John McCain, Charles Grassley Physical Altercation Confirmed By Washington Post

[Quixote1818]

Source: Washington Post



Sunday's Washington Post features a front-page story examining the notorious temper of Sen. John McCain, including a first-hand account of McCain's physical altercation with fellow GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.

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.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/20/john-mccain-charles-grass_n_97626.html

[City Lights]

1. I don't want mccain anywhere near the red phone or the nuke button.

:scared:

[ShockediSay]

75. This "maverick" looks to me like another cowboy with an itchy trigger

finger, in other words a loose canon, ANOTHER

loose canon.

[dkf]

2. Charles Grassley? He doesn't look like he'd hurt a fly.

That McCain is something else.

[Quixote1818]

4. I was thinking the same thing. nt

[Judi Lynn]

18. He has always been one of the "nice" ones!

I've never heard him raise his voice, or say one snotty word to anyone! NEVER.





He would make A FAR BETTER PRESIDENT THAN MC CAIN.

[Blue Gardener]

43. He isn't all that nice

And has a smart mouth. He also thinks American's wages should be more inline with the Chinese. Reference this post from the Iowa Forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=152x22380

[FatDave]

81. Correct

I've lived most of my life in Iowa, and Chuck Grassley is not our friend.

[BlooInBloo]

45. Duh. Bullies never pick on people who could actually hurt them, that'd be stupid.

[Bluzmann57]

48. Grassley is a bush stooge

at least for the most part. But he certainly has a rep as a gentle soul. As an Iowan, I'd like to see him go but he's still a damn sight better than McCain. And they're both quite old. So they should both retire. Please.

[Quixote1818]

3. This is going to undercut McCain's image as a "nice guy"

and remind people again he has a temper.

[Joe Chi Minh]

22. What image as a nice guy? You mean the neocon noise-machine's tripe?

[laylah]

41. Ya think?

The news whores will not even touch this.

[blm]

5. McCain was losing control a LOT during that time period, and he even mentions in his book

that he would begin to lose control of himself during his and Kerry's meetings with those concerned about POW-MIA issues. He said he'd start falling apart and Kerry would keep a firm hand on him to calm his shaking. He said he couldn't have gotten through it without Kerry and the issue itself would never have been resolved without Kerry's leadership.

Then McCain sold his soul to BushInc and turned on the fellow lawmaker and vet who showed McCain the steady kindness he needed at a crucial and vulnerable point in his life.

Democrats should find a copy of the Audio version of McCain's book and USE it - after what he did to Kerry, he deserves to have his OBVIOUS betrayal thrown back at him.

[Quixote1818]

7. I wonder if he will lose his cool in the debates?

"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH OBAMA!!!" :wow:

[blm]

8. I hate to be blunt about this, but, it's certain Kerry will share McCain's trigger points with Obama

And McCain has no one to blame but himself for that consequence.

[nashville_brook]

12. i'm wondering, do you know what was McCain's position on POWs?

do you know what the substantive disagreement with Grassley was.

IIRC, McCain was criticized for denying that any POW/MIAs were left in Vietnam, and was also firmly in favor of normalizing relations. But this doesn't seem right to me, because you'd expect someone who was a longtime POW would go to extreme lengths to find others.

I'm confused.

[blm]

14. The evidence pointed to quite a bit of chicanery from the mercenaries making big bucks off

those concerned with finding MIAs. Some groups didn't want to believe the extent of that criminal behavior, I guess, and they directed their anger at the senators gathering the facts about the issue.

I don't know the Grassley story, but it wouldn't be hard to figure he had constituents riding him on these matters, and likely had strong beliefs of his own - it was a very emotional issue.

[karynnj]

73. They did go to extreme lengths to rule out people being held

The % of soldiers that are MIA is LOWER in Vietnam than in Korea of WWII. They are still getting remains back that are recovered under the effort the Vietnamese agreed to. That is how Dean's family got his brother's body back in 2003. Even Bob Smith signed on to the final statement that there was no evidence that there were Americans held. There was a huge amount of evidence that some of the people pushing the stories were con men themselves living the good life on money people sent them. I seriously doubt the committee would leave soldiers they knew were there. Kerry in addition to being a good person, would have no motive for covering up for Nixon.

Bob Smith incidentally endorsed Kerry on the basis of the character and competence shown leading that committee - even though he said he agreed with him on nothing politically as Kerry was as liberal as he was conservative. He said the majorities in Congress would keep Kerry from doing any liberal harm.

[JerseygirlCT]

39. I'm hoping we find ways to push his buttons and insure

he does just that - at every opportunity.

[pleah]

68. I can't wait for the debates!

It will be a lot of fun, especially if McCrazy loses it in front of millions of viewers.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[fudge stripe cookays]

54. Yeah....

McCain.

AGAINST torture, before he was FOR it.

:eyes:

[gateley]

6. Woo hoo!

Keep stockpiling the ammo - we can do a LOT with stories like this!!

[momster]

9. If you read the whole thing

you'll learn that not only does he have an uncontrollable temper, he's a bully who can hold on to a grudge for effing ever. He has attempted to use his position to destroy people's careers because they dared tell him to back off or to tell him something else he didn't want to hear. He's got a serious case of short-man's disease as well.

[curiousdemo]

19. I like that short man syndrome reference...

that's funny....He's nothing more than a sawed off runt..:rofl:

[bigbrother05]

70. Cotton Hill

[dmr]

77. LOL McCotton

I'm not entirely convinced his age won't be a problem. I'm not too sure he has all his faculties or wits about him. I'm not saying this because he's a Republican, I'm saying this because I seriously have questions.

Ronald Reagan was in the early stages of Alzheimer, and Bush* has mental/emotional issues - psychological or psychopathic - who knows for certain. Each of these men were/are sock-puppets for a faction of people who guided and manipulated them to go against the best interests of this nation.

How can we be assured that a cantankerous and volatile old guy like McCain can't be fooled into doing the bidding of those who care only for their own power and financial interests?

The presidency is a grueling job. Especially in the state Bush* 43 is leaving it in. Can McCain's health hold out for those 4 grueling years? What kind of running mate will he choose? THAT frightens the hell out of me. Will McCain follow the path Bush* broke and not release his medical check-ups with the American people?

It won't matter anyway. The next president's going to be a Democrat, we'll repair the Constitution, straight out the problems, and relax a little bit.

[roseBudd]

20. "serious case of short-man's disease" which is why I can't wait to see the debate handshake between

him and Obama. I also want to see Michelle towering over him. I bet he dictates Cindy's footwear.

[Joe Chi Minh]

25. According to UK paper, some Vietnam vets allege he had special treatment

(in the positive sense) from the Viet Cong, on account of his father's position, was "taken away" for periods of time, during which he was provided with an apartment and certain "amenities". It was said, I believe, that this was on the basis of what certain Vietnamese have since alleged.

Nevertheless, however true or false that may be, his unusually volatile temper does suggest very strongly to me that he underwent torture and severe stresses over there. And doesn't his wife have to brush his hair or help him put on his shirt? Don't get me wrong about this, any sympathy I have for him does not extend to politics, but indeed the contrary. That photo of him with Bush would have suggested bizarre judgement on his part, even in a private setting; even in his mind. He seems as much in need of attentive care as does your nation, and for that reason alone would seem singularly inapt for the position of Commander-in-Chief.

[Joe Chi Minh]

42. Deleted by self

[goclark]

72. How tall is he and how tall is Obama? nt

[momster]

78. Presidential Height

The WaPo said in the McCain's anger article that he is 5'9". That may be his 'official' height but men do shrink when they get older. Other reports have him at 5'7" which I think is more accurate. If you look at him next to GWB, who has been reported as both 6'2" *and* 5' 11", McCain is more than 2 inches shorter of even the lesser figure.

Obama is 6' 1" and lanky which makes him look taller yet. Unless they give McCain a box to stand on to keep their heads at the same height (look for McCain's camp to insist on seated debates), he's going to be talking to Obama's top coat button.

[Politicalboi]

10. Maybe he loses

His temper because he's afraid the truth about his time as a POW will come out and the fact that we did leave others behind. Bob Barr and Bob Dornan have some shit on McCain about how he did talk to the Vietcong and and for his info he spent time in brothels.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. Problem is, McCain thinks with his cock instead of his brain.

At his age, he probably mistakes one for the other.

:evilfrown:

[VP505]

15. And I might add

doesn't know that both are not working, one is limp and the other is dimmed!

[farmbo]

13. McCain whent haywire on the POW/MIA bill because of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5dPwegqgDU


He DID NOT want the Pentagon to release information on POW/MIAs and threw a tantrum at the MIA families as well.

Reportedly, McCain made propoganda films for the NVA while in captivity while, he claims, he was under duress. Those films have yet to be released.

[mikehiggins]

21. Swiftboating? It isn't swiftboating if its true.

The attacks on Kerry were lies.

The attacks on McCain? Let's see the records and see just how much truth is behind the charges. VietNam was over decades ago. What is the point of making all those records inaccessible if not to protect someone with something to hide?

[eridani]

76. Might it be possible to release these with a disclaimer attached?

Aa in "Sure, these were propaganda films made for North Vietnam, but who would dare say they could resist torture well enough to refuse? This is a really good reason for us to adhere to international laws against torture."

[curiousdemo]

16. Get your hand off me you.you..you..

filty animal!!.....errr...John "A bunch of BS talking" McCain.

[ajamo]

17. Debate with Obama

Wait and see him get mad when Obama makes a real idiot of him, if the debate are honest and to the point.

[PittPoliSci]

31. you know they won't be.

they'll just ask obama why he doesn't wear an american flag pin, and they'll ask mccain if he thinks that obama is out of line for not wearing a pin.

[kestrel91316]

23. Shouting and shoving............

I don't want that fuckhead McCain anywhere NEAR the "button"! What a complete ass.

[Hawaii Hiker]

24. This is great material for TV ads come GE time

Enough of the free pass for old man McCain, I hope some ads that will be run for the general election will focus on:

- his temper

- Keating 5

- the joke he made about Chelsea Clinton in 1998

- his far right voting record, which will prove he's NO moderate

- his AGE!!

[Ian David]

26. Grassley stole McCain's strawberries! n/t

[momster]

27. Then he drank Mc Cain's Milkshake

He drank it up!

[ToughLuck]

28. I am not sure this is exagerated or not..but who the hell wants him for president anyway?

[madrchsod]

29. mr conservate chuck grassley..

oh boy that must have been something.....

[IsItJustMe]

30. Everyone knows that McCain isn't right. I would dare say that most Republicans and the msm knows it

also. Sad that these folk will go ahead and vote for him anyway.

[jerryster]

32. Don't hold your breath...

waiting for this to become an issue. I'm certain his handlers and his wife are telling him a thousand times a day 'Do not lose your temper". And so far he hasn't during this campaign season. If he continues to control it it won't do any good to insist that he will lose control after election day.

The story in the Post is well worth reading. However, the dates of many of those explosions were years ago.
If our candidate makes the mistake of waiting for Mccain to lose his temper we're in trouble. Remember Bush's smirk? If you recall he learned to control it because his handlers told him it was an issue. McCain's are doing the same thing. And so far, it's working. Expect that to continue.

[Auggie]

33. There are people out there that will think this is cool

Same people who bought the cowboy-swagger shit of chimp

[abq e streeter]

56. I was wondering if someone would point out that this will be spun as a positive

for McCain, if it does get to where the MSM can't ignore it. Proof positive that he's a "real man" , not like those wimpy latte sipping liberals. The MSM could convince 50 million Americans that a stinking pile of dogshit should be president ( after all, they already have) if they decided to. I fear a MCCain victory , if not landslide, due to gullible Americans who swallow whatever they see and hear from the corporate media that is in love with McCain....and watch em spin this as evidence of him as "one tough SOB" that'll be just the tough leader America needs. Sorry to all of DU for my cynicism, but having watched America allow this gang of thugs and criminals have their way for 7 years , my faith in there being enough truly informed citizens to make a difference has been stretched pretty thin. I hope to god and for the sake of all humanity that I'm wrong.

[momster]

60. On another board

I frequent, there's a guy trying to spin this as meaning that McCain will get mad and force the Congress to get to work on important issues, that it means McCain's a passionate guy with a lot of heart and that he only gets mad when people drive him to it. Republicans really do think like the perp in a domestic, don't they?

[Algorem]

34. bait him

see what happens

mccain gone wild,tantrums and tirades on tape

[ooglymoogly]

35. Wow I thought this happened recently and I was guessing they

were fighting over a fruit cup.

[Olney Blue]

36. This is how we will get into our next two wars, if he is president.

[janetle]

49. Geez! Can you see the headlines now?

"President McCain, after the State dinner, knocks (insert world leader's name here) block off after finishing their chocolate mousse. McCain said he didn't like the look on the guy's face."

[dger11]

37. This will just make him look like a tough guy action hero. Nothing

wrong with a dust up here and there. How about a duel on the White House lawn? Scots-Irish middle America will be drooling over this.

[Riddler]

38. It's really a shame that the majority of the voting public will only ever see the McInsane

the MSM wants us to see instead of the hot-headed, dangerous loose cannon he really is.

[bunkerbuster1]

40. John McCain's innermost thoughts at the first Presidential debate:

"Don't call him 'n*gger.' Mustn't call him 'n*gger.' No matter how angry I get, I absolutely cannot call him 'n*gger.' Ommmmm..."

[deadmessengers]

44. About damn time

It's about time that someone in the corporate media starts taking a good look at the kind of person John McCain really is. He's gotten a free ride for WAY too long.

[Better Believe It]

46. All The More Reason To Consider This Information

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3181797

[Frisbee]

57. I had forgotten about...

I had forgotten about the Chelsea joke, and in googling it, found a Solon.com article about it which ended with this final paragraph.

"But the joke revealed more than a mean streak in a man who would be president. It also exposed how the Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times play favorites when reporting the foibles of our leading politicians."

Sadly, this is what we can expect from the MSM during the GE campaign.

[Olney Blue]

58. I hope so, but now McCain has had two above the fold articles in the NYT

and the Washington Post showing that he is in bed with lobbyists (hypocrisy, as the least) and that he has an out of control temper.

But he's still doing OK in the polls.

WTF? He's like Teflon.

[jeff30997]

47. "he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity "

If he said "Go fuck yourself" then he's perfect for the job from a Repuke point of view.

[TheCowsCameHome]

50. Give it time. Gramps will come apart at the seams before Nov.4th

:rofl:

[brentspeak]

51. Unfortunately, this story may actually help McCain with some voters

He'll be portrayed as the "tough guy" who isn't afraid to "stand up" against members of his own party.

[BlueManDude]

55. I agree. This story helps him - which is why the WaPo is printing it.

[Frank Cannon]

69. Absolutely, he's a tough, strong man who doesn't take crap...

from anyone.

That's the take-home message for you all, boys and girls.

[chelaque liberal]

52. Ha! This morning on NPR they did a commentary from a

Republican college student. She complained that the media was ignoring "her candidate" and focusing on all the drama between Clinton and Obama. I though, "Honey, 'your candidate' not getting publicity is the best thing that could happen to him."

The more the country learns about McCain, the worse he looks.

[berni_mccoy]

53. Hillary Thinks McCain would be a great president

From: http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/clinton_endorses_mccain_again/

Which only leaves this wondrous remark from Clinton herself, proving that if she loses the nomination, nothing she says in Obama’s favor thenceforth will seem the least bit persuasive or plausible:

“I think that since we now know Sen. (John) McCain will be the nominee for the Republican Party, national security will be front and center in this election. We all know that. And I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,” the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant’s bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

“I believe that I’ve done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy,” she said.

She went on to call McCain a friend and praise and his service to his country; at least she knows how to wage someone’s campaign effectively.

[Stand and Fight]

59. This is the sort of thing that should cause any Democrat...

Whether an Obama or Clinton supporter, to work like hell to get our nominee elected in the fall. Can you imagine McCain having his gosh-dammed hands on the chicken-switch! Hell no!

[defendandprotect]

61. I'd guess his handlers will go heavy on the calming drugs . . .

[Jamastiene]

62. I take it

maturity is not a Family Value™©®.

[gia_dammit]

63. William Ayers

This Morning , was listens to SIRIUS Left " THE ALEX BENNETT PROGRAM " he was talking to a caller and explaining to him about William Ayers
and saying to him that william was involved in any killings or he had said the was there was no relation to " 9/11 "
I'm asking for someone to please help me research this more..?

[Stinky The Clown]

64. "When Geezers Go Bad"

[kevinbgoode]

65. He's a fu*king bully. . .

and after reading the Post story, the kind of person I would despise for the way he treats other people. I'm sick of entitlement people who think they deserve privileges because they open their mouths and get a power position. Other than his military service, what has McSame accomplished? He worked for his second wife's father's company, used her money to get himself into politics - I don't even see any timeline that indicates a desire to perform public service - it's more like he didn't know what else to do with himself.

This is not the kind of person I want runnig our government. We have had enough of the arrogant destruction of America during this last Administration, and I have little confidence McSame will do much more than continue the trend - particularly when he has a slew of promises to fulfill with the Right.

[Bluebear]

66. An unstable nut with his finger on the red button. Marvelous. nt

[pleah]

67. K&R We should keep this out there,

because people need to know just what king of man he really is. We need to stop this hot head from ever reaching any kind of power over the country from now on!

[Faygo Kid]

71. I thought it read, "Physical Attraction Confirmed . . ." Time for bed on Sunday evening.

A little early for bed, but then it's been all tabloid since the wonderful ABC debate.

So that's how I'm readin' em.

[JeanGrey]

74. Who cares. I wish they'd come up with stuff on McCain in the

last century that means something.

[yardwork]

79. McCain: A Question of Temperament

Source: Washington Post

McCain: A Question of Temperament

(By Scott Anderson -- Associated Press)

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.

...

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.

....

Former senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, expresses worries about McCain: "His temper would place this country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041902224.html?wpisrc=newsletter

---

A fellow Republican says that McCain's temper should disqualify him from the presidency! (Oh, and look. One of the only people defending McCain's temper is....Lieberman.)

[yardwork]

80. Oops. Dupe. Please merge with other thread or lock.