The Growing Visible Anger And Sarcasm Of Senator John McCain

Those of us who adored the 2000 incarnation of John McCain — including those of us who registered in primaries as Republicans to vote for him, thinking it was possibly the dawn of a new era — have been watching 2008 in horror as we’ve seen McCain’s personality change as he seemingly gets angrier by the week.

The most glaring example — now circulating via various You Tubes on the Internet — is a testy John McCain being interviewed by the Des Moines Register’s editorial board. In one fell swoop, gone is the pleasant, likable John McCain who appeared to be someone who could bring people together (despite reports from colleagues in Congress who didn’t like him, but some of them had political axes to grind). The Senator who proved such a genial, natural comedic actor in SNL skits has now been replaced by an irritated and verbally-aggressive politician whose anger issues have begun to raise eyebrows…and perhaps red warning flags. A “Happy Warrior,” he ain’t.

Here’s one of the the most popular You Tubes of McCain versus the Des Moines Register:

Lest I get yet more emails and phone calls from mentors and friends disowning me and labeling me a far-left Democrat for daring to criticize the 2008 McCain, the GOP Presidential candidate’s unfortunate transformation from the man who seemed most likely to attract voters from both parties and unify the country into an irritated, angry politician has also begun to attract the attention of major new and old media news organizations.

For instance, the AP says this:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain, once renowned for his jocular sessions with journalists, appeared irritable and at times sarcastic in an interview in which he defended running mate Sarah Palin’s experience and campaign ads critical of rival Barack Obama.

Meeting Tuesday with the editorial board of The Des Moines Register, McCain was asked why he picked the Alaska governor, someone “who doesn’t have a lot of experience.”

“Thank you, but I disagree with your fundamental principal that she doesn’t have the experience,” McCain replied before citing Palin’s work as a PTA member, city council member, mayor and governor. “You and I just have a fundamental disagreement, and I am so happy the American people seem to be siding with me.”

When it was suggested that Palin’s lack of experience worried voters, McCain turned sarcastic.

“Really? I haven’t detected that in the polls, I haven’t detected that among the base,” he said. “If there’s a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn’t like her, good luck. I don’t dismiss him. I think the American people have overwhelmingly shown their approval.”

At another point, McCain was asked if he’s strayed from his “straight talk” image with advertising that some have labeled deceptive. McCain dryly responded, “It would be valuable if you gave some examples for an assertion of that nature.”

It’s not unusual for journalists to challenge politicos, and for politicos to once in a while challenge a journalist. What’s notable here is McCain’s increasing sarcasm and dismissiveness — the same trait seen in his debate with Democrat Barack Obama.

What can you conclude from this?

Perhaps McCain is frustrated over the polls. Or has decided its time to take off the kid gloves. Or that this kind of video displays the McCain that his political foe colleagues have insisted they see.

But there is another conclusion.

What has been most notable this year has been the constant assumption on the part of McCain’s supporters and critics that some of the meanest, most sarcastic campaign ads and statements from his side were due to Karl Rove disciples or Rove himself.

But when you watch something like this you wonder: perhaps all of this has come from the top.

Meanwhile, some of us who so strongly and passionately supported McCain and couldn’t wait until he ran in 2008 mourn not so much a sense of a loss of innocence — but sadness as we watch a growing loss of class.

SOME OTHER ARTICLES ON THE SAME THEME:
–McCain Loses His Temper
–McCain: The Angry Warrior?
–Sarcasm From McCain to Iowa Paper
–Andy Card: I Have Seen John McCain’s Anger
–McCain Tense in Iowa Newspaper Interview

UPDATE: McCain openly showed irritation again…tonight…in the Senate when Obama came over to chat with him. Details HERE.