"I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's." - John McCain
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.
With the election less than four weeks away, here's a chance for you to take concrete action:
- Alert your friends to McCain's rage. Send them this video and ask them to pass it on.
- Post this video on all your blogs and networking sites like Digg -- critical tools for reaching those outside the choir. Make sure it gets viewed so many times it ends up on YouTube's homepage, so undecided swing state voters can see it easily.
- Get the latest on McCain with a free video subscription from Brave New PAC, and encourage others to sign up too.
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.
AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.