Inside McCain's Mind: It's Not A Pretty Place

I want to thank the mainstream media ("CNN division") for - perhaps inadvertently - doing the American people a great service. When Campbell Brown asked what John McCain considered to be inappropriately tough questions of a campaign spokesman, McCain got so mad he canceled his interview with Larry King.

Larry King: Caught in the crossfire of a John McCain temper tantrum. Who would have thought that would ever happen?

Why didn't John McCain take his anger out on Campbell Brown?

Or was it that Brown's questions were just the straw that broke the camel's back and McCain just blew up at the next significant "target opportunity" already on his media schedule: Larry King?

We've been waiting to see John McCain when he gets angry. And we still haven't actually seen him that way. But we've had a chance to see the fallout. Not a pretty sight. It's schoolyard level behavior. Reminds me of how George W. Bush decided to end the tradition of letting Helen Thomas ask the first question at presidential press conferences, because he thought her questions were too tough.

Gee, Senator McCain. If you can't face getting tough questions from the media (or even a staff person getting tough questions), how are we supposed to believe you'd be able to meet with Putin or Medvedev without trying to punch them in the eye?

And now - with the entire Republican Party blaming the "liberal media" for not giving Sarah Palin a pass, as John McCain thinks they should - we get to witness how the McCain anger might translate into a foul mood on the part of his entire administration some day.

Added to the proof we now have - because serious journalists have uncovered that John McCain really wanted Joe Lieberman to be his VP (thank you, NY Times!) - that John "Maverick" McCain wasn't willing to buck those in his party who said he'd get a negative reaction to picking Lieberman... and the fact that McCain went with Palin before she was truly vetted... and you begin to have a real window Inside McCain's Mind.

(1) He backs down when told he cannot have the VP he really wants
(2) He then makes a choice based on almost no relevant, critical fact checking.
(3) When those he cannot control (the media in this case) question his decision - and how it was reached - he throws a conniption fit, trashing the work of well-meaning people along the way and blaming those he cannot control for why things aren't going the way he wants them to. (Sounds like George W. Bush again, doesn't it?)

Forget about Sarah Palin's mind... how she behaves when given political power... for a minute. Yes, I know her pro-big oil, anti-environment values are the exact opposite of what American needs today. (And thank you, Tom Friedman, for calling McCain out on this point today.) And I know she's got a vindictive streak. Forget about her for now.

Focus on the Emotional Maturity Issue as it applies to John McCain. Focus on his judgment. Because, inside his mind... it's not a pretty place.

I respect and honor all John McCain went through as a POW. Always have. Always will. But I do not want someone whose mind works the way his does to occupy the Oval Office. We have a much better... a much saner... much more rational option... in November.

Comments

[ayc]

I'm one of those independents that is not willing to take a 10% chance on change.

Obama/Biden '08

[Barbara914]

Well said. I haven't been able to watch cable news for the past few days. Every time I walk into the room (my husband hasn't given up yet), I hear the same parroted talking points. Don't any Republicans have an original thought? I'm all for loyalty, but when (please God!) Barack Obama is elected, I won't pretend all is peaches and cream if it isn't.

But I do worry about the low-information sheep--or in the current phrase, the willfully ignorant. There are a lot of them.

[zedthewizard]

first, the spokesman thanked campbell brown for letting him off the hook. he knew he had nothing.

i wouldn't be want to be in mccain's mind now. he's sabotaged his own campaign and nominated palin to run in his place. mccain is human. he wanted a legacy as president. he did, though, not put his country first.

[08politicaljunkie]

Steven, off topic questions for you.

In another column you commented about Obama experiences and how he was running his campaign. Now, from what you've read about how Sarah Palin has "ruled" as Mayor in Wasilla and Governor of Alaska, would you she say she's mastered organizational transformation? And is she really qualified to step in for McCain (from your observation)?

[PATina]

Let's keep asking him (his campaign) the tough questions. I want the real "maverick" to be exposed !!!!

[mcthfg]

Just remember - whenever Tom Friedman says something "smart" it's because he read it somewhere else, thought it sounded cool, and convinced himself he thought it up. When he turns out to be wrong, or it comes to pass that he didn't really understand what he was talking about, he'll blame someone else, and move on to another subject on which he can display his arrogant misunderstanding of the world.

Don't make yourself pointless by recognizing pointless people. Flat earth, indeed. The man is John Stossel with a slightly better vocabulary.

[peterg76]

Passive agressive, in other words.

[Henry]

I think John is the old plow horse who has learned to "take the bit" and be driven by his master.
You cannot work for the mob as a Maverick and last long.
It's really appealing in the movies, but real life is a web and any large corporation has a research and a marketing department. Wait until the research and marketing group is only the born again church. That is not progress, the rebellion against that is what the original experiment was about in the first place.

[wingman1]

Yeah. Well said that man.

[tedbear]

Maybe this is why Bush and McCain don't "believe" in meeting hardball world leaders face to face without "conditions!" I suppose the "conditions" being the other leader isn't allowed to speak ,because they might get too tough with their questions!!!! It did surprise me the Campbell Brown didn't roll over while interviewing the McCain spokesperson, because I've always felt a conservative bias about her. She was very professional during this exchange and CNN should be proud of her.

[pastor123]

I watched this interveiw in question of McCains spokesperson., the more appropriate action would probably be to fire the spokesperson. He was not informed, at all. McCain camp might be in trouble. Hope Sarah Palin brings down the house tonight. This will be the single most important moment for her, Everyone will be watching. If you want to know more about Palins Background, Her Families Background., and Pics and Videos they have an extensive amount of info at http://www.veeppeek.com