Richard Tafoya
Apr 20th, 2008, 12:25 PM
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/20/john-mccain-charles-grass_n_97626.html
Sunday's Washington Post features a front-page story examining the notorious temper of Sen. John McCain (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041902224_pf.html), including a first-hand account of McCain's physical altercation with fellow GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.
It was early 1992, and the occasion was an informal gathering of a select committee investigating lingering issues about Vietnam War prisoners and those missing in action, most notably whether any American servicemen were still being held by the Vietnamese. It is unclear precisely what issue set off McCain that day. But at some point, he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity to describe him. Grassley stood and, according to two participants at the meeting, told McCain, "I don't have to take this. I think you should apologize."
McCain refused and stood to face Grassley. "There was some shouting and shoving between them, but no punches," recalls a spectator, who said that Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey helped break up the altercation.
Earlier this month, The Huffington Post first reported (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/08/new-book-mccain-once-phys_n_95595.html) on charges leveled in Cliff Schecter's book, The Real McCain (http://www.amazon.com/Real-McCain-Conservatives-Independents-Shouldnt/dp/0979482291/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207606798&sr=8-1), that McCain had physically attacked GOP Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi. At the time, McCain issued a non-denial denial (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/09/mccain-responds-to-report_n_95853.html), saying the reports about his temper were either "false or exaggerated."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/20/john-mccain-charles-grass_n_97626.html
Sunday's Washington Post features a front-page story examining the notorious temper of Sen. John McCain (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041902224_pf.html), including a first-hand account of McCain's physical altercation with fellow GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.
It was early 1992, and the occasion was an informal gathering of a select committee investigating lingering issues about Vietnam War prisoners and those missing in action, most notably whether any American servicemen were still being held by the Vietnamese. It is unclear precisely what issue set off McCain that day. But at some point, he mocked Grassley to his face and used a profanity to describe him. Grassley stood and, according to two participants at the meeting, told McCain, "I don't have to take this. I think you should apologize."
McCain refused and stood to face Grassley. "There was some shouting and shoving between them, but no punches," recalls a spectator, who said that Nebraska Democrat Bob Kerrey helped break up the altercation.
Earlier this month, The Huffington Post first reported (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/08/new-book-mccain-once-phys_n_95595.html) on charges leveled in Cliff Schecter's book, The Real McCain (http://www.amazon.com/Real-McCain-Conservatives-Independents-Shouldnt/dp/0979482291/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207606798&sr=8-1), that McCain had physically attacked GOP Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi. At the time, McCain issued a non-denial denial (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/09/mccain-responds-to-report_n_95853.html), saying the reports about his temper were either "false or exaggerated."