1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

Town Hall Season Is Here! Sen. McCain To Tea Partier On ‘Hobbit’ Quip: ‘I Am Not Sorry’

video
» 65 comments

Congress has been out of session for little more than a week, but it’s never too early for boisterous Town Hall meetings where constituents get a chance to lash out at their representatives for their perceived incompetence. First up this year is Sen. John McCain, who confronted an enraged (but polite) Tea Party member who demanded an apology for the Senator having mocked her movement on the Senate floor during the debt debate. “I am not sorry for what I said,” the Senator replied dryly.

The town hall meeting occurred yesterday in Gilbert, Arizona, where local reports describe the crowd as frustrated and upset at Congress in general. Sen. McCain fielded many questions on the economy, but it was a Tea Party supporter’s demand for an apology that got the boldest answer from the Senator. “I’m just asking you for a simple apology,” the woman stated, though Sen. McCain replied only, “I’m sorry if it was misunderstood– I am not sorry for what I said.” Asked repeatedly to apologize, Sen. McCain continued to retort “Why should I when it’s the facts?” While not audible on video, a report from the East Valley Tribune notes that he gave a longer explanation for why he wouldn’t apologize:

McCain continued: “There was no way that a balanced-budget amendment would have passed the Senate. If anyone said that it could, they were not being truthful. Hobbits are not real, and the point is that it was not real. You should not deceive people and say that something like a balanced-budget amendment could happen… It’s not my fault that it was misunderstood. I’m sorry that it was misunderstood.”

The Tribune reports there were also a number of rowdy moments that didn’t make it on film: “You are so out of touch, dude!” one audience member apparently yelled out, while another kept asking “Where’s our fence?” Given the disastrous state of the economy and what appears for now to be a stock market freefall in light of the S&P downgrade, expect this to be the first of many heated encounters between members of Congress and their constituents.

A report on Sen. McCain’s town hall via KTVK 3TV Arizona below:



[h/t, Photo via]

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • Anonymous

    You have no idea how sorry you are, Maverick.

  • Nature Freak

    At least John Mc Cain struggles with his soul. He questions.

    Pablo is just some pancake on a bunny rabbits head.

    Big difference dude.

  • Nature Freak

    Pablo has left a very sheltered life.

    It must be nice. Not all of us are so lucky.

  • Anonymous

    You know nothing about me, child. You only seem to grasp your own mental illness.

  • Exgoper

    I guess the taste of all that putrid right wing butt he kissed in 2008 has finally soured him on lying.

    Of course he’s right about the tea party and its unrealistic fantasies. These tea hobbits have more in common with Harry Potter than they do with the founding fathers. Their whole schtick is about the magic of tax cuts.

  • Nature Freak

    Sen. McCain at least has a conscious.

  • Nature Freak

    Child?

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    You better watch out, Gramps. Those T-Partee Terrorists are going to put some real pain on you. Just like J.D. Hayseed did in the primaries last year.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    That is a good point. He does struggle. His better angels hover above him at times.

    Moreover, he sure doesn’t owe anything to the T-Partee.

  • Nature Freak

    This comes from someone who has a silly avatar.
    Who are you Pablo?
    Or should I say a.k.a. Pablo

  • http://twitter.com/Good_Lt Good Lt.

    Please.

    During the 2008 campagin, you Obamaclods had him painted as a half-cocked senile lunatic who was on the doorstep of death.

  • Texan

    Can’t wait for  the d’s to start phoning in their town halls like last time…ROFLMBAO!!!!!

  • Nature Freak

    What is my mental illness/

  • Re-Elect Obama 2012

    Where is the fence?

    Isn’t the state of Arizona soliciting donations for it?

    Yes they are here. They have collected $120,000. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

    https://www.buildtheborderfence.com/azborder/index.xhtml

  • Nature Freak

    I am irritated.
    I will let it go. I went to far.
    Sorry.

  • Anonymous

    He will be sorry Pablo, once the TEA Party gains more momentum and makes moderate, reach across the aisle, NY Times praise loving,establishment RINO’s like him irrelevant.

    I see you are drawing the ire of the usual liberal freaks here. Florida must be hot today and melting the PeaBrain PeaBaggers skulls.

    Leave Nature Freak on his own. He will soon go away after changing the subject a few times, telling you how important and smart he is, and then trying to insinuate stupid things with stupid questions.

  • Anonymous

    This will be McCains last term at ANY elected position….what a dipshit!!

  • Anonymous

    You will be sorry. The backlash is drowning your staff as we speak. Do yourself a favor and retire, we needed an appeaser last election, not this time!

  • Nature Freak

    I am very upset over all this conflict.going on.
    I just realized I went to far.
    I apologiize Pablo, but all this conflict is buggin’ me.
    Goodnight.

  • Anonymous

    Let’s hope so.

  • Anonymous

    HOBBITS!!! Bless you Sen. McCain…that tea bagger nickname is stewed to a perfection..bwhahah

  • Anonymous

    Big words again? Conscience is probably the one you were trying to get out of your childish, feeble, public screwel mind. (They screwed you good, boy) How would you know if McCain has a conscience or not? You ever drink cool aid with him? Stick to the topic, the DATA, and stop the BS. You are unconscious and have no conscience.

    Before you edit, here is your Post:

    “Sen. McCain at least has a conscious.”

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    I’ve never understood why conservatives and Republicans so denigrate those who have served in the armed services.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    I’ve never understood why conservatives and Republicans so denigrate those who have served in the armed services.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tommy-Bottoms/1655397187 Tommy Bottoms

    Bravo Mr McCain! Not a necessarily a fan his politics…but I can always respect someone who stands up to a bully(ies)!

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Mixed metaphors. “Lash” is a whip, to whip or a whip-like motion. A backlash can’t drown you. A tidal wave drowns you.

  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

    Teahad season, fear the Tealiban.

    Tearrorist are the ones that want to make things worse.

  • Anonymous

    You’re not very smart are you. :(

  • Anonymous

    Thank you John McCain for your service. For firing that missile at your shipmates on the deck of the carrier. Thank you for your service while a POW. I hope you enjoy all of the benefits that POW status and retirement from the military are providing you. Now let me tell you how you are selling out the republican party, and the Nation. And by insulting the constituents that elected those “Hobbits” you ridiculed.

    Like you, when you start calling posters names, as Johnny did the AMERICANS that elected representatives, the issue becomes what he said, not what his military past, or lack thereof like obama and clinton, may have been. You denigrate military posters here all the time, without respect for their military service so you should not talk. Stick to the topic.

    22 years of Marine Corps service. How about you?

  • Texan

    You mean like when you neoprogs denigrate Col West? Gawd, you’re dumb.

  • Irish189

    Good to see that the “real McCain” can make appearances now and again 

  • Anonymous

    Peahadi season, fear the Pea-liban-nauts!

    Pea-rrorist’s are the ones who don’t know what is going on.

    PeaBrain PeaBaggers.  Now do as obamaklypse now has ordered you to do.Eat those government peas and drink the peabagger cool aid. Imagine Hope and Change whirled peas…

  • Texan

    How come the far lefties aren’t here reminding us of how many planes McCain crashed during his service like they did when he was running against the messiah? LOL! Rubes, every one of them!

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    I was thinking more of the despicable Saxby Chambliss and Mac Cleland.  Tammy Duckworth also came to mind. Along with John Kerry.

    Odd you mention Q-Tip. I’ve never heard anyone denigrate his service. Now, I might have missed it if someone did. In light of the atrocities in which he engaged, one who did call his service into question would properly do so. But, the only attacks I have seen or heard upon him involve his view of our Constitution as a Luby’s Cafeteria in which one can pick and chose what he or she wants.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Perhaps not. I seem to have a command of the English language vastly superior to yours, however.

  • o2bnaz

    Wasn’t it the Hobbits who destroyed the Ring of power created by the Dark Lord to gain dominion over the free people of middle earth…just sayin   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ring

  • Anonymous

    Muttering, doddering old coot John McCain is not only misunderstood; he is totally useless. What a jerk!

  • Moosenuts99

    Praising McCain for speaking up against the TEA PARTY TRAITORS and not wanting him to be president CAN BE EXCLUSIVE ISSUES OF EACH OTHER.

    Not “rubes”; just people able TO handle TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT TRAINS OF THOUGHT

  • Moosenuts99

    CANNOT WAIT

    to see all these TEABAGGER TRAITORS’ TOWN HALLS

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Better start canceling now; it’s gonna be HILARIOUS

  • Moosenuts99

    Sounds like someone needs to go back and listen to McCain’s original speech in order to UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

  • Anonymous

    Please do not correct Nature Freak, he is the adult in the room and if anything needs correcting, he’ll be the one to do it.  If he deems you another such adult, then you are free to comment on other poster’s mistakes and continue correcting them.

  • Anonymous

    “CAN BE EXCLUSIVE ISSUES OF EACH OTHER.”

    I think the term you were struggling to come up with is ‘mutually exclusive’.  You’re welcome.

  • Anonymous

    “CAN BE EXCLUSIVE ISSUES OF EACH OTHER.”

    I think the term you were struggling to come up with is ‘mutually exclusive’.  You’re welcome.

  • Anonymous

    Apology my behind. That’s why he’s the Maverick. The country would be better off if the GOP can tell it like it is to the phony tea party. But they are busy using them to trash their opponents instead of doing the right thing. 

  • Anonymous

    Apology my behind. That’s why he’s the Maverick. The country would be better off if the GOP can tell it like it is to the phony tea party. But they are busy using them to trash their opponents instead of doing the right thing. 

  • Anonymous

    You forget, I’ve seen your writing fellow Austinite.

  • Anonymous

    Or you could just read the WSJ editorial he was quoting. But I don’t see what that has to do with the fact that the Hobbits were the good guys. So you can kiss my hairy feet.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Only four (4). USN JAG. Vietnam era, but never any combat.

    I worked with a number of Marines. Not always in the best of circumstances. Like some, dislike others. Respected every one of them.

    Thank you for your service.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Only four (4). USN JAG. Vietnam era, but never any combat.

    I worked with a number of Marines. Not always in the best of circumstances. Like some, dislike others. Respected every one of them.

    Thank you for your service.

  • Anonymous

    USN JAG Vietnam era?

    That’s frickin hilarious. You may have outdone yourself on that one.

  • Anonymous

    You may not be sorry for your words to the Tea Party old man, but you are way sorry just as a basic human being for sure.

  • Anonymous

    Dare I say I admire the man, I respect, even love the man for his service to his Nation.  How many of you really know his story of being a POW?  He was offered early release because of his Admiral Father.

    McCain said NO.  The Navy honor code said first in first out.  McCain suffered through 3 more years as a POW.  Could any of us do that?

    I honor you, Captain and Senator McCain.  However, the Nation needs you to retire with your honor intact.

    Purveyor.

  • Hugo Daun

    Poor John…

    You had a good shot at the Presidency until the whole wild Alaskan dingbat thing.

  • Glenn Bovine

    So,

    you want him to shut up and go away.

    I can agree with that.

  • Anonymous

    McCain knows he doesn’t need the has been teabaggers any longer.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5GUX2TAMHKWDYCEPS6ZCPBLHJM Minan Minan

    ==  w  w  w  (  y   a   h   c   c )   u  s   ===
     A new season,
    In our website can be found
    in many cheap thing,
    fashion for your choice.
     Your charm start from here,
    welcome to our website:==  w  w  w  (  y   a   h   c   c )   u  s   ===Dedicated service, the new style,
    The new update, a large hot==  w  w  w  (  y   a   h   c   c )   u  s   =====  w  w  w  (  y   a   h   c   c )   u  s   ===

  • Snake5875

    I may not agree with John McCain politically but without question he is more of an American hero than any of you teabagger nutcases that want to turn America into Haiti. Hell you teabaggers are so weak you would of sold out the U.S. to the North Vietnamese for a promise of lower taxes you are already doing it for global corporations what’s the difference you are willing out of greed to make this country a 3rd world country sad pathetic wackos

  • Anonymous

    Finally.  Something upon which I can agree with The Hero.

  • Jadd

    So McCain is sorry that they are a bunch of idiots? Makes sense to me.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-J-Conklin/100001245452271 David J. Conklin

    I’m and independent and I never saw anyone portray him as such.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-J-Conklin/100001245452271 David J. Conklin

    They ARE hobbits with little minds.  If we had had a balanced budget in place we wouldn’t have been able to fight WW2.  This is a back door attempt to let the Nazi mentality in our country win the war.

  • Rpegasus298

    the only hobbits around are you and John Mc Cain

  • Rpegasus298

    he is the biggest hobbit of them all

  • Mandy1

    yea because he’s being booted out of office in the next election

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram