On Senator Obama's website there is a copy of some letters he and Senator McCain exchanged regarding ethics reform. Obama approached McCain in a meeting about the possibility of working with him and McCain reacted favorably. After Obama responded in a letter clarifying his position he received an ugly reply from McCain. McCain's reply starts out:
I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership's preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions.
Obama made a good faith attempt to reach across the aisle on an issue he felt strongly about. McCain's response appears to have been written during an impulsive rage.
McCain's temper has been talked about but not displayed publicly. His public image is as a calm and thoughtful speaker. These letters provide a window into his private bullying and condescending manner. Imagine if he had been president and had taken this tone with Khrushchev during the Cuban missile crisis.
Is this the thoughtfulness and discipline we want from the man with the big red button?