John McCain's rage - a national security concern

Wow. Mr. Hot Head's temper is the subject of this video by Brave New Films, and the team there doesn't pull punches. Over 30 people in government, the military, journalists and citizens have now gone on the record about their personal experiences with the volatile rages of the GOP nominee (including the backhanding of a young woman outside of his office, knocking her against the wall). Watch it:

Transcription of some comments:

Pat Buchanan: "He is in everybody's face. Did you see Thad Cochran? He said John McCain is a bellicose, red-faced angry guy who constantly explodes."

Eleanor Apocada, sister of a Vietnam POW/MIA, who had gone with a delegation to meet with Sen. McCain at his office (regarding the Missing Persons Act of 1996): "We had gathered on both sides of the hallway just a short distance from McCain's office. When we saw McCain and a young woman come from his office...I then saw Jeannette Jenkins, the niece of a missing man, she stepped forward and before she could say anything, McCain backhanded her, she hit the wall. It was so loud that it resonated in the hallway."

The video also shows a letter sent to the Senate Ethics Committee by Jenkins citing "McCain was angry and hostile and he shoved me."

From Brave New PAC:

During last night's debate, John McCain said we need "a cool hand at the tiller," but McCain has proven to be a loose cannon. He has accosted his Congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle on everything from the federal budget to diplomatic relations. He is known for hurling profanities rather than settling disagreements calmly. His belligerence is legendary. Even conservative Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi has said, "He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

When someone earns the nickname "Senator Hothead," the public ought to call his character into question. McCain's propensity to explode undermines his abilities as a rational decision maker, particularly on national security issues -- which could prove disastrous considering our country is already involved in two wars.

McCain's temper is critical to his decision-making abilities, and his character must be discussed. As Drew Westen writes, "The political brain is an emotional brain. It is not a dispassionate calculating machine, objectively searching for the right facts, figures and policies to make a reasoned decision." That why it's so crucial people know the real Senator Hothead.

Why are people still sitting on the fence about whether they want to vote for this man, who clearly cannot control his temper? This is not the kind of experience this country needs. Imagine if Barack Obama had engaged in a tenth of the documented public rages and rude behavior McCain has -- would he be at the top of the Dem ticket?