John McCain's white hot anger is legendary among those who know him and among his colleagues (the real reason he won't win the Miss Congeniality Award), but the public still hasn't seen it boil over. So it's useful to have the accounts of those who have. Yesterday in HuffPo Nico Pitney pointed us to a piece by Michael Kinsley, recounting a gambling trip McCain took with Jeff Dearth, former publisher of the New Republic (now an investment banker!). McCain and Dearth were at a magazine industry junket (not clear who paid for it) in Puerto Rico in 2005 and here's what transpired (according to Kinsley who heard it from McCain's friend Dearth):
McCain's game is craps. So is Jeff Dearth's. Jeff was at the table when McCain showed up and happily made room for him. Apparently there is some kind of rule or tradition in craps that everyone's hands are supposed to be above the table when the dice are about to be thrown. McCain--"very likely distracted by one of the many people who approached him that evening," Jeff says charitably--apparently was violating this rule. A small middle-aged woman at the table, apparently a "regular," reached out and pulled McCain's arm away. I'll let Jeff take over the story:"McCain immediately turned to the woman and said between clenched teeth: 'DON'T TOUCH ME.' The woman started to explain...McCain interrupted her: 'DON'T TOUCH ME,' he repeated viciously. The woman again tried to explain. 'DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO?' McCain continued, his voice rising and his hands now raised in the 'bring it on' position. He was red-faced. By this time all the action at the table had stopped. I was completely shocked. McCain had totally lost it, and in the space of about ten seconds. 'Sir, you must be courteous to the other players at the table,' the pit boss said to McCain. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? ASK ANYBODY AROUND HERE WHO I AM."
This being Puerto Rico, the pit boss might not have known McCain. But the senator continued in full fury--"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"--and crisis was avoided only when Jeff offered to change places and stand between McCain and the woman who had touched his arm. (Michael Kinsley via Nico Pitney)
How about when he flipped out and called his wife a cunt in front of reporters. Charming. Or when he got in a fist fight with another (Republican) congressman? Not enough? Here's some more:
Old, sick, angry, nasty, dishonest, unstable, incoherent. What more could you ask for?
Politics
Comments
Wow, you guys sure know how to hold a grudge. Third person stories, something that may have happened 16 years ago. I think, you're the crazy one here.
Posted by: Joel | October 10, 2008 5:28 PM
Head in sand, Joel?
Did you watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g ?
Posted by: dubiquiabs | October 10, 2008 5:54 PM
Joel, the entire middle paragraph of the story above is a quote from Jeff Dearth, the guy who was at the table with McCain.
Posted by: Edmund | October 10, 2008 7:02 PM
2005 is 16 years ago?? Have I missed a few years?
And the horrific statement to his wife was two or three years ago. And the berating and chest thumping of one of his state republicans because McCain is short??!! And the treatment of the MIA families -- we've now heard of two MIA women being asaulted . . . .
what a piece of work McCain is. Read Rolling Stone -- this is not a guy anyone should want in any position of power.
Posted by: CC | October 10, 2008 11:28 PM
McCain and Palin have built up so much hate and hysteria towards Obama that they are now having to turn around and water down the message, as things are now getting nasty. In effect McCain has created a lynching mob of supporters (the KKK comes to mind). McCain now has to tell frightened supporters that Obama is in fact not a Muslim, is not a terrorist, and that he is in fact an American. What the hell was McCain thinking. Non of the anti Obama strategies thought up by the Clinton's or McCain have worked. McCain now looks like the simple boob that he is, he certainly does not look presidential. This is a disaster for the Republicans.
Plain (Hitler-ette) well, she has been found guilty of trying to get her ex brother in law kicked out of the police force. Palin did in deed use corrupt measures to get her brother in law fired. Just another nail in her Washington political ambitions.
Posted by: Victoria | October 11, 2008 12:33 AM
Has any reporter anywhere ever simply just asked McCain if he called his wife the c-word in public?
Posted by: ssal | October 11, 2008 2:26 AM
CC --
Could you provide links? This is the first time I've heard anything about MIA women being assaulted. Can you tell us more about it?
Posted by: ssal | October 11, 2008 4:58 AM
I too would like to read the report about McCain calling his wife the C-word.
Posted by: v | October 11, 2008 7:06 AM
Third person stories, something that may have happened 16 years ago. I think, you're the crazy one here.
Posted by: Joel | October 10, 2008 5:28 PM [kill][hide comment]
But what Bill Ayers did 40 years ago, when Obama was eight, is of vital national importance.
Posted by: Phila | October 11, 2008 1:28 PM
One of the MIA family member assaults is discussed in the video available above in this blog.
October 2008 Rolling stone on his lack of character:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
C-word tirade at Cindy -- it was a while ago -1992 -- but important now because 'Truthful John' says the incident did not happen!! It wasn't published at that time because McCain wasn't very important in 1992 -- and the reporters were from family-oriented newspapers which did not routinely report profanity.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html
McCain's participation in the U.S. coverup that we abandoned 500 MIA's in VN, reported by Sidney Schanberg who wrote 'The Killing Fields', is one reason why he is so angry at MIA families. Of all people, he knew they were left behind and he should have made sure they were brought back to the U.S.:
http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/schanberg09182008pt1
Posted by: CC | October 11, 2008 2:55 PM
Thanks, CC.
Posted by: ssal | October 11, 2008 4:11 PM
Ssal,
Thank you.
McNasty it is.
Posted by: victoria | October 12, 2008 12:35 AM