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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:
McCain stole the line from a previous Newsvine post. Not news.
Why is monkey racist?
Because historically white supremecists use monkeys as an analogy for minorities, the message being that minorities are as below whites as monkeys are below humans on the evolutionary scale.
If the shoe fits...
Then all who believe in Evolution are "racists", for that theory, we all came from monkeys. Just another excuse by the Media Elite to play the "race card" to protect their favorite Despot in Iran.
Of course since brown people outnumber white people by a huge number worldwide Michael's use of the word minority is incorrect. Just another idiocy from a Progressive.
You can believe what you want, Kurt, but that's NOT what I said. I have a master's degree in zoology and most people I know who believe in evolution are not racist. I said that white supremecists believe that minorities are less-developed humans, as most scientists believe that monkeys are less-developed than human beings. And why the way, we DID NOT come from monkeys. Darwin's theory said that man and apes share a common ancestor, and that three lineages came from that ancestor; one became the monkeys, one became the apes, and one became humans. I personally have my own beliefs, but don't try to put words in my mouth.
Funny, that I was only giving an objective answer to AnotherMiddleClass, but in typical GOP fashion you righties are looking to pick a fight and hurl insults. You may think I'm an idiot, skibum, but my two college degrees would beg to differ. I'm reminded of First Corinthians 13:11 that says "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things." Being that I'm a man, I'm putting away this childish argument. If having the last word means so much to you, you can have it. Me, my lunch break's over to I have to get back to work. Later.
Take a good look at the persons name that wrote this B.S. article, and newsource. Enough said.
Not racist but unintelligent stupid ignorant comment ... Just one more right wing fascist republican opening his mouth, what else is new ....
And like i said before: I'm glad this ignorant coward will never become president ...NEVER !!
Why is everyone getting so upset? McCain is only showing the GOP's true colors, is all.
John McCain misspoke. He should have called Ahmadinejad a pig.
I think everyone ought to lighten up and get a life and concentrate on the important issues....like a balanced budget, lowering the national debt, cutting spending and stopping the practice of trying to by-pass the constitution....which Obama has "sworn" to uphold and defend.
Well again i see the white house spoke first here the
Feisty Redhead Carney must have e mailed her
about this story only posts if it a slam against
anyone other than the democraps
Yeah, and if Obama said something inappropriate Faux News would be the first to report it. You're just being a pot who's calling the kettle black.
hows your cool aid drink today
Boo hoo Michael. Obama says inappropriate things all the time and gets a racial pass. Obama skeet shooting lol. Same guy who suggested a pic of Dukakis in a tank told Obama to havea pic taken.
So one monkey calls another a monkey. Kind of like the pot calling the kettle black. The more he opens his mouth the better it is for the Democrats.
Labeling McCain as any animal is an insult to the animal kingdom... No animal is full of hatred, bitterness and resentment like this coward is ...
no matter what one thinks of McCain politically, to call him a "coward" after he spent several years at the Ha Noi "Hilton" without giving in to the Communist Torturers is as far as one can be from being a "coward". One has to be very naive, at best, to call Senator McCain a "coward".
If you need a clue what it was like in the Ha Noi "Hilton", try reading, "When Hell was in Session"
At least no innocents or diplomats died because of our esteemed leaders neglect and incompetence. Only morons would consider this racist or for that matter consider it newsworthy. Of course as usual it deflects from the gross lack of leadership and bolsters the divisiveness which is encouraged by those in high office.
Jokes are jokes.
MOST jokes will be considered to be in bad taste by SOMEONE....even if the joke was one poking fun at oneself.
All sides need to STOP taking these things out of context.
Nobody is saying any person is actually a monkey.
i am a naval Aviator - this guy use to be my hero - he is a total embarassment to himslf and all of us. Most of us have gotten pass the Vietnam - this poor guy hasn't - he needs to resign!
Just keep naval gazing...John McCain is doing great...
Bushee, so long as the International Socialist Occupation Despots in Ha Noi are still occupying the Government Offices, we will not forsake our Vietnamese friends.
Nhan Quyen Cho Viet Nam! Human Rights for Vietnam!
Everyone plays the damn race card these days... call it like it is. I think he is spot on.
Really, why do we care about this Iraniand duffass anyhow. Israel is about ready to unleash some whoopass on that entire counrty. They will be nothing but dust in the wind.
randall, you've seen too many movies...
Actually Obama just sold Israel a slew of bunker busters that will take out Irans 12 missle sites. Pronto. Which will or course incite the Arab Spring nations against Israel, but just wait! A movie wont do justice to whats about to happen then.
Calling Genocidal Ahmedinijad a "monkey" is an insult indeed ... To monkeys. Monkeys everywhere are insulted. I have a lot more respect for monkey than the subhuman Genocidal Ahmidinijad
So now we are defending a POS who just put a US Pastor in prison for 8 years for nothing. In case you people forget that is actually racist. But again the double standard and we are held to the higher end of it.
BreakerSailer, you are 100% correct, the POS having his political prisoner sentenced to prison the day after the election. Obama, the Yes Man, to the Muslim Brotherhood in Eygpt, has his Coptic Political Prisoner.
Progressives are showing their love of America by supporting Ahmedinijad. If young people are the future of America soon we'll see America, 1776 - 2022...R.I.P.
Grow up Society
No wonder the world is calling us bull
It'a another saaaaaaaaad day for Arizona!
Typical GOP cheap shot!!
Yep, cheap shot against monkeys. What an insult to monkeys. Any monkey is much greater than subhuman Genocidal Ahmidinijad. The Political Correct Revisionist History Crowd think ANY insult at their Favorite Despot in Iran as a "cheap shot"
I thought he was being kind since the leader of Iran is a piece of chit.
The first good news to come out of Iran in a long time. Pity it will never happen.
I am confused. Why is calling and Iranian a monkey racist? I thought it was only racist if you call an African american a monkey. So no matter who you call a monkey it is racist?
Thank you...so far as I recall, "monkey" historically was a slur against African slaves meaning that they were perceived to be "little more than a monkey" (evolutionary-wise).
While I understand it would be rude to call a black person a monkey, I'm still trying understand why comparing someone "not black" to a monkey would be racist, especially since it's not a reference to evolution or color as much as it is to exploring space?
I'm beginning to believe that if anyone says anything about ANYTHING someone will slam the race card (which quite honestly begins to discredit the argument - you know...the whole "crying wolf" story we're all told as children)
Disclaimer: Not meant to offend any wolves, people that are wolves, look like wolves, act like wolves, that were raised by wolves...or people that like the Twilight series in general.
I support Mccain, he is right, that Iranian pos is our enemy and you stupid liberals don't get it! It's always a party thing, whenever a republican says something liberals attack it. But, when a democrat says something off color, nobody cares. Iran is getting ready to build nuclear weapons. Where do you think his first target is? United States you idiots! Mccain is an American hero and that Iranian @!$%#er is an idiot! You liberals should be ashamed of yourselves!
But it turns out McCain is not a 'true american hero'. He blew up expensive jets and the whole torture thing was made up...he stayed in service to pay for his medical treatment and broke his arms from the parachute landing.
McCain, we can take a joke from a comedian, but not so much from someone supposed to be doing a job. One that you are not doing, along with your other republican dumb ass strange buddies. Holding up the democratic process by being obstuctionists to everything. Its you who needs to get a life. One in which you actually grow up then grow old and smart enough to step down from politics when you no longer know your ass from third base.
You're simply a liar and a poor one. Progressives seem to fail at everything.
t-man, and you are nothing more than a douche bag