McCain: A Question of Temperament

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » April 21st, 2008, 12:03 pm

John McCain cupped a fist and began pumping it, up and down, along the side of his body. It was a gesture familiar to a participant in the closed-door meeting of the Senate committee who hoped that it merely signaled, as it sometimes had in the past, McCain's mounting frustration with one of his colleagues.

But when McCain leaned toward Charles E. Grassley and slowly said, "My friend . . ." it seemed clear that ugliness was looming: While the plural "my friends" was usually a warm salutation from McCain, "my friend" was often a prelude to his most caustic attacks. Grassley, an Iowa Republican with a reputation as an unwavering legislator, calmly held his ground. McCain became angrier, his fist pumping even faster.

It was early 1992, and the occasion was an informal gathering of a select committee investigating lingering issues about Vietnam War prisoners and those missing in action, most notably whether any American servicemen were still being held by the Vietnamese. It is unclear precisely what issue set off McCain that day. But at some point, he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity to describe him. Grassley stood and, according to two participants at the meeting, told McCain, "I don't have to take this. I think you should apologize."

McCain refused and stood to face Grassley. "There was some shouting and shoving between them, but no punches," recalls a spectator, who said that Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey helped break up the altercation.

Grassley said recently that "it was a very long period of time" before he and McCain spoke to each other again, though he declined, through a spokesman, to discuss the specifics of the incident.

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Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » April 21st, 2008, 12:05 pm

Hmmm...Who paid for this article?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » April 21st, 2008, 12:37 pm

None of this is news, Dan, just another Washington Compost shotgun blast. Today they had another article slamming Bush on the War in Iraq. They are a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. Would not worry too much about it.

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » April 21st, 2008, 12:42 pm

Jim wrote:None of this is news, Dan, just another Washington Compost shotgun blast. Today they had another article slamming Bush on the War in Iraq. They are a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. Would not worry too much about it.

I just like the way that the political parties (both of them) have surrogates that conduct the offensive operations for them. That way the politicos don't have to get dirty and can keep their pristine image.