Gergen: McCain's Performance "An Exercise In Anger Management" (VIDEO)

David Gergen, veteran of Republican and Democratic administrations, put it succinctly just now on CNN: McCain "looked angry. It was an exercise in anger management up there."

Later, Gergen remarked on McCain's visible contempt for Obama, saying "There were times he brought back memories of Bob Dole in 1996" and "The looks and the disdain and the contempt and the anger that he felt was palpable."

Later in CNN's broadcast, after Campbell Brown ran down CNN's poll results (an overall Obama win, a win for Obama among independents, Obama wins on questions about healthcare, and even taxes), Anderson Cooper asked Gergen what he would say to McCain about what the message should be going forward, in light of these results. Gergen replied, "Beats the hell out of me," adding later, "See if you can leave this with your honor in tact."

Comments

[BillCarson]

12:28 AM on 11/02/2008

"See if you can leave this with your honor intact" -- David Gergen to John McCain 10/15/08

Sadly, McCain didn't listen.

[CalifroniaMark]

05:44 AM on 10/17/2008

We cannot rest. we have to talk to everyone we know and get the word out to vote OBAMA Nov. 4th.

[maxiemom]

03:23 PM on 10/16/2008

McCain's honor was lost long ago. It started when he began sucking up to Bush after what the Bush campaign did to his daughter during the South Caroling primary in 2000. It continued: with each downward step he took in lockstep with Bush; kissing Jerry Falwell's ring; playing up to the party's fringe elements; and selling his soul with every single step. He uses the one thing he has, his POW status, as a crutch for every misstep he's taken, and an excuse for everything, including not knowing how many homes he owns "well, for 5 and a half years, I only had one home.......". Honor? He sold it for something that seems to be out of his reach.

[KathyinCT]

03:03 PM on 10/16/2008

HERE"S THE KEY QUESTION (yes, help people, pay attention). ANSWERS WELCOME!!!

If McCain knows and his staff surely to god tells him that he has got to go out there and not be nasty, not snarl; instead, smile and be civil -- and he STILL goes out and is snarky and snarly . . . . . . .

Is he:

a) Truly unable to manage his own emotions (in which case, do we want him near the nuclear button)

b) So arrogant and/or headstrong that he doesn't believe them or doesn't care

c) So old he can't remember what they told him once he gets on stage?

d) So focused on 'getting' Obama that he just doesn't give a flip?

I mean SERIOUSLY -- he knew this debate was his last chance. He has good people who surely prepped him.

Obviously Obama has plenty to be angry about (my god, they're threatening his life and insulting his wife). And Obama has emotions. But he can manage to go out and remain calm, stay cool.

So what's this all about with McCain?

(Second question: Has anyone else noticed that Cindy McCain now barely breaks a smile, and when she does force it, she grimaces and it never reaches her eyes and quickly fades away. She is SO clearly aware that it's over and she's just wastin' time standing around in high heels at rallies. Even Palin has lost her sparkle. (too bad, so sad)

[KillBillV2]

02:48 PM on 10/16/2008

i luv david gergen.

[gladys46]

01:55 PM on 10/16/2008

So pundits say that Mc must "re-Think" his campaign so that he creeps into O's base and persuades Reagan dems & independants ??? Why does MSM run that poor old man from pillar to post .... Mc has 2 weeks to "re-Think" his campaign ... geez, really!!??

[PoliJunkie]

02:05 PM on 10/16/2008

I am so gosh darn tired of these s t u p i d polls this close to the election. If people haven't made up their minds by now (who knows who they are?), then let them decide to vote instead of relying on polls. I think people who believe Obama is ahead will maybe NOT vote. Some will become too complacent, you know the low-information ones. This is only my opinion.

[gladys46]

02:14 PM on 10/16/2008

I think that the majority of america is sick & tired of the past 8 years and Obama has rallied the hopes for change to new heights ... not only will this be an historical election, it will be a hope for relief from horrific republican domestic & foreign failures!

I believe the voter turn out will be as huge & historical as Obama's brilliant campaign!

[bdl0715]

01:50 PM on 10/16/2008

Does anyone really think that after suffering a landslide loss this year, that we will ever hear from Sarah Palin again? I think she'll go back to Alaska, look at Russia and hide in an igloo.

[MissKaren]

02:07 PM on 10/16/2008

I would reverse it. Her stock will be so low in Alaska that she will seek refuge in an igloo in Siberia.

[GeezerusMaximus]

02:17 PM on 10/16/2008

Many neocons still think she will be their best choice in 2012. They bank on short memories, tough times to work for their cause

[wembakoy]

01:34 PM on 10/16/2008

We are standing together for a cause greater than ourself. Don't be fooled again this time.

Please share this video to all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X2kjgdF1Xk

Thanks.

[athenasword]

01:28 PM on 10/16/2008

Everyone .... you must go NOW to see the Yahoo News Most Popular photos!!! There are several pics of MCane that simply defy description!!!!!

[PeepingTom]

01:33 PM on 10/16/2008

LOL

[amistad]

01:34 PM on 10/16/2008

jennajakesan has posted this link on 7different news stories on HuffPo.
Do not click on the link it will harm your computer.
Flag and post as abusive.

Obama '08

[USA1776]

01:20 PM on 10/16/2008

The great line for me was when Omana, the mature yet younger man reminded the McCain that his accusations say more about him than than do about me. That is great kitchen table wisdom I learned from my grandmother.

[PeepingTom]

01:37 PM on 10/16/2008

That line was CLASSIC.

[gladys46]

01:41 PM on 10/16/2008

Mc obvously has no self-control ... seems he quite envious of O's eloquence/articulation abilities ... Mc becomes outraged when O discusses his visions for america in flowing, seamless sentences!! That confuses and angers Mc to points of lurching studder!

[CharlesJ]

01:19 PM on 10/16/2008

Do you want to know what scares me about McCain?
1. This country needs to move forward, become highly competitive in the world market, which means a lot better education system, more jobs, and a new energy plan; just to name a few. John McCain does not represent that kind of change, in fact he has not presented one fragment of a plan that could be perceived as moving us one year that direction.
2. November 4, lets for the sake of argement say McCain wins. John McCain and his team take the White House with Vise President Sarah Palin. A year later, John McCain becomes gravely ill and passes away from a major stroke, heart attack, or cancer, or is diagnosed as suffering from dementia and must leave office. Now Sarah Palin becomes the President, the financial crisis is still in full swing, war breaks out in the middle east, Africa become a melting pot of terrorism, Russia invades the three neighboring countries because Bush installed a US the missle defense system in those countries, London England suffers from a horrific terrorist attack, and Al Queida, now stronger than ever has acquired biological weapons and related missle delivery systems. Sarah Palin is the president? Is that what we want? Is this the best thing for this country... NO!!!!!. That is what scares the crap out of me.

[npman]

01:51 PM on 10/16/2008

Very well stated. I have the exact same feelings. McCain has a 1 in 5 chance of dying in office. The scenario you present is not that unreal.

[picval]

01:05 PM on 10/16/2008

I love David, he really is the only one I trust, I was laughing so hard!

I hope he ends up in the Obama Administration.

[seenitall]

01:18 PM on 10/16/2008

just about the most candid, honest, and funny moment of the night...he's a good guy.

[ICANSEERUSSIA]

12:55 PM on 10/16/2008

miamia : ( Sorry my post is bothering you so much but I am a committed Obama supporter here in Fremont Ohio about 30 min from Joe the Plumber in Toledo Oh, who has and still is walking many neighborhoods with my wife and two daughters after work and school to continue to get Obamas message out and to inform people about the issues and to get out and vote. By posting the message that you are complaining about, I am only using another outlet to get the word out and remind people that anything and everything they can do to help to get the vote out is gonna be the reason why we all will succeed at putting Sen. Obama in the White House. I'm only interested in making sure people dont get complacent and remember what as at stake. Sorry the message I've posted is the same message over and over but I'm simply trying to remind people that this is our campaign as much as it is Obama's. We are all invested in one out come and that is a victory for a better future for not just you but for everyone that believes in Fairness, Justice, Equality and Hope in America.

VOLUNTEER AND GET OUT THE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLICK ON THIS LINK

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/main

[noamjunior]

01:06 PM on 10/16/2008

KEEP GOING
and god bless

[FaceYourFears]

01:19 PM on 10/16/2008

I applaud you for what you're doing....keep up the good work!!!!

[fishgirl26]

12:47 PM on 10/16/2008

check this out....it is very disturbing:

http://perezhilton.com/2008-10-16-ignorance

[PeepingTom]

01:23 PM on 10/16/2008

Ugh. It's all coming out now. And McCain had the nerve to call these folkds "fringe people" yesterday!

This is the core of his supporters - racists!

[FaceYourFears]

01:38 PM on 10/16/2008

I wasn't able to open the link....what did it say?

[Melmoth]

12:56 AM on 10/17/2008

Thanks, fishgirl26. Very disturbing, indeed. We are in the 21st century, in the wealthiest country in the world, and inundated with print, television and radio media 24/7. The ability to foster and maintain the kinds of prejudicial and bigoted views expressed here takes a lot of psychological energy. And these people and others like them, no matter the target of their prejudice, aren't even aware of personal toll of harboring such venom.

How some of the people in this clip can simultaneously believe that Obama is a Muslim and that his "white hating" Christian pastor makes him, by association, also a person who hates whites is truly amazing. Indeed it is very sad.

[LesserFool2]

12:43 PM on 10/16/2008

There are times that I hate the de-socializing effect of T.V. But, I can't imagine this presidential election without the power of images. Would people be as turned off by McCain if they didn't see his angry, scornful, condescending face? I doubt it. The man *does* have the same problem as Dole -- he is awful in the spotlight.