Mark Kelly tweet about John McCain, the day before he's sworn in as Senator in McCain's seat:

[George II]

Link to tweet

[lame54]

1. Liking John McCain...

Is now what's expected of us

Not gonna do it
My memory still works

[melman]

3. + 1 bazillion

John McCain was rightwing trash.

[George II]

22. Tell that to President Barack Obama:

Or millions of Americans on the Affordable Care Act:

[Cha]

24. TY for reminding us of that Historical

Moment!

[melman]

35. This is a Democratic board

If you're going to praise Republicans you should expect some pushback.

[George II]

37. Then I guess, according to that statement, Barack Obama wouldn't be welcome here?

[LanternWaste]

44. In late August of 2018, Ocasio-Cortez wrote of McCain...

"John McCain’s legacy represents an unparalleled example of human decency and American service... He meant so much, to so many. My prayers are with his family."

Pretty classy move of hers, don't you think?

[NurseJackie]

55. My opinion of her just ticked up a notch.

Pretty classy move of hers, don't you think?

Good find. Great way to point out the hypocrisy of people on the internet. I did not know she had said that. My opinion of her just ticked up a notch.

[LanternWaste]

60. an ironically apropos title

"Great way to point out the hypocrisy of people on the internet."

Far be it from me to make any clever implications, but.. "I have a good eye, uncle. I can see a church by daylight."
Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing... and given the pushback the OP has received over something so benign and civil, an ironically apropos title

[soldierant]

91. Appropriate quote from an appropriate play

with a plot based on narcissism and the desire for revenge for imaginary wrongs lashing out to hurt anyone it can, as long as the victim is innocent.

Shakespeare didn't have the word "narcissism" (though he invented so many others), but he knew it when he saw it. Many of his characters display it besides Don John in Much Ado. There's Angel on Measure for Measure, for example. Several in king Lear, though arguably Edmund is the most egregious.

[George II]

56. "YERRRRRR!"

[JI7]

74. lol

[melman]

58. Yeah, saying nice things when someone dies is nice

That doesn't change the fact that McCain was rightwing trash.

[pazzyanne]

59. McCain was one of the more honorable Republicans,

And a good man.

[melman]

61. "one of the more honorable Republicans"

Faint praise indeed!

[LanternWaste]

62. As faint as "...an unparalleled example of human decency and American service."

[melman]

63. What?

Huh?

[LanternWaste]

68. Goodness gracious.

[melman]

70. What?

Huh?

[George II]

122. Goodness gracious indeed. Go figure, eh?

[catbyte]

77. That was an AOC quote

[melman]

78. Yeah

I know. The poster thinks it really proves something.


It doesn't.

[George II]

80. Some might think it does.

[melman]

81. They might

But it still doesn't.

[George II]

83. Are you sure of what that person thought it proved?

[melman]

86. Yes

Thanks for asking.

[George II]

87. Sure.

[ehrnst]

139. Yet you don't accuse her of what you're accusing Mark Kelly and many here on DU of doing.

Why is that?

Too awkward?

[George II]

113. You have a problem with what Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said? YOU? Hmmm.....

Link to tweet

[melman]

114. See post # 78

[George II]

116. In other words, you have a problem with her sincere, heartfelt sentiments. Got it.

[melman]

118. See post # 58

[George II]

119. In other words, you have a problem with her sincere, heartfelt sentiments. Got it.

[George II]

117. Duplicate post. See:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1013&pid=11081

[pazzyanne]

67. But praise and respect none the less.

Good human qualities are too rare and need to be recognized when that happens. And I repeat, McCain was a good man.

[George II]

88. Exactly right - some just can't grasp that concept.

[ShazzieB]

147. Agreed.

[pnwmom]

72. Keep repeating that all you want. Millions of us remember when he helped save the ACA

and health insurance for millions of Americans.

And his wife stepped in and gave Mark Kelly an important endorsement in Arizona. Good for her, too.

[dware]

92. And his military service and his time as a POW in N. Vietnam

and the horrible torture he went through but refused an early release unless the rest of the POW's were released also.

[pnwmom]

93. Yes that too. He was a hero, no matter what anyone thinks of the Vietnam war. n/t

[Malmsy]

135. As was posted before: In late August of 2018, Ocasio-Cortez wrote of McCain

"John McCain’s legacy represents an unparalleled example of human decency and American service... He meant so much, to so many. My prayers are with his family."

You should let her know she was praising "rightwing trash," and if she posted that on DU, you'd be giving her pushback.

I happen to be a fan of hers.

[murielm99]

75. I agree with AOC, and

that is unusual.

[pnwmom]

73. This is a Democratic board, so quite dumping on Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. nt

[George II]

96. Crickets.

[Happy Hoosier]

132. It's possible to respect McCain without endorsing him.

And this is just politicly smart for Kelly as well. McCain is still respected in AZ.

[sheilahi]

142. Not from you but thanks anyway

No, but we do expect some class.

[dware]

144. Hmmm,

I see that you have a Ocasio-Cortez GIF, yet you won't say anything about her praising Sen. McCain in 2018.

Why is that?
Something to ponder here.

[True Blue American]

38. I will never forget

That last vote of John McCain! Suffering from cancer with the best health care in the world he refused to take it away from millions.

I wish I could say the same about that miserable Steve Scalise who gleefully voted to take it away after his life was saved by the same. A miserable worm of a man.

[joshcryer]

51. The look on Mitch's face says it all.

He was laughing jovially up until that point. McCain was a man of principle (even if he was wrong ideologically). He was sick of Mitch's mechanization. Mitch stood there, expecting a 50-50 with Pence as the deciding vote.

[Captain Zero]

65. Mitch stood there with his pre-existing polio condition

And his government plan, expecting McCain to be as heartless as he is.

[joshcryer]

124. Mitch never brought anything to a vote unless he had it.

McCain embarrassed him so hard there.

[Ferrets are Cool]

131. There are some things that a "real" POTUS must do and say

I am not the POTUS so I don't have to say those words. Nor do I think them. McCain, while not as scummy as the repugs today, was NOT a friend of the Democratic Party.

[ehrnst]

145. Who said that he was? (nt)

[grantcart]

52. He refused an early departure from Hanoi Hilton when he was extremely ill

and was facing a possible death sentence in captivity.

When his wife took a dying Bengladeshi girl out of a hospital and adopted her on the spot John McCain embraced Bridget as his daughter. Karl Rove would use this to manufacture a rumor that McCain had a black love child in the S Carolina primary.

When President Bill Clinton moved to reconcile with Vietnam the Republicans wouldn't budge and McCain went to Vietnam and certified that the Vietnamese had done everything possible to identify MIA remains providing cover for Clinton.

When McConnell engineered the end of the ACA McCain stopped him, saving tens of thousands of lives.

[lillypaddle]

64. Wow Wow Wow

SMMFH

[melman]

71. Are there any more hard-right Republicans I'm not allowed to criticize?

If so, please provide a list. Thanks.

[cwydro]

101. We get it. You hate him.

So does the loser in the WH.

[dware]

104. +100.

Thank you.

[melman]

110. Oh that's fabulous

I refuse to pretend this right-wing Republican with the terrible record was wonderful...


So that must mean I like Trump. Just fabulous.

[cwydro]

129. You said that.

Not I.

[George II]

123. John McCain was not a hard-right republican.

[Polybius]

108. Mean Democrats don't really do well

Alan Grayson comes to mind. Michael Avenatti is another. Democrats do best with a smile, not a snarl.

[sheilahi]

140. leave the name calling to your rightwing friends and spare us.

What a lovely human being you are. Try remembering his years spent as a captured serviceman, his "thumbs down" and his defending Obama before you're so quick to call another human being trash Karen.

[dware]

141. +100.

Spot on, you said what I wanted to say.

I don't understand someone who has to just shit all over a thread that was actually praising Sen. Mark Kelly, my Senator, for his remembrance of a man who honorably served his country.

[Gregory Peccary]

7. True, but.....

he we was the most like-able Shark of all the Sharks in the shark tank. At least on rare occasion he'd do the right thing.

[question everything]

14. But can respect. He single handedly kept the ACA alive

[lame54]

18. Because he HATES Trump - not because he likes Americans...

But it was fun to watch

[George II]

28. John McCain doesn't hate anyone.

[lame54]

34. I'll guess we'll leave it at that

[question everything]

89. Politics and strange bed fellows?

[berni_mccoy]

48. He also defended Obama against Birtherism

[pazzyanne]

66. That happened in Minnesota.

He left the speaker's platform to enter the crowd to correct an older lady who said Obama was a Muslim. He had my respect for doing that for his opponent in that race for president.

[moonscape]

85. Yes, but he had allowed the crazy until then. He did not

speak up about it, only when it was directly in his face and he couldn't avoid it. At the time I didn't think how noble, I thought 'finally'

I lost respect for him during that campaign, didn't gain it.

[George II]

15. It's not "expected of us", but what good does hating him now after he's left us?

[lame54]

25. Because it gets worse...

[progressoid]

42. +1

[okaawhatever]

45. Interesting conclusion. I haven't read anywhere that we were supposed

to like him. Mark Kelly said McCain “was a hero of mine since I was a young pilot.”
There are many military folks who respect McCain for not using his Dad’s rank/clout to get out of prison in Vietnam. He stayed w/ his troops and suffered torture when he didn’t have to. You can admire that regardless of his politics,

Kelley also said he left a legacy of service to AZ and the country. He also did that. You serve as a politician regardless of your party.

Not to mention McCain flew one of his aides to England to get a copy of the Steele dossier and hand deliver it to the FBI/DOJ when he heard FBI NY wasn’t acting on the information.

He also shut down his supporters when they claimed Obama wasn’t a US citizen.
I disagreed with most of his politics, but I can like the good things he did and respect him for those actions.

[Hekate]

49. Thank you for the list. Your last sentence says it all for me. nt

[Ilsa]

90. He was maimed in service to our nation.

He deserves respect for having served. But no one has to adore him.

[GoneOffShore]

126. Thank you for your perspective. There are those who have no concept of 'grey areas'.

I disagreed with most of his politics, but I can like the good things he did and respect him for those actions.

[AdamGG]

57. I was glad that he worked w/ Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform

He's a Republican, but he was often better than most. That's faint praise, but he gave speeches attacking tobacco lobbyists and Falwell/Robertson. He had moments where he was genuinely willing to go against the grain.

[Not Heidi]

128. +1

My memory's beginning to weaken, but (thankfully) that's just about short-term stuff.

I'll never forget about McCain and his record in the Senate.

[Karadeniz]

2. Nice people... Sorely needed right now!

[secondwind]

10. Amen to that!!!

[FakeNoose]

4. Mark Kelly is going to be a great Senator

I'm so happy he won!

[KeyWestRick]

5. Mark Kelly ........

He is a class act.

[Cha]

6. TY.. this Tribute to McCain is what Sen Elect

Mark Kelly is doing for Arizona, who helped Elect him.

Doesn't Kelly have another election coming up in 2 years?

[wishstar]

8. Yes, Kelly does have to run again in 2022 when McCain's term would have ended

and if Warnock wins Senate in Georgia, he will have to run again in 2022 also.

[Cha]

12. TY.. thought so!

[Hortensis]

9. I expect much better from Senator Kelly, but that's proper statesmanship.

It'd be dreadful, to put it mildly, to list even major items that Sen. McCain advanced and opposed that Sen. Kelly never would. Democratic leaders strive to raise standards and expectations.

[tymorial]

26. Your statement doesn't make sense.

[Hortensis]

41. McCain's final vote for the ACA does not erase a career

of typical Republican lying to and betraying the needs of Arizonans. He spent 10 years working with his party to serve their big donors by destroying the ACA. He spoke frequently to prepare his voters for having their guaranteed healthcare taken away -- by him! -- by telling them it just was too flawed to fix, function or survive in any form. Then, either as fire insurance or out of belated concern for his legacy, or both, he revealed he knew the right thing to do all along.

Maybe if he'd been terminal right before the Republican tax heist he'd have blocked that, instead of pretending "concern" then voting for it, like the many transfers of taxpayer wealth and power to giant corporations and private 0.1% families he voted for over the decades before.

We owed him a medal and a proper military benefits for his military service many decades before, not a seat in the senate beyond his moral or intellectual capacity to serve honorably and adequately -- and certainly not more than we owe ourselves.

I have much higher expectations for Democratic Senator Kelly, but some day when W dies Kelly will say much the same appropriately statesmanlike things about him. Not all that different than it'll have to be for President Trump, even if he does prison time, just more challenging to be vaguer still and with a lot more padding to inspire those still alive.

[moriah]

79. Just remember, Trump trashing John McCain likely helped us get AZ & that seat.

Trump did himself zero favors by alienating a state where McCain was considered a "hero", and the nature of his attacks were so egregious that they turned off people who aren't even big military supporters.

People don't have to bend over backwards to erase the negative McCain did or praise him to the skies.

All we have to do to be "better than Trump" here is not call POWs or veterans "losers" or "suckers".

Kelly's remarks were appropriate, especially given how it truly is better optics for us to act like we remember McCain's military service and service-related disability (and efforts at campaign finance reform), not singing "Bomb Iran".

[Hortensis]

84. Agree with the last. This is what people in his position do.

But I'm not in his position. Btw, around the time McCain ran for president the first time he was famous for having an explosive temper and frequently abusing others with it. It was a big deal because for a prospective president it was a big deal. He adjusted that behavior, and his image, before his run in 2008.

What I remember most powerfully, though, is attending a panel discussion he was part of, back in the 1990s, and realizing that he didn't seem as intelligent and knowledgeable as one would expect a man in his position to be. Figured he was just one of many sons of privileged Republicans who are elevated to high offices regardless of merit. Nothing I ever saw since changed that evaluation.

I am of course grateful for whatever caused him to change his vote on the ACA practically on his deathbed.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. McCain served AZ and country and was not a death cultist ...

I believe McCain was wrong on many things, but he believed he was doing right for his voters and country.

Also:

Watch John McCain defend Barack Obama against a racist voter in 2008

A Minnesota woman said Obama was “Arab.” McCain took the microphone from her.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/25/17782572/john-mccain-barack-obama-statement-2008-video

How many in the current crop of extremists in the GOP would do that? Imagine Cruz, Jordan, Gaetz, Little Marco laughing and egging the woman on.

[not fooled]

11. Smart move for an AZ senator

other than that, no comment.

Although McCain did have his moments, including denying diaper don the chance to kill off Obamacare in one fell swoop in Congress.

[LakeArenal]

13. Hard to fathom the dislike of McCain at this point:

Mark Kelly trying to bridge the gap with a guy millions of people loved. McCain is dead. Let him Rest In Peace.

[melman]

19. Reagan's dead

Should we praise him?

[LakeArenal]

31. 🙄

[BigOleDummy]

94. Agreed

Hard to believe for me also. The man was a HERO and was and IS respected by veterans of all political bents. The hatred I have been seeing here for him and his service is truly disheartening to me. No, I did not agree with him on a...well.... many policy matters but he had morals and he had courage and he had scruples. A man to look up to and admire.

[dware]

95. +100.

I too, don't understand the hatred for him, he served honorably in Vietnam, even under the most extreme torture, he saved the ACA with his thumbs down in the Senate, his defending Pres. Obama when a RWNJ said disparaging things against him.

[AmericanCanuck]

16. This is a smart move for two reasons

1. He will endear those McCain republicans who voted for him and many who didn't vote for him but loved McCain. He will need those people in 2022.

2. It is making some purity absolutists get heartburn.

[Cha]

21. Exactly.. I said basically the same

in my post.. about Kelly's Tribute to McCain, anyway.

Sen Elect Mark Kelly is smart & sees the whole picture... not through some tiny little lens.

[LanternWaste]

17. Adults. Experienced. Professional.

Nice change up from applause line/rage-tweeting of the past few years,

[LisaM]

20. Nice olive branch.

I am not a fan of John McCain either. But Mark Kelly is in a different position. He is an Arizonan, he was in the military, and he is moving into McCain's seat.

This is the kind of a across-the -aisle civility so many have been asking for. As long as Kelly doesn't vote like McCain, I'm good.

[Cha]

23. Precisely! TY

[scarletwoman]

27. Well said, thank you.

It's entirely appropriate, as well as politically smart, for Mark Kelly to pay his respects to McCain.

We need to remember that Cindy McCain came forward and endorsed Biden for president - that's another good reason for Kelly to give back.

[George II]

36. Cindy McCain not only endorsed Joe Biden but said pointedly....

....she had "no interest" in endorsing McSally.

[LisaM]

40. Yes I should have mentioned that.

Thanks for reminding me.

[Skraxx]

53. It Was a Strong Endorsement, In Fact

And sincere, IMO.

[DFW]

32. Have no fear

Mark will NOT be voting like McCain

(except when it comes to preserving the ACA)

[panader0]

54. Kelly has to run again in 2 years.

Another factor in a state that reveres McCain.

[DFW]

125. There's that, too

And the photo at Arlington won‘t go anywhere in the mesntime.

[backroadblast]

127. i think that McCain is buried in Annapolis

at the naval academy...i could be wrong though

[dware]

136. Yes,

he's buried at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

[crickets]

98. Yes. It's adult behavior, and the modeling of adult behavior is appreciated, especially now.

I have my own issues with John McCain, plenty of them. But people are complicated, and for all the times McCain rubbed me the wrong way, I still remember and appreciate that he went to a lot of trouble to show up for a vote that kicked sand at Mitch and kept my insurance going. It does not mean I forget the other stuff, but -- yeah.

If Mark Kelly wants to pay respect to McCain before taking his seat, good for him. It starts things off on the right foot.
I'm happy for him, I'm happy for Gabby, it's all good.

[dware]

99. Sen. John McCain is widely respected here in Arizona,

My respect for Sen. Mark Kelly went up another notch, if it could even go higher.

[crickets]

106. You bring up another great point.

Not all of us live in Arizona and have the benefit of that perspective on McCain's service as Senator. I'm so happy for your state that Kelly was elected this time around. I think he's going to do a really good job.

[Joinfortmill]

29. Decency

[lunatica]

33. John McCain was a mixed bag

There was much for our side to respect him for. We still have ACA because of him but he unleashed Sara Palin and the Tea party on us and we just spent 4 years with the result of that.

Definitely a mixed bag.

[TomDaisy]

39. compare to how Mitch and Amy Covid Barrett took a big shit on the grave of RBG

[melman]

47. McCain would have voted to confirm Barrett

100% guaranteed.

[dware]

97. Bullshit!!!

You cannot 100% guarantee that.

Give it a rest, you're making yourself look foolish.

[melman]

100. Name a Republican nominee he voted against

You can't because there aren't any.


Meanwhile he had this to say in 2016:


Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) said Monday that if Hillary Clinton is elected, Republicans will unite to block anyone she nominates to the Supreme Court.

Speaking on WPHT-AM radio's "Dom Giordano Program" in Philadelphia, McCain pledged to obstruct any Clinton Supreme Court nomination for the current or any future vacancy.

"I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up," he declared.

McCain said that's why it is so important that Republicans retain control of the Senate.

https://www.npr.org/2016/10/17/498328520/sen-mccain-says-republicans-will-block-all-court-nominations-if-clinton-wins


Great guy.

[dware]

102. You still cannot guarantee 100% that he would have voted for her,

his hatred of Pissolini would be much greater than in 2016 and there is an even chance that he would've voted against her if he had lived to vote on her confirmation.

[George II]

107. Of course, which is why you probably won't get a response. It's all hypothetical and moot.

[George II]

112. John McCain was never Majority or Minority Leader. He didn't have the final say in any of that.

[ehrnst]

138. He voted to uphold the ACA.

Look it up.

[George II]

109. Amazing how some can channel the dead.

[dware]

111. It surely is.

I don't get this hatred for him, he served his country honorably, he very obviously loved America.

We may not agree with the majority of his views, but he's dead and gone, leave the man to rest in peace.

[George II]

105. "100% guaranteed." And you know that how?

[ehrnst]

137. Did you hold a seance to consult him on that?

There were many who were convinced he would vote against upholding the ACA, and they were wrong.

So there's that.

[DesertRat]

43. Cindy McCain just thanked Kelly

Thank you for paying tribute to my husband!

Link to tweet

[George II]

46. Thanks. I didn't read all the responses on Twitter yet, missed that one.

[dameatball]

50. BS on the anti-McCain stuff. This is Kelly's moment and I respect it. Don't need a history lesson.

[Lucinda]

69. ...

[BobTheSubgenius]

82. A man put together by patchwork, as are most of us.

His life was complicated, and there are events, deeds and quotes enough to sustain an argument on both sides of judgement on him.

I certainly don't claim to know enough to say for certain just who he was.

[cwydro]

103. ...

[BannonsLiver]

115. Classy move

I respect McCain even if I didn’t agree with a lot of his views. Reasonable, rational people can hold that position without compromising their own beliefs. Some of the responses in the thread are really petty and embarrassing.

[Cha]

149. And, Now Mark Kelly is Sworn In..

Link to tweet

[yardwork]

120. I want Mark Kelly to be re-elected. This was a smart and classy move.

[MerryBlooms]

121. It's Arizona, Kelly made the correct political statement.

Now, on with the People's business.

[Blue Owl]

130. K&R

[pwb]

133. McCain stepped up for America more than once.

So there's that.

[Tarc]

134. "ERHMAGHERD YOU SHALL HATE ALL REPUBLICANS!!!"

Is neither a policy position of the Democratic Party nor a rule of the Democratic Underground. It doesn't mean you have to support them for office (you shouldn't, esp. here), it doesn't mean you have to be nice when thy say, do, or vote for abhorrent things.

But, it is also ok to treat them like human beings if they seem to have some generally favorable, or at least tolerable, qualities.

It really is okay.

[Soxfan58]

143. Class!

With a capital C!

[DashOneBravo]

146. Kind and respectful

I’m glad he did that.

[Cha]

148. Cindy McCain Tweets back..

Link to tweet

3DTweet

[Cha]

150. And, NOW Mark Kelly is Sworn in as Senator

Mark Kelly

Link to tweet