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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)

Zeke48
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:46pm
This McCain is a Veteran and all the BS that goes with it is getting real old. I’m a Veteran also, and 100% Disabled from the same war that got him shot down shot down. To many men are Veterans but like McCain and his kiss a$$ buddy Kerry have used their past to foot the bill long enough. Kerry and McCain are the two guys if I remember right that made the final deal with the North Viet Nam that no more POW were in the hands of the NVA. I never could understand why they agreeded to that,but after looking into the matter more I would ask all to read this http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/mccain-and-the-pow-cover-up/ This story will make you sick, especially if you’re a Veteran of the BUSH. This man is so sickning he should be brought up on charges, butbeing a prison of war has made him a national hero. Not in my book. Please read the story and you will not belive what you are reading if you have not seen this story before. As for the other guy Graham, that’s exactaly what he is a HAM. In fact he beet Senator Schumer when it comes to camera.

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republic2011
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:46pm
If what Rand said is so crazy and unbelievable, why are McCain and Graham working so hard to discredit him? I would think that something so crazy and unbelievable would be seen for what it is. McCain and Graham are using Saul Alinsky tactics to discredit real conservative movement. The Old guard is scared, for the first time in a long time.

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wilbstal
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:45pm
Mccain lost any respect I may have had for this old coot of a has been in politics. he is the emabarrasment fo America and a Traitor. and we now know Mccain supports a Communist Goverment in America. Dump this anchient assssss hole now

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1Epistle
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:45pm
John McCain is, unfortunately, my Senator. I don’t appreciate him referring to me as an “impressionable libertarian kid”. I support Rand Paul and I don’t like McCain’s elitist attitude toward Paul and myself. Momentum was with Rand Paul until Graham and McCain got jealous and decided to steal his thunder. McCain is still bitter over the lackluster support from the conservative side in ’08.

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Cymry
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:44pm
I’ll bet you McCain farted on the elevator. You know how the elderly are.

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Joe Public
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:43pm
Hmm. What would McCain have said in 1933 Germany? Don’t worry folks, the Fuehrer has seized for himself the ultimate authority to do whatever he wants, but don’t be silly, he will never really do these things. This is all for your protection.

McCain is just as dangerous as this Administration for going along for political reasons just because he doesn’t want to upset the apple cart. SHAME ON HIM. Moron, learn from history and stand for what is right regardless of the consequences.

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- republic2011
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:49pm
  All you need to look at is the Enabling Act of 1933. It is almost word for word what Obama signed into law, recently, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Hitler swore it was just for everyone’s protection and that he would never use it against anyone. Sound familiar?
  
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marmond
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:41pm
If McCain and Graham had done their jobs it would not have been necessary for Paul to make a stand. Paul got a straightforward answer that other people could not get. McCain and Graham have become irrelevant and need to find something else to do to occupy their time.

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Verceofreason
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:36pm
Joan McCain would attack and diss his own mother to look good.

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woodyl1011fl
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:35pm
Like all useful political idiots of the of America’s Marxist/Leninist s in our government and in the White House McCain is one clueless person . He has no understanding of what is going in the Senate let alone the evil that is being perpetrated by the Marxist Socialist democrat party, of leftist thugs, lawless senators and demagogues of almost demonic behavior. The sooner he, Graham, Reid are former senators the better.

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Really2012
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:35pm
McCain has been in Washington too long. Too much of the kool-aid has been consumed to be reasonable and realize why he is really there… TERM LIMITS !!!!!

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sparkyrules
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:35pm
Juan McCain and Linda Graham.What a weird couple.All those years doing ..nevermind.
Vietnam Veterans are terrific and most are very honorable/likable.
I can’t stand either one of these 2 ass kissers.

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dadsrootbeer
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:34pm
The failed old guard of the GOP should keep their mouths shut. Especially the top loser McCain.

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turbo
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:33pm
In a day or so, when the political fallout begins to hurt McCain, he will do an Obama and try to walk back his position. This is where Ryan, Cruz etc. must stand firm and tell McCain it is time fro him to go away!

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- neverending
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 4:31pm
  Couldn’t agree more and everybody needs to go to McCain website and send him a note letting him know your level of disgust. Might not do any good but it can’t hurt and it may just sink in.
  
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NewCreationDave
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:31pm
Do you realize how many folks simply don’t get this?
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7950634/It%27s%20a%20free%20country.pdf

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RayOne
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:30pm
“We the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but the men who pervert the Constitution.”
– Abraham Lincoln

The PROGRESSIVE’s manipulation of American history is the objective/intention/ and work of government education programs, from preschool to graduate ‘ivy-league’ college systems.
When defined as a GlobalistAGENDA accusations of conspiracy are made.

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PansyShare
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:27pm
The old coot needs to shut his pie hole.. I respect him as a person, but he’s too ‘good old boys’. He’s been there too long…no vision..

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its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:27pm
McCain is a boob… we need term limits!

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Luzmaria1
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:26pm
The dork no doubt also thinks the citizens who criticized him at his recent AZ meeting on the Demo/Rino proposed treatment of illegal aliens here are also wackos. It’s just more evidence of how out of touch some of these fools are in relation to their constituants. Super wealthy, out of touch misrepresentatives habiting in DC.

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mayasaay
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:26pm
Waco! Ruby Ridge! Kent State Massacre! Not drones, but bullets and fire. Same result!

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showmerancher
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:26pm
The legacy of Boehner, McCain, Graham and the rest of the RINOs will be their complicity in the demise of the Republican party, and the demise of the nation. Their only claim to fame is their propensity to capitulate to the Lyin’ King rather than stand up to him like men.

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ProudCapitalist
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:25pm
McCain should retire and let Governor Brewer replace him. South Carolina would do well to follow that same plan.

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-B
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:23pm
Term Limits..

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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:23pm
““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”

So let’s sum up shall we? According to the McCain camp, anybody who actually adheres to the Constitution is:

- a libertarian kid
- on the crazy train
- a hobbit
- a black helicopter believing conspiracy theorist

These either directly from his mouth or from his staff.

This man is absolutely disgusting and an insulting, sniveling little dork. I could care less about his “service”. The man who “served” 40+ years ago bears no resemblance to this aged, snarling power broker. As far as I’m concerned, the day McCain leaves office, whether by vote or by ambulance, the nation will have improved vastly. He’s a small minded, left wing Alinsky-ite whose sole weapon is ad hominem, and he deserves no respect.

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- truthnstuff
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:42pm
  Exactly right. This crook deserves no respect, just like the rest who have never held up the Constitution.
  
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Thehulk
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:22pm
I wish McCain would just go away.

The media loves him when he goes after the GOP, but look what they did to him when he ran against there own. You’d think this guy would learn.

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Whatmeworry-never
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 12:22pm
It is Rhino season and we need more fists of fury style politicians to take it to the mat and go for more than 5 rounds just to show a token resistance.

Go Rand Go!!

We have to beat the bushes and get the Rhinos to expose themselves so we can vote them out. It is a time of reform and the Republican party must purge itself of the Progressives or they will fade away like the Wig Party. The Repubs must embrace Conservatism to ignite the majority of the American voters.

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