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Matthias Schrader / AP
Sen. John McCain
Updated 12:52 pm ET. Always one to speak -- or Tweet -- his mind, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Monday made a joke comparing Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a monkey, something one Republican congressman charged was “racist.”
“So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn't he just there last week?” McCain said in a tweet that also linked to a story about Iran launching a monkey into space.
Some didn’t take so kindly to the not-so-diplomatic quip, prompting McCain, 76, to respond: “Re: Iran space tweet - lighten up folks, can't everyone take a joke?”
Seeing that, Michigan congressman Rep. Justin Amash, 32, shot back.
“Maybe you should wisen up & not make racist jokes,” Amash tweeted.
Not everyone on the right agreed with Amash. Conservative John Podhoretz, for example, Tweeted this: "How dare McCain say something demeaning & disparaging abt the foremost anti-Semite on the planet." And this: "So...it's defend-the-Jew-hater-from-the-war-hero day."
It’s not the first time McCain’s made a joke about Iran that landed him in some hot water. During his run for president in 2007, McCain sang about bombing the country.
Asked by a GOP primary voter when the U.S. would send an “air-mail message to Tehran,” McCain said, “That old Beach Boys’ song, ‘Bomb Iran?’ Bomb, bomb, bomb—, anyway.”
McCain’s response then as now? It’s just a joke -- "get a life.”
“When veterans are together, veterans joke,” McCain said at the time. “And I was with veterans and we were joking. And if somebody can’t understand that, my answer is, ‘Please, get a life.’”
Leave a Comment:
Note to John McCain : The voters have spoken. It would be nice if you didn't.
The voters are barely smarter than monkeys. That's what we get for sending kids to the liberal union run re-education camps we call public schools.
You must be a Progressive since the truth offends you and you have the same sense of humour that Stalin had.
This is so retarded! Oops! Am I not allowed to say that? Who's the trained monkey now?
Youve got to be insane to side with that fkn Iranian would be Dicktater and yes I spelled it correctly. What in hell is wrong with you Liberal sht bags?
Forget political correctness. Besides, the monkeys should be complaining that they were compared to the Iranian leader.
I'm glad this ignorant coward will never become president ...NEVER !!
To Steve-452464
McCain lost it (a long time ago!). He has disgraced veterans everywhere. I'm also a veteran (O-5) of that same era, and I can't think of one thing that John McCain has done that has deserved the respect of other veterans....not ONE thing.
As far a disrespecting the President of the United States, you fall into the same category, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Of course, "Pukey Big Snots" like you haven't the brains to utter a comment that's worth anything to a sane person, so take your place beside your hero, McCain. Both losers!!! You can include your twinky little friend, Graham....you'd make a great trio !
You're a veteran in the same way I am ruler of the Universe. You are a fraud and the idea you served is laughable.
Like I've said before, John McCain is a poser. He's never done anything of any importance in all his years in Congress. He was a lousy flier in the military and was never seen as leadership material, so he never got his own command. He left his crippled wife and ran around on her when he returned from war and looked for a woman who could project him into politics. He did just that. Gee, what a guy. Then he was part of the notorious Keating Five and in the end ratted on them to save his own skin. Again, what a guy. This dude is no maverick or anything else we should be admiring. He's a self-serving phony. So, media, stop interviewing him like he has something worthwhile to add. He doesn't. Find someone who does and stop wasting our time with this idiot.
Anyone who hates on McCain over this is nuts.
Unless you are one of the Dictators running Iran.
Those people want to kill you!
McCain is the enemy? Really?
The enemy of America is anyone who identifies as a Progressive or a liberal and they should be treated as such.
Where is the racism? Since when were middle easterners racially called monkeys? McCain is right, people need to get a life!
John.........................Did you think you may offend the president on both referances?
This man McCain is such a complete scum bag ! He truly needs to start wearing pads he is so full of crap its coming out of all ends ! he just has to open his mouth and you know its sh*t
Now here's where we have problem, I believe comrade obama is the scumbag???
I dont see the problem with the joke?????? All the liberal lefties that get worked up about this stuff believe we all came from monkeys anyway......so there should really be no problem... we are all monkeys... no joke there anyway??????? Nothing to get upset about..... ...So... a Jew a white guy and an indian walk into a bar......hahahahaha had all the lefties worried for a min!!!!!!!
Its is the truth. He looks like a little monkey. Stop crying to you mama little babies.
The Senate and the House of Representatives (Congress) are the real monkeys. Come on elected boofishals, everyone together in non-partisan harmony.......give me a monkey call!!!!
The simple fact is that Iran is not going away. They do have allies and my guess would be that the mullahs days will eventually come to an end. When? Who knows...
We do know that the newer generations have a very different idea about the future of Iran and their day will come some day.
When that day comes, it will be a great day for Iran and the Middle East. My greatest hope is that it comes peacefully. Unfortunately, the orderly transfer of power is something only a few nations practice well.
Nothing Racist it about it ...
And if anyone should complain it should be the monkey > he is the one that got insulted being linked to that in-breed muslim pile of pig chit
I can see where a no cowboy all hat pile of longhorn manure would feel that way...
I can see where some Muslim would be offended, but not an American.
Man up and try telling that to my face .... anyone like you who stands up for muslims who want us all dead > well, when are you, obama and all the rest of the cult followers going to move to Jonestowns and drink the special kool-aid
In Jonestown, I think it was actually Flavor Aid, not Kool Aid. ;)
Of course the GOP quickly identified this as racist. Who better to recognize racists than racists?
On behalf of Senator McCain I would like to apologize to all the monkeys of the world.
Interesting that the GOP thinks that it's okay to be subtly racist, but not overtly racist.
McCain's days have come and gone. What a terrible legacy he will leave behind. I wonder if his wife is still addicted to synthetic heroin ? peace
Has anyone noticed the decline in McCain's mental capacity? I'm serious, I think he is suffering from some sort of dementia. He needs to retire NOW!
I also noticed that despite his decline he's still smarter than the President.
The Monkey is smarter than Barry too
i never thought id live to see the day that americans would EVER be upset because an american senator offended an iranian.....how quickly we forget.........all in the name of politics......anyone offended by mcains acts probably better send the iranians an apology letter or better yet maybe we should send obama to go bow down to him as well
Look at all the liberals taking their time to defend the public leader of the largest state sponsored terrorist entity just as long as a republican is on the receiving end of their vomit at the keyboard. It's these same liberals who call conservative americans, the Taliban. Could the vicious MSNBC liberals get any more un-american with their polarized rhetoric? WTF is wrong with you people?
When is describing someone as a monkey considered racist? I'm from the south, and have never heard this, lol! I always thought a monkey was just someone who is stupid, nonsensical, funny, not to be taken seriously.
Some people will race bait just about anything from their internet persona.
Modern Liberalism = A generation in decay.
Public Enemy #1 = Political correctness.
See Howard Cosell describing a Redskins player that way and getting in trouble for it 30 years ago. I guess your area of the south may not have needed to cover up their racism with a metaphor.
Dude, your ignorance of the historical context of using the term monkey IN THIS COUNTRY to refer to people of color is breathtaking.
Ha ha ha - Iran the largest state sponsored terrorist entity? Not even close. Look a little closer to home, southern dude.
jaywillie .. how come all the people comparing John Elway to a horse never got fired or called racist ...
NO in my area of the south, we didn't have to cover it up because it in my area racism did not exist. If it did, it would only rear its head through a tasteless joke, and nothing more. I seriously doubt the 'racial" term monkey was ever meant for someone with brown skin to begin with.
Let's not drag the stinky herring through here, doesn't matter what your interpretation is, McCain in no way meant it to be racial. Since the term monkey has many metaphorical meanings, only a race baiter would use the meaning theat ties it to race. When has race ever been an issue between world leaders on a national stage? When has JOhn McCain ever proved to be a racist?
It's only racial to those who want to keep racism alive through stupid catch phrases and outdated metaphors.
Implacable - Islamist terrorism.
Salsaforever - You said it, HISTORICAL!!!!! QUIT LIVING IN THE PAST! Just because someone uses the word monkey today, doesn't mean it should be tied to the racial monkey of yesterday.
My god, are you people really still that sensitive or are you just taking the poor window of opportunity to express your political affiliation? I suspect the latter. I thought you were supposed to be the ones that are NOT racist.
The old man has lost his jowell control. "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran". Clowns like McCain used to be called loose cannons. Now they're called the Senate GOP.
McCain's sh*t is more patriotic than you are...
As Samuel Johnson said, patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel ... so I guess I agree with you, McCain is definitely a scoundrel.
It would have been better if McCain had compared Ahmadinejad to Obama...
dishonest SOS
The Progressives and their hysteria are actually making the comparison. Since Obama is so closely aligned with Ahmedinijad the Progressives believe an insult to one is an insult to the other.
Now you are really insulting Amadinnerjacket....