McCain (jokingly) raises the stakes

Posted: Thursday, October 19, 2006 11:38 AM by Elizabeth Wilner
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC's WHO-TV in Des Moines and MSNBC's Hardball
Sen. John McCain (R) joked yesterday that he would "commit suicide" if Democrats win control of the Senate in November.

McCain made the remark during a campaign stop in Iowa on behalf of Republican congressional candidates. When asked for his reaction to a potential Democratic takeover of the Senate in the midterm elections, McCain said, "I think I'd just commit suicide... I don't want to face that eventuality because I don't think it's going to happen. I think it's going to be tough, but I think we'll do OK."

Asked about the comment by MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Hardball last night, McCain, said, "I thought that was a pretty good line." Matthews: "But is it that important?" McCain: "I think it's important to America, but I think it's -- every once in a while, we should have a little levity."

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Comments

Suicide is NOT a joke. Period.

SB, NoVa (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:49 PM)

So when Dems worry about Repub takeovers, they threaten to move to Canada. However, when Repubs worry about Dem takeovers, they threaten to commit suicide. Who is more partisan in this picture?

John Doe, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:49 PM)

Just remember, you know you're actually getting somewhere when your Republican friends or colleagues get either really quite or verbally comabative. It's a fear of logic, an insane hope that the next scandal will erase the ill affects of the current one (um, wait, that was kind of working for the GOP until recently), and it's another chance to dress McCarthyism up in Jesus or Terrorism or Torture or whatever else will keep them in power. At any cost. That's the real problem; you can't negotiate with someone who has no regard for human life, and you can't beat the GOP unless you are willing to fight and stay the course.

Joe Davis (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:51 PM)

Now I really want the democrates to win. Just carry through with your word John

Kevin Mills, Atkins, Arkansas (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:52 PM)

Remember how Repugs went apeshit when some celebs said they would leave the country if Duhbya won.

Mr October (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:54 PM)

I am an Independent and up until the (so called) compromise between McCain and Bush I believed that McCain was a good alternative. The only problem is that this so called compromise was exactly what Bush wanted and McCain did the dirty work to make it look like the congress was fighting for the people. McCain was probably told by Rove "do this and we will make you president". After the Hardball show and McCains "joke" I now have no further respect for him and hope that he will now just fade back into the background and let the Democrates do the job he should of been doing.

Brandon Makoroff, Los Angeles, Ca (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:55 PM)

That's funny, he doesn't look Islamic.

MK, Janesville, WI (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:58 PM)

I too was a Democrat who had great respect for McCain. From everything I read, he seemed to really stand for middle of the road common sense. But when faced with questions about the ungodly poor job the Republicans have been doing in office...well...I can only surmise that Carl Rove purchased some sort of mind control device from the Viet Cong or something.

Jeff (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:00 PM)

I guess McCain considers himself an "across-the-aisle" figure only when the Republicans are in the majority. I realize he was only joking, but suggesting that a Democrat-led Congress could be grounds for suicide puts him in a class with Ann Coulter. The funny thing is I remember thinking the same thing about the Republicans in 1994, though no one running that fall would have been so uncouth as to say it at a campaign event.

Edward Shaw, CT (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:01 PM)

I will tell that joke to my children who's father committed suicide. I am sure they will think it is hilarious. What an insensitive pompous ass.

Trish (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:03 PM)

John McCain absolutley did drink the Kool-Aid. He's not a maverick. He's not a statesman. He sold his soul. He's just another politician. Good bye, John.

Kate Voorhees NJ (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:04 PM)

To think that McCain was the ONLY republican I admired up until his recent attack on Clinton, his suicide comment and last night's performance on Hardball with Chris Matthews. What a sell-out!!!!! He's a BUSHER (because Bushies is far too cutesy for these thugs), through and through.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:07 PM)

My husband of 15 years blew his brains out.. I somehow forgot to laugh.. My young children did also.........

Deanna lemons Lake City TN (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:08 PM)

This is the most recent in a coming series of tactics that the Republicans will use as the election approaches. First the levity:lighten the tone so people see issues as under their control and they are not panicking. As soon as someone else takes a similar tact, they'll be labeled, and under attack for not being serious about Americam security and issues.

Elliot White (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:08 PM)

Responding to Andrew: After 9/11 I said to my wife, "Just watch, no matter what happens, the Republicans will forget and create historic deficits, abrogate the Geneva Conventions, ignore the real threats of North Korea and Iran, start and not finish two sloppy wars, insult our allies, degrade our standing in the world, pay-off the wealthy and humiliate the poor, claim grandiose programs and fail to fund them and generally function as arrogant and incompetent leaders." Judging from all events, I was right. Furthermore, What kind of person says things like "Mission Accomplished?" I'm guessing an uninformed right wing nut ball who has proven to be a failure. (therein lies the ignominy.)

Bob, Boston, MA. (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:09 PM)

Democrats are classic- if it's Bill Clinton and he wags the finger, so what. But if a Republican makes a joke about himself, wow, watch out. The difference between what he said and celebrities against Bush in the last election were the personal attacks against George Bush and in this situation there is no personal attack only self-deprecating humor. But then Democrats can't tell the difference because of their intellectual dishonesty.

Jowika, Woodland Hills, CA (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:10 PM)

Hey John, instead of committing suicide if the democrats take control of Senate, why don't you try becoming an independent? That way you'll save your soul – in more ways than one! You should have gone independent in 2000 and run for President. I would have voted for you and I'm a true blue democrat. Don't think there's anything you can do now to win my vote.

Carole Lockhart, Pensacola, FL (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:11 PM)

Senator McCain tries to create the perception that he's a man of principle and that he's above the corruption and mud-slinging that goes on in Washington. In reality, he's no different than most Washington politicians. I fell for his lies once when I spoke on his behalf in my precinct during the Iowa caucuses in 2000. I won't make that mistake again. A man of principle and courage would go into South Carolina and take an unequivical stand against the racially-insensitive "Stars and Bars". He would uphold his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. He would stand against the President when the President tramples on the COnstitution. Above all, he would realize that he is a public servant and not merely a servant of the Republican Party. He would understand that our government is a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." He would not make smart-ass comments that alienate half the country. He would not demonize the opposition. He would leave that to Hannity, Coulter and Michael Moore.

K. Olson, Des Moines, Iowa (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:11 PM)

In 2004 elections 2.6M of us were idiots...let's count this election.....John McCain stand by your words and we'll have one less idiot in 2008 elections

Sam (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:12 PM)

Why do people still take McCain seriously? He is the biggest sellout of them all. The GOP have taken strikes against his mental well-being, his wife, his child, his service to this country. Now they tell him that they are standing by him on his stance against torture, the whole time they are issuing signing statements (the equivilent of having your fingers crossed). He's a coward and as self-involved as Joe Lieberman is.

Shawn Fassett, Auburn, Wash (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:13 PM)

Andrew: Does CONSERVATIVE mean not running up a huge deficit? Does CONSERVATIVE mean not creating more government and government spending? Does CONSERVATIVE mean passing laws that diminish the basis of our constitution? Does CONSERVATIVE mean making the executive branch more powerful. Does CONSERVATIVE mean having the legislative branch afraid to check the executive? I would think that blind faith in any politician or political party is a sign of ignorance. Something that both you and John McCain displayed greatly.

Jeff, Blue Springs,MO (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:15 PM)

Does this blog have anyone but 99% Democrats who read it?

Paul, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:16 PM)

"But then Democrats can't tell the difference because of their intellectual dishonesty." Yeah, I guess we all got caught up in the search for WMD, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, "For us or against us" (unless you're Pakistan or Saudia Arabia), borrowing enormous sums of money from China to pay off rich Americans to turn a blind eye to a police state in the making, "life is sacred" - until it's born, then it's meat for a Texas fast-track execution, and all the other "intellectually dishonest" garbage we liberals have vomited onto America for 8 years. Thank God the Bush Republicans are here to keep us honest.

Another Future Enemy of the State (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:24 PM)

"Does this blog have anyone but 99% Democrats who read it? " Read it and weep - we've had enough of the New American Fascism and cowards who spit on the Constitution.

! (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:25 PM)

Maybe McCain, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rove should all drink the grape Kool-Aid together....

Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:26 PM)

Paul from Denver, you have a goodpoint, but isn't the whole country 99% democrat by now? if they're not, they will be by 2008.

Sharon Cocoa Beach, Florida (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:26 PM)

To Paul in Denver Just to disagree with John McCain or George Bush does not make one a Democrat. Just like to question a loss of liberty does not make one a terrorist. It's called Independent thinking.

Lorna, Philadelphia (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:27 PM)

Sad, sad, sad, McCain drank the kool-aid, I always respected this man and thought it was totally outrageous what happend to him by the Bush campaign in 2000, but he decided that running for President is more important than standing your ground on torture and decrying these GOP mafia members for what they are, crooks and liars. He certainly has decided that power is more important then truth, or representing the American Public, instead he has decided that kissing the butts of the Religious right and big corporations is the way to go. Hopefully McCain, and a whole lot of other people on both sides will soon disappear and we can bring in a fresh face group that haven't been totally corrupted yet. We can only hope. Grannysue

Sue Filutze (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:28 PM)

What's so humorous about suicide? Having lost two people very dear to me in a period of two and a half years to suicide, I find Mr. McCain's sense of humor to be particularly offensive, nearly as much so as the general level of morality of the Republican party as demonstrated by President Bush's jihad!

David Whittlesey, Prescott, AZ (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:28 PM)

No, Paul, it doesn't have 99% Democrats. It does, however, consist of 99% sane people...many whom have finally woken up and cannot wait until November to vote.

Jeff, Grand Rapids, MI (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:30 PM)

You people need to get a sence of humor. C'mon guy...it was just a friggin joke. McCain is a hell of a lot better then what Bush ever was and will be anyway.

Thomas Wilcox, APO, AE (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:30 PM)

I really liked McKain.I though he speak his mind and he has a mind of his own. I even thought I would vote for him. He just lost my vote. Way to turn positive into negatives.

DG (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:30 PM)

John McCain- My husband blew his brains out the day after 9/11, as a widow of suicide, I still do not think it is a laughing/joking matter. Wake up and smell the coffee!! Sounds like you need a reality check- Perhaps a major wage cut will assist you. Did you really think suicide is a joking matter??!! Your a disgrace! Shame on you!!!

Kathy Shainoff, Twinsburg, Ohio (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:32 PM)

Jeff from Blue Springs--RIGHT ON! It is a never ending source of amazement that almost everything of any substance that Bush has done runs counter to what "conservatives" supposedly stand for and yet they support him fanatically. It's better to tax and spend than to spend into bankruptcy. Staying the course didn't work too well on the Titanic, either. Have faith that the ship won't sink and don't worry about the reality-based iceberg. I'd also like to add: GO TIGERS!

Jane Doe, Metro Detroit (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:32 PM)

If the American public does not come to their senses soon and John McCain would ever get elected, we can expect to go back into Vietnam and finish some "unfinished business."

Mike McDermott, Grand Island, Nebraska (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:32 PM)

The GOP calls Kerry a flip-flopper during the '04 elections but doesn't do the same for McCain? Pot meet kettle indeed.

Colin Milwaukee, WI (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:33 PM)

This sounds like a win-win situation to me. Democrats in power and one less Republican't.

John Tate (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:34 PM)

Thomas. Suicide a joke. Has any one in your family commited suicide. I don't think so. You would then know that it is no joke.

Ann (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:35 PM)

Blah, blah, blah. This is your boss speaking, now get back to work you goofs.

Ur. Boss, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:37 PM)

Nothing funny about suicide. I'm sorry, but there isn't. The truth about McCain is this: he is just another toady for the Republican establishment. His spin doctors have done okay so far, but he will undo himself - and them - long before 2008. IMHO.

Paul DC, New York, NY (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:38 PM)

Suicide is a great joke!!!! Why don't you come and tell that one to my kids? We forgot to laugh when their dad killed himself...maybe this time it will be funny. Perhaps you should use your brain before opening your mouth!!!

Amanda F, Mooresville NC (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:39 PM)

Senator McCain's comments are an inherent part of our democratic process. His comments are being blown completely out of proportion, and these blogs are unfairly tying him too closely to the Bush Administration. Sure, Senator McCain is campaining for Republican Congressional candidates, but what would you expect him to do? I hope all who read this realizes that this is the system we have and it IS political by nature. However, a close analysis of the Senator's views, voting, etc., shows he is a Republican but an independent thinker. I agree that his actions have become a bit more conservative as 2008 approaches, but Senator Clinton's actions have become a bit more liberal. IT IS OUR PROCESS, and we should be thankful that we have public servants like Senator McCain (and others, such as John Edwards and Colin Powell) who support their party but are not afraid to break from the party if the situation so dictates. Has everyone already forgotten about the bipartisan group of Senators (including McCain) who avoided a deadlock on federal judges, or the fact that Senator McCain recently publicly opposed the Bush Administration's interpretation of the Geneva Convention (a very hot subject)? Please keep Senator McCain's comments - and comments from other politicians - in context. I hope Senator McCain runs for president, and, if so, I will support him.

Chad Jackson (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:43 PM)

Add me to the list of former McCain admirers. As an independant, I have honestly felt Dubya was an idiot from the beginning but held out hope that McCain was different. I respected him as a patriot and POW who thought for himself. I actually felt outrage for him when the Bushies swiftboated him in 2000 before we knew what "swiftboating" was. His actions over the last few years have destroyed any respect I may have had for him. Does this "win at all cost, the people should not decide" mentality scare anyone else?

Andrew, Cincinnati, OH (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:44 PM)

I use to like McCain and I'm a die hard Democrat. He lost me months ago when he stopped being independent and started kissing the 'Bushy' butt. As far as I'm concerned, he can go ahead and do himself in. At his point in time, one less Repug in Congress would be a blessing.

Karen, Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:45 PM)

Spoken like a man with something held over his head like maybe some illegal campaign contributions or possibly he is the father of a colored child from a extra martial affair a few years back.

Brad H vic BC (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:45 PM)

This is just another example of what a sinking ship the Republicans are on. Desperate Times call for desperate measures! I am sure most americans feel suicide a suitable alternative to another 4 years of a republican Whitehouse as well!

Lets take America Back (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:48 PM)

"You people need to get a sence of humor. C'mon guy...it was just a friggin joke. McCain is a hell of a lot better then what Bush ever was and will be anyway." The joke sucked. Maybe it'll be funnier when you do it. Sadly, the second part is true - if Bush weren't born to a ruthless rich family he'd be a junkie in some basement, because on his own he couldn't pour piss out of boot with the instructions on the heel.

Public enemy (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:49 PM)

My grandmother committed suicide. It was a JOKE people. The Democrats love to make a big deal out of nothing. I knew it was a joke when so many big names said they would move out of the country if Bush was re-elected. So give me a break.

Terry (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:52 PM)

What's worse, a joke about suicide (whether you think it's funny or not), or a serious statement that you wish someone dead, or that we'd all be "lucky" if he off'ed himself? You can claim the calousness or poor taste of his statement all you want, but this board is filled with 100 times worse.

Jeremy, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:53 PM)

Hey Chad, you forgat to add: "I am John McCain And I approved this Message"

Andrew, Cincinnati, OH (Sent Thursday, October 19, 2006 1:53 PM)

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