I got a great idea how about we nominate someone that is openly called a "bitch" at public events.

sounds like a great candidate,

How is this news?

What did you expect him to do?

At least he shrugged it off and changed the subject, instead of adressing the question as if it deserved an answer.

The republican establishment really, really wants clinton II to be the dem nominee. How much more evidence do you hillary-lovers need? What a dumb statement and only designed to get dems to vote for clinton II and the republican base fired up. How pathetic.

This reminds me of when he wouldn't dare not support the flying of the confederate flag in South Carolina in 2000. (He belatedly issued a mea culpa on that, if I recall correctly. ) I have a lot of respect for his enduring captivity as a POW, for his opposition to Bush's torture policy, and for his championing of campaign finance reform. But his desperate craving to be President seems to override his basic sense of decency.

Is Greg Sargent really this bored?

come on. you don't think that mccain should have said, "I disagree with Hillary about many things, but I don't think it's appropriate to describe her with such language."

Quel'horror!

Let's see, Bush has been labelled loser/junkie/asshole/scumbag/criminal/piece of shit/cocksucker/motherfucker and on and on and on ad infinitum...

Why report this foolishness?

Greg:

Just curious, did you stumble across this question on your own or did a little birdie forward it to you?

And I think McCain handled it fine--he didn't dignify it with a response. Though I see your point, if say, someone had referred to Obama as a n---er, there might be quite the uproar if McCain didn't say anything either.

...and some of us wonder why Democrats are pigeonholed as spineless pu$$ies

NEXT!

Even if he didn't do anything at the time, afterward, McCain should have said that it debases politics to use intemperate language to refer to one's opponents.

It's called the High Road, and Mr. Sanctimony John McCain used to try to hit it as often as possible. I guess not so much now. Can't offend the base, since his main campaign right now, as seen in his ads, seems to be to run against Hillary rather than running for anything.

Greg wrote on November 13, 2007 12:33 PM:
come on. you don't think that mccain should have said, "I disagree with Hillary about many things, but I don't think it's appropriate to describe her with such language."

This would have led to an ugly exchange with the questioner that would have gotten out of control. Which I'm sure you would have also reported. Find something real to write about.

It was a real missed opportunity for some work on the "vitriolic, partisan" political environment we keep hearing complaints about.

McCain could have said, "Look, there's no call for language like that. She's a United States Senator, just as I am, and that deserves some common respect. Now, she's wrong on a lot of points, like (x,y,z McCain soundbites) and that's why we're going to beat her."

If someone at an Obama rally referred to Giuliani as "the fucknard" or what have you, I really hope that Barack would have the strength of character to laugh it off. I'd sure be laughing. Why again is this a thing?

That's Bad ass bitch to you, you little 80 year old mccain cock-tease of a wench.

Seriously,..what the Fox is Fox News reporting,...it's like the national inquirer on video over there.

So if a woman calls another woman a bitch, is that the same as a man calling her a bitch?

Wow, is it really so hard to muster the simple decency to say something like, "Excuse me sir, but I'm offended by your comment. Senator Clinton and I disagree strongly on the direction this country should go, but there should be no place for that sort of name calling in our democracy."? If I were at a work function and someone referred to one of my colleagues as a "bitch" you'd better beleive there's no way I'd just laugh it off.

If John McCain can't defend a colleague against an anonymous guy in a crowd, then how will he defend our country against Al Qaeda?

iVoted4Nader wrote on November 13, 2007 12:44 PM:

"Bitch?" I think that referred to "Ghoulianni"

Although I disagree with iVoted4Nader on nearly every issue, I want to make it perfectly clear that there's no place in this campaign for purposefully misspelling Rudy's last name.

Indignantly yours,

colonpowwow

You've just got to love those women who reinforce misogynistic terms and drag other women down with them.

Come on people! It's OKIYAR!

"I can't say it, but it rhymes with rich." (about vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro -- Barbara Bush

Jim,
"Let's see, Bush has been labelled loser/junkie/asshole/scumbag/criminal/piece of shit/cocksucker/motherfucker and on and on and on ad infinitum..."

I don't think Bush is a motherfucker.

And that's an insult how? If a woman's in the WH that's exactly the kind you want there....and if its a man you want a son of one.

i dont udnerstand what everyone is so riled up about. Its not like McCain used derogatory language himself. OH NO, HE LAUGHED IT OFF. What was he supposed to do? Say, No, she's not a bitch, thats not nice...or Heck yea, dam bitch screwing my campeign up. Give me a break! im tired of the media playing up things that shouldn't even be news at all.

Hillary's poll #s can only go up from this.

A good lesson to be learned here!!! Using such language on your opponents only strengthens them with their supporters. It may make you feel good, but it UNECESSARILY emboldens your opponents supporters. Bush is a great example. We don't want hard core opposition, we want to create doubt and uncertainty in their ranks and the only way to bring that about is by dealing with issues.

Oh let's see, one response might have been. "I'd ask you to show at least a modicum of respect for a U.S. Senator and former first lady."

He could have gotten back some independent voters with even a minimal show of class and gallantry.

That lady reminds me of my grandmother...
:-)

Boy I miss her!

...well, two people handled it right, the questioner and the questioned.

...doubt if the accused can.

"He could have gotten back some independent voters with even a minimal show of class and gallantry."

That'd be nice, but you can really see what McCain's made of in situations like this. One thing about McCain: he's never afraid to sink to the level of his audience.

Now I wonder if McCain or any of the other male candidates for President would call a female World Leader that? There are many female Presidents representing countries around the world. Right now Bush had a meeting with the German President. McCain is upset that he was promised the White House if he got Bush in office. Now the GOP base is giving their support to Mob King Rudy. This shows the world that American Men have little to no respect for woman and with that said it also shows they have no respect for their Moms or sisters either. Name calling is for children and an Adult comes in to correct it. McCain's Mother should have been called to correct her son. Yes it's better late then never to raise your child with respect and not have a dirty mouth.

So, what I want to know, is that ancient little creature mortified that she has exposed her foul mouth and nasty personality nationwide? Is she horrified that people in every state aren't buying that her shriveled face isn't the twenty years younger the doctor said she'd look? Is she chainsmoking on the veranda and wishing she hadn't had that second glass of wine that always make her act such a cunt that her husband wonders who she's become?

gruntled wrote on November 13, 2007 2:32 PM:

So, what I want to know, is that ancient little creature mortified that she has exposed her foul mouth and nasty personality nationwide?

I sincerely doubt it. Republicans don't mortify easily. After all, we are talking about people who support people like Dick Cheney, who on the floor of the Senate, addressed a senator with the words "Fuck you".

Think of the irony....

In about 16 months, McCain, Giulliani, et al. may very well be Hillary's bitches.

She can wipe the floor with them - so to speak

Anonymous wrote on November 13, 2007 12:51 PM:

"some little black student"

seriously?

------

Amen to that. Appalling.

POed Lib,I'm sorry that you you were unfairly assumed to have said that racist remark. And yet I suggest that you consider this: your anger against the people who filed the complaint seems to be blocking you from seeing that even if you didn't say that racist comment in your class, you are not free of racism. Would you type "little black student" in a forum where you were not anonymous?

These issues intersect so perfectly, and I swear, it's like fighting the tide to even get one person to look at their biases. The year that the word bitch is not heard when a woman is on the trail, we will all be freer.

Sadly, I'm old enough to remember when politics used to be civil and everyone knew that both sides wanted the country to succeed only that they had different ideas of how it would do that.

Nowadays, it seems if you don't like the Administration's (Republican)way, you hate America and want us to lose the war blah-blah-blah! That's absurd!

Unfortunately, after the Mukasey fiasco I don't think the Dems are doing much better than the Republicans.

ie., At the time, I wanted us to go to war. (Ooops!). However, when we went to war I expected us to win in a timely fashion. That's what didn't happen.

Those of us who, after time, got fed up with Iraq did so because we got tired of Bush's War not working.

Dr Doug

Bitch was the wrong word to use. Corporate Whore is the right one. Republican candidates are always Corporate Whores, and so is the DLC, Blue Dog, Republican Lite candidate: Hillary Clinton.
Liberals and Progressives have no intention of voting Republican OR Republican Lite in 2008, because we're tired of Corporate Whores running and controlling this nation. And a majority of American's seem to agree. So why is Hillary being promoted as though she is the official nominee before the primary has even started?
Isn't about time for the Democratic Party to start promoting candidates that they know ALL Democrats will be willing to get behind? Most Democrats don't have a problem with either Obama or Edwards who are the other front runners, but all we keep hearing is Hillary, Hillary, Hillary.
Well, I cannot, and will not vote for Hillary, and neither will an enormous number of other Liberal and Progressive Democrats.

"some little black student"
LITTLE? What does that mean? You know you might have needed that meeting, though it sounds like you think you didn't so I guess it didn't help. I hope you can think on your feet a little better nowadays.

"the Ohio State University"
THE? Big deal, hot shot.

McCain's laughter is taken out of context. In looking at the complete video, with no cuts, He (to me) appeared a bit taken aback and embarrassed by the question until someone called out "I thought they
were talking about my ex-wife."

He was laughing at the latter, not at the b***ch question.

Not that I think the latter comment is funny either, but I don't like it that the video has been cut to give
an inaccurate impression.