In the wake of the Watergate era, the media critic Erik Barnouw noted the habit of Washington reporters to write in code, couching important stories in such a way as to make them appear rote and ordinary to the average reader, while suggesting depths of intrigue to the cognoscenti. This is what Barnouw was talking about:
McCain, Cornyn Engage in Heated Exchange
At a bipartisan gathering in an ornate meeting room just off the Senate floor, McCain complained that Cornyn was raising petty objections to a compromise plan being worked out between Senate Republicans and Democrats and the White House. He used a curse word associated with chickens and accused Cornyn of raising the issue just to torpedo a deal.
As this was a press conference, a video recording exists. It shows McCain in a rooster suit affecting an exaggerated Tennessee drawl.
McCain: “Cornyn, you pecker. You raised — I say — you raised the issue just to torpedo a deal. Well, you can pullet. Go get laid, you sulky cock, before you get egg on your face.” [McCain turns to the camera] “That boy thinks he’s a smart feller, but it’s just the other way around.”
Things got really heated when Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy campaigning for president to take part in the negotiations, which have gone on for months behind closed doors. “Wait a second here,” Cornyn said to McCain. “I’ve been sitting in here for all of these negotiations and you just parachute in here on the last day. You’re out of line.”
McCain, a former Navy pilot, then used language more accustomed to sailors (not to mention the current vice president, who made news a few years back after a verbal encounter with Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont).
McCain: [singing] “The first mate’s name was Cornyn, by Christ, he was a gorgon; ten times a day he’d stop and play, a-with his friggin’ organ.” [Toot-toot!] “Ag-ag-ag-ag-ag! By the way, Cornyn, cluck you!”
Cornyn’s office declined to comment on the incident. McCain’s camp specifically denied that the senator ever claimed to know more about the immigration issue than other senators, but acknowledged that the two Republicans had quite a disagreement.
You’d almost think that official Washington was unaware of McCain’s chicken-suit, Quick Draw McGraw, and Popeye theatrics, and gnomic appearances as Johnny Cloud, Navajo Fighter Ace. Why oh why can’t we have a better press corps?
