Sen. GOP Berate Trump Admin For No Apology Over McCain ‘Dying’ Remark

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill on February 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. Senators are working on an agreement to protect recipients of DACA from deportation... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill on February 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. Senators are working on an agreement to protect recipients of DACA from deportation. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Several key Senate Republicans had some choice words for President Donald Trump and his administration on Monday as they went on the offensive to defend one of their own— Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Politico reported.

Last week, White House special assistant Kelly Sadler mocked McCain for “dying” during an internal West Wing meeting and her comments were swiftly leaked to the press. Since then, rather than apologize or make personnel changes over the remark, the White House has taken an aggressive stance against leaking, painting Sadler as a “victim” who was betrayed by her colleagues.

Trump even chimed in on Monday, claiming the prevalence of leakers in the White House is just over exaggerated by the media, before also calling leakers “traitors and cowards.” 

The administration’s response has not sat well with several prominent Republican senators, who spoke with Politico on Monday. 

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) chided the administration for not having the “common decency” to apologize over the remark and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) claimed if it were his administration, he would not only make Sadler apologize, but he would also apologize for the way the scandal was handled.

“Everything happens for a reason. And sometimes the reason is you’re stupid and made a bad decision,” he told Politico. 

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) praised McCain for being a “war hero” who “should be treated as such” and suggested that the remark should get brought up at Republicans’ luncheon with Trump on Tuesday. 

Read Politico’s full report here. 

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Notable Replies

  1. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) praised McCain for being a “war hero” who “should be treated as such” and suggested that the remark should get brought up at Republicans’ luncheon with Trump on Tuesday.

    Oh yes, that will happen. When you look up the word “courage” in the dictionary, pictures of GOP Senators are right alongside it.

  2. I counted three GOP senators. Then I counted again and it was still three. Once, a long time ago, when I was half my present age, I heard a committeeperson praise a letter the group had written to some higher-ups to protest some situation. She said it struck just the right tone—“hesitant, but firm.” Haven’t thought about that one in a long, long time. It was funnier then. : (

  3. Sen. GOP Berate Trump Admin For No Apology Over McCain ‘Dying’ Remark
    As if it makes a whit of difference to the Mal-Administration
    At least you can say “Now we feel better”.
    Never mind the the million and one things Trump has done to seriously impair democracy and international relations .
    Don’t we have a recess coming up soon?

  4. Only took a couple of these assholes to get up the gumption to say something…5 or 6 days too late and only because this hasn’t passed from the news cycle because of the shame of not issuing a real apology and fire that staffer from her job. These Senators are spineless idiots. Were they too busy the day the news came out about this to make some sort of statement last week when it happened? Lack of empathy epitomizes the entire GOP.

  5. Swoon! So brave! Where do these distinguished lawmakers find the fortitude to stand up to the Twitter bully?

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