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

[Citizen08]

Wow this is crazy! I hope people aren't 'stuck on stupid' this election

[kjdwyer]

You know, when I read the title of this article, I thought

"How nice that little Johnny McCain offered to push someones wheelchair for them, but is that really newsworthy?"

When I read that he pushed someone's wheelchair after stifling himself from hitting the poor woman, I thought

"Now THAT'S NEWSWORTHY!!!!!"

Let's see ya spin this one, Rove.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

He has not sought treatment for his PTSD

[billwetzel]

The guy tried to fight Strom Thurmond on the senate floor when the guy was in his 90s and before McCain was in his 60s. He's not a stable person.

[argent1]

Kay Bailey Enabler

[ThirdSection]

The Old Way: If you tell a lie often enough, people will begin to believe it.

The New Way: If you stick to the sordid, outrageous truth, even more people will believe it and be outraged by it.

Let's be good liberals and stick to the new way, ok?

[martinchill]

"I mean everybody gets upset at some point."

~~~

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone

[Bodie1]

Who is this guy? Tommy Udo?

[kmdippenger]

I wish I had the link, but during the primary I watched a newsclip where McCain was walking off his plane, onto the runway where a delegation was waiting to meet him...he shook hands with several tall men, passed right by the shorter African American woman who stood with her hand extended and continued on to shake hands with more men.

Can you imagine having President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia treated this way? How humiliating for us to think we could put someone into office who has a reputation not only of throwing temper tantrums, but also of showing low regard for women?

[SantaFeStars]

You shouldn't be afraid to vote for Obama/Biden. I've had the opportunity to read several books on Obama's journey in life and it's very impressive how he has risen so far from humble beginnings. His mother was a brilliant woman who got her Masters in political science, She, too, came from very humble beginnings. Obama is a man driven by curiosity, intelligence, strength and the desire to make America a better place for all of us. I don't think you would have any regrets casting a vote for Obama.

[masha2008]

this is a big issue. not a lot of people know about it because the media has had a love affair with the then maverick. now that he dissed the bbq media, will they now turn against him? some will not risk access to antagonize mccain.

boxer herself has been cursed by mccain a couple of times. she has personal knowledge. hutchison knows it. republicans are such good spinners/liars.

[suecr]

I thought Barbara Boxer was amazing in that exchange with Hutchison...Who needs a pitbull w/ lipstick, when you have a boxer w/pearls.

[desertflower1]

I can hardly wait until the debates! THOSE will be the events that separate the choices the most. In my fondest dream..Obama says something that makes McCain blow a gasket. Game over. Won't be hard to do...just pick the right fight:) Sign up to help Obama win this thing! Time's wasting...

[fivecard]

McCain is a hothead who likes to shoot from the hip. (His term for it is "maverick.") Haven't we already had eight years of cowboy diplomacy?

[JDJase]

is this seriously the kinda of attacks we've been reduced to? petty