Another example: in 2000, McCain said of his Vietnamese captors, “I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live.” McCain eventually apologized, but seemed to have considerable difficulty understanding that Asian-Americans respond to “gook” in much the same way that African-Americans respond to “nigger.” There’s a wide body of lore describing McCain’s temper, too, which the Arizona Republic, a paper that repeatedly endorsed McCain’s congressional bids, described in a 1999 editorial as “volcanic.”
People everywhere see their marriages split up, and say things they later regret, and become angrier than they should. But most of them don’t pursue moral and ethical instruction as a sideline. McCain has — and, in the process, he’s invited scrutiny of his own character.
Some of these stories may already be in the works; others may have been deemed beyond the pale. But remember: the political press has already explored (among other things) the sleeping habits of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Obama’s ties to former Weatherman Bill Ayers. We have, in short, embraced an expansive criterion when it comes to coverage: if a given subject tells us anything about what kind of president a candidate might be, it’s fair game. That’s how it’s been for the Democrats, anyway. McCain ought to be treated the same way.
On the Web
Adam Reilly's Media Log: http://www.thephoenix.com/medialog
Related:
Travels with Sarah, See no evil, True believers, More 
- Travels with Sarah
Apparently, the idea of Palin as the Queen Esther for our time has made it to New Hampshire.
- See no evil
An intriguing battle pitting government against the press is currently percolating on the North Shore and here in Boston.
- True believers
To paraphrase Voltaire, if McCain didn’t exist, it would be necessary to invent him. And whatever new questions surface about McCain in the next two years, the need he satisfies isn’t going away.
- Debatable
With the presidential debates about to begin, political pundits are full of advice for Senators Barack Obama and John McCain.
- Ben Dover’s big bailout
Phillipe + Jorge are furious over the $700 billion bailout of the pinstriped pirates of Wall Street, who are laughing as they return to their McMansions.
- Dictator McCain?
The only thing standing in the way of Republican John McCain assuming the powers and prerogatives of a dictator should he be elected president is the vote of a single Supreme Court justice.
- Long national nightmare
Last night, I woke up in a sweat. I’d had a very bizarre dream.
- Rise of the political bogeyman
The Republicans appear headed to a second straight national pummeling, which will leave it marginalized in the federal government and an increasing number of state houses. Many party faithful are already noting the need for the GOP to move back toward the moderate center to survive. But the conservatives with microphones are heading down a very different path — and their followers, who now dominate the Republican Party, are going right with them.
- Night of the living dead
It’s almost over. This is welcome news.
- Maverick in a mess
A number of pundits, mostly of the conservative variety, would like you to believe that if Barack Obama wins on Tuesday, it's the mainstream media’s fault. Don't believe a word of it.
- Does not compute
Though he’s infamous for his aversion to computers, McCain is actually no Luddite.
- Less
Topics:
Media -- Dont Quote Me
, Mitt Romney, Judiciary, U.S. Courts, More
, Mitt Romney, Judiciary, U.S. Courts, Foreign Policy, World Politics, Jerry Falwell, Samuel Alito, Samuel Alito, Earth Science, Jeremiah Wright, Less
