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McCain Loses Cool With NY Times Reporter

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March 07, 2008 12:44 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Senator John McCain grew agitated Friday with a New York Times reporter who asked about his 2004 conversation with then-Democratic nominee John Kerry about McCain possibly running as Kerry’s vice presidential nominee.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

McCain was addressing reporters on his campaign plane flying between Atlanta and New Orleans. He had just come from a town hall style meeting in Atlanta, where he was asked by a member of the audience whether he might consider Kerry as his vice president, the way Kerry had considered McCain.

"No. No," McCain said in the town hall meeting. “We have very vastly different philosophical fundamental political views. I respect those views. I respect them, I just totally disagree with them.”

McCain continued: “When I was approached, when we had that conversation back in 2004, I mean that’s why I never even considered such a thing.”

On the plane, the Times’ Elisabeth Bumiller, asked McCain about that meeting, quoting a 2004 story in which McCain said the meeting hadn’t taken place. McCain responded forcefully, his displeasure on display, but never raising his voice, telling Bumiller: “there is no living American in Washington” who doesn’t know about that meeting. 

Bumiller pressed on, and McCain insisted that she knew of the meeting as well.

“You know it too. You know it. So I don’t even know why you ask.”

The back and forth went on for nearly two minutes before Bumiller asked a question on another topic. At that point, McCain resumed his more typical demeanor.

The following is an ABC News transcript of the conversation:

New York Times correspondent Elisabeth Bumiller: Senator can I ask you about Senator Kerry. I just went back and looked at our story, the Times story, and you told Sheryl Stolberg that you had never had a conversation with Kerry about being, about Vice President –

John McCain: Everybody knows that I had a private conversation. Everybody knows that. That I had a conversation. There’s no living American in Washington -

EB: Okay.

McCain: - that knows that, there’s no one.

EB: Okay

McCain: And you know it too. You know it. You know it. So I don’t even know why you ask.

EB: Well I ask because I just read –-

McCain: You do know it. You do know it.

EB: Because I just read in the Times in May of ’04 you said.

McCain: I don’t know what you may have read or heard of, I don’t know the circumstances. Maybe in May of 04 I hadn’t had the conversation --

EB: But do you recall the conversation?

McCain: I don’t know, but it’s well known that I had the conversation. It is absolutely well known by everyone. So do you have a question on another issue?

EB: Well can I ask you when the conversation was?

McCain: No. Nope, because the issue is closed as far as I’m concerned. Everybody knows it. Everybody knows it in America.

EB: Can you describe the conversation?

McCain: Pardon me.

EB: Can you describe the conversation?

McCain: No, of course not. I don’t describe private conversations.

EB: Okay. Can I ask you –

McCain: Why should I? Then there’s no such thing as a private conversation. Is there (inaudible) if you have a private conversation with someone, and then they come and tell you. I don’t know that that’s a private conversation. I think that’s a public conversation.

EB. Okay. Can I ask you about your (pause) Why you’re so angry?

McCain: Pardon me?

EB: Nevermind, nevermind.

McCain: I mean it’s well known. Everybody knows. It’s been well chronicled a thousand times. John Kerry asked if I would consider being his running mate.

EB: Right.

McCain: And I said categorically no, under no circumstances. That’s all very well known.

EB: Okay, let me ask you… (moves on to another question.)

March 7, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (224)

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It was an amazingly unprofessional performance by yet another N.Y. Times reporter with an agenda. Why are you so angry? What kind of unbiased question is that? Is she a therapist? Besides, McCain didn't look angry to me, he just looked annoyed, and with good reason. McCain should have asked her what the point was in dredging up old news. Isn't there anything current she could ask about?

Posted by: Rich | Mar 8, 2008 10:32:47 AM

Thought McCain was Irish, why help the French get the airbus contract?

Posted by: Nelly | Mar 8, 2008 11:46:46 AM

"Lose's his Cool"? I don't think so. He stated a FACT! Deal with it!
Go ahead Mr. President, tell it like it is!

Posted by: Mr President McCain | Mar 8, 2008 12:06:24 PM

McCain, airbus Google it up. U.S. Air Force outsourcing

Posted by: Nelly | Mar 8, 2008 12:06:33 PM

Remember when the New York Times was respectable? Those days are long gone!

Posted by: Ask Me How I Really Feel | Mar 8, 2008 12:08:28 PM

An anthropologist once pointed out to me the difference in a white collar definition of aggression and the blue collar definition. Raising your voice is losing your cool to some segments of society. Anything short of physical contact is self control to others.

I don’t think McCain lost his cool. He simply responded to the repeated question with a repeated answer and tried to avoid further ridiculousness by responding with increased firmness. If someone could classify this as “losing his cool” the actions of Ms. Heinz-Kerry a few years ago could be classified as no less than first degree murder.

Posted by: jijalagi | Mar 8, 2008 12:14:28 PM

Actually, the American taxpayer ought to be the ones angry at Sen. McCain especially if you're concerned about jobs going overseas. Sen. McCain played a primary role in sending the contract to build Airforce tankers to Airbus instead of Boeing. He pressured the Airforce to ignore the Europeon government provided subsidies that allowed Airbus to undercut Boeing. So much for supporting the American economy and workers. Thanks, McCain!

Posted by: tangodancer | Mar 8, 2008 12:34:54 PM

McCain didn't lose his temper. I saw the video. He was simply emphatic about the points he was making. He didn't shout, he didn't use profanity, and he wasn't disrespectful. This is coming from someone who's not even a McCain supporter.

Posted by: eric | Mar 8, 2008 1:09:20 PM

I think that Obama tries to impress people by saying that he will make a change.His time as senator, he also said this,so if he'll do what he says, we'll see.Hilary dont know, she says whatever the people want to hear,and not what she really thinks. Sometimes she'll say she's for something and then a couple weeks later,[in a different state]shell say she;s against it.So I don't know if we could trust her.Many people say that she's had much experience, but so has Mcain. When Mcain was trying to tell the reporter that he wasn't going to say anything, the reporter kept on,and on. If somebody kept asking me the same question, over and over,I would prob. get a little mad too.

Posted by: Mcain01. | Mar 8, 2008 1:12:38 PM

I have one question since MCCain's citizenship was raised on one of the new station what is the outcome is he a BORN U.S. CITIZEN or not. If he is not a citizen of these U.S. then the republican party need another candiate. If this is not addressed fully it will set precedent and cause others to try and run for president in the future who are not born citizens. (example Calif. Governor) this should be made clear RIG NOW!!

Posted by: dd | Mar 8, 2008 1:16:22 PM

dd McCain is a citizen.

McCain's father and mother were american citizens.

Arnold's parents weren't american citizens.

McCain's father was ordered by the u.s government to deploy.

McCain's father was serving the U.S in the Navy.

Arnold's father was a citizen of Austria.

McCain was born in a U.S military hospital.

Arnold was born in a foreign country and was a citizen of a foreign country.

McCain was born on u.s territory in a military hospital to american citizens.


To compare McCain to Arnold is WRONG.

They are completely different situations.

The worst part the NY Times threw out this garbage to hurt McCain with lies.

Posted by: John | Mar 8, 2008 1:34:24 PM

Hey John, sort of like the lies the right tells about Obama regarding his religion? Funny how we fail to point that out while trying to defend attacks against McCain. I agree with you 100% regarding there being no question to his nationality but why is it the right never defend the ridiculous attacks against dems perpetrated by their own? Most repeat it as gospel. I guess it really is just a matter of character..... or lack there of.

Posted by: dk | Mar 8, 2008 3:41:13 PM

McCain's outrageous temper in positively legendary around Washington.

So, regrettably, is his womanizing.

I expect many more revelations about both McCain characteristics to surface in the weeks and months ahead.

Posted by: Mark | Mar 8, 2008 3:45:38 PM

It's OBVIOUS that McCain and Hillary's operatives are earning their money with their planted statements. How can anyone say Obama is arrogant? He's been taking the high road from day one, taking his ideas to the American people and NOT slinging mud at his opponents, while Hillary and McCain just assumed they'd be crowned the nominees because they think THEY DESERVE IT, even though they both showed lousy judgment that ought to preclude them from being candidates in the first place. To say Obama's running for arrogance is a total lie, too. He's gotten tons of death threats from thosesame blue-collar high school dropouts who love Hillary so much, probably just because she's white. It certainly can't be for her record (she has none) or her NAFTA stance that decimated the lifeless corpse that was American's manufacturers. I don't care who you vote for, but base it on the facts, NOT emotional ravings not based on fact.

Posted by: bill smith | Mar 8, 2008 5:06:21 PM

OBAMA EDWARDS THE WINNING TICKET

Posted by: BOB | Mar 8, 2008 5:07:43 PM

What a tragedy for the American peoples that we are subjected to this Bush-backed loser of a republican candidate.
I'm ashamed to be a republican. John McCain, YOU SUCK BIG TIME!!!!

Posted by: Webber53 | Mar 8, 2008 5:43:01 PM

FLIP, FLOP, ...
FLIP, FLOP, ...
FLIP, FLOP, ...
FLIP, FLOP, ...
FLIP, FLOP, ...

Posted by: Mark Webb | Mar 8, 2008 5:50:53 PM

FLIP = What BHO says about NAFTA to the American public to get elected.

FLOP = What BHO says about NAFTA to the Canadian government behind closed doors.

Posted by: cavan | Mar 8, 2008 7:34:39 PM

One thing is for sure: The republicans have no chance in 2008 with McCain as their choice. I don't think Americans are too keen on his 100 year grand scheme over there in Iraq, not to mention his attitude towards other nations in the vicinity. I will vote for the small government, antiwar fiscal conservative still running against McCain. Heck, Huckabee would have been better than McCain. Seems to me the republican base isn't too smart.

Posted by: antenian | Mar 8, 2008 8:38:09 PM

so sad that this is what the Republican party comes up with. Why is it that 2/3 of the anti-war republican vote goes to a candidate who walks around singing "bomb bomb Iran" at campaign rallies?

Posted by: holding my nose didn't do it, i got a facemask | Mar 9, 2008 3:23:37 AM

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