Concerned people of all political parties worry about the health of one of their heroes. Senator John McCain, 81, was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer called glioblastoma last summer. As the senator battles against the form of cancer Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) had, he has continued to be a strong presence.
He gave a Senate-shaking thumbs-down vote against Donald Trump’s initiative to kill President Barack Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA/Obamacare). The spunky, self-described Senate maverick also appeared on a show where his daughter, Megan McCain, hosts, and she had some powerful words for her audience.
When the elder McCain was a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, he was shot down over enemy territory. He ejected and landed in a small body of water with severe injuries.
His capturers tortured him for five years. Since the senator’s father was an admiral in the Navy, McCain could have left earlier, but he refused to leave without his captured American companions.
No doubt, he is used to battling. Not only is he fighting cancer, he even wrote another book.
In mid-April, the senator had to undergo another surgery. He was hospitalized to treat an intestinal infection (related to diverticulitis). After a report by The New York Times everyone was talking about his funeral and the news that McCain explicitly did not want Trump to show up at his funeral.
Meghan McCain is the newest host of the television show, The View, and she had enough, according to People:
‘It’s just insensitive and it’s not appreciated at the moment.’
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg asked her:
‘How’s Pop?’
The newly married McCain said he dad was “doing a great recovery:”
‘He’s doing really good. Just making jokes, talking, standing, doing, you know, doing a great recovery. He has a great team around him.’
‘@MeghanMcCain shares an update on her father Sen. John McCain as he fights brain cancer — saying he’s having a “great recovery” and “making jokes: “I’d like everybody to take a collective breath and chill out on my dad for a second…”‘
.@MeghanMcCain shares an update on her father Sen. John McCain as he fights brain cancer — saying he’s having a “great recovery” and “making jokes: “I’d like everybody to take a collective breath and chill out on my dad for a second…” https://t.co/Vhegu08m1B pic.twitter.com/icc9pseeV8
— The View (@TheView) May 8, 2018
McCain added:
‘(He’s) asking a lot about backstage gossip on the show, and I’m like, I’m not allowed to talk about that!’
While he was on the 2016 presidential campaign trail, Trump had no problem insulting the man the country considers a national hero. The Chicago Times reported that the candidate, who got out of going to the war by claiming he had bone spurs, said:
‘He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.’
Even though no one asked his opinion, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) weighed in on whether McCain should bar Trump from coming to his own funeral and inviting Vice President Mike Pence instead. Hatch said of Trump, “He’s a very good man”:
‘(Trump) is the President of the United States. He’s a very good man. But it’s up to John. I think John should have his wishes fulfilled with regard to who attends his funeral.’
Worse, Hatch suggested McCain should not only let the president come, he should let him “give a (sic) eulogy,” according to CNN:
‘He would be a very interesting speaker and would do a good job for John.’
Hatch’s inconsiderate remarks touched Meghan off, and she said “chill out:”
‘I’d like everybody to take a collective breath and chill out on my dad for a second, especially Orrin Hatch. We’re (the McCain family) all doing good and hanging in. And it’s a process, as anyone knows if you know anyone who has cancer. So please be kind and respectful of the fact that there’s a family here.’
Good words.
Hatch later apologized.
Check out the senator’s memorable speech for the Naval Academy in 2017 below. It shows us how McCain felt about honor, integrity, and real patriotism.
Featured Image via Getty Images/Alex Wong.
