McCain Gets Testy With Des Moines Register

On Monday, John McCain had a truly combative meeting with the editorial board of the Des Moines Register, discussing heatedly everything from Sarah Palin to health care to the shine of his maverick brand.

McCain got near anger when it was suggested that the Straight Talk Express had taken a detour, challenging the questioner to provide examples. Asked specifically about the kindergarten sex-ed ad, McCain defended it wholeheartedly.

"I have always had 100 percent absolute truth and that's been my life of putting my country first. And I'll match that record against anyone's. And I'm proud of it. And an assertion that I have ever done otherwise I take strong exception n to. And you will have to provide better proof than a bill that Sen. Obama supported that clearly calls for the teaching of sex education of young children."

McCain was equally as animated when asked about the qualifications of his running mate, Sarah Palin. At one point, he seemed to catch himself getting heated and deliberately backed off.

"So, with due respect, I strongly disagree with your premise that she doesn't have experience and knowledge and background," the Arizona Republican said. "And, by the way," McCain said before cutting himself off and saying, "I'll stop there. I fundamentally disagree and I'm proud of her record. But you and I just have a fundamental disagreement and I'm so happy that the American people seem to be siding with me," he said.

McCain dismissed Republicans who questioned Palin's experience as "Georgetown cocktail party" people who call themselves conservatives.

Story continues below

advertisement

McCain gave another sharp answer when the editorial board noted that -- having served in the military, then in Congress, and now being over the age of 65 -- McCain has always been covered by a taxpayer-financed health care plan.

"I was out of the military for a while before I went to Congress," McCain said. "But that is an interesting statement. And I have never been an astronaut, but I think I know the challenges of space," he said. "And I have never done a lot of things in my life that I think I am familiar with. I have always been a free enterprise person who thinks families make the best choices for themselves.

"I did go a period of time when the health care wasn't very good," he added, in reference to his time as a POW.

The Des Moines Register board leans left, but they endorsed McCain during the Republican primary.

Comments

[MyThought]

Did you know he was a POW....he'­s sure politicising this......­...how many former POW's are there in America...­..and why aren't they all running for president - it's apparently a qualification.

...sigh...­..he's becoming an angry old man. Men don't become angry when they're old, angry people become old.

[Plotius]

Mccain says he "always aspired to be dictator".
Man, this needs to be spread all over the world via every means possible.
By saying that mcCain has shown just how unfit for President he really is. Now that Bush has expanded the "Unitary Executive McCain will run with that and the constititi­on,instead of being in the crapper, will have been flushed down the toilet.
McCane is inane and insane and yet so lame.
Plotius

[reddevil69]

wow!!!!! people don't him upset because when he'll be in the office some journalist piss him off and he going to take us to war with some crazy coutry pls don't him go mad,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[wezeppem]

His incredible sarcasm and just plain nastiness in this interview is very indicative of how he would be as President. As much as I dislike the man and his politics, I had no idea this side of him existed. I sure hope the trend towards Obama continues, otherwise we are screwed.

[exmate]

I can see how an anger management problem could impact upon the decision making process. Equally, John McCain's having multiple superstitions and being a compulsive gambler is of some concern to me.

[MarkInEugene]

This is not the behavior of a dignified, respected head of state. The question is will American, for the third time, make a mediocre choice for President.

[Pacojam]

McCain's anger is his Achily's heel and you don't have to do much to provoke it. Just come back at him with the honest facts. Obama in the next debate should do more counterpunching.

[IndySC]

Someone is getting nervous, but I won't mention any McNames. :)

[Lotus19]

LOL ; )

[gouge]

Isn't it ultimately amazing and such, an irony that John McCain can speak about healthcare, mouthing the same tired republican mantra-referencing 'free enterprise', when he, as wealthy as he is, has been on the government dole concerning healthcare, almost his entire adult life.

If he feels so strongly about it, why doesnt he eschew the free (for congressman universal) coverage, and go buy a plan? It would seem he could afford insurance much more readily at this point than to come off as a total, complete! hypocrite- given his plummeting stature in the polls.
I

[ripe92]

this guys as mentally deranged as the commander in CAIN MUTINY!!!!

[gouge]

You read my mind!

[iChoose]

This man is unacceptably angry. My worry is if he got this angry in his foreign policy decisions, he would make dangerous ones.

[StillAmused]

Do not despair. There's still plenty of time for him to lose an axle in full public view before November, and he's getting really close... the bearings are beginning to grind and smoke.

[Borignal]

John McCain: Just too ANGRY to lead! Sarcastic, arrogant and wow, that ego. This is a John McCain I wasn't aware of until this election when I was forced to take a closer look.

"I have always had 100 percent absolute truth and that's been my life of putting my country first."

I hate to be appear petty, but is he saying he is always "truthful," or is he saying he's only truthful when he is putting his country first? Because, I wouldn't say that cheating on your wife for several years is very "honest.".­...and lying about it in your book http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jul/11/nation/na-divorce111), well that's not very "truthful.­" Thanks for your military service to the country Senator, but voting for you to be our next president.­..thanks, but no thanks!

[Lotus19]

"I have always had 100 percent absolute truth and that's been my life of putting my country first." he said as his nose grew longer and longer.

[RavenRedux]

Has anyone noticed tha JM seems to answer the claim that his ad about Obama and kindegarten sex education is a lie with yet another lie..He has been claiming all his ads are truthful and the data to back that up is on his website for each ad....I can't for the life of me find any such thing, can anyone else ?