E-mail:
Rich, Vanity Fair’s old McCain profile dealt with this pretty specifically: ’My dear friends” are words McCain often uses when addressing bigcrowds. The greeting is expansive, antique, almost Victorian in itsexaggerated politesse, and he sometimes stretches out the words as ifto heighten the affection they convey. But when he says “My friend” toa single, luckless individual, the tone is terse and tight, and themeaning is anything but philanthropic. “My friend,” when utteredthrough clenched teeth and frozen smile, means McCain is ready toblow. I’ve seen it happen again and again. To an inattentive freelancephotographer who happened to get between him and a Sunday-afternoonhouse-party crowd in New Hampshire: “My friend, I like to see peoplewhen I’m talking to them.” To a nervous technician taking too long torig a wireless transmitter on McCain’s back before a convocation atBoston College: “My friend, I will call you if I need you.” To TimRussert on Meet the Press, after Russert has just told McCain that “towin the Republican primary you have to move to the right, and then, towin the general election, move back to the center”: “People know metoo well, my friend. I’m not moving any way.”