Washington lauds McCain as one of America's 'bravest souls,' Trump absent

By Richard Cowan

 

Glynn A. Crooks, Viet Nam veteran and former Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Indian Community of Prior Lake, MN. pays his respects at the casket of Senator McCain who lies in state in the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2018. REUTERS/Mary F. Calvert

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's bitterly divided leaders came together on Friday to praise the late Senator John McCain as an embodiment of America's fighting spirit, idealism and sense of humour, but there was one notable absentee: President Donald Trump.

 

At a Capitol Rotunda ceremony, Republicans and Democrats called a temporary political truce to honour McCain on the third of five days of memorial celebrations in Arizona and Washington for the Vietnam War hero and two-time Republican presidential candidate.

 

"He would fight tooth and nail for his vision of the common good. Depending on the issue, you knew John would either be your staunchest ally or your most stubborn opponent," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who frequently clashed with McCain on issues such as healthcare and campaign finance reform.

 

"He had America’s fighting spirit, our noble idealism, our solemn patriotism, and our slightly irreverent streak -- all rolled into one," McConnell said.

 

The absence of Trump - who on Friday will travel to one of his private golf clubs for a campaign fundraiser - reflected the animosity between the two men that lingered even after McCain's death on Saturday from brain cancer.

 

Vice President Mike Pence told mourners Trump had asked him to attend to pay his respects.

 

"He will be missed. As President Trump said yesterday, we respect his service to the country," Pence said.

 

Trump will also miss Saturday's service at the Washington National Cathedral, where former President Barack Obama, the Democrat who defeated McCain in 2008, and former Republican President George W. Bush, who beat McCain in their party's 2000 presidential nominating contest, will pay tribute to McCain.

 

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was sometimes on the receiving end of McCain's "distinct brand of candour" and said the late senator relished a good fight.

 

"This is one of the bravest souls our nation has ever produced," Ryan said.

 

After the ceremony, McCain's family and those in attendance filed past the coffin, which sat atop a pine board catafalque originally built in 1865 for President Abraham Lincoln's casket.

 

Hundreds of mourners, who had lined up outside the Capitol to await their chance to pass through the Rotunda and pay their respects, began filing past in the afternoon.

 

"This is kind of like the death of an era. A man who stood up for what he believed, and I can't say I agreed with every position he took, but he did it with dignity," said retired schoolteacher Sue Ellen Raby, 71, who travelled more than 77 miles (124 km) from her Maryland home to pay her respects.

 

The Trump-McCain feud dated back to at least 2015, not long after Trump kicked off his presidential campaign. McCain condemned the candidate's hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration, accusing Trump of "firing up the crazies."

 

The New York businessman hit back, saying of McCain's 5-1/2 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam: "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured." Trump received five deferments that got him out of military service.

 

More recently, McCain accused Trump of kowtowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin at July's Helsinki summit, calling it "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory."

 

Trump in turn delayed issuing any statement after McCain's death. Earlier this week, the American flag atop the White House that had been at half-staff was raised back up, then lowered again after Trump drew fire from Congress and veterans.

 

McCain helped plan the events around his funeral. He made it clear to family and friends that he wanted Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, Bush and Obama to speak - but that Trump was not welcome.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-01

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Washington lauds McCain as one of America's 'bravest souls,' Trump absent

 

It was made very clear he wasn’t welcome or wanted. 

Edited September 1, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

Trump unwelcome at a wedding and two funerals.

—Higher class, higher intelligence & a true patriot compared to the infamous “Captain Bone Spurs. 

McCain...a guy who was in the wrong place at the right time....and milked that narrative his entire life.

Built a very profitable career on it too...he got his flowers and tributes.....glad donald wasn't there....he hates 

him....and donald is many things but not a hypocrite. I think he would have been relieved to not be invited.

1 hour ago, JHolmesJr said:

McCain...a guy who was in the wrong place at the right time....and milked that narrative his entire life.

Built a very profitable career on it too...he got his flowers and tributes.....glad donald wasn't there....he hates 

him....and donald is many things but not a hypocrite. I think he would have been relieved to not be invited.

Yes he is many things and the vast majority are traits no one admires.

Misogynistic

Racist 

Venal

24 carat liar

Draft dodger ( 24 carat coward)

3 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

Yes he is many things and the vast majority are traits no one admires.

Misogynistic

Racist 

Venal

24 carat liar

Draft dodger ( 24 carat coward)

ok, but you can say much worse things about mccain, much worse

The hypocrisy surrounding the long-awaited death of McCain is nauseating.  

 

We say that we should not speak ill of the dead (at least not in the week he dies), but of course History will eventually speak the truth. 

Not that McCain is worse than so many of the occupants of the Washington swamp, but lest we forget (as we say) he was the frontman for so many of the defense companies that, on behalf of the American taxpayer, poured death and destruction upon thousands of people around the world.

The hypocrisy surrounding this privileged warmonger is astounding. He lobbied successfully for the defence industry and the deaths, maimings and blighted lives of millions of non-white people in Asia. I am aghast at these plaudits, truly shocked.

2 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

...and donald is many things but not a hypocrite. I think he would have been relieved to not be invited.

Really? The swamp dweller who campaigned on "drain the swamp" is not a hypocrite?

Sang like a canary to the North Vietnamese

Did propaganda for the North Vietnamese

Pushed for the wars in Afghanistan/Iraq that killed tens of thousands of Americans/foreigners while lining his own pockets and that of his defense contractor buddies

Introduced the biggest political retard in American history known as Sarah Palin to the world stage

Voted against repealing Obummercare out of spite to Trump

 

No one will miss McCain and thankfully his brand of "conservatism" (selling out the country whilst not really conserving anything) is rapidly becoming obsolete

Trump was absent because he wasn't invited. 

46 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

The hypocrisy surrounding this privileged warmonger is astounding. He lobbied successfully for the defence industry and the deaths, maimings and blighted lives of millions of non-white people in Asia. I am aghast at these plaudits, truly shocked.

 

thank you

 

and not only Asia, you should add central america south america africa

all his pro life after Nam; war monger hard nosed, professional killer, high time he perished

the world is a better place without mccains

 

 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"This is one of the bravest souls our nation has ever produced,"

This brave soul was deservedly shot down over Hanoi while bombing innocent civilians. And this is called bravery?

There was NO conflict or fighting in the North of Vietnam it was in the South.

Millions of North Vietnamese civilians were killed and their homes destroyed in the carpet bombings of North Vietnam by pilots like McCain. The thousands of war cemeteries in the North are testimony to that.

This man was a war criminal. 

The American invasion of Vietnam is a blight on the history of the USA and McCain was part of that blight. Vietnam served it back up to the US forces in a way they had never known before.

The next thing the US will be celebrating the My Lai massacre and calling it heroism.

At least Trump had the good sense to keep away from the funeral of this cretin.

that's great news but we still have george soros and john kasich around.  well, at least one of them is gone.

Quote

 

Shame on Trump for not directing an appeal to the Pope to fast track John McCain to sainthood for all of his noteworthy and angelic actions and deeds in life.

/sarc off

Can't say what I and many others think here.

6 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

It was made very clear he wasn’t welcome or wanted. 

Yes, your funeral is a personal issue. However, lowering the flag to half-staff is a traditional and national show of respect, especially for a sitting Senator. Get the difference?

1 minute ago, smotherb said:

Yes, your funeral is a personal issue. However, lowering the flag to half-staff is a traditional and national show of respect, especially for a sitting Senator. Get the difference?

Why are you asking me that?

 

At no point have I mentioned flags. 

14 minutes ago, milwaukeeboy said:

Shame on Trump for not directing an appeal to the Pope to fast track John McCain to sainthood for all of his noteworthy and angelic actions and deeds in life.

/sarc off

Can't say what I and many others think here.

Why go to a catholic? McCain was protestant. And why would you think Trump has any influence on the pope. 

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

Why are you asking me that?

 

At no point have I mentioned flags. 

I didn't say you did. Just offered my opinion and asked if you saw the difference.

Suppose if Trump is convicted of any of his crimes he will be the first US President to be denied a State Funeral.

 

36 minutes ago, james1995 said:

that's great news but we still have george soros and john kasich around.  well, at least one of them is gone.

That's a new one. Milquetoast Kasich demonized in the same way as Soros. Funny!

Seeing the headman in the pic I got this feeling that if McCain had lived in earlier years he might as well have ordered the Wounded Knee killings. Utter Jesuit.

Edited September 1, 20187 yr by hugocnx

2 hours ago, smotherb said:

Why go to a catholic? McCain was protestant. And why would you think Trump has any influence on the pope. 

Quote > McCain was protestant.< That doesn't bother the Pope at all if that protestant is a covert op for the Vatican world domination cause and even for killing their own kind (read Catholics)

Edited September 1, 20187 yr by hugocnx

3 hours ago, milwaukeeboy said:

Shame on Trump for not directing an appeal to the Pope to fast track John McCain to sainthood for all of his noteworthy and angelic actions and deeds in life.

/sarc off

Can't say what I and many others think here.

Many = 2 in trumpworld

2 hours ago, Basil B said:

Suppose if Trump is convicted of any of his crimes he will be the first US President to be denied a State Funeral.

 

I would give him the same funeral as one gives a budgie.

Flush him down the bog like the       sh!€e he is.

34 minutes ago, hugocnx said:

Quote > McCain was protestant.< That doesn't bother the Pope at all if that protestant is a covert op for the Vatican world domination cause and even for killing their own kind (read Catholics)

You need to seek some help.

58 minutes ago, smotherb said:

You need to seek some help.

So does 80% of the so called self professed intellectuals including you I'm afraid. Just because you don't understand what is going on? Cheers.

Edited September 1, 20187 yr by hugocnx

I sense a lot of jealousy in thease last few posts I dident agree with a lot he said but as far as war is concerned if you are in it don’t pussey foot around don’t drag it out like we tend to do in that way I backed him 100%that being said I’m more about building bridges than walls more about trade than war but if it’s on then get it done 

Americans are more divided than I can ever remember.