Hardball: The Anger Issue

McCain's response to Obama's remark brought out a discussion of the anger issue.

I can't wait for Obama and McCain to square off in a debate. :D

Years later, details of the incident remain in the eye of the beholder. Obama supporters say that Obama had stepped away from his seat and asked someone else to vote for him, not an uncommon practice considering the thousands of votes each session. His proxy, however, accidentally voted against his wishes. When Obama asked that the record reflect that he voted the wrong way, Hendon publicly accused Obama of duplicity. Hendon has never been shy about holding back his feelings, and he had a special way of penetrating Obama’s usually smooth exterior. Soon, the two men were shouting at each other on the senate floor. They took their disagreement into a nearby room, and a witness said that Obama had to be physically restrained. Neither man cares to discuss the incident today, but Hendon remains unconvinced of Obama’s explanation that his vote was accidental. Individuals close to the situation say Hendon still believes Obama voted against his project to pacify North Side fiscal conservatives who were leery of some West Side projects. For his part, the rarely reticent Hendon won’t discuss the altercation, except to confirm that it occurred. “I have been advised to leave Barack alone and that is what I am going to do,” Hendon said. “I am going to let things stay in the past. It happened. That’s all I can say. It happened.”
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6425923706&topic=5351
The Los Angeles Times talks about Hendon and Obama shouting on the Senate floor in 2002, but no word of any near-physical altercation.

This anecdote raises a few questions.

1. This book came out last year. No one else has thought this was worthy of mentioning or discussion? Lots of people get angry, and even the best of us have our tempers flare every now and then. But is this incident ignored because the image of a furious Obama, having to be physically restrained, so contrasts the nice guy/secular messiah image we're seeing in the media?

2. Boy, that quote from Hendon sure sounds like clichéd dialogue from a mob witness from a cop movie, huh? Who "advised him to leave Barack alone"?



UPDATE: Mendell in a later interview: “According to people I interviewed who were there, they said Obama was ready to throw some punches.”

... my post was about McCain.


This is not the Free Republic.

to freeper hillbots.

Sorry, but that's an oxymoron, Moran. Take it to GD-P, or better yet, FR.

Wake up.

Well hell yes, Americans are angry that the republicon homelanders have trashed the economy, the environment, the Armed Services, and the Constitution (etc. etc.) -- but we hardly live in and feed upon anger the way Freeper Homelanders do.

Republicon homelanders just PROJECT their anger onto thinking Americans -- their typical failed response to their own inner lives (such as they are).

Ptoooey -- the homelanders need to OWN THEIR OWN SHIT.

I guess if anything is about our candidate we can't bring it up and discuss it. I don't think this will be an issue of any kind but it does go to humanize our candidate. We are not perfect no matter what some here believe..

... GD isn't the place.

while every person on earth gets riled up once in a while, from what I have seen of Obama, and based on my considerable experience with people, especially very angry people, I do not believe that Obama has and "anger problem." McCain does.

That does not mean that Obama never became angry. It does not mean that he never lost his temper. It just means that he does not get angry or lose his temper very often, for little reason or for egotistical reasons.

The story you describe suggests that Obama gets angry about matters of principle -- about a person breaking an important trust. Breaking a trust is a serious matter. That Obama, who clearly is a very positive, peaceful man lost his temper because someone broke his trust is something I understand and respect.

I, too, lose my temper over matters of justice and principle as every upright human being should, but like Obama, I don't lose it over little, stupid matters. McCain loses his temper over a personal slight or insult. That is why I would agree that McCain has an anger problem.

Do you understand the difference?

Jesus was a man of peace. He did not become angry when he was arrested and tried, but he became enraged at the moneychangers in the temple. Jesus did not have an anger problem. He became angry as a matter of principle.