McCain Gets Prickly During Time Interview

Reporters have frequently commented on the degeneration of John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" policy throughout the campaign, but his lack of openness with the press came to the fore in a recent interview with Time Magazine. Below are some excerpts from the interview.

McCain at first seemed happy enough to do the interview. But his mood quickly soured. The McCain on display in the 24-minute interview was prickly, at times abrasive, and determined not to stray off message.

...

There's a theme that recurs in your books and your speeches, both about putting country first but also about honor. I wonder if you could define honor for us?
Read it in my books.

I've read your books.
No, I'm not going to define it.

But honor in politics?
I defined it in five books. Read my books.

...

In 2000, after the primaries, you went back to South Carolina to talk about what you felt was a mistake you had made on the Confederate flag. Is there anything so far about this campaign that you wish you could take back or you might revisit when it's over?
[Does not answer.]

Do I know you? [Says with a laugh.]
[Long pause.] I'm very happy with the way our campaign has been conducted, and I am very pleased and humbled to have the nomination of the Republican Party.

...

A lot of people know about your service from your books, but most people don't know that you have two sons currently in the military. Can you describe what it means to have Jack and Jimmy in uniform?
We don't discuss our sons.

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Comments

[AlindaFaye2000]

George McCain is a very loose cannon.

[NoSandwiches]

We don't talk about our sons?
What kind of father doesn't want to talk about his kids?
He doesn't have to talk about them in the context of war--that's fine.

It's like Cindy claiming to be an only child.

We don't talk about our sons?

He isn't proud of them? He doesn't worry about their future?

My friends, I have no sons?

[genia]

You know...I believe that there must be something else to this sons in Iraq story...or else he'd be hard to shut up about them.

[JamesInDenver]

I'd like to know why McCain had his own Naval records sealed. The North Vietnamese used the code name "Song Bird" for McCain, because he talked a lot. There maybe a connection.

Here's an interesting video from the 1990's Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs. It explains why Vietnam Vets and POW's dislike the guy. (The video unfortunately starts with a clip of McCain's "Bomb Bomb Iran" joke, the interesting part starts after that.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoZ3BPqXrq0&feature=related

[NatteringNabobs]

The dementia is setting in...he's ready to have a full on, full blown melt down. Its gonna be AWESOME!

I knew this "straight talk express" would derail at some point.

[WFV]

I hope beyond hope it occurs during the first debate. That, my friends, would be awesome.

[AlindaFaye2000]

Oh please let it be so.

[MNinWI]

I read about a request for McSame to take a test for Alzeimers. Any way we can demand it?

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

McCain is uncomfortable about talking about honor. He left his honor behind in one of his 8 homes. He just can't remember which one his honor is at.

[luvienne]

Having to respond without being given the questions beforehand, upset Mccain. He would have done better if his surrogates had been given time to help him collect his thoughts. Sorry Dud Mccain no more free rides.

[sacrebleu]

Is he running a presidential campaign or a book promotion tour?

[sirpatty79]

Are you implying that questions about what he said in his books are for some reason off limits? Great argument.

Do you have the same reaction when Obama is asked a philosophical question?

"How do you define honor?" is not a critical or bullying question in any way. Why in the world would he respond in the terse, defensive way that he did?

Quit avoiding the issue with irrelevant comments like McCain does, sacrebleu.

[Lilly06]

If Senator McCain can't answer questions as simple as these, I doubt there will be an accountability and ownership to the public and press when he's in office.

The lack of accountability has been a fundamental flaw in the Bush administration in the past 8 years and it has resulted in so many countless breaches of laws, regulations in different government agencies.

Fact is, I really wish I could be open minded this elections, its essential to excercise a open mind to ensure you chose the best candidate. Its just that the difference between these two candidates is so huge.

One has experience in politics however lacks the forsight, diplomacy and innovative thinking that is so essential to lead at the moment.

The other fundamentally lacks experience but displays the ability, diplomacy and innovation that America needs.

[abeattie]

Maybe he can't remember?

I always thought Bush had that sort of glazed "I have been zombified by Rove" look. Maybe Rove's true secret was powdered blow fish?

[SantaFeStars]

Maybe he forgot to take his prune juice!

[captnEarl]

No he didn't ,he did take it and now needs his depends changed!!

[sws3030]

Sure he did...he used it to wash down some of Cindy's stash.

[OxnardDad]

Please let me make all of you aware as to why Mccain is not friendly to Time Magazine.

So far this Year Time has put BO on the cover 7 times and Mccain only twice. That is a 70% bias. Do you think that is fair?

If Time gave fair coverage to both candidates, they might find Mccain more friendly in answering their questions.

[Nom de Guerre]

Maybe it has something to do with how he gives interviews­...

[renatam]

So, here's how it works. When you bow out of the Republican RACE -- and sit it out until the lobbyist consortium recalls you because they don't want Romney -- and you rejoin mid-year and change your staff multiple times during the next quarter, you don't get as many covers. You don't get as many covers hugging the President w/the lowest approval ratings in history.

Now, Barack, on the other hand -- has come from nowhere like a meteor, put a nail in the Clinton one hundred million dollar, 200 delegates head start -- and fought an epic battle that only ended this week. Barack has come from behind and won and THAT is a story.

An old, rich Senator who has run for President for 20 years is not news.

Barack Obama IS news -- and, even if you won't vote for him - you marvel at him and ourselves as we watch him try to change the status quo, which nobody better represents than John McCain and George W. Bush, our legacy frat boyz ruining our Country.

[sirpatty79]

Poignant and wonderfully put, renatam!

[CKieffer]

All is fair in love and politics. If McCain can't play with the big dogs, he should quit now because he sure as heck isn't going to win any fence-sitters with this type of attitude.

And, in case you missed it - - perhaps Obama is on the cover 7 times because:

1) He is the first black candidate;
2) He was part of one of the longest, if not the longest, DNC primary in history;
3) He kept having to run defense because the press scrutinized him significantly more than they have scrutinized McCain (much to McCain's benefit)

[renatam]

You know these old narcissitic types (Hillary and Bill, too) -- want you to be "fair" -- while these "Mad Men" types are never fair and are legacies at the bottom of their Class. These types like to criticize Affirmative Action for women and minorities - but when THEY somehow make it into and out of the Naval Academy, Harvard and Yale -- and graduate fourth from the bottom, courtesy of DAD -- that's OK.

[HadEnoughCrap]

Yeah, nothing more interesting and newsworthy than an old white guy running for POTUS. I'm surprised they haven't put him on every cover.

[vickic]

Looks like McCain's famous temper is starting to rear its' ugly head. If he did not like Time, or want to answer their questions, then why did he agree to do the interview.

[HadEnoughCrap]

The whole interview reads like something you'd see on The Onion. Amazing this man hasn't been committed much less allowed to run for POTUS. I guess Bush has really lowered the bar so this has become acceptable

[renatam]

I often wonder what drives these types - well into their 70s/80s. WHEN have you had enough money, power, privileges, etc.? When you are preparing to meet your maker -- why not retire and do good works or something? Mentor? WHY seek the Presidency when you know you are not up to the job -- or, mentor someone to do it better? WHY not work w/young talented pols to move into position to assume their role for our collective future?

I look at the Senate and I get sick. Looks like a nursing home -- w/uber-benefits.

Public cos. force retirements - and put these old guys on Boards. The Presidency should not go to men (or women) who can't remember things -- like Reagan when boomers used to laugh until after he left Office and we realized he DID haved Alzheimer's -- which the consortium that controls Republicans -- withheld.

[BIG JOHN]

MEAN OLD GOAT

[renatam]

It angers me our POWs are drug down in statuture by this man, who has commoditized the experience for a generation - when the several thousand others have not. You would think he was the only POW? He was the only one who got preferential treatment because of his dad -- as a potential trade deal pawn.

Worse, he routinely votes against of what veterans need. Hypocrite.

[Gene1]

What am I hearing Sen. McBush has values? Wait a minute! Keating 5 scandal is a value? Doctoring security reports on Iraq is a value? Romancing Cindy, one year before divorcing his first wife is a value? Using lobbyists while he condemns them, as a reformer is a value? Sending emissaries to Georgia and nothing to Darfur is a value? Owning 8 homes and voting against GI Bills for soldiers is a value? Owning 8 homes and voting for war, so that others can go to fight and possibly die is a value? Distancing himself from the president of the free world while asking him to raise funds for him secretly is a value? Give me a break. Mugabe and Milosevic have values too!!!

[Grunty1]

Among the GOP, being a dishonest and generally terrible human being is indeed a value.