Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
    • The Best of Reason Magazine
    • Why We Can't Have Nice Things
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Politics

McCain: Are You a "Wacko Bird" Like Rand Paul, Justin Amash, and Ted Cruz?

Nick Gillespie | 3.9.2013 11:46 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

courtesy Benjamin Lee's Twitter Feed

"Wacko Birds" is the new "Jerk Store." 

That is, it's the sort of comedic comeback that reflects far worse - and oh-so-sadly - on its creator than its intended target.

During a recent tirade, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) denounced Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) as "wacko birds."

Reports the Wash Post:

"They were elected, nobody believes that there was a corrupt election, anything else,"McCain said. "But I also think that when, you know, it's always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone."

Asked to clarify, McCain said he was referencing "Rand Paul, Cruz, Amash, whoever."

McCain was bent out of shape by the recent filibuster called by Rand to demand clarification regarding President Barack Obama's use of kill lists and whatnot. Wacko Bird image via Twitter feed of Benjamin Lee.

Even as the senior senator from Arizona attacked his GOP colleagues, he did grant that, you know, they might be onto to something:

"We spent 13 hours talking about a scenario that won't happen and can't happen," McCain said. He subsequently told Fox News that he does think there should be "more congressional oversight" of the drone program, which should be brought under the Department of Defense — but argued that Paul's filibuster was merely a distraction.

Nickoledeon

Yeah, a helluva distraction. Certainly, it called more effective attention to a host of pressing issues that somehow didn't get enough time during various Senate confirmation hearings and back-and-forths with the White House. But shame on Rand Paul and his flock of people for upsetting John McCain's deeply held beliefs about decorum.

To their credit, the "wacko birds" are responding pretty sharply. Paul told the press, "I treat Sen. McCain with respect. I don't think I always get the same in return."

And Amash - watch this space for a major interview with him - took to the Twitter and reeled off:

Sen McCain called @SenRandPaul @SenTedCruz & me "wacko birds." Bravo, Senator. You got us. Did you come up with that at #DinnerWithBarack?

Is it just me or do McCain and his Boy Wonder sidekick Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) bear a growing resemblance to Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy from Sponge Bob Squarepants? Like the version of the GOP they represent, their best days are behind them. Which may well be good news for just about everybody else.

Here are 3 Takeaways from Rand Paul's #StandwithRand Filibuster about Drone Strikes.

Read more about Rand Paul, the filibuster, etc.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Suicide Bombers Strike in Afghanistan During Hagel's Visit

Nick Gillespie is an editor at large at Reason and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie.

PoliticsRand PaulWorldCultureCivil LibertiesPolicyJustin AmashTed CruzJohn McCainFilibusterDronesBarack Obama
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (86)

Latest

The Supreme Court Said States Can't Discriminate in Alcohol Sales. They're Doing It Anyway.

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 5.24.2025 7:00 AM

Cocaine Hippos, Monkey Copyrights, and a Horse Named Justice: The Debate Over Animal Personhood

C.J. Ciaramella | From the June 2025 issue

Harvard's Best Protection Is To Get Off the Federal Teat

Autumn Billings | 5.23.2025 6:16 PM

Trump's Mass Cancellation of Student Visas Illustrates the Lawlessness of His Immigration Crackdown

Jacob Sullum | 5.23.2025 5:30 PM

Come July, Keys Will Be De Facto Illegal In Minnesota

Christian Britschgi | 5.23.2025 5:00 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2024 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

Do you care about free minds and free markets? Sign up to get the biggest stories from Reason in your inbox every afternoon.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

This modal will close in 10

Reason Plus

Special Offer!

  • Full digital edition access
  • No ads
  • Commenting privileges

Just $25 per year

Join Today!