I've never seen a politician who makes enemies so casually and for so little reason than McCain:
House GOP says McCain will pay for ‘humor’
By Betsy Rothstein
Angered by Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) gibes at the House, some House Republicans warned last week that they will never again support his proposals.
“It will be a cold day in hell before I vote for anything he’s sponsoring,” said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho). “He has lost any credibility in the House that he ever had.”
House members’ ire was triggered by McCain’s recent appearance on the David Letterman show when he ridiculed House members as “real profiles in courage” and folks who “head for the hills” after the House shut down because of the anthrax scare while the Senate stayed in session.
Even Rep. Peter King (N.Y.), one of the few Republicans who supported McCain during last year’s GOP presidential primaries, said he was “very disappointed” in McCain’s comments, even though McCain said he was only joking.
“I’m really disgusted with the Senate and … John as an individual,” King said. “It was a sorry time for the Senate. They showed themselves to be a bunch of pompous windbags.”
King insisted that House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) “definitely did the right thing,” given the fact that anthrax spores were later discovered in two House office buildings.
“It sounded as if [senators] were on the front lines in Afghanistan when they were hiding in their hideaway offices,” King added. “I believe [Sen. Majority Leader Tom] Daschle [D-S.D.] reneged. Hastert tells us Daschle reneged.”
House members say congressional leaders agreed to shut down both the House and Senate after anthrax was discovered in Daschle’s office and 22 of his staffers subsequently tested positive for exposure. But Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) has denied there was any deal.
McCain described his remarks as humor. “I’ve said on numerous occasions that humor was a vital part of my existence during stressful times in my life, and I will continue to indulge in it,” said McCain, a Navy pilot who spent six years as a North Vietnam prisoner of war.
Some senators took McCain’s remarks with a grain of salt — and a little humor.
Asked about McCain’s comments, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), without skipping a beat, jokingly took a jab at his own son. “Well, Patrick’s a wimp, OK?” said Kennedy.
When told what his father had said, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) laughed. “I don’t think I’m much in a position to be full of pride, because right now I need him more than he needs me,” he said, referring to his education bill.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) also has no problem with McCain. “I’m not judged by Sen. McCain. And frankly, we did the right thing no matter what happens,” she declared. “He certainly has a right to his opinion.”
Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), who served with McCain in the House, took McCain’s words in stride. “Well, John was the president of my class, so I know John very well,” said Burton. “He’s a man who speaks his mind. Most of the time he’s accurate. That’s most of the time,” he said emphasizing the word “most,” and insisting that he, too, has a sense of humor.
Added Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), “I guess we’re getting back to normal. I heard his remarks. I thought they were pretty funny.”
Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) predicted that McCain’s comments will have no bearing on the senator’s relations with the House. “A lot of people realize Sen. McCain is prone to that kind of visceral response,” he said.
Nonetheless, some members continue to take offense at McCain’s remarks.
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) remarked, “These guys made a terrible mistake trying to thumb their nose at Speaker Hastert, who is probably the most decent politician on Capitol Hill. In the short term, it has broken down the collegiality that I’m sure existed before they started shooting their mouths off.”
LaHood added, “A lot of our members kind of wonder about John to begin with, and this holier-than-thou stuff, and the pompous way he tried to carry off McCain-Feingold [campaign finance reform]. To be honest, guys like McCain owe the Speaker an apology.”
Added Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), “McCain has never been accused of being a team player.” The Georgia lawmaker said he believes McCain’s remarks will have a lasting effect: “People tend to remember that kind of thing.”
hillnews.com |
