GOP senator implies John McCain’s brain tumor clouded health vote
A fellow Republican lawmaker has questioned whether U.S. Sen. John McCain's brain tumor affected his judgment the night of the failed "skinny repeal" vote
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., flanked by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks to reporters at the Capitol as the Republican-controlled Senate unable to fulfill their political promise to repeal and replace "Obamacare" because of opposition and wavering within the GOP ranks, in Washington, Thursday, July 27, 2017. McCain returned to Capitol Hill after being diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer recently. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
PHOENIX — A fellow Republican lawmaker has questioned whether U.S. Sen. John McCain’s brain tumor affected his judgment the night of the failed health care “skinny repeal” vote.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told a Chicago radio station morning show Tuesday, “I’m not going to speak for John McCain. … I don’t know exactly what … I really thought John was going to vote yes at 10:30 at night but by 1, 1:30 he voted no.”
The Republican bid to repeal Obamacare failed without the votes of McCain, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
McCain is undergoing treatment in Phoenix for brain cancer. He returned from surgery in late July that removed a blood clot in his head to vote yes to advance the bill, then voted against the bill itself less than 48 hours later.
Johnson had stood alongside McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham at a press conference hours ahead of the early-morning final vote. McCain said he voted against the bill because it was a not full repeal as the GOP had promised.
McCain spokeswoman Julie Tarallo said in a statement Wednesday, “It is bizarre and deeply unfortunate that Senator Johnson would question the judgment of a colleague and friend. Senator McCain has been very open and clear about the reasons for his vote.”
Johnson issued a statement, too, after his comments caused some backlash.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t more eloquently express my sympathy for what Sen. McCain is going through. I have nothing but respect for him and the vote came at the end of a long day for everyone.”
A month before the vote, Johnson was one of the senators who had opposed the initial version. He also later accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of a “a real breach of trust.”
McCain told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos on Tuesday that his health was fine and treatment for the aggressive cancer was “one of the things you have to go through.”
He announced his diagnosis for brain cancer July 19.
‘My other fights have been ‘me vs. them.'”
In a Facebook Live town hall post Wednesday, he said, “It’s a rough disease … fortunately they found it early. … I’ve had other challenges in my time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
25 Comments
What affected his judgement that night was EGO. John has huge ego. His grandstand speech upon his return to the Senate floor focused on getting back to what he calls "regular order". He didn't like the approach...so he voted against it. He did it to prove his point that the two sides should be working together, which isn't wrong...but it's not realistic either...at least not in the near future. He entered the chamber...stood in front of the cameras for all to see...calling attention to himself in a big ego way...and gave the emphatic down vote. So John spent many years campaigning against the ACA and in the end couldn't get his fellow Republican Senators to come together enough to even pass a suitable lead into conference...he failed...on many levels...and then to make his point...he let down a lot of people...out of the need to feed his own ego.
Yea, all indications in the elections since November point in this direction. Right? You are still in denial Dave after 9 months, thats not healthy.
Yes jimmy , unprofessional. Trump tweets and mocks . Democrat cheat with CNN on town hall questions, bleach bit servers , shred documents, illegally unmask names , meet with spouses who are under investigation on airplanes and hide behind executive privilege when caught running guns.