McCain Gets Testy On Morning Joe

John McCain defended his campaign from charges that it has a problem with the truth and batted back suggestions that he is economically out-of-touch during appearances on all seven morning shows Tuesday.

It was an uphill task, perhaps best illuminated by the Senator's appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe. McCain was forced to redefine what he meant when he declared the "fundamentals of our economy are strong" just yesterday. He offered curt responses to charges that one of his ads falsely accuses Barack Obama of supporting sex education for kindergartners. (Later in the show, in fact, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds sent an email to host Mika Brzezinski defending the ad, which she subsequently read on air.)

Most glaringly, McCain openly sparred with Brzezinski, whom he accused of being an open supporter of Obama. Asked by the host to assess whether an ad attacking him on the economy was out of bounds, McCain replied:

"I'll leave that for the American people to decide. I still say to you, and I know you are a supporter of Senator Obama, if you would urge him to come and do town all meetings with me as I have asked him to do time after time the whole tenor of the campaign would change."

The charge created an awkward and tense environment for the rest of the segment, with Brzezinski forced to note (as she has done in the past) that one of her brothers works for the McCain campaign (another brother works for Obama, and her father was once an adviser).

"Senator," she said, "as a characterized Barack Obama supporter, I take objection. I'Il just say, take care of my brother working at the campaign."

"Thanks," replied McCain, "that was a cheap shot."

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But the issue clearly hung over the rest of the morning. Later in the show, Brzezinski addressed it once again.

"In light of the John McCain interview, I feel I need to say not only does my brother work for the McCain campaign, but he worked for George Bush for six years," she said. "I'm proud of him."

Meanwhile, Republican strategist and former McCain aide Mike Murphy was left to explain away the Senator's humor, albeit adding that he thought the campaign's antagonism to the media had crossed a line.

"i don't think he meant it as an attack," he said. "There's definitely become a mentality inside the McCain campaign which is very hostile for anybody in the media they think is at all favorable to the other side. I think that's mistake. I think they overreact. I think doesn't do McCain well to have that mentality in the campaign. I don't really understand it because it's not his natural way."

Here's video for the full segment:

Comments

[NU81]

Did any o fyou see McCain and Cindy yesterday giving a scripted speech to auto workers in Michigan? Afterward they both approach the crowd for handshakes with fakey smiles. The crowd, who were wearing a lot of Obama buttons and T-shirts, starting chanting loudly, OBAMA 08, OBAMA 08, OBAMA 08, and wouldn't stop. McCain looked shocked and one of his aides quickly took him and directed him toward the exit. He walked away with a very awkward attempt at a smile. It's probably on You Tube.

[Shelleyaz]

Anger, what are you talking about? I didn't see any anger at all.

Where do you people come up with this stuff?

[Wilson201]

I saw Cindy give a hesitant handshake to a black worker and a warm handshake to a white one.

[RedWilma]

There's no reference to anger in the post above yours? Were you there, though?

[Knowitall]

Though the statement above doesn't refer to anger, I could tell McCain was ticked. He was insulted that Mika was asking him questions--a dreaded Obama supporter!! His already tight jaws were rock hard and his glare was deadly. His rage was barely controlled, but quite evident. You are not very observant. Watch it again.

[DarkandStormyNight]

I didn't see much anger, just a lot of flip remarks and no real answers. I've been waiting for a while for someone to ask the question about how integrity in a campaign relates to how a person will serve once elected. Maybe we should ask both of them. However, since McCain the one who, as Karl Rove himself suggested (and how strange is that anyways?), has seriously overstepped the boundaries of what is acceptable campaign practices, then I thinks it's a fair question. There is distortion of facts in all campaigns. Let none of us be naive enough to think otherwise, but this has gone to far and McCain and his campaign strategists seem to use this stay off topic.

[NU81]

So entirely UN-presidential. Shocking. Now I know what everyone is talking about when they refer to his anger problems. This is his "contained anger" in public? God help us, literally.

[NU81]

McCain is losing it and he knows. Everyone, if you haven't read how he insulted the Prime Minister of Spain, read it on HuffPo or CNN or elsewhere. It's in the top headlines.

When things don't go his way, he gets mighty testy. SCARY!

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

Isn't it true that liars blink a lot? Speaking of blinking that is.... Palin likes to blink a lot. Hmmm...

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

p.s.

I think the McCain Klan is s e xist b/c they've put up Palin... thinking that women are so stupid as to follow anyone and anything.

PASS IT ON.

[2008FedUP]

Totally agree. ANY woman who votes for this ticket is USED to being taken on a cheap date. This is the message he is portraying to women.

[TheDisenfranchisedVoter]

Yes, it is true that people tend to blink more often when they lie. I noticed that McCain has also been blinking when he lies as well.

[brijit]

People tend to blink a lot when they're nervous. Lying seems to make most people nervous so they blink. Of course, really smooth liars don't blink much since lying doesn't bother them.

[NU81]

If McCain can get THIS NASTY and THIS TESTY during his campaign while courting the American public and media, just imagine what he would do if "set free" as leader of the free world. I can't believe he was this rude. Entirely inappropriate and highly unpresidential. He knows he's losing and it's grating on his nerves. What a hateful man.

[StateofTaxes]

In all fairness to Senator McCain, you've shared time with his lovely wife in the past few months....., with that mouth and attitude, needless to mention an "Elitist Entitlement"..., would almost make you feel for him; well, not too much. Of course with his famous temperament, which I for one sure saw shine thru this morning, ...is she still wearing that cast???(Fell did she?)

[mccainisastain]

http://myrealitytelevision.com/2008/09/obama-versus-mccain-on-natural-resources-fossil-fuels-part-2/

[shattyfatty]

I have to say, this story is overblown. As a liberal and an Obama supporter, it seemed to me that McCain was relatively pleasant in this interview. There is enough out there to be enraged about in regards to the Republicans and McCain. This is reaching a bit.

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

He may have not been yelling but he was snooty and smug. He, quite frankly, made several digs at the female correspondent. S.E.Xist!!!!!!! He was not respectful. If he wants to run for the White House he (and Cindy) need to realize people have the right to ask them questions about the methods they employ. Being a snarky old man doesn't make him look good. Just makes him look like a snarky old man.

[biggurl]

i agree, scoutanbuck he is clearly digging at the reporter and he didn't take a cue from her first show of shock...that isn't necessary.

[theguruofreason]

I think calling him sexist is a pretty far reach. He definitely wasn't pleasant. He's using the "wording of the bill" to make the claim that Obama promotes the idea of sex ed in kindergarten. That is beyond stretching the truth; that is lying in my mind. Who in their right mind could believe a fairy tale like that?

[osage]

"Not his natural way" my arse! He can't deal with criticism. If he'd had an interview with Keith Olbermann like Barack Obama had with Bill O'Reilly, McCain would have show everyone what his "natural way" really is. It's the McCain who pretends to be a maverick and or moderate who is the phony! McCain is an intolerant, cranky old SOB who can't deal with the mildest of confrontations without letting his temper get the better of him. It is a very scary thought that this emotionally immture 72-year-old mean-spirited bully could have his finger on the nuclear red button. He's just like Bush! He only wants people around him who won't disagree with him because he perceives them a threat to his authority.

[exhale09]

I have long felt that in many ways John McCain is still fighting the Vietnam War in his head. That is why his rhetoric "We must win" "We must not surrender" "We must have Victory" plays over and over again...even though General Petraus himself just said that we will NEVER be able to claim "Victory" in Iraq, because it is not the kind of situation/war you CAN claim VICTORY over.

John McCain doesn't understand the difference. He sees "Iraq" as THE enemy...and is clueless about all the complexities going on within Iraq that make it impossible to even know from one day to the other who "the enemy" is...it changes daily. Example, right now...Maliki and the Shia Government is actually arresting the very Sunni's that have been cooperating with the US in Anbar Province to push back Al Qaeda insurgants! Who is the US supposed to support in THAT situation? The Government WE put in place, or the Sunni's who have been fighting Al Qaeda? It is NOT a black and white situation, it NEVER WAS.

In the same way, politically, John McCain perceives ANYBODY who doesn't blindly unquestioningly worship his POWness, as THE ENEMY. He takes it PERSONALLY, his passive agressive treatment of Mika, instead of just answering the question, shows his vindictive defensive nature. He is unable to discern the difference between THE ENEMY and an interviewer doing her job, asking questions he SHOULD have been able to answer directly and honestly.

[jedonspring]

He always gets angry when things don't go his way. Remember last week on The View? I can only imagine what goes on in his every-day-­campaign-l­ife. We DO NOT WANT A PERSON LIKE THIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

[UplandBob]

You are right jed, it would be much better to have a President who hangs with terrorists, has Pastor's that are racist, and has zero executive experience. Absolutely.

[Wilson201]

It needs to be pointed out that McCain is supported by racist pastors and has zero executive experience and that Obama does not hang with terrorists.

[LiberalProfessor]

With the no executive experience­...("Senat­or")
and the racist pastors...("Hagee")
and the terrorists ("Keating:" economic terrorist)

You were talking about McCain, right?
Or is this a case of a pot and a kettle?

[Jaxas]

McCain's petulant performance on MSNBC'S MORNING JOE is yet more evidence of McCain's smouldering resentment of anyone who does not agree with him 100% on everything he ever says or does. McCain is unstable. He is an angry old man who thinks his POW status exempts him from any questions whatever of his qualifications to be President. More and more he sounds as though the office should be given to him simply because of his POW experience.

Maybe McCain's petulance and instability is one factor for his so-called "bounce" having such a short half life.

[Shelleyaz]

I don't get it, where was the angry old man? I didn't see one and I watched the entire video.

What instability?

[sarasotajeff]

oh shelleyas... watch it again - wait, that won't matter, you'll see exactly what you decided to see before the first time you saw it (BEFORE you watched it).

the angry old man is mccain - the same one who called his wife a c*^t - in front of other people, no less. the same one who can't speak at all without a script and that pisses him off, too, so don't ask him, it pisses him off.

[thespy]

Awww, the white-haired dude throws a tantrum. Maybe he didn't get enough sleep!

And speaking of white-haired dudes, this is great:

http://givemeamillionparishilton.com

Pass it on!

The Spy

[Garry61]

Mika is an Obama supporter? I hardly think so. She spent the primaries gushing over Mike Huckabee, and now spends every morning gushing over Sarah Palin. Unfortunately, Mika's true colors have come out--and she's no Obama supporter.

Too bad. I really liked her.

[luckyt]

What is there to like, she's a dip stick. This show is a joke, her father is probably glad she has a job as Joe' s side kick.

[chelliza]

I couldn't put up with Joe as well as she does. He is beyond arrogant.

[ultrabop]

He's acting like a person who doesn't really want it. He wants to go down in flames, with his Bud and the Beer Baroness.

[BAMorrow]

The American people and the world can see that "John McCain is no Maverick, he is just a Makeover of George W. Bush! The American people know that innovation and change will restore America to our proper place in the world. The American people are hurting right now and we need CHANGE! Obama will need to continue keeping his political pulse on that of the American people and he can win by doing so.

[grf67]

He is getting very testy. Time for him to go back to the protection of the geriatric warde that is the senate.