In 2008, Democrat Joe Biden criticized late Senator John McCain as “an angry man,” and too afraid to confront Barack Obama to his face.
It is an important reminder in the wake of McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain’s endorsement of Biden over President Trump.
Friction during the 2008 election arose when then-Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin mentioned links between Obama and 1960s terrorist bomber, Bill Ayers.
McCain had resisted making such links for quite some time, but Palin finally put them at the forefront as the campaign was winding down.
This is the moment that seemed to prompt Biden’s attacks against McCain.
“What you are seeing is an angry man,” Biden lashed out.
Reuters reported at the time the Democrat had “saluted McCain as a war hero,” but “now seems to challenge his manhood.”
“In my neighborhood where I came from if you got something to say to a man, look him in the eye and say it,” Biden said.
In 2008, “Biden denounced McCain as ‘an angry man’ whom he accuses of trying to take ‘the low road to the highest office in the land’…now seems to challenge his manhood” https://t.co/8irsgHsr07 https://t.co/Vo3aAzNbBu
— Scott Ruesterholz (@Read_N_Learn) April 24, 2019
RELATED: Remember When Obama and His Supporters Hated and Mocked John McCain?
Biden Dismissed John McCain as a ‘Sidekick’
Then-Senator Biden also insinuated McCain was a puppet of George W. Bush for supporting the President’s policies.
“You can’t call yourself a maverick when all you’ve ever been is a sidekick,” Biden scoffed during a campaign speech.
Look, these comments are simply politics amongst rivals, just as President Trump’s insults of McCain are.
But the fact that Cindy can come forward to bury any hatchet with Biden, but can’t for Trump, is pretty telling.
“My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost,” she tweeted.
“There’s only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is [Joe Biden].”
My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There’s only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is @JoeBiden.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 22, 2020
Presumably, the McCain family’s Republican values would include being pro-life, lower taxes, and freedom from government?
It should be noted as well, that Mrs. McCain insisted she was not going to get involved in the 2020 race.
Joe Biden is a wonderful man and dear friend of the McCain Family. However, I have no intention of getting involved in presidential politics.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) April 24, 2019
Imagine being so entrenched in the “orange man bad” philosophy that you abandon all of those values.
Values that shouldn’t hinge on any one man, but apparently do in the McCain household.
But then, abandoning one’s principles is a very McCain thing to do.
Remember John McCain saving Obamacare?
I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husband’s request. Joe Biden was John McCain’s lapdog. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the V.A., which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL. Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2020
If you’re so distraught by the President’s mean words that you’re willing to compromise core beliefs as a Republican and conservative, then you’re clearly unprincipled to begin with.
It’d be difficult to imagine suddenly becoming pro-abortion or pro-illegal immigration because somebody disrespected a family member.
You might despise them personally, but having them alter who you are fundamentally isn’t a normal reaction.
Liberals Repeatedly Mocked McCain
In case anyone has forgotten, the left’s attacks against John McCain – as they are for all Republicans – were downright vicious.
I had forgotten that Wesley Clark in 2008 said of @SenJohnMcCain, “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.” https://t.co/HEjwsoLVaX
— Matt Welch (@MattWelch) March 14, 2018
Supporters of Obama belittled McCain’s war record, mocked him for the injuries he suffered, scoffed at his age, and even compared him to a Nazi.
The following campaign ad joked about McCain’s inability to send an email.
Then there were these insults:
Rep. Lewis: Sen. McCain was a “warrior for peace” — pretty much the opposite of how he portrayed him to the public in ’08 pic.twitter.com/gqvNuhaR9h
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) August 26, 2018
In 2008, @Madonna kicked off her Sticky & Sweet Tour at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. At one point, she compared John McCain to Adolf Hitler and Mugabe. Many of those that offer such glowing praise of him today said nothing in his defense then.
— Rachel Miselman (@RachelMiselman) August 26, 2018
How quickly everyone forgets that Biden and his supporters said some nasty things during the heat of a political battle.
One side has clearly been forgiven. The other has not.