By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Are you kidding me? Now the media want to spread a 1987 allegation involving John McCain? And all to show he has a temper? Hey, that's what many Americans like about him.

McCain's in the news because Sen. Thad Cochran, a Mississippi Republican, told a story recently about the GOP presidential contender.

McCain allegedly had grabbed an associate of President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, then pulled him out of his chair during a 1987 trip to Central America.

Cochran told the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss.: "John had reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and had snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair to tell him what he thought about him or whatever.’’

McCain dismissed Cochran’s remarks, saying Wednesday, "It’s simply not true.’’

And what if it were?

McCain was dealing with representatives of a thuggish government and possibly got a little heated during the discussions. That doesn't strike me as a big problem.

This is a topic that doesn't deserve more than the one-day attention it ought to receive from the press. After all, I wouldn't mind if the country's next president had a bit of a temper.

It could come in handy.