Angry Man McCain

The Politico has a piece that focuses on the danger of John McCain's temper. McCain has a long and storied history of blowing up at his colleagues and the question really needs to be asked whether a man with such an angry temperament and who is prone to an overly hawkish foreign policy should be President. This is hugely important issue and one that has not been adequately talked about to this point.

Yet McCain's supporters seem to be in denial, the Politico writes that "Republicans have accused Democrats of inventing the temper line of attack to knock the Arizona senator."

Really? Invented? Ummm... it is pretty well documented. McCain himself admitted he gets angry and Republican Senators are on record saying he has an anger problem and one even said he wouldn't trust him running the country. Former McCain staffers have also noted that anger was a part of McCain. He even allegedly tried to physically attacked Strom Thurmond. Here are some snippets (sorry no links - came through lexis):

McCain himself admits that "I Get Good And Angry." "I do get good and angry. Really angry! By God, I'm not going to let them beat me again. I don't like to lose." [Fortune, 3/20/06]

Orrin Hatch Called It "Awful" To Be The Focus Of McCain's Anger. "Hatch, who serves with McCain in the Senate, said his colleague 'is a passionate person and he does have a temper and sometimes it's awful to be on the wrong side of it.'" [Associated Press, 12/2/99]

McCain's temper led Republican Senator to say "I decided I didn't want this guy anywhere near a trigger." McCain's "ire is all too real. This has prompted questions about whether his temperament is suited to the office of commander-in-chief... 'I decided I didn't want this guy anywhere near a trigger,' Domenici told Newsweek in 2000." [AP, 2/16/08]

AP describes McCain's Temper Is "Achilles Heel," described by colleagues as "Senator Hothead." "Temper, temper. Republican John McCain is known for his. He's been dubbed "Senator Hothead" by more than one publication, but he's also had some success extracting his hatchet from several foreheads. Even his Republican Senate colleagues are not spared his sharp tongue. "F--- you," he shouted at Texas Sen. John Cornyn last year. "Only an a------ would put together a budget like this," he told the former Budget Committee chairman, Sen. Pete Domenici, in 1999. "I'm calling you a f------ jerk!" he once retorted to Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley. [...] The political landscape in Arizona, McCain's home state, is littered with those who have incurred his wrath. Former Gov. Jane Hull pretended to hold a telephone receiver away from her ear to demonstrate a typical outburst from McCain in a 1999 interview with The New York Times. McCain has even blown up at volunteers and, on occasion, the average Joe." [AP, 2/16/08]

McCain's Communications Director said anger was part of John McCain. Dan Schnur, John McCain's communications director in the 2000 presidential race, acknowledged McCain's tendency toward anger, saying, "Anybody who knows John McCain knows that he gets angry.'" [Washington Post, 11/2/99]

Conservative Bill Bennett said McCain was irresponsible and intemperate. "William Bennett, the former education secretary, the prominent conservative who came very close to endorsing you a few days ago, called some of your comments irresponsible and intemperate. He talks about an emerging pattern with you in which -- and this is a quote -- "you portray those with whom you disagree as not just wrong, but wicked." [CNN, 3/2/2000]

Dobson: McCain has a legendary temper. "Family founder James Dobson -- talk to tens of millions of people each day. [...] McCain's tone was certainly on Dobson's mind when he issued a stinging anti-endorsement on Super Tuesday. He mentioned various issues, but Dobson also said the senator 'has a legendary temper and often uses foul and obscene language.'" [AP, 2/16/08]

McCain Began His Senate Career Screaming At A Young Volunteer.  "It was election night 1986, and John McCain had just been elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time. Even so, he was not in a good mood.  McCain was yelling at the top of his lungs and poking the chest of a young Republican volunteer who had set up a lectern that was too tall for the 5-foot-9 politician to be seen to advantage, according to a witness to the outburst."  Jon Hinz, then Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party, noted of the outburst, "You'd have to stick cotton in your ears not to hear it. He (McCain) was screaming at him, and he was red in the face.  It wasn't right, and I was very upset at him." [Arizona Republic, 11/5/99]

McCain "Scuffled" with 92 Year-Old Strom Thurmond.  "In January 1995, McCain was midway through an opening statement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing when Chairman Strom Thurmond asked, 'Is the senator about through?' McCain glared at Thurmond, thanked him for his 'courtesy' (translation: buzz off), and continued on. McCain later confronted Thurmond on the Senate floor. A scuffle ensued, and the two didn't part friends." [Washingtonian, 2/97]

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Comments

[BetterDays]

Why isn't this getting more coverage? If Obama had a temperament issue, it would be covered 24-7 on every news outlet in the country. Why is McCain getting a free ride on this?? Where is the media?

[necer65]

Let's face it, McCain just isn't a good person. He is a cheater, liar and angry. We need a President with stability. There is alot of mending to do with foreign countries. McCain will only make it worse.

[MrWinky]

Don't forget a Republican's comment that the thought of McCain with his finger near the button sent a "chill down his spine."

[Appalled]

I am deeply and profoundly hoping that McCain will lose his famous temper in the middle of a live televised debate. But in the You-Tube generation, it's only a matter of time before he gets caught on the trail. He's already shown himself to be petty and petulant (ignoring a Wall Street Journal reporter's question, etc.). Throw in irrationally furious and people should have a pretty good picture of him.

[realpolitic]

"The question really needs to be asked whether a man with such an angry temperament and who is prone to an overly hawkish foreign policy should be President. " Yes, don't we have one already who has dug the biggest hole for America ever.

[booksnmore4you]

Don't we Dems see how this would completely and utterly Swiftboat McSame?

And pointing out his temper still respects his service, so please no one give me that line of crock.

[XME]

McCain's temper is what scares me the most about him becoming our president. He doesn't THINK before he speaks (remind you of anyone whose initials are GWB??) and with him as our next president we can be sure that he will only injure even more America's relationships with other countries. More than anything, I worry that is anger will land America in a war because he's unable to conrol his temper, emotions, or him mouth.

What I like most about Obama is that the man REALLY thinks before he speaks and especially before he acts. That is something our country has been missing in a president and look where it's gotten us! It terrifies me to imagine someone, like Bush who speaks and acts without thinking, but even worse, has a serious temper problem, running our country.

[freddyjay]

IT SEEMS THAT MCCAIN IS JUST ONE TEMPER EXPLOSION FROM PUSHING THE BUTTON.

I THINK THE OBAMA CAMP SHOULD PRODUCE AN AD SHOWING MCCAIN CONSTANTLY IN POSSESSION ON THE BUTTON.

THEY SHOULD DISPLAY IT IN MANY SITUATIONS WHERE HE ALMOST PUSHES THE BUTTON TO START WORLD WAR III. AND THEN FINALLY WHILE HE IS ASLEEP HE ROLLS OVER HITTING THE BUTTON.

DO WE REALLY WANT THIS MUCH POWER IN HIS HANDS.

[formerprosecutor]

Here's the deal. While a senator or congressman can behave without boundaries, restraint, and judicious temperament, the chances of that one person bringing disaster upon us is slim, because they are just one man with one vote. Obviously, that is not true of the Presidency. There is no room for unstable behavior in the White House in this day and age. Eccentricites and human foibles are not the same as uncontrolled rage. I have little doubt that McCain's time in the Hanoi Hilton is most of the cause. Common sense would tell us, that no human being could suffer through that and remain mentally "whole". My sympathies to McCain and , of couse, my homage to his sacrifice for us. However, life isn't fair, we don't owe him the Presidency, nor should we be asked to trust this man with ultimate power.

[Pupadup4oBama]

That was a very diplomatic way of putting it. I commend you.

[MadJeffersonian]

A very good post...nicely put. Thanks.

[plafayette]

Max, should there be a tape of McCain attacking 92 year old Thurman? This is the stuff one would expect MSM to bring up every now and then. Some kind of follow-up with those who witnessed his rages- see if McCain has had recent flare-ups. No, I do not want an angry man in the W.H answering the phone at 3:00 am or with his hand on the red button.

[BethStuart]

If McCain's anger stems from his having been a POW more than 40 years ago, then the case can be made that he's suffering from permanent post traumatic stress disorder.

Based on the news from Moscow and Washington over the last two days, it looks like we may be well on our way to a new cold war thanks in part to the neo-cons in the Bush administration. Having an angry old man as president would be like pouring gasoline on the fire. McCain enjoys his "warrior" image and would relish playing that role.

I suspect the Russians would very much like having McCain as an adversary. Based on their own experience from the early 1980's when they had three elderly general secretaries (of the communist party) in a row none of whom were up to the job, they know how that works out in the end.

[formerprosecutor]

Exactly!

[augustus]

The McCain defense: He was a POW for 51/2 years! ... that's what makes him "...good and angry, really angry." Vote Obama!