McCain throws a hissy fit

[Joe Republic]

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[exopolitician]

Hes just bitter....just give him his pacifier and some warm milk and he'll calm down in no time

[Michael Z]

Well, the reporter was being a bit pesky by constantly asking the same question. And the "Why are you so angry?"-comment was simply unprofessional.

[cannonia]

Not that I expect that the NY Times would actually support McCain's candidacy (and no, supporting him in the primary doesn't count), but it's surprising how quickly and how belligerently they've started going after him.

[Joe Republic]

And the "Why are you so angry?"-comment was simply unprofessional.

I think it's clear by her tone that his surprisingly hostile reaction had caught her off guard.  There was no need for him to speak to anybody like that.

[Person Man]

He's a redhead, ya know.

[agcatter]

I watched the tape.  What was the big deal?  I expected some kind of tantrum.  Geez.

The NY Times from their ownership, editor, down to their reporters are blowing their credibility for having any shred of objectivity (as if they have any left) before the campaign even gets off the ground.  Fine by me.

[Democratic Hawk]

I don't think it was that much of a hissy really

Dave

[auburntiger]

McCain wasn't throwing a fit, he was just being blunt. Why bring up something from 2004, focus on 2008. And yeah it's true, everyone knows Kerry had asked him to be his running mate. That was a stupid question

[CARLHAYDEN]

Come on guys, this is just an act.

The New York Times is a far, far left wing propaganda mill which wants McCain to be elected.

Knowing how much they are despised, they are deliberately and intentionally engaging in petty attacks on him.

Please note that none of the attacks have been of much substance or importance.

[The Hack Hater]

Christ, that was a stupid thing to do. Ask McCain the same question over and over again. Lame newspaper trying to make something out of nothing again. Well, they already had a reputation as a liberal rag long before this, so I'm not bothered.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

And the "Why are you so angry?"-comment was simply unprofessional.

Incredibly unprofessional.

I don't think McCain handled the exchange poorly at all.  I was pretty disappointed by the lack of fireworks, actually.

[War on Want]

Come on guys, this is just an act.

The New York Times is a far, far left wing propaganda mill which wants McCain to be elected.

Knowing how much they are despised, they are deliberately and intentionally engaging in petty attacks on him.

Please note that none of the attacks have been of much substance or importance.

WTF!?

[Joe Republic]

Ah well, I guess I'm almost alone on this one.  I didn't find anything particularly wrong with the reporter's line of questioning, except possibly for its lack of relevance to this election (but then any candidate's past is always under scrutiny).  The problem was with McCain's unnecessary tone of voice.

[Michael Z]

And the "Why are you so angry?"-comment was simply unprofessional.

I think it's clear by her tone that his surprisingly hostile reaction had caught her off guard.  There was no need for him to speak to anybody like that.

It wasn't that hostile when you consider the question she kept asking him, over and over like a broken record. Besides, I've seen worse fits of temper - he raised his voice, but it's not like he called her mother a whore or something. Plus he did start off quite politely, if firmly, insinuating that he didn't appreciate that question being asked, and yet she kept on and on about it - most people would have lost their rag a little in that situation.

Plus the whole "Why are you so angry"-question makes me think that maybe she was deliberately trying to force the situation. Ask McCain an awkward question, over and over, push him until he finally loses his temper, and et voila you've got a good "Madman McCain Loses It!!"-headline. But then that would be a rather cynical assessment of the wholly pure and well-meaning profession of contemporary political journalism...

[agcatter]

Today's McCain hit piece in the NY Times - Huge story on McCain's melanoma.  Oh my God!  He had melanoma 8 yrs ago and hasn't released the pathology report!

What health issues are you hiding John McCain?!  The NY Times demands to know!

Please place your bets on the topic of the NY Times next hit piece.

So far, hard hitting NY Times reporting has established that McCain is a tempermental cancer patient!  LOL

[TomC]

Not a big deal at all as long as he doesn't repeat it much.

[exopolitician]

I still think the Mitt Romney spat with the AP reporter a couple months ago was the best one so far.

[Iosif is a COTHO]

I love it how you're all calling the journalist 'unprofessional' for trying to get an answer to her question. How dare she question the mighty Straight-Talker.

[Daniel Adams]

I love it how you're all calling the journalist 'unprofessional' for trying to get an answer to her question. How dare she question the mighty Straight-Talker.

Right, the journalist only wanted an answer to a question that has already been asked and answered a million times. She only repeated the question to death because she wanted an answer, not because she wanted McCain to get angry so that the NYT can publish another hit piece against the GOP candidate. How dare anyone question the integrity and fairness of a New York Times reporter!

[Gustaf]

Of course McCain does not want more attention to be given to this fact. It hurts with him with Republicans because they're reminded of his friendship with Kerry and with Democrats because he still stayed with the party.

That said, I don't think there was anything wrong wth how he handled it. He didn't appear very "angry" to me. I've seen much worse from many politicians.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'll say the same thing I said when Bill Clinton got a little mad at the reporter.  The reporter was going after him too much, and in my opinion a politician has every right to yell at a reporter every once in a while and put them back in their place.

[JSojourner]

Well, the reporter was being a bit pesky by constantly asking the same question. And the "Why are you so angry?"-comment was simply unprofessional.

I agree.  I thought the reporter was right to ask the question.  Even to ask it twice.  But then you print the guy's answer and move on. 

As to this being a signal of McCain's enormous temper, I didn't see it.  He never raised his voice.  He never cursed or was profane.  He didn't throw anything.  He didn't challenge anyone to a duel.

LOL -- to me, there's no story here.  Am I missing something?

[JSojourner]

McCain wasn't throwing a fit, he was just being blunt. Why bring up something from 2004, focus on 2008. And yeah it's true, everyone knows Kerry had asked him to be his running mate. That was a stupid question

It was a perfectly valid question, given the close friendship McCain and Kerry have had for decades.  And given the fact that -- silly as they are on their face -- there are rumors that McCain would put Kerry in his cabinet. 

What was not valid, frankly, was the badgering that went on by the reporter.  And then the obnoxious, "why are you so angry" question.  If that reporter worked in my shop, she'd be on probation.  Or fired, if it were a repeat offense.

And McCain did not throw a fit or a tantrum.  Not even close.  A tantrum is George W. Bush flying into a rage and calling Senator Larry Craig a "goddammed traitor" for voting against the Patriot Act. 

[JSojourner]

I love it how you're all calling the journalist 'unprofessional' for trying to get an answer to her question. How dare she question the mighty Straight-Talker.

Mango, I *am* a journalist.  And a liberal.

And she was out of line.  Not to demand an answer.  But to continue to demand after the question was answered.  The answer might have been a lie.  Or a dodge.  Or an obfuscation.  Or a shading of the truth.  Or the truth.  But an answer, it was.

So what does a reporter do?  You take the answer, write your story and meticulously quote the newsmaker, then cite information that may (or may not) call his answer into question.