U.S. Senators John McCain (Republican - Arizona) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat - New York) engaged in a Baltic tradition with a "Vodka Drinking Contest" when they were on a overseas delegation to Tallinn in August 2004. Clinton suggested the contest, according to New York Times writer Anne E. Kornblut in her article of Saturday, July 29, 2006.
 
"Delighted, the leader of the overseas delegation, Senator John McCain, quickly agreed," said Kornblut.
 
The participants lost track of how much vodka was consumed though McCain offered with admiration about Clinton, that she's "one of the guys".
 
When the New York Times asked Clinton's office their version of the "contest", her spokesman Phillipe Reines replied, "What happens in Estonia, stays in Estonia."
 
Others that participated in the delegation were Senator John Sununu (Republican - New Hampshire), Senator Susan Collins (Republican - Minnesota) and Senator Lindsay Graham (Republican - South Carolina), though there was no indication whether any of them were involved in the finer points of Baltic sporting "contests".
 
"The delegation was slated to meet Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts, Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland and Defense Minister Margus Hansen to focus on the further development of bilateral relations as well as the partnership of the two countries in international organizations," according to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
 
McCain and Clinton were well recognized by Estonians as they walked together on the streets of Tallinn.
 
Since the meeting in Tallinn, McCain and Clinton have been on several trips together such as to Iraq in 2005.
 
They also serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee together and they have taken the same position on global warming.
 
Last year they were on "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert. McCain was asked by the host if he would support Clinton if she were to run for the presidency. After some joking around he said yes. Clinton, when asked the same question by Russert replied "absolutely". Russert then suggested that the both of them should start the "fusion party".
 
As it turned out, both McCain and Clinton are now seen as the front runners of their respective parties and the fusion could soon become friction according to Kornblut.
 
Its also been suggested that by McCain's assistants that he no longer take Clinton on any more overseas delegations, as the presidential elections draw nearer.
 
I wonder how much of this "fusion" between the "guys" stayed in Estonia.

 
 

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