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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)

Spitfire1938
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:44pm
Awkward? Not when you realize one of the two is simply ‘cagier’ than the other about his ‘allegiance’, while BOTH of them take center stage with brilliant performances as key players in the “Shadow Governments” audacious, DIVERSIONARY script for Congresses massive and complex production of “Masterpiece Theater: The Destruction of America and it’s people!”!

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drugbunny
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:43pm
I am still waiting for Ho Chi Min to call J McPain and give the following secret mesage…Thổi lên việc xây dựng vốn, NOW! And JM, in a trance, will walk outside to his car and suddenly say, “hey why am I out here?” He is losing it.

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- Spitfire1938
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 6:27pm
  Awesome keyboard!
  
  Report this comment
Kiba
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:41pm
What happened to my post? Are you kidding me?

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rosie1000
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:35pm
You know, I have always admired John McCain due to his courageous actions in Viet Nam. However, what I have noticed with all of these guys is this and you are going to call it ageism, which it isn’t. Many of these guys, as they get older, just start saying stupid things. Barry Goldwater who was an avowed conservative, in his old age became a staunch supporter of the gay agenda. Of course we know old Jimmy Carter was stupid to begin with and has gotten more so with age, even sounding like a communist supporter. And now McCain ripping our brave young conservatives like Paul, Rubio. Mr. McCain needs to retire while he still has some remnant of dignity left. He certainly has little influence left.

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HOMESCHOOLNOW
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:34pm
I should have sent the same lette to turncoat Graham, but I was so angry at McCain that I forgot.

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HOMESCHOOLNOW
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:32pm
I just wrote a letter to Senator McCain detailing my feelings about his response to Senator Paul
I pointed out that he used the Democrat’s method when anyone disagrees with them- attacks and name calling.

Rand Paul accomplished two things:

1. He boldly stated the danger of drone attacks on US citizens in a cafe or anyplace. I do not want to be “collateral damage”.

2. He got obama’ s buddy Holder to admit in writing the unconstitutionality of drones in our skies.

If Rand Paul is a “wacko”, then I guess I and many, many others are “wackos”.

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mikey1947
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:28pm
REDFISH52, your comments that John McCain was stupid enough to get caught in Vietnam is over the top and as much as I dislike what McCain said about Paul I will never demean his military record nor should you! Unless you have walked in a veterans shoes dont criticize of which by your tone I am sure you havent!

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- Spitfire1938
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:53pm
  Oh! You must mean ‘honor’ the service of veterans like Jack Murtha, and John Kerry?
  
  Yah!
  
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MrKnowItAll
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:26pm
Was McCain Ever Debriefed after he was released from the Enemy after Five Years? In my View he could not have been. Traitor? Yes, RINO Also.

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- asybot12
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:45pm
  I have had the same thought not only cross my mind but it is actually taking shape . How was he ever debriefed after but more to the point WHO actually did it AND CLEARED HIM. He was interrogated (indoctrinated) for how long in Hanoi and who witnessed those “interviews”???
  And what better way to get him elevated to the highest ranks in government than “making” him a hero after he returned? I am just wondering because more and more it seems he is starting to act afraid of loosing his power to the younger much needed generation, although I do not agree with all of them either (Rubio and Cristie for example.).
  
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vorpal
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:26pm
Dear Senator McCain,
Thank you for your service to our country.
Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more obvious that you are not helping the conservative cause, the people or our constitution – you are hindering them.

We would not have the imperial president we now have if you had been stronger. You never hit him hard on his marxist past, you wimped out. We have Obama because of you.

Now you attack other conservatives like Rand Paul. This is more damaging then anything a liberal does.

You are old, irrelevant and no longer up to this task of service.
Do the American people a favor – GIVE IT UP SIR.

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pap pap
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:25pm
McCain just doesn’t get it. Never did.

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gbfreak
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:24pm
McCain just called the majority of AMERICANS – wacobirds…what an idiot!!!!

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TexasSenior
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:23pm
McCain is not taken seriously Paul is taken seriously by millions of Americans. It is time for McCain to shut up and get out of the way. We have had enough of the Old Guard. They are the reason we are in the shape we are in. The Republican Party moved to the left to the point they are the Democrat Party of the 70′s and 80′s. The Democrat Party is now the Communist part of the 50′s and 60′s. We need a right of center party with candidates that we can trust and millions unpon millions will be energized to support them. Let’s either take over the Republican Party or start a new party. I stand with Rand!!!

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gbfreak
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:22pm
Only awkward for the socialist RINO Whig McCain. Rand put the smackdown on all of em!!! Thank God for Rand Paul!

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trixiespaniel
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:20pm
Maybe it’s been said before, but it’s time for John McCain to yield the floor to those who aren’t part of the wallpaper in Washington D.C. It’s time for him to go along with Lindsay Graham.

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sttngduck
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:20pm
I guess Senators McCain and Graham never stopped to realize that the only thing that can take our inherent rights away from us is… our Government. We should always suspect and question the people we vest any of our power in. Trusing our rights to people we really do not know is a very risky thing. I believe we know Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham much better now that we’ve seen their reaction to Rand Pauls defense of our right to due process and what we now know about them is disgusting. We cannot trust them anymore as guardians of the rights that are ours as human beings and US citizens. We now need to make our stand against the current state of our ever growing, ever invasive government with Senator Rand Paul and the rest who believe in the intent of our founders for our country.

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- chadderbox534
  Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:30pm
  I agree with what you have said but still I wonder: Why did it take this event for people to see who these people are? Why do we always have to wait ’till the 11th hour to understand what is going on? As Ron Paul said in his “farewell” speech on the floor a few months back, ” I can not understand why it is so hard to sell the American people the idea of freedom.” Why can we not look back in history and see the solutions to our problems and support people that will do, or more importantly, NOT do the things that will bring this country closer to it’s roots?
  
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chadderbox534
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:18pm
We need people to lead according to their convictions. Speak to me straight during a campaign and speak to me straight when in office. Nobody in my lifetime has ever done that. Our government was designed to be a part time job. Run the farm, go in to D.C., take care of a few things that need tending to and get the hell back to your farm, medical practice, engineering job, or whatever else you happened to do for a living. But, just like all things that men do, we had to invent ways to turn it into a complicated and self-important entity. They turned it into a full time job and ever since have had to make up ways to keep themselves relevant. We are too far gone to save the ship. Anyone that thinks we are incrementally going to get rid of people like McCain and turn this ship around is fooling themselves. You can stand with the GOP and hope to hell they get it someday and continue to lose for a generation and give up all your principles, or we can start voting for people that we actually trust and know will do the job and lose. How would you rather lose? I would rather fight for my beliefs and fall on the sword than willingly put my head in the guillotine. This Government that we have today, whatever it is called, is an absolute joke and to even dignify it with a debate about who is right and wrong is plainly silly.

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RayOne
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:18pm
Sen. John McCain should retire, he has lead the RhINOs over the cliff.

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Beachmastermax
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:17pm
McCain has never taken it to a Democrat. Because he is one.

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EnigmanDen
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:17pm
John McCain is a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.

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TaylorSmythe2111
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:17pm
To: redfish52

I agree John McCain has acted like an ass regarding Rand Paul, he’s part of the old guard and needs to go home, however for you to say he’s a coward for becomming a prisoner of war is a smack to all those that have ever served in the U.S. Military and to all the POW’s that survived and those that doed in captivity. John McCain was shot down and was a prisoner of war for 5 years. He was tortured and badly treated for most of that time. I doubt you have ever served or ever will serve in the military. McCains career after his military service has nothing to do with his current public service. You can be pissed off at him but until you have been where he has been don’t call him a coward … it’s that last thing he is.

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RDavis49
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:15pm
John McCain is a RINO, first and foremost. His loyalties lie with the HIMSELF alone, what suits his agenda and what he can get out of it. He proved that here in Yuma, AZ during a town hall meeting. He doesn’t give a flying flip about what the Majority of the people want. I think when he has no problem damning a fellow republican in public and causing dividision in the party, he has just proven that he’s old, he’s useless, a has been and he knows it. So, It’s time to respectfully say “Thank your for your military service John”, but no thanks for your lack of government service and vote him out.

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KidCharlemagne
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:15pm
Actually, that’s probably not the worst photo that’s ever been taken of McCain:

Foreign Policy.com (April 10, 2012): “McCain and Lieberman meet with the Free Syria Army”

Smile, Senator McCain!

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xduper
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:14pm
I was thinking the uncomfortable moment was McCain caught looking down her blouse…

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Michelle_Baboonbutt
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:12pm
Rule of thumb: As it stands right now, anything that is bad for either the Republican or Democrat parties is good for the country. The GOP has gone to crap due to the likes of McCain and Graham.

NEVER donate to any political party or PAC. Only give your money directly to the candidate or candidates who share your priorities. Why give your money to the GOP who will just take it and then say screw you and go along with the philosophy of big government as usual.

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shorelineliz
Posted on March 8, 2013 at 2:09pm
POPP40 Said:
Don’t they remind you of the old athletes who refuse to retire because they think they can still play.

@Popp40:
Yes. That is exactly what I see. It’s so pathetic isn’t it? A gentleman always knows when to leave. These are no gentlemen. Just two old farts at the end of their game still desperately clinging to any oxygen. I just want to put them in my parents assisted living home, ya know? By now these two old farts should have plaid pants on, up to their chests, with belts, and IZOD shirts, golfing hats, golfing shirts. Why won’t they just go away? Why aren’t there TErm LIMITS for Congress? Why won’t Harry Reid and Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi and HIllary Clinton just go away too? I can’t stand these ugly people. Just grosses me out how the political system keeps recycling these dead old ugly nasty political people. Every time you even think you are rid of them they pop up again like Crypt Keepers. I am so grossed out by these people.

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