McCain Calls For ‘Respect’ In Political Dialogue, Ignores Time He Called Fellow Senator An ‘A–hole’
McCain Calls For ‘Respect’ In Political Dialogue, Ignores Time He Called Fellow Senator An ‘A–hole’
Today at a campaign event in Michigan, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) promised to clean up the political discourse. He argued that he knows how to “reach across the aisle” and treat Democrats with respect:
“I’m going to raise the level of political dialog in America,” McCain, R-Ariz., said at a campaign rally in central Michigan, “and I’m going to treat my opponents with respect and demand that they treat me with respect.” [...]
“We’re going to get a dispute and a debate done, but in a respectful fashion,” McCain said. “And I know how to reach across the aisle to [the Democrats], and I’ll ask you to tell them to reach across the aisle to me.”
McCain’s record of dealing with his fellow lawmakers, the press, and members of the public, however, has been considerably less than respectful. In 2000, Newsweek dubbed him “Senator Hothead” for his vicious temper. Some examples of McCain lowering the level of America’s political dialogue:
– In a “heated dispute over immigration-law overhaul” last year, McCain screamed at Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), “F— you!” He added, “This is chickens- – - stuff. … You’ve always been against this bill, and you’re just trying to derail it.” [5/19/07]
– In a discussion over the “fate of Vietnam MIAs,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked McCain, “Are you calling me stupid?” “No,” replied McCain, “I’m calling you a f—ing jerk!” [Newsweek, 2/21/00]
– Discussing his recent trip to Iraq on The Daily Show in April, McCain told host Jon Stewart, “I had something picked out for you, too — a little IED to put on your desk.” [4/24/07]
– After Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) criticized McCain for his comment to Stewart, McCain told ABC News, “And all I can say is, to Murtha and others, Lighten up and get a life.” [4/26/07]
– Speaking to Fox and Friends in March, McCain noted that he allows “jerks from the media” to come on board his bus, the “Straight Talk Express.” [4/28/07]
– At a GOP meeting in fall 1999, McCain “erupted” at Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and shouted, “Only an a–hole would put together a budget like this.” When Domenici expressed his outrage, McCain responded, “I wouldn’t call you an a–hole unless you really were an a–hole.” [Newsweek, 2/21/00]
– In September, a high school student asked McCain whether the senator was “too old to be president and too conservative to be respected.” McCain “jokingly” responded by calling the student “a little jerk” who ought to be drafted. [9/4/07]
After the dust-up between McCain and Domenici, a senator told Newsweek that he didn’t want McCain “anywhere near a trigger.”
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Interesting that most of the really rude comments he’s made have been to fellow Republicans.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pmMcCain’s comments are actually kinda funny. I see the humor in them.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:10 pmIn all fairness, Cornyn and Grassley ARE a$$wholes.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pmGeez — how come we never see this side of McCain in any of the debates?
January 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pmYeah. If you look at McCain comments, it would be easy to mistake him for a regular poster here. ;)
Comment by CaptainMantastic — January 9, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Big difference is that he does it in person, instead of while hiding behind a keyboard.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:18 pmMcCain P.E.P. (Program With Empty Promises):“I’m going to raise the level of political dialog in America.” Pass the popcorn please…
January 9th, 2008 at 5:18 pm“Go Cheney yourself, McCain!”
How about replaying McCain’s video”Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran.”
We should listen to him tell us about respect?
January 9th, 2008 at 5:19 pmI saw that Daily Show and I don’t believe that display of HUMOR by McCain had anything to do with disrespect. Actually, I think it showed respect for Stewart and the humor that IS The Daily Show.
I understand McCain isn’t the brightest bulb to ever light up politics on the republican side but this post seems to be ‘over the top’ and not worthy of TP’s cause.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pmOMG, McCain has a sense of humor. That must scare TP since they work for no humor Hillary Clinton and her goons. I don’t care for McCain myself, but I can only guess that TP think McCain is a bad matchup against their leaders Hillary and Terry Mcauliffe.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:21 pmThanks for srtraightening me out–I always thought he was from Arizona, but you show that he is R-SC!
January 9th, 2008 at 5:22 pmRush tells me that bipartisanship is bad. He also sez not to trust any organization with the word “peace” in it’s name.
Then he ate my fries. With mayo.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:28 pmwait a minute — McCain is from Arizona
i already have to deal with Limpy Graham and DeMented DeMint — i don’t need to deal with McCain, too, do I?
January 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pmThanks for srtraightening me out–I always thought he was from Arizona, but you show that he is R-SC!
Comment by JungleJoel
You know, TP does that a lot. What does that say about the people they have typing in these posts?
McCain is well known in Washington for his nasty temper. I agree that I wouldn’t want his fingers any where near the button.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pmIn all fairness, Cornyn and Grassley ARE a$$wholes.
Comment by Uncle Ho — January 9, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
And so is Domenici.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pmExcuse me, isn’t he 70 year’s old….Perhaps it is time for age limit’s along with term limet’s…..Clearly his al’s is showing.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pmMccain is looking for respect, the kind he got from Rove and the Chimp.
Somebody should tell him he’s already dead.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:36 pmWhen I think of McCain, I can’t keep this photo from coming back to mind.
http://www.basehead.org/files/shots/1-mccain_bush_hug.jpg
Scary.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:41 pmHillary is humorless. I would have to agree with Roger for once.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pm#19 Comment by Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver
January 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pmgood find… that would be a great campaign ad.
whew!! thanks for removing “SC” after McCain
January 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pmMy, My, Isn’t that charming.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pmWell, yeah.
And he’s gonna start TOMORROW.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pmBasehead,
January 9th, 2008 at 6:00 pmMcCain hugged GWB alright. However it’s a mediocre Photoshop job.
Using contemporary ‘New Speak’;
January 9th, 2008 at 6:01 pmMcCain’s statements were obviously taken ‘out of context’.
What he meant was ‘Love ya, mean it’.
#20 #
Hillary is humorless. I would have to agree with Roger for once.
Comment by ForTruth — January 9, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Hillary is also a phony and a fraud… thousand of dollars are spent into these scripted campaigns… the script being every hair in place, wardrobe/makeup just right and every word, action written down on a multi page script. Why is it the cameras and audio were just right to record the emotional act? And I will bet the so called hecklers iron my shirt gang were in the script. The script worked, but the GOP will be able to expose/prove this phoniness for their political gain. Hillary played the folks for fools and it will bite her later.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pmSurely you all realize the NH voter’s and all the public that saw Hill’s weepie responses were manipulated…Right.? Then of course we have the voting machine’s that are controled by the reich winged Diabold bunch…..This is all one big dog and pony show, no better than a bad wrestling match by screamer’s and pumped up muscle men..There realy was no winner’s, just looser’s and that’s us..The media is playing a game with all of america, first by eliminating runner’s they or their supporter’s (big busiess and warmonger’s) don’t like and now by playing the tear game and making us all think Hill won, this time…Who’s next on the tag team event.? A worn out loosing old man again, Hillery, Obama, Who?
January 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pmYou’re right. The posters here that resort to profanity and insults are enabled by their anonimity.
Comment by CaptainMantastic — January 9, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
As are the smug commenters who sit in judgment on others while pretending to be enlightened and wise.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:38 pmGood one gummitch….Blessings
January 9th, 2008 at 6:42 pmRespect this!
Stop hiding your true agenda and you might EARN some respect.
How much does AIPAC pay you, or are you just being blackmailed?
Do you have ANY choice but to put Lieberman on your ticket?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pmMcCain’s major weakness (and he has many) is his notorious short fuse. He blows his stack at the drop of a hat. Yet no one has exploited this personal fault.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pmActually, I like McCain better after reading those. No, really.
But Domeneci is right: nowhere near a trigger.
I know: Secretary of State!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:50 pm“You’re right. The posters here that resort to profanity and insults are enabled by their anonimity.”
Perhaps. But at least we can spell “anonymity.”
January 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pmMcCain was obviously talking about the public discourse in his comments. What he says to colleagues in private is completely irrelevant to those comments.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pmYou’re right. The posters here that resort to profanity and insults are enabled by their anonimity.
Comment by CaptainMantastic — January 9, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
Bah, I would tell you “f_ck you” to your face as well as online if I thought you deserved it. =)
January 9th, 2008 at 8:47 pmWe know, McWayne.
Comment by justasking — January 9, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
You know very little, justassing.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:08 pmWhatever makes you feel God…I mean good, Lefty.
Comment by justasking — January 9, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
still leaving your baby teeth under the pillow, j? tooth fairies haven’t been proven to not exist, either.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:51 pmGod loves you, Lefty.
Comment by justasking — January 9, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
she obviously has no use for you.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:07 pmObviously McCain doesn’t care what the IRAQIS want , the majority want the occupation TO END . He obviously doesn’t ask what they want, yet at the same time he casually makes these huge declarative statement , we’ll be there forever ..If we want .
McCain why don’t you just tell the truth , TELL THE TRUTH . The occupation will continue a long , long time , because THAT WAS THE PLAN , before the invasion . TELL THE TRUTH, you don’t give a damn what the citizens of IRAQ think .
January 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pmYou want to label all those resiting occupation as ” terrorists” kill them all, and enable U.S. corporations to profit .
McCain is an angry man and has become more so as the dementia has become deeper.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:39 amHillary is humorless. I would have to agree with Roger for once.
Comment by ForTruth — January 9, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Hillary is also a phony and a fraud…
Comment by had enough — January 9, 2008 @ 6:05 pm
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For a second, I thought I logged on to the “Free Republic” web site but then I looked at the web address and saw “Think Progress”. I see the Clinton bashers are out in force again. I guess some people feel as though they must continue to demonize the Clintons after Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage go off the air. Sigh…….
January 10th, 2008 at 12:57 amMore knee-jerk, wide-eyed Hllary love, delafield? NAFTA.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:02 amLimbaugh, Hannity and Savage absolutely love NAFTA…and so do you, apparantly.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:23 amAnd recently, in SC, McCain laughed when a questioner asked “How do we stop the B1TCH?” (Hillary).
January 10th, 2008 at 3:58 amHe’s too old – he’ll drive too slow and won’t even look both ways before he pulls out. Whoever becomes his running mate will have decide when to pull the reins from him because of his incompetency.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:50 amMcCain was also in Grand Rapids (this post focuses on another MI appearance) and once again hyped up the macho war rhetoric:
http://www.mediamouse.org/features/010908john_.php
January 10th, 2008 at 12:18 pmYou might remember that McCain’s cruel streak showed through in his joke back in ‘98 about Chelsea Clinton: “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
January 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pmBecause her father is Janet Reno.”
I saw the “Daily Show” clip with the IED. It was funny, clever, and perfect for the segment. Stewart loved it, the audience love it, and so did I. IMHO anyone who thinks otherwise should “get a life”!
January 11th, 2008 at 11:38 amPS. I’m not a Bushie nor a McCain lover.
Ok, as much as I enjoy this site, this post accomplishes nothing. Even though I’m not going to vote for him, this makes me like and respect him him even more. At least he’s able and willing to speak his mind and call out people for what they are, and these are people in his own party none the less.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm