Jacquelyn Martin / AP
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) caught some fire from her own party on Wednesday, with former presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) forcefully rejecting her calls for investigations into Muslim members of the government. In a Senate floor speech that elliptically referred to Bachmann as "a member of Congress," McCain condemned "specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans."
McCain was specifically defending Huma Abedin, a long-time Hillary Clinton aide, wife of former congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and one of the people whom Bachmann said should be investigated for possible ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. In prepared remarks, McCain defended Abedin as "an intelligent, upstanding, hard-working, and loyal servant of our country and our government." He went on:
“Ultimately, what is at stake in this matter is larger even than the reputation of one person. This is about who we are as a nation, and who we aspire to be. What makes America exceptional among the countries of the world is that we are bound together as citizens not by blood or class, not by sect or ethnicity, but by a set of enduring, universal, and equal rights that are the foundation of our constitution, our laws, our citizenry, and our identity. When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it.
“Our reputations, our character, are the only things we leave behind when we depart this earth, and unjust attacks that malign the good name of a decent and honorable person is not only wrong; it is contrary to everything we hold dear as Americans.
The full text of McCain's statement can be found here.
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With statements like this, I may well feel that the Senator is moving back towards the man that we all respected. Very good for him!
that would only be because of his daughter Meghan. I am no fan of hers and certainly not his, however he obviously has a soft spot for his babygirl and her difference on certain things
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Why do you have respect for someone that has absolutely no idea what he is talking about and obviously no knowledge of the facts of the matter and whom would stand up in Congress and lie about it?
He is brave and honest to say this. It would be a waste of money to go along with her idea.
My respect for McCain has gone back up. I always admired him, but when he switched parties, my respect went down. Thanks Mr. McCain!
"brave and honest" ...
For lying to Congress and making a fool of himself?
That's an interesting take ... my money says you're an Obama supporter.
I think McCain, or SOMEONE, should go a step further and mention the fact that Batsh*t Bachmann's antics ENDANGERED THE LIFE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON FOREIGN SOIL. Does that not come close to treason?
It's hilarious, in a sort of pathetic sort of way, that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about ... heck, you probably don't even know who she met with while she was there ... you guys are a riot!!
Can the Republicans decide whether Steve King or Bachmann is going to be the new McCarthy please?
McCain has some good moments, especially since he isn't running for president anymore. This is one of them.
Jesus. It is now a proven fact. Eugene McCarthy's spirit has returned to Earth in drag.
McCain just got bonus points with me. Bravo Mr. Senator. :)
It is beyond shocking, beyond alarming and literally almost beyond the realm of possibility that there are people whom are so uninformed and so inexplicably ignorant to the facts as John McCain.
This is such old news it almost makes me sick to my stomach to have to realize there are hundreds of millions more in this country just like him ... it is sadly a very unfortunate time in this nation's history.
You sound like a very scared person. Scared to open your eyes for fear that you will see diversity around you. It sounds like a very lonely place, that place that you live in your mind, out of touch with reality and morality. America would have never prospered if the founding fathers were as xenophobic as you seem to be. You seem like the type of person that would have supported the witch trials of the past. In some ways, I feel sorry for you, and hope that nobody like you ever gains one iota of power, because people like you damage, nearly irreparably, our great society.
Also, your name sounds rather racist, but maybe that was your intent. It certainly wouldn't surprise me from reading your comments.
Panther Hunter, you are obviously cut from the same cloth as Michele Bachmann and her ilk. One thing she, and the other Repugnicans have in common, is attacking without provocation, proof or reason. They simply lash out, but never seem to have any facts or real data to back up any of their rhetoric or insanity. You sir, (or madam) seem to walk along the same hateful, venomous path. You attack, but have nothing to offer in return, except more venom.
Having said that, I don't agree with a lot of what Senator John McCain says, but he does make a very good and valid point about what that waste of air and skin Bachmann has been saying. And before you start attacking me, yes, I am a Strong supporter of President Obama, and Yes, I will vote for him again.
Try switching channels away from Fox from time to time and learn about what is Really going on in the world before you attack anyone else with your ignorance.
Yeah, McCain switched all right. He took funding from George Soros when he was running for President. He switched position on the "Law of the Sea Treaty". Yeah, I know what he and the Clintons are pushing for. Look at Greece. Do we truly want to become like Europe. This is the only country in the world, that isn't truly amuck, but then Obama, Clintons, McCain, Pelosi, Soros, Rockefellers, Ted Turner, etc. are trying really hard and quietly to turn this into a socialist country. Obama is trying to break the economy, trying to stir up all the chaos he can. It's as plain as day - open your eyes.
Thank you John McCain for having the decency and courage to say what needed to be said. Finally a fellow Republican with ethics!
The sorry behaviour of the far right wing has me embarrassed to say I am a Republican ..I have been thinking about crossing the floor.
Before you praise John Mc Cain and condemn Michele Bachmann, you need to read the letters she and the other members of congress actually sent. You can read them at