Report: McCain Exploded With Rage During Gambling Outing

Writing for the Daily Beast, Michael Kinsley relays a disturbing story about John McCain from Jeff Dearth, former publisher of the New Republic, when Dearth and McCain attended a magazine industry conference at a casino hotel in Puerto Rico in 2005:

McCain's game is craps. So is Jeff Dearth's. Jeff was at the table when McCain showed up and happily made room for him. Apparently there is some kind of rule or tradition in craps that everyone's hands are supposed to be above the table when the dice are about to be thrown. McCain--"very likely distracted by one of the many people who approached him that evening," Jeff says charitably--apparently was violating this rule. A small middle-aged woman at the table, apparently a "regular," reached out and pulled McCain's arm away. I'll let Jeff take over the story:

"McCain immediately turned to the woman and said between clenched teeth: 'DON'T TOUCH ME.' The woman started to explain...McCain interrupted her: 'DON'T TOUCH ME,' he repeated viciously. The woman again tried to explain. 'DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO?' McCain continued, his voice rising and his hands now raised in the 'bring it on' position. He was red-faced. By this time all the action at the table had stopped. I was completely shocked. McCain had totally lost it, and in the space of about ten seconds. 'Sir, you must be courteous to the other players at the table,' the pit boss said to McCain. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? ASK ANYBODY AROUND HERE WHO I AM."

This being Puerto Rico, the pit boss might not have known McCain. But the senator continued in full fury--"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"--and crisis was avoided only when Jeff offered to change places and stand between McCain and the woman who had touched his arm.

Read Kinsley's full piece here.

Also this week, Brave New Films released a new video focused on McCain's temper, featuring "original interviews with former U.S. Senator from Arizona Dennis DeConcini, former Arizona Republican Party Executive Director Jon Hinz, former Arizona Republic Editor Pat Murphy, and Eleanor Apodaca, sister of a Vietnam POW/MIA soldier. All four attest to McCain's explosive anger, three of them with personal anecdotes."

Watch it:

Comments

[Fedupwithsmears]

So what if he blew up at a craps table? He didn't attend an America-hater church run by Rev Wright for 20 years, he didn't agitate for Acorn, he also did not launch his political career at a radical Amercan terrorist's house. Yeah, I'll give McCain a pass on this one, thank you.

[frantaylor]

Yet another gambler

[sheaintsayin]

Yes, I'm fed up with your smears, too!

[saun8934]

Why don' t you guys do us all a favor and find a conservative web site!!

[Star2000dancer]

Say what? Do a little research...McNastry has pastors that make Wright look like Donald Duck, & lobbyists coming out his ears.

[PHonesty]

Get this Bozo out. We deserve better, better than McCain.

[gopnot4me]

Now give it up boys. You gentlemen in Vegas video everything that happens in your casinos. Let the public take a look at our esteemed Senator!
Surely not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas hummmmmmmm?

[njhamdan]

i believe it was in puerto rico....but i am sure they have videos there too.......but since it went unreported for a period of time...there probably exists no video......but that would have been interesting to see

[carolealana]

Wow! Contrary to some (R) partisans on this post, I believe this account. You can tell from his demeanor that he has a rage slowly bubbling under the surface. It showed during the interview by the editorial board of the Des Moines Register couple of weeks ago when he talked about "cocktail party goes" -- a remark about some very conservative members of the Republican party; George Will, and other "radicals" (being facetious here).
The man scares me, and so does Palin -- they feed off each other. Like the near riots they've been inciting at their rallys. Can you imagine McCain in a serious international crisis, where you need some calm clear headed thinking - with his finger on the nuclear button? "Seeing Red" is a term that comes from when irrational people get enraged and can't think clearly (like the description of this event), and just kind of flip out. As the blood goes to their head, they literally can't think clearly and are capable of doing just about ANYTHING. Scary, very Scary!

[LaughingAussie]

>""DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"">

A presidential candidate who doesn't know his own name?

What's next an elected President who didn't have a passport? ... Oh wait ... that already happened.

[kingsbridge77]

You hear it, guys. an ex publisher of a liberal magazine said McCain's temper exploded so it must be true.

[Khanate]

You are correct sir. It is true.

[Alic4]

You just assume everyone lies because you and your fat role models do.

[RockySoldier]

so did several high-level military officials. you don't trust the military? you don't think we have integrity and tell the truth? why do you mistrust the American military? why don't you support us?

[gurukalehuru]

So did the former executive director of the Arizona Republican party and the mother of a missing Viet Nam vet, in case we didn't just see the same video.

[Judyisacutie]

If anybody should really get upset about John losing cash on craps, it's Cindy.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Yeah, she's down to her last hundred million.

[chf2go]

This needs to be on CNN, MSNBC and run as an ad.

[tmccbo]

"My fellow prisioners" , McCain is a deeply disturbed man. Look at his history, a hard drinking womanizer who loves to gamble. His privilaged life makes him think he is owed. Yes John, we know who you are, and we don't like it.

[GingersPawPaws]

Where is the Petetion to sing against FOX News

[RTIII]

You can just start singing against Fox any ole time - you don't need a petition to do it! -smile-
.

[3pluspartysystem]

A fine docu-drama. Well researched. I would like to see a similiar story produced where Obama's associates reflect on his behavior when he banged lines of coke. It's a shame these are the only two viable candidates our country has decided upon.

[Alic4]

Yeah, WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER.

People change, and so do countries.

[sirpatty79]

Everyone please welcome the new tro1l. Your party's reckless and distorted character attacks are too late, my friend.

You should go have a pow-wow with your fellow prisoners to come up with some ideas on how to actually govern. Not that, I believe, you'll have a chance to practice them in the next 4-8 years.

[KevinFitzz]

Remember the old tv western starring James Garner as "Maverick", the gambler? I wonder if this is where Johnny Mac got his handle? The Maverick on tv is NOT like our little "maverick" what with all the yelling and fit throwing!

Obama/Biden for Prosperity!

[AlaskasRevenge]

Little Ashley sat on her mother’s lap and started crying.


With big tears rolling down her soft cheek she asked:


“Mommy, Why did Cindy and John lie to us?”


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0

http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2BA_9QJRrE

[Judyisacutie]

Kinda reminds me of the Kenny Rogers song about judgment. "You better know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run. You better count your money when you're sittin' at the table."

Won't be time enough for counting how Obama won "when the deal is done."

[jazzpotato]

Pardon me, but you =never= count your money

When you're sittin' at the table.

There'll be time enough for countin'

When the day is done.

[Dots]

PTSD. No Question. He is not a man of peace.
I fear is he a war monger not a warrior.

[PT6]

Unfit to Lead!

Retire, Gamble, and leave leadership to the Leaders!

[LakaLakawanat]

America is in greater danger than the economic melt down that may be controlled. It is a pilot and a copilot at the cockpit, that are erratic, irresponsible, unpredictable and unlicensed. There is no rational reason for McCain to choose Pal in for president, that even for a girl friend needs more than a couple of days of courting. I would have been at ease with an experienced WalMart manager than a small time mayor and a transitional a year plus changes months small population elect governor, where there is no need to have foreign affairs experience, just exchanging ones stinky fish with another to perfume the wide jungle empty space called Alaska.

Obama needs to raise the judgement of these two one for lack of judgement in choosing his friends, as he did with Charles Keating and then with the Texas senator Phil Graham and the other for not having the humility to say I have not been to Iowa to have my resume scrutinized, even New Hampshire is not a great job interview for the Presidency of the free world. If she is a real time governor you don't give job for your secretary to deal with PUTIN.