McCain Makes Awkward Wife-Beating Joke

In an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, columnist Jon Ralston asked McCain why he didn't choose Gov. Jim Gibbons (in the middle of a messy divorce) to chair his Nevada campaign:

McCain: I appreciate his support. As you know, the lieutenant governor is our chairman.

Q: Why snub the governor?

McCain: I didn't mean to snub him. I've known the lieutenant governor for 15 years and we've been good friends....I didn't intend to snub him. There are other states where the governor is not the chairman.

Q: Maybe it's the governor's approval rating and you are running from him like you are from the president?

McCain: (Chuckling) And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago . . .

ABC News' Jake Tapper notes that McCain's evasive joke was a poor choice given the context:

Gov. Gibbons last month filed for divorce from his wife Dawn citing incompatibility.

It's pretty scandalous. The Reno Gazette-Journal recently reported
that one month Gibbons sent 860 text messages to a woman with whom Mrs. Gibbons suspects her husband of stepping out.

Gibbons, you may recall, started his governorship amidst accusations that he assaulted a cocktail waitress named Chrissy Mazzeo three weeks before Election Day. Mazzeo said Gibbons grabbed her in a parking garage and threatened to sexually assault her. Charges were never filed.

Later in the same interview, McCain calls Jimmy Carter "a lousy president."

Read more of the interview here.

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

OT

this is why I wish they'd give Moyers the MTP desk

http://www.truthout.org/article/it-was-oil-all-along

[HunterSThompson]

"They gave their lives so that oil can be free. No, I mean so that Iraqi's can be free. Oil is $140 per barrel, exactly as planned"

Resident George W. Bush
xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxxx­xxxxxxxxx
CATAPULT THAT PROPAGANDA

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in," he said, "to kind of catapult the propaganda­."

George W Bush

[kellygrrrl]

wow! 2 weeks clean? give the man a CHIP

[condew]

There's no story here. Fortunately blogs don't waste paper printing this stuff.

[jupitor]

This old man must just hate women! Calls them dirty names, and talks about beating them up.

[appleknocker]

Amen! There are enough substantive reasons to oppose McCain without inventing nonsensical grievances over his use of a common and well-understood idiom. The fact that someone posted this story and that so many comments seem to take it seriously simply proves that idiocy is not, as I would prefer to believe, confined to the right.

[ENOUGH1]

I WON'T VOTE FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS IT'S A JOKE TO BEAT UP A WOMAN.

DID YOU EVER SEE THE MOVIE MANCHURIAN CANIDADTE ?

[janedarcy]

And I won't vote for any man who thinks it's fine to execute child rapists...

[chromodynamics]

I don't like McCain at all. But, honestly folks, if your going to hold McCain’s feet to fire for repeating such a well known rhetorical retort to a loaded question, one that I’ve heard mentioned from too many Democratic leaders to mention here, then don’t be surprised when the RNC starts running ads shows them all repeating the same phase over and over again until election day.

[Underthematrix]

I think the difference is that the others are not known for going into verbal tirades in public like John McCain. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if John McCain knocked his second wife around a few times.

[Darsan54]

Really, I gotta give this one to McCain. The media practices too much "Gotcha" journalism without actually doing any of the research. This was a smart acre reply to a stupid, poorly framed question. Not like he's asking you to enjoy it !

[susanstudioz]

Oh come on, chromodynamics - The Repubs-a-pukes are THE GRAND MASTERS of the IDIOIC MUD SLINGING! Don't you think PEOPLE have read the news – EXPERIENCED THE SWIFT BOATING and THE REST – HERE in the US of A and abroad? Duhhhhhhhh . . .

The THING that makes this REMARK/"JOKE" so poignant and/or so SAD - is the fact that McCAIN has called his wife deplorable names and I have often felt sorry for "CINDY” - being married to this man with a hair-trigger temper!

His HISSY-FITS are legendary - so it makes One (ME) wonder if he has indeed given ol' "Cindy Mama Baby" - as Fox/Faux “news” refers to the candidates wives - doesn't it (?)! OR is it JUST Sen. Obama's wife who is referred to in that "MAMA BABY" sort of way by The Faux Folk?

Makes me wonder IF - a bash here or a smash there, has happened at the hands of THE FIRST PRISONER of WAR to his “c - - -“ wife. Maybe a slight punch to the stomach, where it can't be seen - hummmm?

Men with vile, hair-trigger tempers can’t ever be trusted (nor women for that matter either . . .) however, MCCAIN already has The Rep. He ought not to joke about what many of us feel is THE TRUTH in regard to Johnny-Boy . . .

[chromodynamics]

The point is that McCain repeated a well-know rhetorical retort. It's a trap really, which has absolutely nothing to do with wife beating, But if you think it does, you've sprung the trap and have now snared yourself in a whupass of hubris.

[Maya2008]

Next time a female reporter asks McCain a tough question watch him clench his teeth. I've noticed this many times. McCain has a problem with women.

[loax]

Why would that not surprise me if he had knocked Cindy around a time or two? McCain is Military - my way or the highway. God help us if this buffoon is elected!

[susanstudioz]

I'm in TOTAL AGREEMENT with, Maya2008, loax & Dunnage! Thank you for your THINKING MINDS!

These types of mcCAIN GENDER and/or ETHENIC "jokes" aren't jokes at all - except to the Good Ol' Boy Club of Misogynistic Medievalism. These types (usually men) also love ETHNIC "jokes" & other statements that BRING DOWN Minority Groups or Women (who are not in the minority but have less "POWER" overall) - anyone who The "POWER HOLDERS" (as they see themselves) can BELITTLE is what just cracks them up.

To ALL who think mcCAIN was just CUTELY JOSHING - THE TIMES have CHANGED folks. Most people admire a clever, non-caustic, remark. The highlight of bantering when you can out wit your "opponent" by REALLY clever and /or intellectual repartee & NOT RESORT to BELITTLING anyone or a group, is considered GOOD! The Brits have mastered this to a FINE ART! THEY can insult you right to your face & you may or may not ever catch it! I’m not so sure THAT is GREAT but it’s funny, to me.

Plus - who says CINDY mcCAIN is safe w/a man who can't control himself ! Even with a handicapped person in a wheel chair; has anyone read about mcCAIN'S "HEROICS" in THAT CASE? I have & I'm appalled.

The man has SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I don't want HIS fingers anywhere NEAR ANY buttons of Mass Destruction . . .

[Dunnage]

I'm totally against awkard wife beating jokes.

[garlicpowder]

now thats funny!

[poropo]

How come this is not plastered all over in the national media?

Again the double standards are amazing for McBush. If 0bama had said such a thing they would be blasting him 24/7 on Faux News and CNN, nothing but crickets when McBush says something so horrendous. I don't care what people say it will be a miracle if 0bama wins the election in November. The bar is set so high for 0bama in the media that one little stumble and they will take him down, while Teflon John gets a free pass. I can almost see it now with the expectations game during things like the debates. If McBush does not drool on himself the media will say he did a great job in the debates, but if 0bama says um once they will say he was horrible. The Republicans are masters of setting low expectations with the media and it could very well cost us four more horrible years of Rethuglican rule.

[Softnsweet]

you are right poropo, and they would say their famous words. Why do you think Obama would say something like that... ROFL

[poropo]

the kind of sexiest in mccain is too much he call his wife "c" and he cant even give a little respect to "women".

[apikores]

what's the saying "he who lives in glass house shouldn't throw stones"? how about "politicians who have called their wives "c**t"s in public shouldn't joke about beating them"?

[pfc1369]

What's up with this crapola?

It wasn't a "wife beating joke."

It was the usual McCain lameness, begging off being caught in a Hobson's choice, is all.

[MaeScott]

Why Does Mc Cain have to take weekends off?
Is he well?
How has he been looking lately, hmm.....

[adzeman]

He laughs, but to me his calling his wife a Trollop and C*nt is misogyny at its highest level. This angry miscreant is not fit tor the job. Period.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

How come this is not plastered all over in the national media?

Again the double standards are amazing for McBush. If 0bama had said such a thing they would be blasting him 24/7 on Faux News and CNN, nothing but crickets when McBush says something so horrendous. I don't care what people say it will be a miracle if 0bama wins the election in November. The bar is set so high for 0bama in the media that one little stumble and they will take him down, while Teflon John gets a free pass. I can almost see it now with the expectations game during things like the debates. If McBush does not drool on himself the media will say he did a great job in the debates, but if 0bama says um once they will say he was horrible. The Republicans are masters of setting low expectations with the media and it could very well cost us four more horrible years of Rethuglican rule.