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One of the Most Awkward Moments We Can Imagine Actually Happened Yesterday — and Here’s the Photo to Prove It

Mar. 8, 2013 11:45am Becket Adams

Following Senator Rand Paul’s impromptu 12-plus hour filibuster of the White House’s closely-guarded drone program, Republican Senator John McCain (and Sen. Lindsay Graham [S.C.]) spent Thursday morning rebuking the Kentucky senator.

“If Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts than fire up impressionable libertarian kids,” Sen. McCain said, quoting a recent Wall Street Journal editorial.

The Arizona senator added that Sen. Paul did a “disservice to a lot of Americans by making them believe that somehow they’re in danger from their government.”

“They’re not,” he asserted.

Obviously, these are strong words coming from an old-school GOP senator to a freshman like Paul. Imagine how awkward it’d be if the two suddenly came face-to-face right after the Arizona senator said all that.

Oh. Wait. They did:

New York Times Photographer Captures Beautifully Awkward Photo of Sens. McCain & Paul Stuck In An Elevator

Courtesy @Stcrow

The above was taken by New York Times photographer Stephen Crowley right after Sen. McCain said the following on the floor of the Senate Thursday morning:

Talk about uncomfortable.

And it doesn’t appear that Sen. McCain is going to back down from his criticism of Sen. Paul anytime soon. In fact, the rhetoric from his camp has become increasingly hostile.

“[Senator McCain] is doing what he thinks is right. Unlike many of these guys, he’s actually been involved in a few national security debates over the years. He knows that jumping on the Rand Paul black helicopters crazytrain isn’t good for our Party or our country, no matter what Twitter says [emphasis added],” one McCain aide told BuzzFeed.

“Senator McCain is obviously well aware of the politics of this,” the aide added, “he just doesn’t care.”

McCain himself escalated the war of words on Thursday by referring to Paul and his allies as “wacko birds,” claiming that they are unrepresentative of the GOP mainstream.

“It’s always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone,” Sen. McCain said in a Huffington Post article.

“I think it can be harmful if there is a belief among the American people that those people are reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans. They’re not,” he added.

For his part, Sen. Paul has responded by saying that Sen. McCain is simply “on the wrong side of history.”

“You know, I think he’s just on the wrong side of history, and on the wrong side of this argument, really,” the Kentucky senator said in an interview with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Friday.

“I treat Sen. McCain with respect. I don’t think I always get the same in return,” he added.

But what’s your take on all of this?

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image courtesy @Stcrow. This post has been updated.

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Comments (465)

chips1
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:21pm
The article states that “McCain has actually been involved in a few national security debates over the years.” Well, that must be the reason we are in the shape we’re in right now. Get him out of there before he causes more damage.

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Rob4Libertas
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:21pm
John McCain you can kiss my Libertarian ASS you Progressive!

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PerkyKY
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:20pm
McCain & Graham are RINO DINOS(aurs) and need to retire right now! Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, go directly to RETIREMENT! Face it, you old farts, you are no longer relevant. You are desperately clinging to your position and that is not attractive. You also need to study American history. For the last 100+ years, presidents have been making promises that were eventually broken. Prime example: DemocRat FDR forced income taxes on the population, promising they would never exceed 3%. (Guess Ohbummer never heard about that)! Who knows what whackjob the low information voters might put into office in the future who may decide it’s okay to “drone” American citizens…

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Yo6pk2go
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:19pm
We have already killed a 16 year old BOY becuase of his father with a drone…and he was American!

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Scarlettsgone
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:17pm
Even @codepink #StandWithRand. McCain and Graham as current as Methuselah, rocking chairs in their future, Lindsey can wear the dress.

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ggr1868
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:17pm
Senator McCain, I’m a registered GOP for 30 years. You, sir, are the most out of touch DC cockroach who comes out in the light as well as darkness. You are the reason the GOP lost the Presidency in 2008. You are a clammy handshake at best. You labeled yourself a ‘maverick’ decades ago. Personally, I’ve always thought YOU were the wacko bird. Time for you to return to the Arizona sun.

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wildfirenh
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:16pm
The republicans just don’t get it! We will all be in great peril if they do not wake up soon. 2014 will be the end of the USA if this keeps up. History will remember Rand Paul long after these other two Bozo’s.

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kalli
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:15pm
I sent emails to these 2 low lives, mccain and graham, yesterday voicing my opinion of their despicable actions against Sen. Paul. I am also changing my voting registration to Independent. I read a blurp on WSJ today that republicans are going to take charge of who will run for office so they can have who they deem “electable” as candidates…they really do not like the Tea Party candidates. This nation’s Constitution is hanging by a thread, and these bozos are helping the progressive commies destroy it.

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rbolt
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:14pm
Do you know what you are Senator McCain? Insignificant. Why don’t you and Graham retire to the home and let the young guns stand up to Obama? You don’t have that much time left. When Obama puts his boot heel on everyone’s throat, you won’t have to suffer long. The young people don’t want to live their lives in the c$%p Obama has planned for us.

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msn04061960
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:11pm
McCain is old and feeble it’s time he retire. He doesn’t even know what he is talking about any more. His aid on the other hand is a moronic human being.

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TheAlamoLives
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:10pm
To believe McCain and Graham have the market cornered on integrity is insane. Neither are mental giants possessing rare and unusual talents. Wasn’t it McCain (during his 2008 presidential bid) that brought up an idea to tax the healthcare benefits of hard working Americans as income? He was as wrong then as he is now.

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shorelineliz
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:07pm
McCain in the Back of the Elevator:

“Oh please. Dear Mother Father Sister Brother god. Oh please. Don’t let that no good Jimmy Stewart impersonator, trying to steal my thunder, sh%t head get on this elevator. Oh crap! He got on! Why didn’t my prayers to the Unitarian Universalist Mother Father Sister Brother god work? What am I doing wrong? Oh. Crap! must look busy in this corner of the elevator. Who can I text? Dang! I wish Dionne Warwick was still on the Psychic Friends Network. I sure could use some advice. I think I will call :1-900-Spank-Me for some “emotional” advice. I feel so fragile at 100 years old. I need a blankie. and a pillow. and a warm pair of boobs.

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Watcher1952
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:06pm
Write to their home pages and tell them what you think….I wrote McCain yesterday and attempted Graham this morning……his site doesn’t have his address rather it sends you to the Senator from Wyoming Enzi…..I think Graham is hiding….both McCain and Graham are detramental to America……

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ozchambers
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:06pm
All I saw in the photos was a pic of Rand in an elevator with three women.

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- shorelineliz
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:07pm
  Good one. Awesome. Love it.
  
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Depressed_American
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:03pm
Americans WERE KILLED by US Drones, on foreign soil. They were terrorists, BUT they were STILL AMERICANS!!! They had no trial, no jury of their peers, no lawyer, etc….. The PRESIDENT and his cronies made the decision to ASSASSINATE these Americans!!!

Don’t get me wrong, They deserved death for what they did; HOWEVER, the Death Penalty should have been handed down by a Judge and Jury, NOT by a Presidential Decree!!!!

What is to stop them from doing it to an American, deemed an enemy of the State, on American Soil??? They have already proven that the US Constitution has no meaning to them……..

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- shorelineliz
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:10pm
  And I seem to remember McCain getting up and railing at everyone about Bengazhi. And then. Silence. He can stay silent and OUT of office forever for all I care. “Former” Senator McCain sounds good to me.
  
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flyarmy2009
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:03pm
mccain is such a douche,I think his POW goodwill bank account is overdrawn. He just needs to retire already,he’s partly to blame for the mess this country is in. The GOP will never win another presidential election as long as proggresives like mccain are still in the party.

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- shorelineliz
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:09pm
  Absolutely. the sun has set on this man. The bird has flown the coop. the ship has sailed. The….you get my drift.
  
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jcldwl
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:03pm
“It’s always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone,” Sen. McCain told Huffington Post’s Jon Ward in an article entitled” John McCain just admitted he is a wacko bird and he certainly isn’t on the right of anything.

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Steelhead
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:02pm
two egomaniacs enter and two egomaniacs leave- wimps to the core

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Warphead
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:02pm
McCain and those like him need to go. They are worse than democrats as they continually impede the steps necessary to straighten Washington out. There are several glaring problems that plague our nation. Senator John McCain is one, an apathetic, uninformed stupid segment of our population is another and socialism/communism under the guise of liberalism a third but certainly not all. Washington Reeks and McCain does heavily as well. There will be nothing but continued failure and decline as long as there are people like John McCain representing the people. He may have been an American hero but now he is an old fool. And so he proudly denounces the actions of senator Paul as a means to elevate himself when he didn’t have the guts to do what Mr. Paul has done or he just doesn’t want any change in Washington. I believe both instances apply to John McCain. For the love of God and country Mr. McCain will you just please go away.

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neverending
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:02pm
Typical mccain – just keep right on going until EVERY person will know what an horses rear he is. He is beyond disgusting and needs to be voted out,

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:02pm
McCain still thinks he is in the Hanoi Hilton and obama is his jailer.

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STREBOR
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:01pm
Sorry Johnny; it’s time to retire to the farm.

Rand Paul proved his salt with his fantastic filibuster…..truly historic! However, the revisionists will purge this from the annals of history as they do with the truth of the past.

We must reach into the past to attain what the future presents!

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blarman
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:01pm
And we wonder why the GOP is so defunct. I have to give the Dems credit for at least one thing – they stick together.

McCain really just needs to retire. He’s so RINO South Africa’s game wardens have him listed on their protective reserves…

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CascoBay
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:01pm
“He knows that jumping on the Rand Paul black helicopters crazytrain isn’t good for our Party or our country, no matter what Twitter says,” the aide added.”

Uh, so asking a simple question about the constitutionality of the drone program proposed by He Who Shall Not Be Mentioned is “black helicopter”?

What a crock of crap. McCain and Graham need to get out now. They are becoming “useful idiots” for He Who Shall Not Be Mentioned and He Who Will Not Address This Question In The Media. He hides behind his minions before the media.

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skyguy51
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:01pm
A classic example of someone who stayed longer than they should have. He should take McArther’s advice and just fade away.

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