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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.’”
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The USA is Supporting Terrorism - Muslim Brotherhood and Al Quaida.
The USA New Friends To Radical Islam.................
It is Official: We are spreading Radical Sewage and Destruction.
OBAMA STOP FUNDING TERROR and Spreading Radical ISLAM !
STOP Killing Americans With your DRONE Strikes !
You call Good Whistle Blowers Unpatriotic Criminals and Call Killers and People Who Torcher Good.
You Protect Criminal Elements Growing Poppy in Afganistan Who Profit and Selling The Refined Drugs To The World - Mostly The USA.
The USA IS NO LONGER The WORLDS Greatest POWER !
CHINA and RUSSIA Are Greater Than We and Could Take The USA Over and Are Planning To Do So.
Obama Sign The UN Small Arms Treaty and Send The USA into Oblivion !
It's the duty of every US politician and public figure to denigrate Iran/Iranians in whatever way possible; through humor, political jabs, ethnic comments, animal analogies, etc.
If they didn't, it would be much more difficult to justify the coming war of aggression against that country. By making extranneously negaticve comments, these high profile figures are able to condition the American public to accept their disdain and negative attitudes toward people about whom they know only what they are told by war mongers such as McCain.
Who cares if McCain refers to the little tyrant/provocateur as a "monkey?"
If you're one who uses the "incident" as a specious opportunity to spew more anti-McCain rants, then move to Iran, or write a letter of apology to Ahmadinajad, but leave my name off of the list of those who are sorry.
And "racist? It's mildly disparaging, but "racist?" C'mon, get a life.
McCain's an angry, childish, PTSD-addled, "little tyrant" himself...he should understand his Iranian nemesis well.
Everything he has said and done in recent years points to his racist tendencies.That's why he still gets elected in AZ. I thought his behavior during the recent Senate Confirmation Hearings demonstrated why he should no longer be in Congress. He is insulting to anyone who does not uphold war mongering and he is obsessed with dragging the US into wars in other countries. He STILL wants credit for dreaming up the Surge in the current War. I agree with Sec Hagel, let history judge that idea. It won't be kind since we lost so many young men and women and did not belong there in the first place. . If it's a war, it's good thing according to him. He still thinks we won in Viet Nam. He is no longer [ if he ever was] capable of sound, statesmanlike decision making or being respectful to other nationalities and races. He needs to retire and,if the people of AZ were capable of thinking about the future in rational ways,they would BRING him home.
The biggest racist in politics is the jew hating Obama.
Yo skibum: Got any evidence of "jew-hating" or do you always just spew lies to fit your narrow-minded views?
The more this man talks and stays in office, the less respect I have for this ex POW. You should retire now McCain before you're only remembered for being an idiot.
McCain is not being racist with that comment. He could have and WOULD have said it about anyone else who is as stupid, ignorant and evil as this low life he was talking about. Anyone who thinks McCain was strictly targeting Iran or Muslims (god forbid) is as ignorant as Mr. Monkey! I agree with Senator McCain 100% even though I don't particularly like him. He tells it how he sees it and the president of Iran IS a monkey!!
Well, maybe. But who is looking out for the welfare of monkeys? Monkeys can be clever, caring people. Is Aminijad a clever, caring person? Perhaps one ought to ask monkeys how they feel about being compared to this Iranian chappie?
Way to go, McMouth, and to think people wanted you as a president. If this is the political etiquette we can expect from you, and your party, it's no wonder they are a mess.
The mess occasionally sits behind the president's desk...but only occasionally...
Totally agree. Can't imagine that kind of comment would come out of a US statesman, let alone a presidential candidate or anyone who's worth his weight in whatever.
I just wish the 'Race Police' would put as much time on solving our economic problems as they do on 'Petty Name Calling'!!!
its amazing to me that people on here actually are upset that mcain may have offended the sensibilities of a man who claims the 9/11 attacks never happened...insists on building irans nuclear capability ......aids terrorists whenever possible.......all this unchecked by this presidency.....if you wish to be upset folks lets be upset at the right person. Iran has done NOTHING to earn our respect and honor. how dare any of you defend this man and his "honor". i say shame on all of you who are offended by this. have we become this ethically bankrupt as to defend a man who will go down in history as nothing more than a piece of crap lacky who bows down to the "spiritual" leaders of his country. you people make me sick
Actually, I didn't run to Canada but enlisted.
And you're wrong about the protests. That shortened our involvement in Viet Nam, it did not lengthen it. This is a well accepted given...
Well accepted given in revisionist history, but for those of us who lived it hippies were good for nothing except being dirty and pompous. Hippies were traitors in the 60's and if you look at this board remain the same today. The protests did nothing except cause immeasurable harm to our troops.
skibum, you're wrong...
And I'm guessing you wouldn't know a real hippie if one offered you a bouquet.
I was there...
Talk about intolerant...not the Senator, but the liberals on this blog! The Iranian president is worse than a monkey...he's a snake!
Thank GOD this IDIOT did not become president. What a SOUR JERK. First he loved Hagel now he hated him. Hagel came off good compared to this SOUR puss Country NOT First jerk McCain. John McCain STEP DOWN NOW BEFORE YOU GET US ALL KILLED. INSANE to say such a disgusting thing to ANYONE much less a leader ... I am NO fan of Aamadinajad believe me. I think he is a DOPE but if you are in a position of power YOU DO NOT SAY THINGS LIKE that EVEN if you think it's true not because of Amedinajad but because of OUR country..you moron!
natalie, How unkind to call Amedinajad a dope, "because of OUR country", you moron. You should'nt drink so early in the day.
I am certain that Dr. Achmadinejad is enjoying the fallout.
I agree with McCain I could care less about a person who hates my country and my people, that was not racist he is as white as McCain so what race is he. ok so he is not being racist since they are the same human race and if all mankind is the same race there is so such thing as race. Just coloration. So that would make you a colorist??
The comment is questionable to liberal media as there is no documented evidence that Achmadinejad can peel a banana with his toes.
McCain labeled a racist? Since when has McCain exhibited hate for white people? As everyone know, monkeys have white skin. Only a really ignorant person would think that McCain was talking about a person of color. Only a stupid person without a sense of humor would call him out.
Actually, it was a pretty good joke, now that I think about it.
...or a stupid person with an agenda trying to motivate other stupid people.
I do not like McSame, and I hate Ackmedawhackjob, but didn't feel the remark was all that bad. I took it as not racist, but saying he was like a buffoon or something.
By the way right wing haters, quit saying liberals defend that Iranian psychopath-really far from the truth generally and just adds to the devisiveness that has become your party's mantra.
Sorry whiny but we call them as we see them. Given the left's support of the enemy on these boards and their Jew hating you seem like natural allies for Islamists.
You again skibum? wtf you talking about? You think you know who is who and what label you can put on them. All you can do is call names when somebody disagrees with you. What an azz clown. PS, I'm Jewish.
retire already geezer......
McCain does not deserve the title of US Senator. Perhaps he should join the rest of his TEABAGGERS in the house of reps. What an embarrassment.
If we are into deserving then Obama's gotta go...NOW...
Only a child would use teabbagger so claiming toi be embarrassed makes you look very foolish. So foolish its almost like you're a 20 something or something similarly totally useless.
id rather send coopster and the rest of his ilk to iran to personally apologize to their new hero.
Has it actually come to the point we can't ridicule those that wish us dead? Really? I actually think the monkey is the one that should be offended.
And for the Festering Redhead in Roselle,Il, you're weekly truckload of Monostat is out front.
this isnt surprising. especially from the GOP. they claim theyre against his comments, but only because others heard him say it.
if it were only amongst the inner circle of GOP members the rest of us never would have heard about it.
thats the problem with political correctness -- racist in private.....not racist in public
instead of just being correct to begin with -- not racist in public....not racist in private.
also substitute "racist" with every other problematic world view -- homophobic...sexist...classist...etc etc etc
its also the David Dukes modern version of the KKK. trading a white hood and burning crosses for a silk suit and a super pac.
instead of saying the "N-word" they say "inner city" or "urban". its easy to catch on to when you pay attention to their artistic creativity in adjective usage.
KKK is no different than the NAACP, but in the Progressive handbook bigotry towards Conservatives, Christians, white males, older white males, Jews, business owners etc. is to be glorified. The most despicable, hateful people on the planet are Progressives. How do you spell hypocrite? P R O G R E S S IU V E. Say hi to the monkey for me.
you know nothing about the KKK or the NAACP if you tihnk theyre the same. educate yourself please.
If hillary don't care about the cause or the reason why four Americans dying in Behghazi, who cares about McCain calling Ahmadinejad a monkey. Ahmadinejad has done more evil things to his own people and NBC is making something out this. NBC, lets talk about the almost 17 trillion dollar debt and 1 trillion dollar deficit, or why 4 Americans died in Behghazi. Your priorities are all wrong.
She didn't care? Really? I watched the hearings and I know the exchange that you are talking about.
The Iranian A$$ clown Ahmadinejad [ I'manutjob] is not worthy to be called a monkey. A monkey has a values system much in advance of that Persian turd.
John is completely INSANE and should not be in the senate or anything but Insane Asylum
If sanity is a requirement Obama's outta there...like...NOW...
McCain has become a joke. How sad!
Let's compare your life with his. John McCain was a five year POW survivor, a decorated pilot, retired military, been a congressman for many years, well liked and allmost won the presidency but he did not want to lie to get votes. What's your record?
Also, not that this matter, his father and his grandfather were both Admirals in the Navy during World War II and the other during World War I and II. His family fought for this country during times of need.
Personally, I put Iran in the same category as N. Korea, that is as a rogue state with sub-par (at best) leadership. However, McCain's statement once again shows that he prefers arrogance and confrontation (i.e. BAU) instead of diplomacy to solve the problems the US faces in the ever increasing complex world that we find ourselves. You would think that his military background and experiences as a POW would provide more a more insightful, intelligent assessment. As usual he dissappoints me and I hope he is considers retirement when his term is up.