EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Johnny Isakson Stands Up for McCain; Unloads on Trump

[brooklynite]

Source: The Bulwark

Later today Sen. Johnny Isakson will call out President Trump for his continued disparagement of John McCain. The chairman of the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee said in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the service of any veteran, let alone McCain, should never be besmirched, that president’s comments “drive me crazy,” and that he plans to speak out at length on Wednesday.

Isakson had warned President Trump. When McCain died on August 25th and the flag at the White House remained at full staff, then went down to half staff but back again within one day—before the traditional end of the period of interment—Georgia’s senior senator considered the show of disrespect “unthinkable.” He took to the floor of the Senate and declared:

I don’t know what is going to be said in the next few days about John McCain by whomever is going to say it or what is going to be done, but anybody who in any way tarnishes the reputation of John McCain deserves a whipping because most of those who would do the wrong thing about John McCain didn’t have the guts to do the right thing when it was their turn. We need to remember that. So I would say to the president or anybody in the world, it is time to pause and say that this was a great man who gave everything for us. We owe him nothing less than the respect that he earned, and that is what I intend to give John in return for what he gave me.

On Tuesday, Isakson told me he plans to deliver the promised whipping. “I want to do what I said that day on the floor of the senate,” he said. “I just want to lay it on the line, that the country deserves better, the McCain family deserves better, I don’t care if he’s president of United States, owns all the real estate in New York, or is building the greatest immigration system in the world. Nothing is more important than the integrity of the country and those who fought and risked their lives for all of us.”

Read more: https://thebulwark.com/exclusive-sen-johnny-isakson-stands-up-for-mccain-unloads-on-trump/

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. I don't know why all veterans groups aren't savaging Trump already.

Why do they let him get away with this stuff every single time?

[CurtEastPoint]

4. Bekoz Jeebus and aborshun

[jayschool2013]

6. And gunz

Always the gunz

[lastlib]

7. Gunz an' Freedum(b)

an' Benghazi! Her e-mailz! The usual boogeymen drivel.

[CurtEastPoint]

8. and gayz. And her emailz

[33taw]

19. Guns.

[olegramps]

25. What is more significant is the 52 Republican senators who are silent.

I have to correct my original post to: 51 and 1/2.

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. And Benghazi!!! nt

[oldsoftie]

2. Oh the GA "base" already call Isakson a "RINO" anyway. this will make them apoplectic

idiots.

[paleotn]

12. Pity when one can speak about common decency...

and get trashed by their base because of it. Rethugs built it. They own it.

[dem4decades]

3. "building the greatest immigration system in the world"? He can fuck off too.

[bigbrother05]

9. I read it as sarcastic coming after "owns all the real estate in NYC"

Think he was calling him out for his boasts.

BTW - no fan of any R, but have to give props when there is any backbone.

[Duppers]

32. 👍👍

You're correct.

[Kurt V.]

5. "...building the greatest immigration system in the world. "

sure dude. let him have it.

[vlyons]

10. anyone know what time Isakson will speak?

I assume it will be from the House floor and on CSPAN?

[True Blue American]

27. You can bet

It will be on every cable station. That is why Isakson spoke out.

Veterans who want to end the forever wars spoke out this morning. Let us see how many other Republicans spoke out.

Even Fox news turned on Trump.

[erronis]

33. I doubt fux news turned on dump - they are doing a token "balancing" curtsy towards their motto.

[paleotn]

11. Those who aren't complicit or compromised themselves,....

like Lindsey, are seeking political separation from the crazy asshole. Good luck with that. Their base is radicalized to the point where it isn't going to work. Dolt 45 is a product of general Rethuglican assholyness and they're not going to shake it anytime soon.

[groundloop]

13. Could this FINALLY be the beginning of the end for Tiny ?

If repub Senators are finally growing a spine and calling him out for his vile attacks on Senator McCain then maybe, just maybe, at least a few will begin to stand up to him for selling out our country to Russia.

[riversedge]

14. Isakson, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, is a general supporter of Trump but....

He actually will take to the Senate Floor today. GOOD for him.



‘The McCain family deserves better,’ Republican senator says as Trump continues to lash out

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/20/mccain-family-deserves-better-republican-senator-says-trump-continues-lash-out/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4d2c82b09754

By Alex Horton

March 20 at 9:00 AM

It’s all too much for Sen. Johnny Isakson to take. The Georgia Republican could not stand the “unthinkable” last year when the White House flag lowered — and then soon raised — its flag from half-staff to recognize the death of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

................................................. Isakson is ready to deliver what he calls a whipping on the Senate floor Wednesday.

“I just want to lay it on the line, that the country deserves better, the McCain family deserves better. I don’t care if he’s president of United States, owns all the real estate in New York, or is building the greatest immigration system in the world,” Isakson told the Bulwark, a conservative news website.


"Nothing is more important than the integrity of the country and those who fought and risked their lives for all of us.”

Trump unloaded on the legacy of McCain, who died of brain cancer last year, in several tweets this week. On Tuesday, he decried McCain’s vote against repealing Obamacare.

“I think that’s a disgrace, plus there are other things,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “I was never a fan of John McCain, and I never will be.”
...........................................

Isakson, chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is a general supporter of Trump but often extends more criticisms of the president than many Republican lawmakers.

After last year’s controversy over the flag raising, lowering and re-raising, he took to the Senate floor to blast the perceived insult to McCain, although he did not single out the president in his remarks..............................................

[lark]

15. Freaking unthinkable but only 2 repugs have said one thing against drumpfs hate filled screed.

Only Romney and Isakson had the courage to stand up to a lying conniving draft dodger in favor of a true war hero. Just shows you how the repug party is now only the party of drumpf & the worldwide dictators lead by his main man PUtin. They only have to do with America when it comes to stealing and cheating the majority to give to themselves and the rest of the rich oligarchs.

[Eyeball_Kid]

20. Romney has the balls of a mouse.

A round of golf with Trumpy will have him kneeling before the Great Liar. Wait until Trumpy dangles a cabinet post in front of Romney. Romney will turn to putty.

[lark]

24. Yep, he is untrustworthy.

Still glad he ast least spoke out, McCain's best friend couldn't even do that - the total sellout of Graham.

[PatSeg]

26. That's for sure

There are no "balls" left in the republican party. All these big men can't stand up to a goofy reality TV star and his pudgy Twitter thumbs. Trump might say something mean about them!!

[Ilsa]

36. Even RMoney's criticism was vague.

It was one of those "I can't imagine why" comments.

[Jarqui]

43. It's disgraceful - most GOP Senators should have stood up for McCain

McCain got better support from Democrats

[Eyeball_Kid]

16. Isakson knows this is war.

He’s calling out the enemy. He knows that Trumpy is an unapologetic traitor who didn’t make a slip of the tongue, that Trumpy is a vile slab of bacon who needs to be extricated from the body politic. This will have to be the opening salvo. At last a GOPer has a rational moment in the sun. He shed his fear of Trumpy. For now.

[MRDAWG]

17. It's anout time. Johnny's daddy got him into the Ga National guard during Viet Nam. He.......

was a supporter of Governor Lester Maddox.

[True Blue American]

28. Johnny said he served

In the National Guard. He knew McCain and his best friend who died in the Vietnam war were better men than he was! Give him credit.

[MRDAWG]

46. He did not go to Nam as..........

The National Guard or Reserves were true "reserves". None went to Nam unless they volunteered.

[AlexSFCA]

18. 3 years too late?

The complete destruction of McCain’s legacy is key to alt right an every trump supporter. It’s at the very core of trump’s political philosophy.

[keithbvadu2]

21. Tough guy Donald

[NoMoreRepugs]

22. For Donald Douche there can only be one hero - himself.

I'm surprised he hasn't tried to eclipse the memory of Saint Reagan.

[PatSeg]

23. It is pretty sad when a republican

acting and speaking with respect and dignity is "breaking news". This should not be a rare moment of commendable courage and integrity, this should be the norm.

But then again, this is the party that can only offer feeble "thoughts and prayers" to massacred school age children and buckle under the threat of a mean Tweet from a clownish bully in the White House. I'm not impressed.

[robleb]

29. Good for him!

If more repubs could locate their balls it would be wonderful.....

[beachbum bob]

31. trump has firm hold on 75% of the GOP base....and little will ever change that, so defying trump

as a GOP'er will be political suicide BUT also opens the doors for moderate democrats to win in otherwise noncompetitive GOP states and districts as 25% of the GOP voters are sick of trump as we are. We saw what happened in 2018 in Kansas and that will happen across America in 2020 and 2022

[Scalded Nun]

34. 1 voice for McCain. How many voices for Kerry, Duckworth, Cleland, the list goes on

I honestly do not know why anyone is surprised by the GOPs behavior anymore. Yes, call him/them out, be outraged at the words and behavior, work to rid our country of this treasonous band of thugs, but do not act surprised. They are acting according to their nature.

[Ilsa]

35. I called Isakson's office and left a sincere thank you

Message. They must be busy on the phone, because I had to use their voicemail. I hope the calls are favorable, and I hope other DUers call to leave supportive words.

[Vinca]

37. It's about time. Where are the rest of them?

[Still In Wisconsin]

38. My dad is a Marine Corps veteran (Korean War) and he HATES Trump.

According to him, all of his Marine buddies (the ones who are still around) agree. Most of them are Republicans (not my dad) and still hate Trump.

[turbinetree]

39. Lets not forget how voted on the National Emergency Johnny Isakson........................

and then Isakson comes out with this.............................

"Isakson told me he plans to deliver the promised whipping. “I want to do what I said that day on the floor of the senate,” he said. “I just want to lay it on the line, that the country deserves better, the McCain family deserves better, I don’t care if he’s president of United States, owns all the real estate in New York, or is building the greatest immigration system in the world. Nothing is more important than the integrity of the country and those who fought and risked their lives for all of us.”


Yes-siree the country deserves better huh Isakson, you voted to uphold, that your "guy" should just fuck the Constitution and the Congress that has over site on funds and divert money from the military...................


November 3, 2020 cannot get here fast enough.................

[matt819]

40. Wanna bet it gets watered down?

Plus, wanna bet he'll continue to vote for all trump nominees and all republican legislation?

It's just words to these people. They've already sold their souls.

[RT Atlanta]

41. surprising

Johnny is such a lap dog for republicans, and has been pretty steadfast in his support of donnie t, so I am surprised he'd choose this hill to stand upon.

I do not disagree with the sentiment, but Johnny is pretty good at seeing 'which way the wind is blowing' before he makes a statement like this.

[Power 2 the People]

42. Next Senate vote for the Trump agenda....

Senator Graham.....Aye!
Senator Isakson.....Aye!
Senator Romney.....Aye!

[ut oh]

44. and then McCain's bestie

Lindsay Graham will defend tRump....

[Honeycombe8]

45. If his grand response to Trump's comments on McCain was on that radio show today...

I saw a clip, and it's pretty much a nothingburger. He said what Trump said was deplorable...there are not Republican or Democratic casualties on the battlefield, those are American casualties...if he says these things again in 7 mos, he'll respond to them again...we're all Americans...I will support both the President and the military....

Just pretty standard stuff.