Joe Klein: I Said McCain Was "Honorable," But "I Was Wrong"

Time:

A few months ago, I wrote that John McCain was an honorable man and he would run an honorable campaign. I was wrong. I used to think, as David Ignatius does, that McCain's true voice was humble and moderate, but now I'm beginning to think his Senate colleagues may be right about his temperament. From what I can gather, Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, a Republican, reflected the views of many of his colleagues earlier this year when he said:

"The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine...He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

The erratic nature of McCain's campaign seems to be confirming that judgment.

Read the whole story: Time

Comments

[Terriac]

So totally and completely true.

[jeanrenoir]

PS Joe Klein has become a national treasure. He's become the most effective and forceful journalist warner of the nation of what a victory for McCain and the neocons would mean for this country: Sheer disaster, even worse than Bush II. He's our Cassandra, and, sadly, is being smeared and ignored just as she was. But he's really the Izzy Stone of our day, without the dumb left illusions of Stone, just the hardcore principles and journalistic guts. Like Stone, he's a credit to the very best traditions of Jewish truth-telling in dark times.

[siciliabel]

Is it Maya Angelou who said "When people take the trouble to show you what they are, believe them". John McCain's fellow senators have seen the real McCain--I only hope we don't have to experience him as anyone other than a failed presidential candidate. To have this erratic man be the one guiding America to its future is truly frightening.

By the way, kudos to McCain to running a respectful campaign. That pledge didn't even make it to August. It should smell like a slaughterhouse by November.

[suziq]

Anyone following politics after the 2000 campaign would know the true colors of johnmcsame. Pay attention, people!!

[Freesia2]

It's a puppet show.

They did the same thing with Bush. There's nothing about either man that says "President". But it doesn't matter. Because it's the cast of characters behind him who will really run things.

It's a puppet show. They don't even care if you see them moving the strings.

[DWP]

I used to be a big McCain fan. I have been for Obama throughout this race, but I also thought that McCain would be honorable and that by and large the campaign would be on issues. I am so sorry to see him come to this. WHERE IS THE HERO WE ONCE KNEW?

[DXM]

Like you, I used to be a McCain fan - not a big fan but a fan nonetheless. I was even seriously thinking of voting for him in 2000. The John McCain of 2008 is NOT the same man in 2000. The honorable maverick he once was is now long gone and replaced with a dottering, pandering, flip-flopping and thoroughly dishonorable old fool. Instead I am a whole hearted Obama supporter for this election. I genuinely fear for the well being and very soul of this nation if John McCain '08 wins this election.

[suziq]

WHERE IS THE HERO WE ONCE KNEW?

"Hero" is the role he's been playing for long time. He was never a hero, but the more he tells you he is, the more everyone believes him. A hero would have NEVER voted against aid to military personnel. A hero would have recognized the bushcrime family values, and would not have sucked up in order to become potus.

[JimR]

"In mid-1968, McCain's father was named commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater, and McCain was offered early release. The North Vietnamese made that offer because they wanted to appear merciful for propaganda purposes, and also wanted to show other POWs that elites like McCain were willing to be treated preferentially. McCain turned down the offer of repatriation; he would only accept the offer if every man taken in before him was released as well.

In August 1968, a program of severe torture began on McCain."

The man is war hero. I don't want him anywhere near the White House, but he is war hero.

[bikerdude]

Your mistake is thinking of Mc c ain as a hero. He was a prisoner..­..

[TheRebel82]

Klein has been wrong about lots of things. So what else is new?

[ChiGuy]

His tactics seem to be akin to the old adage about cutting off one's nose to spite their face.

You can't tell me that someone somewhere in his organization hasn't told him that the negative, non-issue related attacks were H_ill's downfall. So, it's unimaginable that he's doing this for any other reason than desperation.

As far as I'm concerned, he can keep attacking like he has been for the rest of the time between now and Nov. 4th.
All he'll be doing is widening 0'smargin of victory.

[mercuryguy]

I never thought he was honorable but now I think he is worse than Dubya!! McDubya

[Rog49Thomas]

For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men

[pixy242a]

It was fairly safe in the senate. Decisions are made after a lot of consultation, negotiation etc. And even there he hasnt impressed his colleagues.

He is struggling in his home state of Arizona, his number are dismal, and they know him well.

Doesn't say much for the press, that they are now disappointed that he is not living up to their notions of who he is after they put him on a pedestal, without question.

Many wont want to admit they are wrong. Besides the level of political discourse has deteriorated so much, that many will just say this is business, not personal.

[Roll451]

Devastating piece. How can we get more people to read it?

[jrterrier]

Klein is beginning to lose credibility. he wrote a piece referring to the "divided loyalties" of jewish people. those are coded words. now he claims mccain is not honorable for what exactly?

[dsbsh]

I'm not a Joe Klein fan. But the piece you're referring to was quite good, and does the opposite of what you're claiming. It discussed the political divide between a handful of powerful Jewish neocons and the vast majority of American Jews, and how the latter have for too long been able to present themselves as representative of the former. Nothing coded.

And if you truly don't know what the complaint is over McCain's lack of honor-- it might have just a bit to do with (1) a string of dishonest, shallow personal attacks on Obama, after his promise to run a respectful, substantive campaign; and (2) his use of his background to deflect some of the most simplistic, dumb and inconsistent policy positions in recent memory.

[letsgetsmart]

Republicans have the ok to distance them selves from gb and the party to try and help get elected. Now they are distancing them selves from mac. Does this mean that he is perceived as another gb or do they think he is a crazy person that will lose this fall and they are desperate to win some how? The media is owned by the same people who own mac. He is there front man, so it strikes me as peculiar that they would be swift boating him. Mac you have some big problems, why don't you calm down, admit you are the designated loser and will be going home soon.

[barackobama4prez]

We need more journalists to call it like they see it. Keep it real! Go on record. The next POTUS, B a r a c k O b a m a and his supporters, we are watching.

[atila]

republicans are more worry about themselves than for mccain,i really think that they know already he is going to lose and a lot of them are ready to disown him and i don't blame them.

[barackobama4prez]

Efff him!