In a message dated 02/29/2000 7:32:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << John McCain has a problem with his tongue and temper. That's pretty much established. However, the brewhaw coming from his remarks are blown totally out of context by our fanticallyt "politically correct" media. The problem is this obsession with "PC ness" is another tool(weapon, if you will) for the media and others to sniff out and identify "racists abd bigots". I say poppycock!! Who among is us not racist or bigotted in one manner or another. I have told "gimp" jokes, made racial slurs and have told "low rider" jokes from my upbringing in Texas. John McCain is the only real man in the presidential race. He's straight, honest, forth right and shoots from the lip(no typo here). Sadly, these are all solid reasons for him not to win. But if he takes CA, NY and OH(TX will go Georgie Boy), he still may have a chance. Bobby >> Agreed! I think the comments the media is referring to were made right after he was released and came home. I can't even envision the torture he had to endure at the hands of his North Vietnamese captors, but it seems acceptable to overlook what he said immediately after the fact. I hold myself and other people to a pretty high standard, but a magnanimous gesture is a lot to ask of someone in that situation. If he were saying those things on the campaign trail now, I would give more merit to this concern. In fact, I think that McCain has been openly supporting relations with Vietnam. He has even taken flak from other Vets for being too soft about this subject. There might be other factors to consider, such as the Keating 5 issue, but even then, I don't know. This is my cynical side, but I think they are all have skeletons of that nature in their closets. It's just that not all of them have been exposed. Just thinking off the top of my flat little head this morning. Betty PS. Trisha -- it may interest you to know that I cleaned my van out last night. Don't get excited now, it's not like it's going to stay this way. It does look purty good right now though. I may have to take that little sucker on a camping trip. HEY! I just had an ider!!! For those of us who talked about getting together for a crab thing -- what say we turn it into a weekend camping trip this spring? Anyone game??? I'm completely serious about this.