McCain Booed By Arizonans For Saying Obama Respects Constitution (VIDEO)

Senator John McCain, (R-Ariz.) found himself drowned out by boos and hisses on Tuesday after insisting to an otherwise friendly home-state crowd that President Barack Obama respects the Constitution.

In a scene reminiscent of a defining moment of the presidential campaign -- when the Arizona Republican painfully corrected a woman who insisted that Obama was an Arab -- McCain told the hyper-partisan audience that the president deserved the nation's respect even if his policies had them scared.

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute," he told the crowd in Sun City, Airzona. "He is sincere in his beliefs, we just happen to disagree. And he is the president. And let's be respectful."

A questioner had asked whether Obama realized that the spending priorities his administration is pursuing are "against the Constitution."

"Doesn't he know that we still live under a Constitution?" the attendee asked.

"I'm sure that he does," McCain responded. The crowd, thinking the response was a joke, laughed along.

"No, no. I am serious. I am sure that he does and I'm sure he respects the Constitution," said McCain.

Shouts of "No" came from the crowd.

"I really do," McCain pleaded. "I am absolutely convinced of it. I just believe, my friends, that there is a fundamental difference in philosophy and about the role of government. That is why we have competition for public office and competition amongst parties, and competition about different ideas and vision for the future of America. I'm convinced the president is absolutely sincere in his beliefs."

Later in the question-and-answer session, McCain would again face moderately hostile receptions for insisting that Republicans couldn't just "nuke" health care reform, but actually had an obligation to get reform passed. He also was booed for insisting that the prison at Guantanamo Bay needed to be shut down.

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Comments

[PGBCGUY]

03:05 AM on 09/18/2009

It's sad... there are so many videos out there of McCain having to defend Obama. More republicans have to come out and say "Hey, i disagree with this policies, but he is not the antichrist, he is not a socialist, he is not a communist, he is not a fascist, nazi, muslim, or Indonesian. He is American that is trying to do a JOB to the BEST of his abilities.

A MESSAGE to all you ignorant people out there that are protesting because Glen Beck told you to: IF you know of a better way to fix things, then say something. otherwise keep your stupid mouth shut and let the man do his job.

[GoldEnergy]

11:30 AM on 08/31/2009

John McCain - one of the last Republicans with some sense and intellect!

[Manchesterian]

11:24 PM on 08/28/2009

Thank you Senator McCain!

[aspen]

03:03 PM on 08/27/2009

Just another bunch driven to madness and mass hysteria by rightwing talk radio. All you have to do is listen to any of the rightie talkers on your radio dial from shore to shore 24/7 and you can hear the talking points of the townhallers.

Propaganda and demagoguery work. Dictators throughout history have recognized that.

As for health care reform being unconstitutional, the only thing I find in the Constitution that even remotely addresseses it, is Article 1, section 8 that says Congress shall have the power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and excises to pay for the debts and provide for the common defense and GENERAL WELFARE of the United States. The health of its citizens can certainly come under GENERAL WELFARE. Where does it say in the Constitution that Congress can not assume a role in health care?? I can't find it.

[flavorflave]

02:57 PM on 08/27/2009

THAT IS WHAT REPUBLICAN SUPPOSED TO BE NOT THOSE TRASHY LIKE LIMBAUGH AND HNNITY, ALL FOX. THEY ONLY PROMOTE HATE AND VIOLANCE....

[sak]

02:39 PM on 08/27/2009

Ignorance reigns supreme.

Where were these people who were concerned about the Constitution when Bush conducted an illegal war and violated the Geneva conventions by approving torture?

[seattle music]

02:28 PM on 08/27/2009

The Republican "base" will soon be growing fangs, tails and scales.

I have said before and will say again, Barack Obama was not my very first choice for president, however we desperately needed someone very intelligent and compassionate to wrest control of this country away from the dinosaurs!

THANK GOD for President Obama, his administration, and for everything they are doing to try to pull us out of the slide this country was taking into the right-most tar pit of insanity.

Now the neocon nuts are shouting down their own former presidential candidate when he tries to point out the obvious? That President Obama not only respects the Constitution, he is a scholar who TAUGHT Constitutional Law at one of our best law schools?!?

What's next? These people taking weapons to McCain's town hall meetings, trying to intimidate and silence him, too? Their own guy?

Sheesh. Call out the guys with the little white coats and the butterfly nets!

[PatiencePie]

02:18 PM on 08/27/2009

Looks like these Town Hall crowds have become lynch mobs, characterized by hate, bigotry, hotheaded passion, weepy infantilism, and bottomless stupidity. Can you say "Glen Beck"?

[cornelius174]

01:52 PM on 08/27/2009

Have you ever tried booing? I tried it once to see how it would feel: It was right after Michael Moore had made that comment at the Oscars about our "fictitious president" and some rocket scientist in the front row kept yelling "boo" over and over as loud as he could.
After that little experiment a few years back, I personally don't see how any adult can stand there and yell the word "boo" loudly and NOT feel like a complete buffoon. I felt my IQ drop instantly when I tried it that evening and was embarrassed as hell in spite of the fact that I was the only one home.
Of course, given the uninformed and mostly idiotic rhetoric that came out of these "people's" mouths when they spoke I think they probably did look a little brighter when they were just yelling "boo" at the senator.
I for one tend to agree with the general consensus on here: where were these valiant and noble Defenders of the Constitution and their bright shining lights hiding for 8 years?!!!

[Subterfuge]

01:50 PM on 08/27/2009

You see what you did there McCain? Your perpetuation of the hatred spurred by the GOP I'm With Stupid(tm) campaign has come back to make your life a living hell.

I'm a little ticked off,though, that it is doing the same to mine. Thanks a lot, Senator.

[Phillup Textfield]

01:24 PM on 08/27/2009

i am hoping similar spectacles continue, so that both the Republican and Democratic party leaders will draw the same conclusion: American Voters Are Not To Be Taken Seriously.

As a whole, we are not. I would venture 90% of national and local election voters do not have the cognitive maps and historical knowledge to comprehend the policies and statutes they vote into or out of existence. This country needs a wave of authoritarianism and pro-central gov't propaganda. Why we continue to coddle the opinions and values of the mythical "Everyman" or "Joe-X,Y,Z-pack" I do not know. Most mature civilizations that have a little more historical perspective than we do know how to either crush or reroute/re-engineer populist outcries, and are aware of the historical stakes if they fail to do so. The sad fact is: The best interest of the american everyman is best looked after by an elite, bleeding heart yuppie w/ adv. graduate degree. The everyman does not have the idiom and ideology of class struggle nor the structural knowledge of monetary policy and labor rights to actually understand his own socioeconomic illness (and the proper remedies for it) in our current technological epoch.

[DestinationsUnknown]

01:19 PM on 08/27/2009

Remember when Americans knew we were in a recession?

Country First -John McCain and his Economic advisor- Phil Graham- said it was all in our head?

Remember the DENIAL of the DO nothings? Country First

Oh- forget that

Comeon Murdoch- IQ- kick it in!

WSJ- Dumb it Down Mr. President- these people can't understand!

[mmfleming]

01:12 PM on 08/27/2009

Any more of this (and some major legistlation!) and John McCain will become the Ted Kennedy of the right. This is the maverick McCain, the straight-talk McCain and the war-hero McCain that the enitre nation can respect.

[epiphany1234]

01:04 PM on 08/27/2009

These dumb-@ss _uckers would boo spinach if you brought it up...

I'm sure they don't have a high opinion of air either...

[Bonwell Parker]

11:52 AM on 08/27/2009

Interesting read, all these comments from people who criticize the hyper-partisan intolerance in Arizona with hyper-partisan intolerance.

[JonnyTruant]

02:25 PM on 08/27/2009

I'm with you on here. McCain shows class, and these guys just want to score points. I was against candidate McCain, but when he can show reason and give respect where it's due, then he deserves all our respect.