Obama, Meghan McCain rebuke absent Trump in tribute to fallen senator

By Jeff Mason and Lesley Wroughton

 

The casket is pictured leaving the memorial service of U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at National Cathedral in Washington, U.S., September 1, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, once rivals of the late Senator John McCain, praised him in eulogies on Saturday and joined his daughter at a memorial service in subtle and not-so-subtle rebukes of President Donald Trump.

 

Without naming Trump, who did not attend the service, Meghan McCain condemned the president in remarks that at times drew applause and came after she said her dad told her to "show them how tough you are" with her eulogy.

 

"We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served," she said, speaking forcefully and, at times, through tears.

 

Taking aim at Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," she said McCain's America was always great.

 

For years Trump feuded publicly with McCain and mocked his military service, continuing to knock him even after he grew ill. The former Republican senator from Arizona died on Aug. 25 from brain cancer, days shy of his 82nd birthday.

 

Trump, also a Republican, spent Saturday tweeting on other subjects and went to one of his private golf clubs in Virginia.

 

Nearly every major U.S. political leader attended the memorial service, and while Trump himself was absent, his presence was felt through the content of the tributes.

 

And by design. McCain asked Obama and Bush to deliver eulogies while the family made clear that Trump was not welcome.

 

Obama, who beat McCain in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, hailed the one-time prisoner of war for his commitment to truth and core democratic values, qualities that some critics see lacking in Trump, a former reality television star and New York City real estate mogul.

 

"So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult, and phoney controversies, and manufactured outrage," Obama said. "It's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough, but in fact is born in fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He called on us to be better than that."

 

Obama also noted McCain's support for a free press. Trump has repeatedly called the media the enemy of the American people.

 

"HE COULD NOT ABIDE BIGOTS AND SWAGGERING DESPOTS"

 

Bush, in his eulogy, described McCain as a man with a code.

 

"He loved freedom with a passion of a man who knew its absence. He respected the dignity inherent in every life, a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators," Bush said. "Perhaps above all, John detested the abuse of power. He could not abide bigots and swaggering despots."

 

Trump has sought to forge close relationships with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

The former U.S. presidents joked about McCain's imperfections, while saying he made them better leaders. Their presence as eulogists was a clear signal from McCain of his desire for more civility and bipartisanship in Washington.

 

The senator's body, which had lain in state at the U.S. Capitol, arrived at the cathedral with a motorcade that first stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. There his wife, Cindy McCain, laid a wreath to honour those who died in the war.

 

Uniformed members of the military slowly carried the coffin into the soaring cathedral and back out again after the 2-1/2 hour service.

 

Top members of Trump's administration, including his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, attended, as did White House chief of staff John Kelly and national security adviser John Bolton.

 

Other guests included former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, comedian Jay Leno, and former senators Bob Dole and John Kerry.

 

A powerful pipe organ and Navy brass ensemble played during the service and renowned opera singer Renee Fleming sang a stirring rendition of "Danny Boy," drawing tears from Cindy McCain and others in the audience.

 

John McCain was a leading voice for revamping the country's immigration, campaign finance and environmental laws. But it was his military service, punctuated by years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, that moulded his political life.

 

Rising to the rank of captain in the U.S. Navy, he was shot down over Hanoi while on a bombing mission in 1967. Held as a prisoner until 1973, he was tortured by his North Vietnamese captors in a jail that Americans dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton."

 

As a presidential candidate, Trump mocked McCain for getting captured in Vietnam. Trump himself received five deferments that got him out of serving in the military.

 

On Sunday McCain will be buried during a private service in Annapolis, Maryland, at the U.S. Naval Academy. McCain was a member of the Academy's Class of 1958.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-09-02

 

 

"...We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served," she said, speaking forcefully and, at times, through tears..."

 

Never in my life have I seen the contrast of what is good about politics with what disgusts me displayed so starkly.

 

One would hope that Trump will see the respect, the honour, the caring, the genuine sadness on display and say to himself that it is something to strive for. Instead, I suspect that he will just insult someone to try to make himself look big.

 

I feel deep sadness for what the US has become and sincerely pray that one day it will find its way again.

 

 

Now days, it seems that for politicians, from cradle to the garve it's all about politics, what is right and wrong are now being dedicated not what is the right thing to do but what political gains or losses will be the end results, sad? yes, signs of the times we live in? in deed...

6 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Now days, it seems that for politicians, from cradle to the garve it's all about politics, what is right and wrong are now being dedicated not what is the right thing to do but what political gains or losses will be the end results, sad? yes, signs of the times we live in? in deed...

So excellent from McCain to make it about being right and wrong from the grave.

Troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served," she said, speaking forcefully and, at times, through tears..."

 

Never in my life have I seen the contrast of what is good about politics with what disgusts me displayed so starkly.

 

One would hope that Trump will see the respect, the honour, the caring, the genuine sadness on display and say to himself that it is something to strive for. Instead, I suspect that he will just insult someone to try to make himself look big.

 

I feel deep sadness for what the US has become and sincerely pray that one day it will find its way again.

 

 

Yes, I wonder what Trump's voters were thinking during all of this. Reflective perhaps? November voting might tell us.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

and not-so-subtle rebukes of President Donald Trump

But that is totally natural behaviour to a man that doesn´t have a clue about how to behave in a representative way.

In a rebuke to ALL of those grandees,  including the absentee, so much for draining the swamp!   

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Now days, it seems that for politicians, from cradle to the garve it's all about politics, what is right and wrong are now being dedicated not what is the right thing to do but what political gains or losses will be the end results, sad? yes, signs of the times we live in? in deed...

It has ever been thus. 

Check out the Roman Empire docudrama on Netflix. You'll see American,  even Thai politics, on full display. 

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The funeral turned into a political rally. 

6 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

The funeral turned into a political rally. 

Truth hurts, eh...

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"He loved freedom with a passion of a man who knew its absence. He respected the dignity inherent in every life, a dignity that does not stop at borders and cannot be erased by dictators," Bush said. "Perhaps above all, John detested the abuse of power. He could not abide bigots and swaggering despots."

Damn...

C'mon, get the guy in the ground already. What a circus.

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served," she said, speaking forcefully and, at times, through tears..."

 

Never in my life have I seen the contrast of what is good about politics with what disgusts me displayed so starkly.

 

One would hope that Trump will see the respect, the honour, the caring, the genuine sadness on display and say to himself that it is something to strive for. Instead, I suspect that he will just insult someone to try to make himself look big.

 

I feel deep sadness for what the US has become and sincerely pray that one day it will find its way again.

 

 

 

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."   --  F. Scott Fitzgerald
 

I'm grateful to John McCain for designing his own funeral to be such a important statement in these incredibly DARK TIMES in the USA. Also of course all the supporting people. What a brilliant political performance from the dead. Will it help? Sadly, I seriously doubt it will very much. Things are going to get a lot worse thanks to that dangerous, disgusting authoritarian bully demagogue "trump" and his rabid fans before they even begin to get better. Even after he leaves, those fans are still there.

 

Quote

John McCain’s Funeral Was the Biggest Resistance Meeting Yet
...
Donald Trump’s name was never mentioned. It didn’t have to be. The funeral service for John Sidney McCain III, at the Washington National Cathedral, on this swampy Saturday morning, was all about a rebuke to the pointedly uninvited current President of the United States, which was exactly how McCain had planned it.

 

https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/john-mccains-funeral-was-the-biggest-resistance-meeting-yet

 

 

58 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Truth hurts, eh...

I have to agree with you trump was stating facts that you  cannot  argue with. 

11 minutes ago, myfriendu said:

I have to agree with you trump was stating facts that you  cannot  argue with. 

Trump...facts?

 

ROTFLMAO

 

?????

9 minutes ago, myfriendu said:

I have to agree with you trump was stating facts that you  cannot  argue with. 

"trump" stating facts? Hold the presses! Well, even a stopped clock is right two times a daily!

Why are all you calling Trump down for not going to the funeral. Mc Cain requested that he did not attend his funeral and Trump was reminded of that request so did not attend.

1 minute ago, Gudge said:

Why are all you calling Trump down for not going to the funeral. Mc Cain requested that he did not attend his funeral and Trump was reminded of that request so did not attend.

That isn't the point. He deserved not to be invited and the way he behaved after McCain's death reinforced that.

Amazing that the Left who were calling him a racist not too long ago now think he is the bees knees.

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

The funeral turned into a political rally. 

Democrats and Republicans United.  I wish we had more rallies like that

21 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Amazing that the Left who were calling him a racist not too long ago now think he is the bees knees.

They all said they disagreed with him, but he was a patriot and willing to compromise.  Can you comprehend English?

John McCain- an American patriot and war hero.  There is no comparison with Donald Trump- who avoided going to the military because he had a note from his doctor for- bone spurs.  John McCain- who languished 5.5 years in a North Vietnamese prison and could have gone home early but declined indicating everyone must be released.  True Grit....Devotion to  country.   And then John went back to Vietnam as a Senator and led the fight to establish relations with Vietnam

 

A great man is gone....... and Donald Trump in his final act of disrespect....played golf while John McCain was being eulogized by a grateful Nation!!!

2 hours ago, myfriendu said:

I have to agree with you trump was stating facts that you  cannot  argue with. 

 

Oh yeah? Trump the teller of truths? He’s the biggest liar in the US, he lies and distorts truth, and has acted that way all his life. Well the light is now shining on those lies ... perhaps the US will do a spy swap and send him to Russia?

7 minutes ago, losworld said:

This is the most ridiculous if not absurd thing I have witnessed in a long time.  Here's a guy who dumped his ex wife when she was sick, tried a wet take off on an aircraft to show off and wound up killing multiple americans operating as crew, crashed his jet in northern vietnam then sung like a canary in a coal mine, later got caught up in the keating scandal, pushed for war with multiple countries resulting in the displacement and killing of millions... I guess when you are an Admiral's son you get special treatment along the way then when are spiteful and bitter and use your own funeral to criticize and exclude the President as well as your former running mate you get royal treatment from the media.  Pathetic

The thing that is pathetic is your complete lack of the truth.

 

- Senator McCain did not cause the accident on board his ship-  a missile came lose from another aircraft on board and malfunctioned igniting and almost killed  John and actually did kill 134  sailors as fire swept across the flight deck of the USS Forestall in 1967.  A Naval Board of Inquiry  determine the actual cause an electrical failure in the missile/

 

-Senator McCain's  aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam in October 1967 struck by a surface to air missile. It was his 23rd sortie. Upon bailing out and landing- he had broken arms and was interred in the 'Hanoi Hilton' for 5 .5 years. He was brutally tortured -especially when he refused to leave his captivity early.  The N Vietnamese offered to release him as his father was Chief of Pacific Forces but John indicated everyone had to be released and he refused to leave.  Like many others- he did sign a statement drawn up by the Vietnamese  admitting he indeed did bomb Vietnam.

 

I personally know a Prisoner of War- who was with Senator McCain in Vietnam when he was prisoner and he attested that many American POWs were forced to sign statements. In addition, he never indicated to me or anyone else that any American POWs provided classified information  to the North Vietnamese. . John McCain abided by the US Code of Military Conduct.

 

-As far as the Keating scandal he did indicate that he accepted campaign contributions from Keating but was cleared of any wrongdoing and as a result launched Senate investigations of the way campaign contributions are allowed to be processed and reformed the  process. He also apologized to the public and accepted fault.

 

-As far as not inviting President Trump to his funeral- why should he?   When Trump was running for President he used disparaging remarks against the Senator and never apologized. In addition, when Senator McCain was diagnosed with terminal cancer- Trump continued to attack the Senator and was furious that the Senator had cast a vote against the dismantling of Obamacare.  The senator opposed Obamacare but the bill was flawed and would have thrown millions off the healthcare rolls. Senator McCain voted his conscience  and said No .  The problem with Trump is that  he has no moral compass and cannot stand it when others do act with a moral compass.

 

McCain never said he was perfect but he believed in an America in which everyone was equal and should be given a chance to succeed. The man brought people together unlike the current President who is a bigot and a racist.

 

I didn't always agree with Senator McCain on every issue but I respect him as someone who was unselfish and really tried to do his best for America. He was a war hero  and he will be remembered as such by  the majority of Americans and others who know the real history of his life.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

And by design. McCain asked Obama and Bush to deliver eulogies while the family made clear that Trump was not welcome.

 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult, and phony controversies, and manufactured outrage," Obama said. "It's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough, but in fact is born in fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He called on us to be better than that." 

From his death bed and now the retroactive High Road, McCain orchestrated the invite/don't invite list, as well as a calculated speaker list.  McCain counseled his bitter, smarmy daughter to "show them how strong you are", which is normal to say I suppose, but focused enough to suggest one last shot in the arm from Dad, before being cast off to truly sink or swim on her own merits.

 

As death loomed, a circumspect McCain was still unable to get out of his own way and forgive Sarah Palin for failing to manipulate the female voting bloc like he clumsily thought she could.  It's been eating away at him for 10 years.  As late as this year, he was still taking pot shots at her, and she wasn't invited to the death party either. 

Quote

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is not invited to any of the memorial services for her former running mate, Arizona Sen. John McCain, a source tells CNN.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/30/politics/palin-mccain-funeral/index.html

 

President Obama, being the cool but very clever dude he is, might have smirked a bit as he penned his remarks, intended to rebuke the most obvious absentee; yet, there's a hint of nuanced attribution to McCain himself, for engaging in final acts of pettiness from the grave, whilst being celebrated for rising above them in life.  ?

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  8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

And by design. McCain asked Obama and Bush to deliver eulogies while the family made clear that Trump was not welcome.

 

  8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult, and phony controversies, and manufactured outrage," Obama said. "It's a politics that pretends to be brave and tough, but in fact is born in fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He called on us to be better than that." 

From his death bed and now the retroactive High Road, McCain orchestrated the invite/don't invite list, as well as a calculated speaker list.  McCain counseled his bitter, smarmy daughter to "show them how strong you are", which is normal to say I suppose, but focused enough to suggest one last shot in the arm from Dad, before being cast off to truly sink or swim on her own merits.

 

As death loomed, a circumspect McCain was still unable to get out of his own way and forgive Sarah Palin for failing to manipulate the female voting bloc like he clumsily thought she could.  It's been eating away at him for 10 years.  As late as this year, he was still taking pot shots at her, and she wasn't invited to the death party either. 

  Quote

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is not invited to any of the memorial services for her former running mate, Arizona Sen. John McCain, a source tells CNN.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/30/politics/palin-mccain-funeral/index.html

 

President Obama, being the cool but very clever dude he is, might have smirked a bit as he penned his remarks, intended to rebuke the most obvious absentee; yet, there's a hint of nuanced attribution to McCain himself, for engaging in final acts of pettiness from the grave, whilst being celebrated for rising above them in life.  

 

Some interesting points- but one thing about McCain he was not perfect and admitted to the same.

 

Sara Pailin cost McCain the election. She was an ignorant airhead who refused to listen to the campaign experts who tried to guide her along the way.  I can't ever remember John coming out and attacking her after he lost . As far as I can remember- he did indicate in his last book that he made a mistake by picking her and should have chosen Senator Lieberman. Most of his supporters agree with that. Actually, I voted for  Obama not because of Pailin but because I thought John was too hawkish.

 

He certainly did plan his funeral and who he wanted to attend and speak.   I rather liked Obama's comment  when he indicated McCain was probably smiling because he managed to get two Presidents he disagreed with to stand before the World and praise him.

 

You call his lack of inviting Pail and even Trump- pettiness- I simply call it being human.

 

John McCain- Rest In Peace!!

2 hours ago, losworld said:

This is the most ridiculous if not absurd thing I have witnessed in a long time.  Here's a guy who dumped his ex wife when she was sick, tried a wet take off on an aircraft to show off and wound up killing multiple americans operating as crew, crashed his jet in northern vietnam then sung like a canary in a coal mine, later got caught up in the keating scandal, pushed for war with multiple countries resulting in the displacement and killing of millions... I guess when you are an Admiral's son you get special treatment along the way then when are spiteful and bitter and use your own funeral to criticize and exclude the President as well as your former running mate you get royal treatment from the media.  Pathetic.  

I have to agree with all facts you mentioned about this wicked man,  trump would not have gone even if invited he has too much honor and could never pay respects to a guy with such low morals.

Trump is the greatest president ever, you ask him he will tell you himself.