Candidates On Losing Their Tempers

Presidential Contenders Answer Katie Couric's "Primary Questions"

(CBS) 
HILLARY CLINTON

Couric: When was the last time you lost your temper, and what came of it?

Clinton: I try not to lose my temper because I really don't like it. It's not that I don't do it, but I try not to. I think honestly the last time was when our dog woke me up at 5:00 to put him out. (LAUGHTER) I was not happy about that, you know. He comes up and he just won't quit, and just keeps nosing me. And I was, I just woke up out of a cold sleep and started yelling at him. (LAUGHTER) And I really felt guilty, because the poor dog had to go out. But I try not to lose my temper.

Couric: Any other incident, though, where you got angry or really mad at something, and you know, everybody gets sort of…

Clinton: Right.

Couric: …gets ticked off.

Clinton: You know, Katie, I used to do that a lot more when I was younger. I was much less patient. I was much more judgmental. I really, would get, set off by something that I thought was wrong or unfair. But with all I've been through for the last 16 years, I just try not do that anymore. I try not to, you know, get that flash point. And if something's upsetting me or annoying me, I try to stop. Literally count to ten. Think it through, and then try to figure out what to do about it.

JOHN EDWARDS

Couric: When was the last time you lost your temper? And what came of it?

Edwards:
Oh, that's a hard question. Probably yesterday. (LAUGHS) It happens pretty often.

Couric: At least you're honest about it.

Edwards: (LAUGHS) I think.

Couric: Most people have said, "You know, I haven't lost my temper in a very long time."

Edwards: Oh, that's just a lie. (LAUGHS) That's just a lie. That's not the truth. I think I lost my temper in the last day or two. And I'm sure it was about some meaningless thing. I can't remember specifically.

Couric: Why do you think it happened? And how did you deal with it?

Edwards: Why did it happen? Probably I was tired. (LAUGHS) And somebody was suggesting I do something that I didn't agree with.

Couric: And how did you deal with it?

Edwards: How did I deal with it? I told them what I thought was the right thing to do, and I did it.

JOE BIDEN

Couric: When was the last time you lost your temper? And what came of it?

Biden: It's been a while. I lost my temper 22 years ago when I was running for president, and a lot came of it. But I'm trying to think. I haven't lost my temper in a while. I've been frustrated, but I've not blown up and lost my temper. I used to have a I joke and say, two craniotomies I had for these aneurysms. They took the top of my head off.

I joke and I say, well, they cut the temper cord. There's a lot more equanimity in my last 20 years and after what I've gone through than there was before. No one thing is that critical that it determines outcome. Unless it's life or death.

Couric: Come on though Senator.

Biden: I'm serious.

Couric: I mean, I'm sure you got annoyed at somebody…

Biden: Oh, no, no, annoyed. No, no, no, no, no.

Couric: I don't mean, got red in the face and slapped somebody.

Biden: Well, I used to lose my temper and turn around and snap at somebody and say, “You know, you know, shut up.” Or do whatever. I haven't, I haven't lost my temper in a long while. I've been frustrated with some of the…staff who tell me things they know they don't know. I get frustrated, occasionally with some of the things I hear being stated by candidates from both parties running for office. I think, I know, you know, my frustration is, you know that's not true. What are ya sayin' it? (CHUCKLES) But I ... really haven't, Katie. I mean, you know, you could, as they say, ask around. I mean, I haven’t lost my temper in a long while.

Couric: I take your word for it, Senator Biden.

JOHN MCCAIN

Couric: When was the last time you lost your temper and what came of it?

McCain:: Probably within about ten minutes ago. (LAUGHTER)

Couric: What happened?

McCain:: Oh, I don't, I think the last time I seriously lost my temper, I can't remember. Am I impatient and frustrated and sometimes angry when I see incompetence or corruption? Yeah. And I can be abrasive about that. Because I really want people and me to live up to certain standards of behavior in public life. And right now, our approval rating is 11 percent, [the Congress.] And so, I probably, the last time I can remember being really angry was probably at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, when Donald Rumsfeld was assuring everybody that the war was going fine.

Couric: And I think you used a few choice words not that long ago, too, right?

McCain:: Yes. One of my colleagues…

Couric: That wasn't at the hearing, though, was it, Senator McCain?

McCain:: Well…

Couric: Was that a different one?

McCain:: (LAUGHTER) You mean a few choice words to one of my colleagues, you mean?

Couric: Yes.

McCain:: Yes, that, I regretted. And we are good friends. It was a private meeting, and sometimes we have spirited discussions. I don't think I lost my temper. I was just a little frustrated.

Couric: Do you think you're too tough, having said that? I mean, obviously you say you're impatient. Do you feel sometimes you're too hard on people?

McCain:: It's not that I feel that I'm too hard on people, as it is that maybe I feel too passionately. In other words, maybe I become emotionally involved in issues that perhaps I should be more objective about. And look, I've made so many mistakes in my life. Last night, I was asked about my relations with certain parts of the party, like the religious right. I believe in reconciliation. I reconciled with the anti-war movement, the Vietnam War. I reconciled with the Vietnamese. I reconciled with Jerry Falwell. I think reconciliation with your enemies, whether they be political or personal, is an important part of life.

MITT ROMNEY

Couric: When was the last time you lost your temper? And what came of it?

Romney: You know, I talk about becoming intense. I never talk about losing my temper. (LAUGHS) I don't think I lose my temper. But I become ...

Couric: Well, when was the last time you became intense?

Romney: I become intense. Well, there was a TV or radio talk show host the other day in Iowa that began drilling me about my faith. And I became intense in confronting what he had said. And we went back and forth. Unbeknownst to me, he had a hidden camera on the console. So this then popped up on the Internet - as our exchange. And I was intense. I wasn't angry. I wasn't out of control. But I was intense.

Couric: Would you say you lost your temper a bit?

Romney: No. No, I didn't lose my temper. I was intense. And expressed my views directly and forthrightly. I remember once I really learned to manage my temper when I was angry with one of my sons when they were very, very young. And Ann and I talked about it afterwards and said, "You know, it doesn't make sense to ever really lose your temper with a child." And, I said, you know, "I'm not gonna do that anymore." And I have not, I just haven't gotten angry and lost my temper that I can recall in a long, long time.

Couric: Come on. (LAUGHS)

Romney: Oh, you get, you get…

Couric: I mean, there must be times…

Couric: When you feel like you're going to…

Romney: They're the road experience.

Couric: You're going to get really angry or you just get furious, even if it's just an instance.

Romney: Oh, sure. Oh, of course. And--

Couric: When was the last time you did that?

Romney: You know, sometimes on the road when I'm driving, if someone does something, you know, I might (LAUGHS) express my anger. I don't do in a visible way.

Couric: You don't do any rude signs, do you?

Romney: No. No rude signs, no. They, they've been flashed in my direction. But rarely in the or never actually near the direction, you know, I've kicked a door a couple of times. I remember kicking a door the other day. Not the other day. It was probably a few months ago.

Couric: Why'd you kick the door?

Romney: Well, I heard something that a particular member of the news media had said. And it was wrong. It was exactly the opposite of what was real. And it's frustrating to see things that you that you know being distorted. But I don't tend to express that openly or publicly.

Couric: What happened when you kicked the door other than stubbing your toe?

Romney: That was it. That's typically the result of anger is being hurt yourself and not accomplishing anything for it.

[mmecarney]

Mitt Romney told a bold faced lie to Katie. Any person who thinks he''s being secretly video taped by a camera set on a tripod at eye-level two feet from his face is simply not smart enough to be president.

[dcamb2]

Katie..I am a Veteran and very interested in the Flag Amendment and the use of "Under God in our Pledge of Allegence and the burning of our Flag..Could you add this to your questions to those seeking the office of President of the USA just what their views of this very important subject is..

[cattlekate]

Thanks, Katie, for your brilliant questioning.

Would you please ask which candidate drinks beer? Because that''s how I will base my vote - which candiate I want to have a beer with.

Or you could ask the candidates what they think about Kevin Martin''s proposed FCC rule change allowing greater monopolization of the media so we can get more fluff like your so-called news pieces.

[violet74]

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[germanmom]

I guess there are different levels of losing one''s temper...My kids say I''m mad when I think I''m just getting "intense". lol

[mudrose-2009]

Dirty democrats are just as useless as they have ever been.
Posted by gunownerdan

And you are just beginning to understand this, when?

[truebluefm]

Oh yeah, this is some real news worthy ***. Hillary, what a big *** phony she is. Remember her appointment by her equally worthless husband to create an insurance for all Americans. Big Pharma paid her to shut her trap and she did. And what about the 42 people murdered because of the WhiteWater scandal. Have you all forgotten about that? Oh hell, never mind, just back to your television sets.

[thy1138]

I wish we could ask this question of other former potential candidates. In particular, the former New York State Governor George Pataki. He was invited to the Republican Convention to give a speech. When he arrived, speech in hand, he was handed a speech, so it was reported, that Newt Gingrich wanted him to read, which he refused. I wonder if Mr. Pataki was angry. He appointed Bernadette Castro, who ran unsuccessfully against US Senator Patrick Moynihan, to the state historic preservation office, and her last announcement was to open the Purple Heart Center near Vails Gate, NY where the troops in the American Revolution were asked to stay that winter after the treaty had been signed, just in case. Senator Clinton passed a law to make the Purple Heart postage stamp permanent, not the whim of a whoever politician sponsored one this term or that.

[gunownerdan]

Dirty democrats are just as useless as they have ever been. The rotten republicans are happy for sure.

[thgdriver]

Huckabee son''''s killing of that poor dog by hanging it is right up there with Mike Vick.

The actions of a son or daughter go to the type of upbringing in the home and the failure of the parents to teach right from wrong. First he tried to cover it up, when that failed he tried to make the excuse the dog was sick and emaciated. With that kind of thinking I would not want Huckabee to rescue me from a prisoner of war camp. I would get hung!!!
Lies, lies and more lies.
Huckabee just lost my vote!!

[hillaryin08]

The Democrats funded the war again. I guess this is not news.

[mudrose-2009]

Too good not to share:

To All My Democrat Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

To My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[mudrose-2009]

Hillary should just bring a frying pan. If she can''t cook she can certainly slam one of her opponents with it. It''s not a temper tantrum. She''s just trying to knock some sense into them.

[gunownerdan]

If you love big government, high taxes, and the destruction of our constitutional rights, then Dr. Ron Paul is not for you.
Vote for Hitlery or Ghouliani.

[cbs4me3]

Hillary: I am a white guy who stongly supports you, and I am not alone. You are our best hope; stay strong and be tough. Stay on your message. There is much work to be done.

[nolalou]

incognito13,
While I agree all the major candidates should have been given a chance to answer to 10 ''primary questions'', your statement that "He (Ron Paul) raised over 6 million dollars in one day. None of the candidates you interviewed could have ever done that." is not true! Hillary Clinton raised about the same amount in one day, back in June!

Not that single day fund raising will necessarily make a difference. After all, in 2004 Howard Dean broke all previous records for internet fund raising, and you see how fast he tanked after coming in 3rd in Iowa.

[xlib]

antizion-site your source.

[xlib]

While cbs is filling the site with nonsense fluff pieces like this, Turkey and the Kurds are heating up. For two days other sites have run stories on attacks and counterattacks while this "news" site ignores it.
Do we need anymore proof that our news is filtered and ginned up so that we only learn what they want us to learn??
For you libs, there are other sites other than cbs.

[antoniof123]

fluff and more fluff.

[fibonacci_]

I simply cannot believe there are still people that think George Bush is a great president. How incredibly naive does one have to be?