You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

by Todd Beeton, Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 12:58:58 PM EST

TPM posted video earlier of Senator John McCain at an event in South Carolina where he was asked by a supporter:

"How do we beat the bitch?"

I refrained from commenting since the video had clearly been cut somewhere between the question and McCain's response. But now, TPM has posted the uncut video, which was uncovered by Salon, and it's clear that McCain, while cognizant of the rudeness and inappropriateness of the wording of the question, merely stumbled around uncomfortaably, laughed it off and finally replied:

"That's an excellent question."

Watch it:

Notice that at the end he claims to "respect" Senator Clinton and anyone who gets the nomination of the "Democrat party."

Well, Senator, if you truly respected Senator Clinton, you wouldn't have abided the language used in the question and if you truly respected your "friends" across the aisle, as you like to call them, you wouldn't use the derogatory "Democrat party" language. If you had, instead, merely chided the questioner, demanded that we get beyond name calling, you could have distinguished yourself from your rivals and earned at least my respect, if not my vote. It's ironic that David Brooks chose today to write of you...

But character is destiny, and you will never persuade me that he is not among the finest of men.

Senator, with your actions today...or lack thereof...how wrong you've proven Mr. Brooks to be yet again.

Tags: 2008 Presidential election, Hillary Clinton, John McCain (all tags)

Comments

33 Comments

Sort by

permalink

Disgusting.

by bookgrl 2007-11-13 01:07PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

That was unnecessary. But look at the bright side, Hillary can raise a whole lot of cash off this. Of course, if would have been much worse/better if a man has said it. This is troubling, but it won't bother her campaign one bit.

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 01:14PM | 0 recs

permalink

Wow, pretty heartless comment.

by bookgrl 2007-11-13 01:25PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Wow, pretty heartless comment.

Well that's how Grunwald and Wolfson are thinking,

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 02:10PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

There once was a time when many Democrats respected McCain and felt he got a raw deal in 2000. Thankfully, he's been doing all he can to dispel those warm feelings.

by Steve M 2007-11-13 01:20PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

As revolting as this episode is, I think it's a good example of the intense vitriol for clinton that i have heard many on this site call "imaginary." I think maybe some people that live in areas without lots of republicans don't understand how much venom there is for her. I'm not exactly sure why, but i have never seen a single politician who is more despised in my hometown in Louisiana. When otherwise prim Southern ladies will resort to crass language and talking about her dirty laundry, you know that's a special hatred.

She will have a very hard time in certain areas of the country, and probably will cause other democrats problems as well. Anyone who discounts this fact is simply deluding himself.

by bluedavid 2007-11-13 01:27PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

This "concern" trolling has to stop. Don't use right-wingers to make YOUR point against Clinton. That is just cheap stuff.

by georgep 2007-11-13 01:29PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

Just because you don't want it to be true doesn't mean that it isn't.

There are simply a lot of people in this country who will not consider voting for clinton under any circumstances. As the population gets more comfortable with voting for democrats in general, it's increasingly clear that what people are uncomfortable with isn't clinton's party, but clinton herself.

by bluedavid 2007-11-13 01:34PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

Make the case on its own merits.

Using right-wingers to "make your point" is what is considered "concern trolling." We all KNOW that Limbaugh and Hammity and Rove and Lynn Cheney et al hate her guts. Don't USE their words as confirmation of your own belief.

They also hate anyone else we put up there post-haste. They have mastered the art of intensely hating someone within 3 weeks of being introduced to that person, as long as that person is from the hated liberal left.

by georgep 2007-11-13 04:29PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

Yeah, they don't help their candidate either.

Just when I begin to feel defensive of our potential nominee and start building up some real hatred for Lizard Face, they have to kill it by whining again.

I swear, Hillary's supporters do her more harm than good.

by Bush Bites 2007-11-13 06:15PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

however the problem with the choose of language is that it seems to reflect a problem with her gender, not that she's clinton. so i think you ae off base to use this statement as an example of your point about clinton's electability as clinton.

by bruh21 2007-11-13 01:56PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

A Southern woman will only call someone a "bitch" if they consider them to be absolute trash. It is gender-specific, but i also feel that a lot of the animosity towards clinton (in the south anyway) is gender-specific on some level as well, so i don't see any conflict there.

by bluedavid 2007-11-13 02:01PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

you are making a lot of assumptions. maybe the woman is an idiot and doesn't want another woman as President. Women are just as capable of being against their gender as there are blacks who are against other blacks. The conflict is that we are progressives and that can neither be a reason to support her or a reason not to support her. It may make things harder, but its the right t hing to do- well that is if you are basing decision making on principles.

by bruh21 2007-11-13 02:06PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

don't try and tell me i'm not a progressive. i'm not talking about my own views here, i'm trying to explain the point of view of the type of person who could ask a question like this.

furthermore, of course i don't know this particular woman, but see similarities in her of many others that i have known. based on the things that i know about these other women, i'm simply trying to point out that this type of comment wouldn't be out of place in many living rooms. you might not like it (i certainly don't), but trying to say that it doesn't exist doesn't make it go away.

by bluedavid 2007-11-13 02:32PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

Don't get defensive. My point was a macro, not personal point. I know what you were trying to do, but my point is that taking that into consideration is something that we can not do and be sucessful as progressives. Should we ignore it- no. you aren't arguing with someone who is pretending these things don't exist by the way. i know they exist. i woould never pretend they don't. we know that means if she is our nominee would have to work harder. I dont diagree that segment exists. My point is what is the approprirate reaction to it? my response is just like i dont support her now regardless of her gender is the same way i will support her (welle xcept maybe for bloomberg) if she is the nominee. no blinders on, but not letting it make the decision for us good or ill either. I can understand your frustration- sometimes talking here is like the first problem is dealing with all the denial of a basic point you are trying to make, but my response doesn't fall into that category. it falls into the category of what our principles are.

by bruh21 2007-11-13 02:42PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

And it's the kind of visceral hatred that will bite them in the behind... because, they will go overboard like this which will only help her win over independents who will see her as being unfairly victimized.

That's how she won her first senatorial term in New York. Her opponent went overboard like this. It really boosted her campaign.

The fact is, your pristine ladies in LA aren't going to vote Democratic, anyways, so who cares if they hate her a lot or just a little...

Thanks,

Mike

by lordmikethegreat 2007-11-13 06:26PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

I had a lot of respect for McCain once upon a time, as far as that is possible for me to muster for a Republican. But, he has proven unworthy of that respect. He is going down to defeat against Giuliani and Romney, of all people, which serves him right.

by georgep 2007-11-13 01:28PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

He should have at least asked to whom the woman was referring before assuming Clinton.

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 02:11PM | 0 recs

permalink

If the shoe fits...

Not sure what the ruckus is. This is what millions of Americans think of her. It wasn't some big bad man calling her that word, either. It was another woman.

McCain was clearly uncomfortable, but he's also running for the votes of people who hate Clinton the same way Clinton is running for the votes of people who hate Bush. How many of us have called him an Asshole or other similar word? How is that worse than "bitch"?

by Vox Populi 2007-11-13 02:21PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

John Edwards has been referred to as a bitch on this very site.

But still, McCain should have prefaced his comments with a condemnation of that woman's language.

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 02:53PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

John Edwards has been referred to as a bitch on this very site.

But still, McCain should have prefaced his comments with a condemnation of that woman's language.

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 02:54PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

At the risk of being called a troll, I have to agree. Both sides have done some pretty extreme name calling. I'd like to move past that but it doesn't affect me one way or the other because I think she is a big girl who can take care of herself. In the end, the name calling will be more of a statement about the person doing the name calling rather then the recipient.

BTW... I'd like to know what exactly a troll is. Nobody knows me here and if I say that I'm a moderate democrat who sometimes agrees and sometimes disagrees with the comments posted, well, they have no reason to believe me. I understand that. But my definition would be when someone comes out and starts with the insults and Republican talking points. If we can't disagree or sometimes take moderate positions, then I think we are not really contributing to a constructive blog. I don't see that sort of collaboration at firedog, kos or Crooksandliars where dissent is not tolerated.

by KensUSA 2007-11-13 04:07PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

Yeah, but if someone publicly asked any of our candidates, "How do we beat that asshole, Giuliani" they would IMMEDIATELY call out that language as inappropriate for a public forum.

That's the difference...

Thanks,

Mike

by lordmikethegreat 2007-11-13 06:29PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

Thats right lordmike--they can dish it out but they can't take it.

by changingroom 2007-11-13 09:47PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: If the shoe fits...

I don't think you can make such a statement, because I believe our candidates would react in much the same way as McCain did.

At least he didn't say, "She really IS a bitch, isn't she?"

by Vox Populi 2007-11-13 10:31PM | 0 recs

permalink

McCain's character

Ah yes, John McCain, man of character.

by KCinDC 2007-11-13 02:25PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

John Edwards will probably use that video in his next round of ads.

by hwc 2007-11-13 02:46PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

You got it. I bet that question was planted so that Chris Matthews and the sick characters who represent our media can do a segment on Is Hillary Really a B-tch? It never stops. They are terrified of Hillary.

by changingroom 2007-11-13 09:40PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

How fortuitous for Hillary. Some crazy women spews sexist language, and gives Team-HRC a perfect avenue to play the card. Good for them.

by General Sherman 2007-11-13 02:55PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

We Hillary supporters don't need to use the stupidity of one woman to make our point. The Repubs would love it if women weren't allowed to vote at all. The fact that McCain didn't dress down this woman shows what Republicans think of women's rights. McCain's straight talk express has been derailed.

by changingroom 2007-11-13 09:44PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

God, that woman looks and sounds like a class A B*tch. She has that Jean Schmidt thing going.

As for McCain. Don't expect any class from him.

He was the one who said Chelsea was ugly and a product of a lesbian affair between Hillary and Janet Reno.

McCain said this while Chelsea was still in her teens, I believe.

by Bush Bites 2007-11-13 06:22PM | 0 recs

permalink

1998

http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/25news b.html

So, she would have been 18.

by bookgrl 2007-11-13 07:24PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You Missed An Opportunity, Senator

McCain is probably the best of a bad bunch of Repub candidates continues to disappoint me. He is so desperate for even one vote that he will consider that this rude woman asked an excellent question. He claims he can beat Hillary in a matchup but he cannot win his party's nomination -- Mr. McCain our party is the Democratic Party. Republicans decided to call it the Democrat Party because it sounds more like rat. How pathetic they are.

by changingroom 2007-11-13 09:37PM | 0 recs