Meeting US-Senator John McCain is an experience: A war hero, political maverick, and a man who looked like he had seen and heard it all. Which, to be fair, he probably had. „Alright,“ McCain smiles, „let’s see if you can ask me something I haven’t been asked a thousand times before.“
Cherno Jobatey starts with McCain’s election campaign and defeat against Barack Obama. McCain snarls, „wow you must really be a riot at parties.“ And then, he provides insights into what happened. As the talk progresses, John McCain’s legendary bluntness is on full display. The conversation moves from domestic policy to foreign policy and transatlantic relations. By the time the conversation draws to a close, Cherno Jobatey realizes he is experiencing something rare: a politician who doesn’t dodge questions, doesn’t take himself too seriously, and can laugh at the absurdity of Washington DC.
John McCain ends the conversation with a firm handshake and one last piece of advice: Just remember, he smiles, don’t believe everything politicians tell you, especially me. Then, with a wink, he is off.