Straight Talk Excess: John McCain called wife "cunt", "trollop"

John McCain called his wife Cindy a "cunt" in front of at least five witnesses on the campaign trail in 1992, according to Cliff Schecter's new book:

Three reporters from Arizona, on the condition of anonymity, also let me in on another incident involving McCain's intemperateness. In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain's face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain's excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days. [The Real McCain, PoliPoint Press, 2008.]

A "trollop"? John McCain, is indeed vying to be our first Ancient American president.

Comments

[Anacher Forester]

My oh my, some of someone's post titles have a decidedly potty mouth flavor to them. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

It's no secret that on a bad day McCain's temperament can make Dick Cheney look like the Dalai Lama. The question is how many of these past incidents will come to light before the election. As the pressure mounts and McCain gets desperate, how many new incidents we learn about?

I cannot honestly say we'd be going from bad to worse if McCain were elected. But I can say with confidence that McCain is dangerously unsuited to hold our nation's highest office.

-AF

Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud

[cfrost]

Calls his wife, or calls any woman, a cunt in front of other people. Um, wow. I consider myself to have about the normal anger threshold, and about the normal nasty vindictiveness quotient, and have had my fair share of heated exchanges with various women, but I've never called a woman a cunt in front of anyone else, much less the press for God's sake. I'm not sure I know anyone personally who has.

McCain scares the crap out of me.

[Darrell Shandrow]

Nobody's ever perfect. Wow! This just seems like another smear campaign attempt against McCain. How low can we go?

[spencer]

Wow. That is truly fucked up. The lack of respect for his own wife is shocking, especially since it was her money that enabled him to pursue a political career in the first place.

(If the story is true, of course. I'm inclined to believe it is true, but that's probably because I've learned that if you always assume the worst about Republicans, you are never disappointed and only rarely pleasantly surprised.)

[The Phantom]

If the story is true...

that's unacceptable. Period.

[madmatt]

And let us not forget that the last person to use the word "Trollop" in a sentence died of old age in 1973.

[norbizness]

C. Montgomery McCain: Posh! Flimshaw!

[Amanda Marcotte]

How low can we go?

You mean "how low can he go?", right? And you're right. You can go lower than calling your wife a cunt. You can hit her, for instance.

Best part is that he called her a trollop, though. Demonstrating that he was born before the novel was invented.

[Mold]

Aren't we getting into the personal a wee bit much? How many of us could stand the scrutiny? Oh, she's still by his side, just like another political couple.

[Anacher Forester]

I beg to differ. This is not "getting into the personal a wee much." John McCain is a public figure. These are things he said in public. Very nasty things he said to his wife.

McCain wants to be our next President. We've now endured almost eight years of rule by a man clearly mentally unfit for office. Regardless of a candidate's party affiliation, I welcome any information that would help us avoid making the same mistake twice.

-AF

Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud

[mudkitty]

These 5 sources? Are they named, or unnamed. Because if two or more aren't named, then it won't wash.

[Cass]

He exploded, and used an exceptionally vile and misogynistic insult against his own wife (an insult, by the way, universally favored by domestic abusers) in response to a very light and apparently good-natured prick at his own vanity. Furthermore he did this as a politician in a public setting, with every interest in surpressing his own dark side for at least another few minutes or an hour.

I think most of us, actually, could stand this particular level of scrutiny.

[Eric Jaffa]

More from the book:

In 2006, the Arizona Republican congressional delegation had a strategy meeting. McCain repeatedly addressed two new members, congressmen Trent Franks and Rick Renzi, as 'boy.' Finally, Renzi, a former college linebacker, rose from his chair and said to McCain, "You call me that one more time and I'll kick your old ass." McCain lunged at Renzi, punches were thrown, and the two had to be physically separated.

[The Phantom]

On Huffington Post, Schecter begins an article by referring to McCain as "Rambo" in the first sentence, and then uses a puff piece about his own book as a hyperlinked source for references to McCain's temper and his alleged use of vile language towards his wife.

I have no idea whether what Schecter says is true...in what appears to be his first book.

[Eric Jaffa]

The Phantom -

Regarding Cliff Schecter's qualifications:

"Schecter holds an MA in International Affairs from the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and is currently receiving his Ph.D. in American History as a Dean's Honors Fellow at American University."

[The Phantom]

Eric

To complete his qualifications (from HP) :

During the 2004 election cycle, Schecter worked as the "liberal" pundit for The Sinclair Broadcast Group.... He has also appeared on CNN, CNBC, NPR FoxNews, The Canadian Broadcast Channel and Al Jazeera.

Schecter was a pollster for the successful reelection of President Bill Clinton in 1996 and fundraiser for former Governor of Virginia Mark Warner in 2001. He has also consulted for the DNC, DCCC and some other candidates he won't mention here because they lost.

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

Yes, he's a partisan. He makes no bones about that.

He's also got great connections in the media, having worked as a talking head and a political consultant for years.

He's got one foot in the established media, but he's not dependent on John McCain's approval, unlike the reporters who ride the Straight Talk Express and suck on McCain's baby back ribs.

If anyone's in a position to get the scuttlebutt on McCain from the reporters who cover him, it's Cliff.

I know Cliff. I trust his integrity and his judgment. He's a solid, conscientious guy.

[Smartpatrol]

Nobody's ever perfect. Wow! This just seems like another smear campaign attempt against McCain. How low can we go?

FAIL.

Aren't we getting into the personal a wee bit much? How many of us could stand the scrutiny? Oh, she's still by his side, just like another political couple.

DOUBLE FAIL.

He exploded, and used an exceptionally vile and misogynistic insult against his own wife (an insult, by the way, universally favored by domestic abusers) in response to a very light and apparently good-natured prick at his own vanity. Furthermore he did this as a politician in a public setting, with every interest in surpressing his own dark side for at least another few minutes or an hour. I think most of us, actually, could stand this particular level of scrutiny.

Nailed it.

[Dr. Psycho 1960]

I wouldn't let this man carry a sharp object in my presence, let alone nuclear launch codes.

[voxy]

gad he's such a SCUMBAG.
I can't imagine that anyone ever thought highly of him. He comes off well on talk shows and fools some young people. I hope Letterman airs THIS SIDE of him.

[John D. Diamond]

The name calling event involving Senator McCain and his wife took place sixteen years and it is sincerely hoped that he has changed. But sixteen years ago, Senator McCain was fifty-six years old. At that age he should have been able to better control his public behavior. Given ongoing complaints concerning Senator McCain's behavior, the American voter should be provided with some evidence that he has taken formal steps to deal with his problem. If Senator McCain has had therapy or taken an anger management course, he should inform the public.

[Shop Femina]

Very disturbing story if true.

[PhoenixRising]

... have had my fair share of heated exchanges with various women, but I've never called a woman a cunt in front of anyone else....

Um, cfrost? This sets the bar a bit low for decent human behavior.

The 'in front of anyone else' part, I mean.

Tee hee. Lindsay said 'Ancient-American'.

[cfrost]

Um, cfrost? This sets the bar a bit low for decent human behavior.

Exactly my point. All of us who have not been raised by wolves out in the forest have said something very abusive to another human being at some point. There are occasions and places however, when doing so puts one beyond the pale.

[Josh]

Cunt just a word. Shes lucky he didnt whoop her ass for telling him he was going bald. She kind of looks like a cunt in her pictures. If I were stuck with her, I'd have white hair and it would be thinning also. All you pussies who are offended by this need to grow up and relize that it is just a word.