John McCain: GOP Primary Race Is Like 'Watching A Greek Tragedy'

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) decried the state of the GOP presidential race in an interview with the Boston Herald published Tuesday.

"This is like watching a Greek tragedy," he said. "It’s the negative campaigning and the increasingly personal attacks...it should have stopped long ago. Any utility from the debates has been exhausted, and now it’s just exchanging cheap shots and personal shots followed by super PAC attacks."

McCain has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the presidency. He said in the interview that he thought he would be the nominee and can win, but he also worries "about how much damage has been done."

McCain, who cosponsored legislation in 2002 on campaign finance, has long been critical of super PACs. "I predict to you there will be a major scandal associated with the Supreme Court decision on Citizens versus United.[sic] There is too much money washing around," he said on a Romney campaign conference call last month. Romney, however, has greatly benefitted from an aligned super PAC, Restore Our Future, which spent over $11 million in television ads alone in January. The former Mass. governor has also decried super PACs, but favors getting rid of them by letting donors give unlimited amounts to candidates and campaigns.

McCain is the latest in a series of senior Republican figures to lament the state of the race. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Thursday that he found some of the rhetoric in the GOP debates "a little troubling" for "appealing to people's fears and emotion." Former RNC Chairman and Mississippi governor Haley Barbour said Monday that the GOP nomination fight was taking away attention from Obama's policies. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran against McCain in 2008, said Sunday that the "toxic atmosphere" in the Republican party had discouraged him from running in the 2012 race.

Romney is expected to carry Arizona, the state McCain has long represented, in Tuesday's primary.

Comments

[JohnLarson66]

12:45 AM on 03/01/2012

Someone else said it, but he is part of the prequel of this story. Bringing Palin to the national scene was tragic. The GOP can blame Obama on McCain.

[andromadextra]

10:52 PM on 02/29/2012

It seems to me, it's more like slapstick comedy---of a very childish sort.

[Sophist FCD]

07:47 PM on 02/29/2012

You know, Greek tragedies usually include at least one sympathetic character.

[Sieggy]

03:47 PM on 02/29/2012

Actually, upon reflection, it's not a Greek Tragedy. It's Marx Brothers movie, directed by Mel Brooks, script by Franz Kafka, with choreography by Foster Brooks and music by the Lawrence Welk Memorial Wandering Kazoo Band.

[atlantishp]

06:28 PM on 02/29/2012

Now that's a picture in my mind worthy of enhancement.... lets make it animated and use casting by Sesame Street characters to complete the production credentials.

[Sieggy]

03:44 PM on 02/29/2012

Uh. John, in case you forgot (and yes, we understand, you're old), you helped write this play . . . when you brought the Alaskan Airhead on board as your running mate.

[Talk2PassiveActionVital]

03:39 PM on 02/29/2012

C'mon john, I wouldn't elevate this latest installment in the ongoing republican farce to the level of a tragedy; more like a travesty, which about sums up everything that bunch of sad sacks has done since 1968.

[Shadow Diver]

03:27 PM on 02/29/2012

John remember Sarah Palin? You personally played a huge part in the destruction of the USA and your own party. Which was more stupid...Palin or when you bombed your own ship and killed 12 guys, while you went to the canteen to eat?

[dmack60]

03:26 PM on 02/29/2012

Gee john its almost as much fun as that side show you ran 4 years ago,grumpy and the grifter...

[Lorraine Danese]

03:01 PM on 02/29/2012

Wow the little old guy really knows something about the super PAC s !! Funny he said that the truth will prevail$$$

[slots23]

02:41 PM on 02/29/2012

Now stop negative campaigning you and Palin started all of this. Sen.Mccain it's time for you to go home and stay. Please announce your retirement

[judesuper]

02:36 PM on 02/29/2012

He should know, isn't he Cassius?

[Ernst Angst]

02:28 PM on 02/29/2012

Aristophanes, Menander & Aristotle might take issue with the genre, Senator, but we know what you mean. It must be painful for you to watch.

[laura r]

02:25 PM on 02/29/2012

Yes, it is a Greek tragedy. The mix of the Ayn Rand, Religious Right, Venture Capitalist, Tea Party has given the GOP a frantic twist.

Ayn Rand Worshippers Should Face Facts: Blue States Are the Providers, Red States Are the Parasites
There's only one way to demonstrate who America's producers and parasites really are. It's time to go Galt.
http://www.alternet.org/visions/154338/ayn_rand_worshippers_should_face_facts

[Tom95134]

02:21 PM on 02/29/2012

"Greek tragedy?"

I though it's more like watching the center ring of a Barnum & Bailey circus during the clown activities.

[Shadow Diver]

03:27 PM on 02/29/2012

No kidding. I am loving it.

[caseyhd]

02:19 PM on 02/29/2012

Let's see...Cheap shots and personal attacks....Yup sounds like the TP to me.