McCain takes on NYT reporter, gets testy

If he wants to remain a viable contender for the presidency, he’ll have to learn how to be calm in the face of brewing storms – and not just with NYT reporters, but with Republicans and conservatives, as well.

Stop the ACLU has video of the exchange between Mc and NYT reporter Elisabeth Bumiller. I agree with Captain Ed in that it wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be, but it still shows that McCain has some learning to do when it comes to calmly dealing with the people some of his campaign staffers joked were his “base” (the media) back in 2000.

This is McCain’s weakest point, IMO – I know many conservatives disagree with him strongly on the immigration issue, the Gang of 14, and McCain-Feingold (for starters) but if he had justified his support of those measures over the years without acting like conservatives were foolish for even daring to question him, there probably wouldn’t be the intense dislike of McCain the man in addition to the dislike of McCain the politician in conservative circles.

The NYT’s Elisabeth Bumiller is a lightweight compared to some of the intense pressure he’ll be getting from multiple corners, assuming he’s elected president. McCain needs to do better in the future. Let BO be the one who looks foolish when confronted with tough questions from the press.

Jay says:

March 7, 2008 at 7:17 pm

I agree with you. I got some flak in how I worded things, but the fact is that he has a temper problem and if he isn’t careful…even when he just gets irritated it will get painted as blowing his lid. If he wants to be prez, he needs to chill.

Mwalimu Daudi says:

March 7, 2008 at 7:36 pm

I disagree, ST. I feel that McCain’s biggest weakness is the weird desire that occasionally overcomes him to lick the boots of the MSM in hopes of keeping his coveted “maverick” status with them. It reminds me a lot of Bush’s roll-over-and-play-dead strategy when confronted with MSM smears.

One hopes that McCain will learn that the MSM is not going to be even remotely fair to him, let alone put him back on their pedestal. A little irritation is a healthy thing.

MrGreyGhost says:

March 8, 2008 at 2:56 am

ST, while I hear the point you’re tying to make about McCain’s temper, I just don’t see it in this clip. The NYTimes reporter was clearly trying to badger and set him up (with the condescending “why are you so angry?” resort) and he handled it well, didn’t look angry at all, just annoyed as anyone would be with a paper that’s been clearly showing that they have an agenda against him.

DaMav says:

March 8, 2008 at 6:19 am

I have watched the clip several times and this was the most positive feeling I’ve had for McCain in many years.

He never raised his voice, he was very firm but not rude, and he basically backed a smarmy NY Times reporter who was trying to corner him into a corner and forced her to cease and desist the harassment.

Conservatives have so frequently complained about how the media abuses Bush but he rarely stands up to them. Well here we finally have a Republican who firmly and deliberately put the liberal media in its place.

Despite my very mixed feelings about McCain, I have to say this clip made me want to stand up and cheer. Good job John!

PoliGazette » John McCain and the New York Times, Part II says:

March 8, 2008 at 6:55 am

[…] Sister Toldjah argues that yes, the media are overdoing it, but it’s still a problem for McCain. He shouldn’t, quite simply, lose his cool: The NYT’s Elisabeth Bumiller is a lightweight compared to some of the intense pressure he’ll be getting from multiple corners, assuming he’s elected president. McCain needs to do better in the future. Let BO be the one who looks foolish when confronted with tough questions from the press. […]

Steve Skubinna says:

March 8, 2008 at 2:37 pm

Actually, I’d love to see McCain plunge his fist into a reporter’s chest cavity and pull out the heart, still beating. Then take a bite from it.

Yep, that would overcome nearly every concern I still have concerning him.

Failing that, maybe just pimp slapping the reporter would work.

Until we see him do any of those things, I’m not going to be concerned about his temper. And if we do see them, I’m going to be reassured that his temper is well under control and directed towards deserving targets.

NC Cop says:

March 8, 2008 at 5:14 pm

Don’t be ridiculous Steve!!!!!

That would require reporters to HAVE hearts.

Jay In Md. says:

March 9, 2008 at 11:55 pm

NC Cop

Man, I spit my coke out thru my nose LOL!!!