can get the best of him," Parrish said. "What I am worried about is his temper. Our country is in a serious crisis. This election is the most significant one since 1860. It appears America is asleep -- so I stood up and asked the question."

Comments

[trollslayer]

Wow, he just admitted it and sidestepped the question. So much for Republicans claiming the story is false.

[cnick]

I agree, by not answering, we know he did say it!!! Do not take this lightly, verbal abuse of this kind is no laughing matter. Now he's taking the high road and getting someone practically arrested for repeating what he really said.

[genia]

Hey...I'd like to know if he called her a c##t.

Ok... let me make like a republican here ..........­..........­.....

The American people want to know. The American people have a right to know if the man who wants to be the next president of these untied states is immoral . The American people want to know whether or not he is a good Christian.
The American people demand answers.

[robertsandimas]

LMAO. So true. That's exactly what we've heard over and over from the Right, especially the "demand" part. There's been so much hypocracy uncovered in this campaign, and not just on the Right, but mostly!

[Tommygun264]

And where the hell is his flag lapel pin?!?!?!

[AllenD]

Better watch it Johnny. Cindy just might cut off your allowance!

[CalexenderJ]

If it there was a claim from a credible source that Obama called his wife a b*tch in front of reports 10 years ago, there would be such a media firestorm. Women would be outraged, feminist everywhere would rise up and denouce Obama, there would be articles and news pundits questioning if he's a misognyst. His campaign would be in real trouble.

McCain calls his wife a c*nt (which is 10 times worse, in my opinion) and nothing. God bless this man for having the courage to raise this issue.

McCain has the media in his back pocket, he must really know how to barbeque a steak.

[4Ply]

The video has been pulled off You Tube. Sheez.

[TrueD]

Family values voters really aren't offended by this sort of thing, even though they may pretend to be. After all, they hang on every word from the the thrice-divorced, sex-vacationing, drug addict, Rush Limbaugh.

[cyb1851]

Oh please, people. Are we so puritan that our ears can't hear such foul language? What century is this, anyway?

It's all about context.

The minister was within his right to ask the question. The use of the word was appropriate, in order to find out the truth.

McCain's apparent use of the word to describe his wife was truly disgusting.

[XCITIZEN]

The fact that the guy asked a question, and he was escorted out by police and Secret Service???? That's fascism, folks. POLICE STATE!!!

[CivilDisobedient]

Sure is.

[whiteykeepsmedown]

No ,it is what we as normal people in this society do to disorderly degenerates. Remember folks, you don't have to be an ***hole to express your opinion or ask a question.

[jaynevada]

Check the ABC News story on Congressional Pork: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Vote2008/Story?id=4572406&page=2

"Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., received 53 earmarks for his state, worth $97.4 million... Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has never asked for an earmark.""

Obama asked for a earmark for his wife's employer, and her salary more than doubled.

Let's all chant together "Yes we can, yes we can. WE WANT MORE EARMARKS, MORE PORK, MORE CORRUPTION"

And then chant "Change we can believe in. WE WANT MORE PORK, MORE IGNORANCE, MORE CORRUPTION".

[fishwanda]

....and none of this is changing anything on the fact that Mc Cain is an abusive jerk and hopefully no woman with a milligramm of self respect will disregard that and vote for the creep.

[Zeusthunderbolt]

This whole story about earmarks being bad , immoral and illegal was an invention of Newt when he was the trying to gain control of congress. Democrats being in power, would take money to their states. i see that as a legimate job of a congressman and senator to get a piece of the pie for his state. That is how he bargains for his or her vote. Otherwise what else can a representative do or ask for. one little vote, means nothing. So stop being brainwashed. Press and expect your representative to bring home some money to your state.

[TheNuff]

Especially if your state brings in lots of revenue. You should get something back for that.

[cathye]

And thanks to new laws trying to be put through by Senators who actually give a shit about the states that elected them, the earmarks are transparent.

What this tells me is that McCain doesn't give a crap about Arizona.

[Naithom]

There are three issues here:

Are the reports of McCain's hair trigger temper accurate?

If McCain has anger issues, could that be dangerous in tense political situations where we cannot afford to have someone have a hair trigger temper?

And is the Secret Service supposed to protect a candidate's physical well-being or their political well being? It was inappropriate for the Secret Service to remove the man for speaking as he was not a threat.

This man asked a question using the exact phrase reported. The word used is horrific, but even more horrific when you think of any man using is against his wife and the mother of his children.

[whiteykeepsmedown]

Temper? Why don't you tell that to crazy Rev. Wright.

[Canaris]

Rev. Wright isn't running for President, so I could care less whether he can control his temper or not.

McCain, on the other hand....

[TheNuff]

Will Rev Wright be on the ballot? I didn't know he was running.

[dcree77]

And, when Wright runs for president I am certain that the least of your worries will be his temper. However, McCain is running for president and he did refer to the mother of his children as a c**t. That is the height of disrespect. The fact that he did this in front of other people suggests that he must do much worse in private. Is this why she felt the need to turn to narcotics? Does he verbally abuse her in private? Would you want an abuser running the country? What if she pressed charges against him and had him halled from the white house to jail? That would do more harm to the image of the white house than the blue dress incident.

[Jess27]

It's great that the question will not be answered because of the one word. I guess it's like the perfect crime. No famous reporter will ever want to ask the question using the word, and if a nobody asks, he doesn't have to answer it because of the language.

[MPeter]

My hope is that the next person who has the gumption to ask it will deliver the question in such a way, the Senator will not avoid it, spin or parse words. He will have to discuss the C word and he will be humiliated and embarrassed for his foul mouth. I hope his 99-year-old mother will wash his mouth with soap.

[Bubbler2222]

There is no proof that he called her that. This is heresay. Moveon to something that is real.

What if someone said, "Barak, is it true that you called your wife a c--t? What would the press reports be if that happened? I bet this only make Fox News. No MSM will pick this up.

But they should.

[worded]

Actually, three reporters who were present confirmed what they heard under conditions of anonymity.

[Hughsie]

Yes there is proof he said that. It was in Shecter's book documented by 4 WITNESSES! It is entirely within McSAME"S volatile temper habits. I don't care that it happened but, IT DID HAPPEN!

[Ramirez]

All "witnesses" were anonymous. The story is worthless.

[LittleSanityLeft]

"What if someone said, "Barak, is it true that you called your wife a c--t?"

He would of called it outrageous and said "No". Exactly what McCain should've done but his none answer is deflective and implies to me that there is truth to the claim.

[whiteykeepsmedown]

You don't respond to unfounded nonsense. Thats why the major media outlets don't ever cite this website except for negative purposes.

[smktr1]

What kind of a red neck piece of crap are you that you would immediately intimate that such a vile question might be asked of Barack Obama? That has no context and shows what a piece of crap you are, put your sheet on and change your shoes. Are you so ugly inside that the first thing you can think of is to insult the wife of the Black man? You disgust me.

[smktr1]

Why would this ugliness be directed at Barack Obama when it has never been suggested that he would have said such a thing to his wife. Why would you intimate such an ugly thing involving the Obama's? Get out your sheet and and change your shoes so the feds don't know who you are. This is so ugly and vile you disgust me. How does it feel to say the ugliness under the guise of a question? I hope everyone on this blog sees just what kind of a piece of work you are.

[AurigaRa]

another great answer by the old warmonger.
Can't wait til he debates Obama.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

He would never say that......­..........­..........­..hhhmmmmm­mmm smells a bit fishy to me!

[chinacatsunflower]

gonavy says: "McCain already addressed this issue when that book came out."
can someone please post a link to where he either admits or denies that he said it?

[MrJoyboy]

Wouldn't it be great if Cindy got her revenge now and sank McCain's candidacy? She could do it so easily. She would do her country a big favor.

[Relax08]

She could pull a Rev. Wright!

[LiberalLo]

Cindy is not about to do that. She wants to be First Lady as much as McShame wants to be President. Maybe she's hoping he'll stroke out and she'll run the country, much as Woodrow Wilson's wife did back in the early 20th century. Then, she will have her revenge!

[soundfury]

Yes, just like another first lady we know...Hillary!