Report: McCain Pushed Woman In A Wheelchair

On Sunday, McClatchy Newspapers published a story on Sen. John McCain's oft-discussed temper, detailing one incident in which McCain allegedly pushed a woman in a wheelchair.

According to McClatchy's report, in 1996, McCain was met in the Senate office halls by a group of family members of POW-MIAs who had been pressing him to pursue more information on their relatives.

Six people present have written statements describing what they saw. According to the accounts, McCain waved his hand to shoo away Jeannette Jenkins, whose cousin was last seen in South Vietnam in 1970, causing her to hit a wall.

As McCain continued walking, Jane Duke Gaylor, the mother of another missing serviceman, approached the senator. Gaylor, in a wheelchair equipped with portable oxygen, stretched her arms toward McCain.

"McCain stopped, glared at her, raised his left arm ready to strike her, composed himself and pushed the wheelchair away from him," according to Eleanor Apodaca, the sister of an Air Force captain missing since 1967.

McCain's staff wouldn't respond to requests for comment about specific incidents.

It's impossible now to determine whose recollection of these events is accurate. But Democrats clearly continue to see McCain's temperament as a potential electoral liability. Appearing on CNN's Late Edition on Sunday, Sen. Barbara Boxer argued that McCain's hot-streak is a legitimate campaign issue that should dissuade voters from electing him commander in chief.

"Just listen to what some of his Republican friends have said about him," said Boxer. "Thad Cochran, a Republican conservative senator from Mississippi says the thought of John McCain in the White House sends cold chills down his spine. I don't agree with Kay Bailey that everybody loses their temper like that. And I think we've all seen it happen. It's not rational when it happens. And because John McCain raised the issue, he actually raised it and says he has the temperament -- you know, I think it should be on the table. And anyone watching, you know, Barack Obama stay as cool as a cucumber under the most unbelievable scathing attacks can see that."

Boxer's comment, the crux of which had been raised earlier in the segment, came in the midst of what was a heated exchange between her and Senate colleague Kay Bailey Hutchinson. The Texas Republican laughed off the idea that McCain was any more volatile than other senators. "It is just ridiculous to say he doesn't have the temperament," she remarked. "I mean everybody gets upset at some point."

Comments

[Alterion]

Come on people - after chastising the republicans over the trivial 'lipstick' comment, now dems are focusing on decade old heresay? This is slightly more relevant than lipstick, but without more concrete evidence its not helpful. You can't employ a sleazy opponent's tactic when it works in your favor. Stick to the issues like Obama says.

[MitTheMan]

Joe Biden asked a paraplegic man in a wheelchair to stand up.

[MitTheMan]

Sen. Biden asked a man in a wheelchair to stand up. Then ha said Hillary Clinton would have been a better VP pick.

[Dr. Sam]

PALIN DESTROYING HERSELF
Obama is not destroying Palin; Palin is her own worst enemy. By constantly presenting as facts what she knows to be untrue, she is destroying her own credibility. A vigilant media soon finds out the real truth and she looks more and more unelectable. I am tired of those who present themselves as “religious”, but cannot even follow one of the basic teachings of major religions—the need to speak the truth. Please spare us McCain/Palin convenient morality and self-serving ethics. Republicans especially are guilty of this simple premise of daily religious life; yet they shout loudest to others about values and are very judgmental of others. Generally, the Southern parts of the United States (especially the so-called Bible belt)have remained the most bigoted . What do these people learn from their churches and religion, one might ask. Bigotry? Hatred of others? Prevarication and lies? It is time they started cleaning up their act, especially in an age where young people are leading the way to a better, more tolerant, eqaul and inclusive America! McCain, Palin and Co. have much yet to learn about this wind of change and how to get in the flow instead of swimming against the tide of time.

[MitTheMan]

I resent you trying to lump all Southern Republicans into one group as Bible thumping bigots. I'm a Sourthern Republican that's voting for Obama. I personally know some Southern Democrats that are Bible thumping bigots and racist. Your statments only show your own bigotry towards your fellow Americans!

[JennyA]

This is the kind of information that needs to get out to the masses about Mr. McCain. He's touted as a war hero but no one knows how "he" made it out and so many others failed to get out. Was it his father's influence and high-rank hat got him preferential treatment and released? hypocrite.

[MitTheMan]

He was actually told he could be released early because of his Father and he refused.

[PADebbie]

I dont believe anything you people put on this site........you people are so far left you do not even know what reality is anymore...­...followe­rs that is all you will ever be!

Biden what a gaffe as he tells poor Wheelchair bound chuck to stand up........
"Chuck, stand up, Chuck, let 'em see you. Oh, God love you, what am I talking about?"

[drmonkee]

now there's some responsible journalism. i heard a rumor that he likes to drown puppies & kittens too, so you can do an article saying "internet rumors say Mccain mistreats animals."

[caroljwj]

Does anyone remember an incident where Kay supposedly slapped an employee at her home?

[Plowboy]

What people should be hearing is voices like that of Thad Cochran (R-MS) who said that the thought of McCain as president scared the .... out of him.

[gambia]

Is this really the kind of person we want in our White house? Do we want to just disregard a person who can just blatantly lie to use and we just except it? If so this country is in a lot of trouble and it scares the hell out of me.

[mabs]

Not to mention he can't keep the difference between Shia & Sunni straight in his mind, or remember who's the Prime Minister of which country. Yikes.

[luutzu]

maybe someone should look into how or why McCain was shot down and became a POW.

Bad luck, disobeying orders, reckless??

[lylo]

Or how it was that he came out so unscathed? A lot of POWs were not so lucky. I keep hearing he can't raise his arms over his head, but he keeps doing it with no problem.
Why is this????!!!!
My mother (who works for the fed gov) has no insurance and what is probably rheumatoid arthritis. She can't lift her arms above her head. So I know what it looks like to see someone who can not at least try. McBush doesn't try in agony. He just flings his arms up no problem.
I wish he had never lied about that. It's creepy.

[peppermint]

Oh, now he's lying about his torture......., how disgusting! Are you not seeing the same films we see, he DOES NOT raise his arms/hands above his head but he does try his best to acknowledge the crowds who come to see him. If you were not so blind you would notice how unwieldy and unusual his waving is which must be because he's faking, right?

Is that the best you got? You people are unbelievable.

[slimcat]

John's primary problem with aircraft was that he was a terrible pilot who slipped by in training because his daddy was an admiral.

[peppermint]

Slimecat, is this what is meant by "gutter politics"? Just checking.

[blazzintommyd]

As noted here http://www.myspace.com/blazintommyd John McCain got into a plane and it blew up, he got into another one broke both of his arms was captured and remained a prisoner for the rest of the war: it only merely a matter of course that we'd make him commander in chief, plus, he'd be really mad too !!

[deminmo]

A President has his finger literally on the nuclear button. What if
someone said something to push McCains buttons?

[Vinca]

deminmo: McCain does have a quick temper, a president needs to be able to control their temper

[DickClark]

Of coarse John McCain has a temper....Why is it that no one will bring up or discuss the incident ....observed by 3 reporters....when entering a campaign area Cindy McCain made a jesting remark about McCain's thinning hair and he called her the C word???
All women voters and men who respect women should know of this incident.

[repubsruledemsdrool]

Grow the hell up, you nitwits....I thought this was about the issues. Twelve years ago....and it was not an issue then? How much crap are you going to find out about Palin with all the hit squads now in
Alaska, passing out enough cash to have an mini economic up-swing.

[anon004]

"I thought this was about the issues." Not according to the guy running McCain's campaign. He said that it's about the people running. Well, if that's the way you want to play it, expect your guys to get every incident exposed, discussed, etc. Just like you do to the opposition. You guys don't mind dishing it out, but you sure can't take it. And, at least what we talk about is actually happened, unlike your standard bearers, who just make stuff up. (Sarah: "I'm against earmarks and the bridge to nowhere." Uh, yeah, except that you were one of its champions until it got killed under the weight of public ridicule, and you took the money anyway. Bald Face Lie.)

[LightningJoe]

This is funny, that someone can "not understand" why a bad-temper problem is more of an issue when the man is running for the ultimate power post in the land. repubs...drool, there's going to be a Navy lieutenant (I think -- old information) following him around with a hardcase satchel. In that satchel, there is a keypad for authentication, and a (possibly figurative) red button.

Figurative button or not, McCain (or Alpha Wolf Sarah) could use that satchel's contents to launch a REAL WWIII. We say the Cold War is "over," but men like McCain are still fighting it, as reference his inflamatory comments about the situation in Georgia before he knew the facts.

Yes I was angry too, being a child of the Cold War myself, but If I had that same lieutenant at hand, I would not have gone for the button. I can't honestly say that I think McCain would have the same reserve perspective, if the button were close to hand. My only hope, if a similar situation evolves in the future (almost guaranteed, now that we've created this world as it is) is that the Joint Chiefs hear about it in time to talk him down.

McCain's history is to never give in, though. That's how he ended up with Sarah as R-VP: He had a tiff with RRR (Rove the Republican Regent) and picked Sarah to spite Rove's refusal to consider Leiberman.

[Ourrias]

John McCain has been a loose cannon with a short fuse his entire life. And EVERYONE knows it well.

Why do Republicans keep trying to ignore and hide the fact that John McCain is dangerously ill-suited tempermentally to be commander-in-chief?

Could they really hate America THAT much?!?