McCain compares Iranian leader to monkey; draws GOP charge of racism

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.’”

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Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, aka Furious George.

Don't be a square, man. Go ape.

    Reply#1901 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:11 AM EST

    Really?? You people are worried about a tyrannical dictator who was a big part in storming our embassy and taking our citizens hostage being compared to a monkey. You are all out of your f***ing minds? Meanwhile this country is being destroyed from within and is becoming the world's whipping post. Is there really nothing else more news worthy? Gee, maybe Mooshell is going to get another hideous haircut or Doomberg will impliment a ban on over-sized condoms.

    Get a grip, people, and pull your heads out of the sand and out of your asses.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#1902 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:11 AM EST

    I always thought Ahmadinejad looked like George W. Bush. But everyone used to say that Bush looked like a monkey too. So i guess maybe they do look like chimps.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#1903 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:15 AM EST

    Jimreaper you definatly have a point!

    • 1 vote
    Reply#1904 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:19 AM EST

    I do not think it was a racist comment. However, I do think that this country should have done something about Iran a long time ago. Taxpayers are tired of babying countries like Iran and N. Korea. If it means bombing, then DO IT! If it means TOTAL SANCTIONS, then DO IT! These hand-slaps are not helping the people in either of these countries; they are going to suffer no matter what happens, and the sooner The Blackhouse does something definitive, the sooner we can start paying to rebuild these countries. SOUNDS STUPID, DOESN'T IT.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#1905 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:21 AM EST

    We'll See What All You Dumb Ass Left Wings Have To Say When That Monkey Drops A Bomb On You. John McCain Is A WAR HERO And Don't You Left Wing Nut Jobs Forget It. Nuff Said !!!

    • 2 votes
    Reply#1906 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:26 AM EST

    Did you read the headline it was the GOP that called him a Racist and aren't they Conservative ??

    Or am I missing something ??

    • 1 vote
    #1906.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:35 AM EST

    @Below average....

    It was the GOP criticizing your hero!

    • 1 vote
    #1906.2 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:45 PM EST

    The GOP was conservative 50 years ago. Today, they are batsh*tcrazy. The party has evolved.

    • 1 vote
    #1906.3 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 1:28 PM EST
    Reply

    He is right.. That guy is a monkey.. Wait, are we being racist to the monkey? I'm sorry monkey, comparing you to that murdering thug is very racist..

    • 3 votes
    Reply#1907 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:26 AM EST

    An insult to monkeys everywhere!

      #1907.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:34 PM EST
      Reply

      ...everyone used to say that Bush looked like a monkey too

      A perfect example of the hypocrisy that is the liberal mentality. You're offended by a statement about a murderer but you have no problem with comparing a Republican President to a primate or that murderer. You're disgraceful.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#1908 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:27 AM EST

      mccain is an arrogant ignorant war mongering old Fart. Our leaders should conduct themselves with some class and dignity. Trouble is old politicians like Mccain have niether. He has on occassion insulted his wife in public calling her a trollop. This is the guy Republicans wanted to make our leader? Oh Boy

      • 1 vote
      Reply#1909 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:29 AM EST

      mccain is an arrogant ignorant war mongering old Fart. Our leaders should conduct themselves with some class and dignity

      Give some examples on how he is a war monger. He served this country and suffered in a vile prison camp so that you can make your ignorant statements.

      Maybe he should pick his nose at state dinners like somebody else that you worship so he can show how "Our leaders should conduct themselves with some class and dignity".

      • 2 votes
      #1909.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:46 AM EST

      Johnny boy you would last a day in the POW camp this guy fought for your rights you are fool

      • 2 votes
      #1909.2 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:08 PM EST

      Johnny-3621820 " Our leaders should conduct themselves with some class and dignity. Trouble is old politicians like McCain have neither ".

      Maybe John McCain should take some civility & class lessons from you ?

      Your nothing but a little hypocritical piece of crap hanging from some dog's azz Johnny !!

        #1909.3 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:21 PM EST

        Baliman...

        Your posting just reeks with class and dignity! Stop eating what comes out of a dog's azz....your breath stinks!

          #1909.4 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:47 PM EST

          Johnny boy you would last a day in the POW camp this guy fought for your rights you are fool

          The Vietnamese were trying to take our rights away? Never heard that before.

            #1909.5 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 1:32 PM EST
            Reply

            gop get some balls the guys a murder

            • 2 votes
            Reply#1910 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:29 AM EST

            What is racist about this anyway? What "race" is being insulted or offended?

            • 2 votes
            Reply#1911 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:30 AM EST

            Yeah, this guy would have made a great President. How long has this guy been in politics? Isn't he smart enough to know that EVERYTHING he says is subject to scrutiny. It's part of the job. Since he was in the Navy he should know the old expression 'Loose lips sink ships.' I think his has sailed right into irrelevance.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#1912 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:31 AM EST

            And look what we got, Dictator Obama You are a idioit

            • 2 votes
            #1912.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:06 PM EST

            @O-not,

            And we thank God everyday for our President...have another bowl of sour-grapes, loser.

            • 1 vote
            #1912.2 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:49 PM EST
            Reply

            Please tell me why anyone cares about McCain saying something bad about an Iranian leader that we all hate and wish was not on the planet any longer. This is a man that would not hesitate to kill you with their nuclear bomb. Are we so PC that that "monkey" over there is worth protecting from redicule and we should care about the Islamic terrorists getting their feelings hurt when their murdering prophet's name is used in vain. Wake up everyone - they are the enemy, not anyone to be protected. There are a lot worse things to call these people than "monkey" and all being well deserved!

              Reply#1913 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:50 AM EST

              I think space would be a great place for Ahmadinejad.

                Reply#1914 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:53 AM EST

                Senator McCain has turned into a bitter old man!

                • 1 vote
                Reply#1915 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:56 AM EST

                And you are a fool. it was not a racist comment

                  #1915.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:06 PM EST

                  That old boys club, white male, racist, misogynist part just slips right on out of these old white guys sometimes, doesn't it?

                  What a statesman! That's a joke!

                  • 1 vote
                  #1915.2 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:16 PM EST
                  Reply

                  If this comment is "racial" then it is the monkeys who were insulted!

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#1916 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:56 AM EST

                  McCain was wrong:

                  Ahmadinejad is a snake, not a monkey.

                  Given the insult to monkeys, where's PETA on this one?

                    Reply#1917 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 11:57 AM EST

                    Hey you dumbass libs the poll says 69 percent not racist only 26 percent say it was so the majority of the people say it was not racist, stop the hate. What is wrong with a joke or for that matter calling a Spade a Spade. We have become way to politically correct. Amazing if a Dem says it he misspoke if a republicans says it is racist. Stop the double standards. It was a joke lighten up America. WE have come a long way in America on racial indifference. By the way when you can joke about it and not offend anybody and it is taken as a joke then that is when we have equality. I was told long ago if someone is joking with you it means they like you if they are not then it means they don't. The Super Bowl had three great African American artists so we have come a long way. Years ago this would not have happened.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#1918 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:04 PM EST

                    So calling you an idiot is ok then!

                    • 1 vote
                    #1918.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:37 PM EST

                    @O-not

                    Republicans do not believe in polls, they made that very clear in October! LOL! Loser

                      #1918.2 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:50 PM EST
                      Reply

                      That old boys club, white male, racist, misogynist part just slips right on out of these old white guys sometimes, doesn't it?

                      What a statesman! That's a joke!

                        Reply#1919 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:11 PM EST

                        Feisty, you and all those folks that agree or think like you........... you were all picked on as children. You're to whiny and touchy about the most mundane things. Now you're (in your own way) defending a terrorist leader of a terrorist country, a country that wouldn't piss on you to put out a fire. You're scum to them. I'm sure you and your kind sit back and tell yourselves that if only you had a chance to show these muslims that Americans arew good people, they might change their minds and not be our enemy's. Idiot!!!

                          Reply#1920 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:28 PM EST

                          So let me get this straight, you guys with your swelling brains are ready to defend this Terrorist Leader when he has hijacked a plane full of people shot and killed American service men threw thier bodies on the tarmac and you expect Mccain to have a good FEELING about this man. Hell I have worst words than that for this piece of cow dung you all so love. You all make me sick jump on the bandwagon you anti american pieces of crap.

                            Reply#1921 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:31 PM EST

                            Yes it is racist, to have people from your own politcal party say "hey dude that is a racist remark." is bad. Am I going to lose sleep over it NO.People seem to forget other races were called "monkeys" by us and it was deemed racist. We all are not happy with the situation in Iran but we do not have to step down to their level.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#1922 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:32 PM EST

                            This is a never ending discussion. As americans what should be discussed is why we ALLOW people to stay in office longer than 6-8 years. We complain about everything McCain and others vote for or say, but yet we reelect them when it is time to speak up. Harry Reid is a career politician, as is McCain. Are those the smartest people in their respective states? These people live in a different world, and we allow it. They do not live with the end results of their votes or policies they put in place. If these politicians had to go back to public life after service, they would see the results of their idea's. Their benefits should only equal the amount of their public service, not serve as their retirement. Reasons we are a bankrupt country: WE THE PEOPLE!

                            Discuss whether he is a racist, but what you should be discussing is how WE solve our problems. Not people you have never met and have no true idea of who they are. Or just continue to wonder why no one hears your voice and why you feel like a republican is racist, or a democrat is progressive. I served so you and I could have the freedom to have these discussions, but atleast make them responsible and meaningful. ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#1923 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:34 PM EST

                            John is just telling it, like it is. Good man, John. All of the people in Congress and the White House should speak truthfully.

                            I think the biggest "oppressors are obama and biden. Of course who gives a damn as to what I "think"?

                              Reply#1924 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:37 PM EST

                              You are an idiot, obviously

                                #1924.1 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 1:39 PM EST
                                Reply

                                Actually the AHM- man wasn't as goodlooking as the monkey.

                                  Reply#1925 - Tue Feb 5, 2013 12:37 PM EST
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