A former campaign office manager for Joe Biden now backing Obama humiliated himself at a McCain town hall meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Here is some local coverage:
A Clive man drew gasps from fellow audience members at today’s presidential candidate forum by using a four-letter word in a question to Sen. John McCain.
A member of the audience, identified as Marty Parrish of Clive, asked McCain during the event at the Polk County Convention Complex about a rumor that McCain had once used a profane word referencing female genitalia to describe his wife.
A book, “The Real McCain” by Cliff Schecter, accuses McCain of using the word in an exchange with his wife, Cindy, in 1992.
Here’s a transcript of today’s remarks:
PARRISH: This question goes to mental health and mental health care. Previously, I’ve been married to a woman that was verbally abusive to me. Is it true that you called your wife a (expletive)?
MCCAIN: Now, now. You don’t want to … Um, you know that’s the great thing about town hall meetings, sir, but we really don’t, there’s people here who don’t respect that kind of language. So I’ll move on to the next questioner in the back.
The audience gasped at the question and applauded at McCain’s handling of it. Parrish was escorted from the event and questioned by Secret Service, but not charged. Parrish had checked in to the event as a member of the press.
Parrish, a 45-year-old Baptist minister and technology business owner, said he attended the event specifically to confront McCain about the rumor.
“This is about character,” Parrish said, when reached by telephone afterward. “And in a moment of intemperance, he called his wife the most despicable name a person can call a woman.
Gee, a baptist minister! Nothing in his blog profile suggests he has a religious background or is a minister [but see "MY TIRED EYES" below], although the "technology business owner" seems to check out.
Hot Air opines. Its a proud day for the Nutroots as they focus on the real issues, not the distractions.
From the HuffPo:
Parrish, an ordained Baptist minister who holds a master's degree in political science...
...The former Joe Biden campaign worker stressed he is very concerned about the Republican presidential nominee's temperament.
The Marty Parrish blog profile to which I linked says Marty is 45, has a Masters in Political Science from Arkansas State University, owned a technology business, and worked for Joe Biden. Seems like a good fit, except that no where in the educational background or interest is their a mention of his being a minister. [In this interview he is described as handing out anti-McCaon leaflets, lets there is some doubt as to whether he is a concerned Republican and not a Dem plant.]
Here we go:
Interests:

MY TIRED EYES (OR SOMETHING): Well, now Mr. Parrish's blog and profile include the information that he is
How did I miss that? And how did the Google cache, which seems to be from mid-March, also miss it? And why does a Google search on these two phrases - "Marty Parrish" "Minister of the Gospel, 1980" - come up blank?Licensed, First Baptist Church, West Memphis, Arkansas, Minister of the Gospel, 1980.
Maybe I missed it last night and Google missed it last month, maybe he updated it. Whatever - he would have been licensed at about age 18, right out of High School. I know nothing of Baptist practices - is "licensed" the same as "ordained" (the HuffPo description)?
This question goes to mental health and mental health care.
Yeah, your need for it.
Loon.
Let me guess: the Kos and Huffpost crowds think it was "speaking truth to power" and just love it?
Posted by: SteveMG | May 01, 2008 at 10:29 PM
These people are not very socially savvy, are they?
Posted by: JB | May 01, 2008 at 10:30 PM
The "minister" actually helped McCain. McCain's calm reaction to the question belies the notion that McCain doesn't have the temperament for the job of POTUS. I wonder if the "minister" has sufficient neural power to recognize that he not only disgraced himself, but also helped McCain.
By the way, speaking of temperament, has B_O gotten himself to the point that he can take more than eight questions from the press at one time?
Posted by: Thomas Collins | May 01, 2008 at 10:30 PM
The commenters at HuffPo are now sure that McCain called his wife a c**t. Why? Because he chose not to answer the man's question.
Posted by: Sue | May 01, 2008 at 10:34 PM
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/05/democratic-operative-asks-mccain-if-he.html
He is an ex Biden campaign office manager and an Obama supporter
Posted by: SlimGuy | May 01, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Link to above
Posted by: SlimGuy | May 01, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Are there any sane democrats left?
Posted by: Sue | May 01, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Well I am quite sure that God is sick of this shit. Rev Wright told me that Obama needs to have his chickens stay cooped up so that its not apparent how bird brained the whole lot of Democrats is.
Posted by: Gmax | May 01, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Don't worry the nutroots gets even worse
and doesn't even break a sweat.
For those with a strong stomach to see how these people think
WHO MURDERED THE DC MADAM? WE CAN BE SURE IT WASN'T LARRY CRAIG, MARK FOLEY, MITCH McCONNELL OR LINDSEY GRAHAM
You can probably figure this one out just from the post title....Sickos
Posted by: SlimGuy | May 01, 2008 at 10:50 PM
You know, I hate to see this kind of story get any coverage at all.
Posted by: JM Hanes | May 01, 2008 at 10:58 PM
And in a moment of intemperance, he called his wife the most despicable name a person can call a woman.
Arianna Huffington?
Posted by: Paul Zrimsek | May 01, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I'm not going to any of those nutroots sites (Gosh, I knew Kos when he was just a callow University newspaper reporter/editor), but I'm guessing . . . they're blaming Obama? After all, who would have more to lose from being named by the DC Madam than he? Well, aside, perhaps, from Hillary!
Posted by: JorgXMcKie | May 01, 2008 at 11:00 PM
"You know, I hate to see this kind of story get any coverage at all."
I sympathize, but anything that embarasses the nutroots can't be all bad...
Posted by: Jeremiah Wright | May 01, 2008 at 11:07 PM
The Dems- when did you stop beating your wife...republican, cuz we are unmoved by this behavior when dems are known for it...
OT, but shouldn't these Dem congressman be driving a Pirus instead of these gas guzzling Arianna Huffington type bling cars taxpayer are footing?
Sorry, not going to take lectures about the poor and global warming from these progressive heros. EVER.
Progressives? You need to clean up your CULTURE OF CORRUPTION AND HYPOCRISY
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 01, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Howard Dean has agreed to appear on FNC Sunday.
Apres Hillary, le deluge.
The netroots will be none too pleased.
Again.
Posted by: SteveMG | May 01, 2008 at 11:13 PM
OTOH, it makes it hard for Dems to claim that McCain only speaks to hand picked, sympathetic, audiences -- or at least it should.
Posted by: JM Hanes | May 01, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Moveon, Kos - R.I.P.
In the monomaniacal world of moveon.org and the Daily Kos, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have committed an unforgivable sin. By appearing on Fox News the Democrats have proven themselves unserious in the apocalyptically serious fight against Rupert Murdoch’s quest for world domination. Back when Obama was the unflappable boy wonder of the Left, the Kos [...]
Posted by: SlimGuy | May 01, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Paul Zimsek has my vote for Post of the Day.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 01, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Let me guess, Colonel mustard, with the candlestick in the gazebo
Posted by: troy mcclure | May 01, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Hey BTW when I open up the screenshot linked to his what looks like MySpace page, and I squint mightily, it appears this foul mouthed dweeb is listing himself as a History major from the University of Michigan. That is the Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor, and to me explains a hell of a lot. The Masters degree was just so he did not have to ask everyone if they wanted it supersized.
Posted by: Gmax | May 01, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I don't know what's in the water up there at the Univ of Mich, but I recall that a whole bunch of the Pages in the Mark Foley flap went to the same school as well as other politically active people involved in that who were not Pages.
I still have my suspicions Jon Stryker was behind a lot of that.
Posted by: SlimGuy | May 02, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Here's an addendum from a commenter over at Gateway Pundit, offered without any endorsement of its accuracy from me:
Certainly wouldn't surprise me.Posted by: JM Hanes | May 02, 2008 at 12:43 AM
Wasn't Biden's notorious noxious temper recorded before? I know that icon of all that is wrong with the world Ted Kennedy's has been documented, thought Biden's was too. Of course, Biden is the KING KONG of pander and teeth snapping smiles for the camera we all know and love.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 02, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Yeah, JMH...what's your take on that? I know the dogs have been harping on that line on McCain even though a bunch of their choice headline Firedoglake bloggers caused an uproar for calling a dem congresswoman a whore and then called her "c***" or soe such and mistress Jane said she thought that all her bloggers should be allowed to use such language no matter what.
So if it was her goons, the what up? And I wonder of Hamsher paid the Macaca stalker.
Anyway, a commenter raised questions about Hamsher funding that I never thought about, and it is kinda BS that they do do calls for donations all the time - if they are getting funding why misrepresent to others?
Of corse, if that is the case.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 02, 2008 at 12:55 AM
typo queen, me!
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 02, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Wouldnt you love to see the crowd and media reaction if he actually was a Baptist Minister and had instead asked this question of either of the other candidates.
Posted by: Daddy | May 02, 2008 at 01:04 AM
FireDogLake lovely name calling , and here and and here and and mother Hamsher's non-response here
the preview
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 02, 2008 at 01:23 AM
Senator McCain, is it true that you once referred to your hosts in Hanoi in less than flattering terms? I read in a book that you called them $%&*#. Is this true?
Someone had to ask.
Posted by: Chris | May 02, 2008 at 01:51 AM
as Hamsher says
If I were Mccain, I'd just ask them why they were trying to bait and draw attention to themselves, according to Razor blades for breakfast, lunch and dinner Jane Hamsher.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 02, 2008 at 02:01 AM
A series of ads doing nothing but quoting top progressive bloggers (in context!) would destroy the Democratic party.
Posted by: bgates | May 02, 2008 at 02:35 AM
Well if there is any justice in this universe, this creep Marty The C**T Parrish will have just earned himself a new lifelong nickname, and Joe Biden ought to have the cameras shoved in his face yesterday to publically denounce and disown the remarks of his former Campaign weasel.
Posted by: Daddy | May 02, 2008 at 02:43 AM
They are obvious. The NYTs didn't suceeed so they are sending out the big guns to make him lose his temper.
Posted by: davod | May 02, 2008 at 06:48 AM
I'm gonna get a bumper sticker that says:
"NO WHINING
ELECT JOHN MCCAIN"
The nutroots are such wusses.
Posted by: Jane | May 02, 2008 at 07:28 AM
How many debates and forums have the Dim's loaded up now??? They can't stand honest questions, but constantly put these loon's in 'pub forums to come up with the wildest accusations. It's like the whole movement is metally deficient, or never got past potty training, or something. Maybe Freud had some good points after all.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 02, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Firedoglake is a top 5 Liberal blog???
It's like romper room over there.
Good Lord, please don't tell me that's what this country has come to.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 02, 2008 at 08:39 AM
If you haven't had a chance, read Krautammer today. He's spectacular. LUN
Posted by: Jane | May 02, 2008 at 08:45 AM
What's the difference between a Republican audience and a Democratic one?
The Republican audience recognizes that vulgarity has no place in public discourse. The Democratic audience applauds the vulgarity and lionizes the user... like children on a playground hearing the word for the first time.
Sad to say, I'm just not sophisticated enough to appreciate the "Shock and Spew" Democratics.
Posted by: Curly Smith | May 02, 2008 at 08:56 AM
No doubt, he is applauded by the same people who think that we should stop talking about Obama's preacher.
Posted by: Paul Atreides | May 02, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Good Lord, please don't tell me that's what this country has come to.
I'm not going to tell you, but you already know the answer. ::sigh::
Posted by: Sue | May 02, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Natural Born Killunter.
=============
Posted by: kim | May 02, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Not a catch and release predator; this one is viciously, needlessly, destructive. Special pathology.
======================
Posted by: kim | May 02, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Krauthammer: The Race Speech Revisited
Posted by: DebinNC | May 02, 2008 at 09:38 AM
n the tradition of <S>Lenny Bruce</S>Moe, Larry and Shemp or <s>Hunter S. Thompson</S> Bozo T. Clown.
There fixed it.
Posted by: Gmax | May 02, 2008 at 09:57 AM
He has a wierd profile allright. Student council president in 10th grade? CAP Cadet Commander in 1977?
In any event, and not to bust anyone's bubble, included in his list of accomplishments is
"Licensed, 1st Baptist Church, West Memphis Arkansas, Minister of the Gospel, 1980"
I've not heard of a church issuing licenses before. I thought a license had to be issued by the state. Does (did) Arkansas license ministers?
In any event, there does seem to be some claim that he is a Baptist Minister or was 28 years ago.
Not sure his tax return business qualifies as "technology sector" though.
John Henry
Ordained (not licensed) Minister, Universal Life Church, 1973.
Posted by: John Henry | May 02, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Thanks for the Krauthammer links, Jane and Deb. That was excellent. He captures Obama's rhetorical deceit wrt Wright better than anyone else I've read thus far.
Posted by: Porchlight | May 02, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Ha Tops, how funny.
The guy that posted this story on FDL actually wrote the book that "broke" the story that McCain called his wife names. Yes, a publisher actually published a book about this carp. What ridiculous people they all are.
Posted by: MayBee | May 02, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Let me get this straight. A fanatic Obama supporter and political partisan writes a book about McCain with a cute excerpt of anonymously-sourced reporter gossip from 1992. A fellow HuffPo pundit (also Obama supporter, natch) makes a big deal of it. Then a fellow Obot takes the issue on the road to a town hall meeting. Nice.
Verdict amongst the lefties? He's a hero. Beautiful. Let's ask Mr Obama whether he approves of the tactics used by his supporters, should we? Classy.
Posted by: Cecil Turner | May 02, 2008 at 11:59 AM
John Henry
Good luck figuring out Arkansas Baptists. Arkansas has some arcane and very unusual laws.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 02, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Re: John Henry
Yes, many churches - especially from a baptist or free church tradition - do license ministers. Basically, it's usually looked at as an interim step toward ordination.
One interesting thing, though - I didn't see anywhere ANY formal biblical or theological training. While such training isn't, strictly speaking, a requirement, I have to say that knowing someone has received training helps understand their theological perspective. Also, having such training can help keep one on the rails and away from heresy or slipshod handling of the Bible.
Paul
Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, 2002
Posted by: Paul | May 02, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Can licensed ministers marry people? If so, the next bride considering using Potty Mouth Parrish should worry about that "Do you take this ...." question to the groom.
Posted by: DebinNC | May 02, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Wow. Look at the Big Brain on Marty. He knows how to repeat despicable words. Arianna must be so proud.
Posted by: Enlightened | May 02, 2008 at 03:11 PM
In any event, and not to bust anyone's bubble, included in his list of accomplishments is
"Licensed, 1st Baptist Church, West Memphis Arkansas, Minister of the Gospel, 1980"
Hmmph, how did I miss that?
Too late to prove anything now, but his Google cache skips straight from his interests to his college degree, with no mention of the minister license.
Whatever - he must have been about 19 at the time if he is 46 now, so I will still dispute "ordained", anyway.
Posted by: Tom Maguire | May 02, 2008 at 04:12 PM
If I'm not a Baptist,would I go to hell if I just cracked this clown one across the mouth...?
Posted by: richard mcenroe | May 02, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I had a card identifying me as a minister for the Universal Life Church when I was 18, too. Cost me five bucks.
Posted by: Ernst Blofeld | May 03, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Anyway, I think the "American Hero" has just been dumbed down about 300 notches by TPM.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 03, 2008 at 12:22 AM
I'm a licensed minister of WTAO.
By the FCC I might add. Chief Engineer of the WTAO. A title that is hard to come by.
Posted by: M. Simon | May 03, 2008 at 12:38 AM
Ok, it gets worse...Gateway's found that the "minister' signed in with press credentials with Huffington Post along with HuffPo - "OffTheBus' contributor who filed the actual story (like it was a story, no staging or coordination) - Keith Dinsmore
OffTheBus is a Jay Rosen - Arriana project. I'm sure Jay is regretting besmirching his name with all these dirty Arrianna tactics. He should be thoroughly embarrassed. If not? never regarded again.
And Arianna has NO business bellyaching and critiquing the press now. Staging News Arianna is lame, really bad and lame. No more lectures from frauds
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 03, 2008 at 12:57 AM
I'm sure Jay is regretting besmirching his name with all these dirty Arrianna tactics.
I was thinking the same thing. His Off the Bus seems to be more of the same.
Posted by: MayBee | May 03, 2008 at 01:14 AM
Tops,
I am just catching up tonight, so I am sorry if this has already been posted:
'My Master Is Obviously Not You, Dick!'
What do you think of this? I think the left is falling apart here, too!
and PUK, I am so happy for you!!!
Posted by: Ann | May 03, 2008 at 01:25 AM
Maybee
and the hits just keep on coming ---
Questioner Dragged Out Of McCain Town Hall Talks To OffTheBus - KEITH DINSMORE
Joe Biden-Organization, Iowa
updated December 22, 2007
BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
Headquarters: 8033 University Ave, Suite C, Des Moines, IA 50325 515.440.2008
Communications Director Keith Dinsmore
here is Keith's Huff Po Bio - just a wee bit different, eh?
Nice, Jay.
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | May 03, 2008 at 02:55 AM
" here who don’t respect that kind of language. "
it was your own langauge your FUCKING MORONIC GOP candidate
Posted by: nick | May 03, 2008 at 03:21 AM
Thats OK Nick, I remember my first beer too.
Posted by: daddy | May 03, 2008 at 03:31 AM
LOL!!
Posted by: Jane | May 03, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Those CAPS really MAKE THE COMMENT, Nick.
Sweet.
Posted by: vnjagvet | May 03, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Those CAPS really MAKE THE COMMENT, Nick.
Sweet.
Posted by: vnjagvet | May 03, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Wow. Gibson takes Parrish to the woodshed and spanks him.
Posted by: Sue | May 03, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I disagree that c*** is the worst thing you could call a woman. The one I dread to hear is "Mrs." President.
Posted by: Cecil Moon | May 03, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Gee Whizz, a sailor, and son of a sailor, once used salty language.
Who would have thought?
Posted by: Joseph Somsel | May 03, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Well there are certainly some "Mrs. President"'s that would be music to my ears. Just not this one.
Posted by: Jane | May 03, 2008 at 11:21 AM
As a Baptist minister who is both licensed and ordained, I can perhaps clear up part of this issue.
States and other legal entities require ministers to have some sort of credentials to perform certain religious functions, particularly marriages. In Baptist churches, local congregations have the responsibility of "setting apart" people for the work of ministry and granting them these legal credentials. A "license" (issued by the local church) satisfies this legal requirement. In most states (including Texas, where I live) a license is all that is required to perform marriages.
"Ordination" serves less of a legal purpose than an ecumenical one. In Baptist churches, a minister is put through a process of questioning and vetting before being ordained. The ordination results in the title "Reverend" being conferred on the minister.
It is often customary for a minister to be "licensed" very early in the ministry (I was licensed at age 20) and be ordained later, such as after completing seminary training (I was ordained at age 28). This practice varies by congregation and is often handled differently in different parts of the country.
I hope that makes sense.
Posted by: Martin | May 03, 2008 at 02:51 PM
A license to minister is given by the state, and is for legal, not religious, purposes. It means you can do things like perform marriage ceremonies. Plenty of people get licensed as ministers without actually being religious. (There are web sites you can go to for this).
Ordination is done by some churches, and is a separate thing. As a baptist, I give more weight to ordination that licensing, since I don't consider the state capable of making spiritual decisions.
Posted by: Mark | May 03, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Probably a minister like the guy in There Will Be Blood...
Posted by: Seixon | May 03, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Most people form ministries to avoid creditors.
Posted by: 88Cane | May 03, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Well, now Frank Rich is trying to draw a parallel between McCain and John Hagee a la Obama-Wright. LOL
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04rich.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print
For such a "complex" liberal, Rich is such a simpleton.
Posted by: fdcol63 | May 04, 2008 at 01:08 PM
This leftwingnut is not ordained, has no connection with the Church in Arkansas, and has no accreditation. He has as much claim to the term minister as Stalin did.
Just ask yourself one questiuon when an incident of this sort occurs who is more likely to have been the author of it, the Left or the Right?
If you answered the Right I have some prime swampland for you and some beachfront property in Utah you'll just love.
Posted by: Thomas Jackson | May 04, 2008 at 09:42 PM
If you answered the Right I have some prime swampland for you and some beachfront property in Utah you'll just love.
Posted by: battery | December 30, 2008 at 02:39 AM
We all love game, if you want to play it, please cheap penya and join us.
Posted by: sophy | January 06, 2009 at 09:57 PM