Watts Warns Of ‘Culture Of Arrogance’ Around McCain
Former Oklahoma congressman J.C. Watts, who’s now a businessman and political commentator, had some words of warning in Fort Worth Wednesday morning for John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Jump for the details.
Delivering a talk for the Tandy Executive Speaker Series at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business, Watts decried a “culture of arrogance” that he said seems to be building around the probable Republican nominee.
“When McCain was throwing dirt off his grave earlier this year and saying, ‘I’m alive!,’ you didn’t see it,” Watts said. “But now I think McCain has a lot of the same arrogance around him that surrounded President Bush. The president’s people let him down terribly.
“It’s a culture of arrogance,” the former congressman elaborated after the Tandy talk. “The speed of the pack is determined by the leader, and he’s got to say, ‘You’re outta here!’ ” or the mentality will continue.
Asked specifically who he was referring to, Watts said, “I’m not going to say. But anybody’s who’s paid attention to the process knows what I’m talking about.”
10 Comments to “Watts Warns Of ‘Culture Of Arrogance’ Around McCain”
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Ralph Nader is starting to seem like a good choice this year.
I would say a “culture of arrogance” is built around all presidential candidates - no matter what their party affiliation.
I don’t really see a “Ghandi-like” person ever becoming The President of the United States of America. Arrogance is part of who we are. We’ve earned it. Afterall, what is the point of having a ‘nukular’ arsenal and the most powerful military in the history of mankind if your leader is some humble passivist?
Boomer
Did Watts get turned down for the v.p. slot?
“A top McCain adviser said both Mehlman and Rove are now informally advising the campaign. ”
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/.....ng-mccain/
“I would say a “culture of arrogance” is built around all presidential candidates…”
I would agree with that, but would add that the current administration has elevated it to a fully developed artform.
McCain has expressed repeatedly that he is not going to be “GWB-Term Three.” Does he really mean it or is it simply election-time pandering?
gee an arrogant republican? who’d a thunk that?
The ‘culture of arrogance’ is what my friends who grew up poor aspired to and now that they have money proudly (read Marty Cortland lately?) call being Republican. From where I stand, it’s the ‘old money’ (old) crowd that remain and define the moneyed-and-humble GOP conservative centrist.
Meanwhile, funny how everybody loved J.C. Watts until he was no longer their taken-for-granted token trotted out as proof of the ‘big tent’ GOP.
Here’s a quote from J. C. Watts’ father who is a preacher: “A black man voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.”