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

[JFaye]

No one knows his sorry history with women more than he does as well the media's willingness to let him slide ... Frankly, his comments (some call them gaffes) are more revelation into his heart and brain. Open your eyes people: If it walks like a duck, quacks ... you get the picture.

[longislandlol]

Thought the Navy produced "gents"...­. he acts like a misogynist ---not a good sign...

[pattio66]

ya those tailhook pilots were real classy guys...

[Xenopus]

Regardless of this statement to the Las Vegas Sun-Times, I have come to the conclusion John McCain has little regard for women in general. He is against Roe vs. Wade, he has consistently voted against all women's health issue legislation, he is against the equal pay for equal work bill that just was brought up in the Senate, he is against planned parenthood for women. Personally, he and Cindy don't seem to enjoy each other the way the Obama's do, Cindy is always walking behind John looking subserviant. Then there are the things we all have been reading regarding his temper and calling his wife a terrible name, his womanizing and cheating on his first wife, and then dumping her after her terrible accident.

[MyAudacity]

Has John McCain been "vetted"?

[kinnycut]

McBush just keeps on making himself even worse. His poll numbers might just rise if he would just shut
up

[belief08]

MyAudacity;

No, just like Clinton wasn't, and why do you think that is? This whole election campaign makes me want to hurl. The White House was good enough for us to build, but; not good enough for us to be the head of.

What amazes me is how these people have lauched a 24/7 destruction meter against Obama and the SEC nor FCC has jumped in to do anything. We have found several bogus documents set against Obama by the right wing and nothing was done about it. What are we paying them for?

[nellie]

Well, considering the context, this is a non story. He's obviously referring to the old gotcha journalism line "When did you stop beating your wife?" I don't think this deserves any space.

[Mitchell4A]

John, John, think before you speak....

On a list of a (baker's) dozen reasons why McCain won't win, #11:

11. The Crass and Crude Comment Problem: A corollary to the anger problem. He has made outrageous, crude, sometimes vile remarks, and most Americans don’t know about them, yet. For examples, see http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/8/17456/91972/887/492360

“A Dozen Reasons Why McCain Won’t Win: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[fcsakes]

It's like being drunk isn't John, those unguarded moments where you just blurt out how you really feel.

You're a joke John...exi­t stage right.

[uvymopkq]

John, John, John see what you have done. Love your sarcasm, but the stuffed shirts think your serious.

[schicklett3]

I hope all the disenchanted women "I'm voting for John McCain" hear this horrible thing John McCain said.
Wife beating is no joke! And Hillary's Women will be wise to really listen to McCain before they choose to vote for him.

[schicklett3]

John McCain is "losing it." If he even makes it through this election I'll be surprised.
I have a wager that John McCain will drop out of the race, citing medical reasons, because he is losing so badly to Senator Obama.
The Republicans know they don't have a chance and they'll force McCain out.

[JavaCityGal]

How does any woman vote for this true sexist and then ever look themselves in the mirror again?

A man that makes one sexist comment after another and thinks it's all hilarious, cheated on and then left his disabled wife, called his new wife the "c" word -- and that's besides all the terrible Bush policies of his. No matter how mad you are at the DNC, Obama, media etc -- a vote for McSame is a vote to take women back 50 years, plain and simple.

[Grannysue]

What do you expect from a dumb ass that calls his wife the "C" word!

[Vern58]

Hmm. Is this the latest McSame tactic to win the Women's vote?

[robynuva]

It might have been a little funny, IF it had not been about a Gov who has been accused of assualting his wife, and IF you are old enough to remember Groucho.

Of course, Mc "how much does gas cost?"Cain is old enough to remember Moses, but most do not recall the hysterical Marx Bros.

[JimR]

Ah yes, Moses Malone... great basketball player!

[drzoon]

JOHN MC CAIN HATES WOMEN!

and for the life of me... i don't get how the HRC supporters who are still pouting can't just get on with kicking Mc Cain's "you know what" all over the U S of A

[JimR]

He hates women? Because he uses an old joke?

[bygollymissmolly]

Any man who calls his wife a trollop and a c*nt is not someone who respects women much less likes them.

[JFaye]

Hate? No, more like he has no respect for women.