McCain defends top Clinton aide from GOP attack

[aurademystere]

Good for McCain. I think Bill Clinton has referred to Huma Abedin as his second daughter.

content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/07/mccain-clinton-huma-abedin/1

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued a lengthy defense of Huma Abedin, a long-serving top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in response to five Republican House lawmakers who have requested an investigation into her alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The five House members cited a report from the conservative Center for Security Policy that suggests the Muslim Brotherhood has a nefarious grip on the State Department and U.S. foreign policy. They signed a letter last month calling on the State Department inspector general to investigate Abedin and other officials for their links to one of the world's largest Islamic movements.

Making the request: Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Trent Franks of Arizona, Louie Gohmert of Texas, Tom Rooney of Florida and Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia.

Abedin, who was born in the United States, is Muslim. The CSP report cites Abedin's family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, including her late father, her mother and her brother.

She is currently Clinton's deputy chief of staff, and has been one of her most loyal aides since Bill Clinton was in the White House. She is married to former representative Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y.

The attack on her brought a sharp rebuke from the State Department. "These accusations are nothing but vicious and disgusting lies, and anyone who traffics in them should be ashamed of themselves," said Philippe Reines, a State Department spokesman.

The accusation also proved too much for McCain, who offered a public defense of Abedin on the Senate floor Wednesday, citing a personal relationship with her built during Clinton's time in the U.S. Senate and later at State.

"Put simply, Huma represents what is best about America: the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit and her abiding commitment to the American ideals that she embodies so fully," McCain said. "I am proud to know Huma, and to call her my friend."

McCain also offered choice words for his GOP colleagues who sent the letter and its insinuation that Abedin is undermining the U.S. in favor of Islamic interests.

"When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it," he said.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Oh that is disgusting. Abedin has been with HRC for how many years? You really think she wasn't vetted before working directly with the SoS??? I know how some people here feel about wishing death on others, but I'm not being facetious when I say Michele Bachmann can DIAF.

[dylanite]

Jul 18, 2012 13:32:32 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Im not being facetious when I say Michele Bachmann can DIAF.

Hey I know someone who knows someone who died in the WTC! Sure it was of a heart attack in 1988, but still. The sting, it burns.

[Deleted]

Finally a well-respected R speaking out about the craziness/racism in the party

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2012 13:36:36 GMT -5 @septimus said:

Finally a well-respected R speaking out about the craziness/racism in the party

I agree, I'm really impressed with McCain on that.
And seriously, I'm sure she's been investigated to the hills given her job.

[bqbride]

And once again, I just can't imagine why people think the GOP are nothing but race-baiting, bigoted asshats....

I would have more respect for them if they at least grew enough balls to put the despicable things they stand for (like hating and fearing anyone not white/male/Christian enough) right on their platform. "We are the party of the rich, white, Christian men, for the rich, white, Christian men. We hate, fear and persecute everyone else."

[heyjude]

Is this the new McCarthism? Did that go over well for the GOP?

[DaisyCakes]

Jul 18, 2012 13:32:32 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

I know how some people here feel about wishing death on others, but I'm not being facetious when I say Michele Bachmann can DIAF.

Agreed. She is the representative for my district. I would be so glad to be rid of the crazy.

[suzyp]

Jul 18, 2012 13:32:32 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Oh that is disgusting. Abedin has been with HRC for how many years? You really think she wasn't vetted before working directly with the SoS??? I know how some people here feel about wishing death on others, but I'm not being facetious when I say Michele Bachmann can DIAF.

Yes. She has worked for Hillary since her freshman year of college, 1993-1994, so almost 20 freaking years. Bachmann is ridiculous. And love that McCain responded so strongly.

[MrsDL]

Bachman was involved. Color me shocked.

[Anthony Weiner]

HAVE THEY NO SHAME?? Don't you think I'd know if my own beautiful, wonderful, most forgiving wife and mother of my child is a terrorist???

[emilyj]

Good for McCain. I'm really glad he spoke out so strongly.

Bachmann...is trash. Can we deport her?

[dylanite]

Jul 18, 2012 14:42:27 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

GOD everytime Bachmann opens her crazy bitch-ass mouth it makes me cringe.

You too? Well, for me it's just the corndog pic. But I understand.

[Deleted]

The fact that Bachmann signed onto this makes me think maybe Jimmy Fallon and The Roots never should have apologized.

[NitaX]

Jul 18, 2012 14:18:18 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Is this the new McCarthism? Did that go over well for the GOP?

Get.The.Fuck.Out.Of.My.Head

[bqbride]

Jul 18, 2012 14:43:57 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Good for McCain. I'm really glad he spoke out so strongly.

Me, too. I just wish he wasn't the only one. As we all know, he isn't exactly the heart and soul of the party these days. I wonder if he feels bad about all the race-baiting he did in the 2008 election.

[heyjude]

I don't remember McCain race baiting in 2008. I remember the Clinton's doing it though.

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2012 15:02:17 GMT -5 @mrdobalina said:

And Bachman's husband is gayer than Wizard of Oz night at Hamburger Mary's. She's not so good at seeing the obvious.

WAIT WAIT WAIT.

Is there actually a Wizard of Oz night at Hamburger Mary's? Because I think I need to see that.

[Deleted]

Tell that people are dressed up as naughty munchkins. Please oh please oh please.

[worthyfox]

In an article on CNN, these same people also claim that there are foreigners coming into America just to give birth to...wait for it, TERROR BABIES!

security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/18/mccain-refutes-accusations-by-fellow-republicans-about-hillary-clinton-aide/?hpt=hp_t3

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2012 14:40:22 GMT -5 Anthony Weiner said:

HAVE THEY NO SHAME?? Don't you think I'd know if my own beautiful, wonderful, most forgiving wife and mother of my child is a terrorist???

Are you still snapping pics?

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2012 16:30:40 GMT -5 worthyfox said:

In an article on CNN, these same people also claim that there are foreigners coming into America just to give birth to...wait for it, TERROR BABIES!

security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/18/mccain-refutes-accusations-by-fellow-republicans-about-hillary-clinton-aide/?hpt=hp_t3

I'm going to start calling DH my "Terror Baby". He's an anchor baby (born to non-us citizen parents who then returned home to their native land)

[josieposy]

I'm loving that Keith Ellison basically told her to shut up.

[teflep]

Jul 18, 2012 15:01:49 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I don't remember McCain race baiting in 2008. I remember the Clinton's doing it though.

Me either. Maybe she is remembering it done to him (his daughter) in 2000?

[worthyfox]

Jul 19, 2012 7:19:23 GMT -5 teflep said:

Jul 18, 2012 15:01:49 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I don't remember McCain race baiting in 2008. I remember the Clinton's doing it though.

Me either. Maybe she is remembering it done to him (his daughter) in 2000?

Didn't his campaign consistently refer to Barack as "Barack Hussein Obama"?

[teflep]

Jul 19, 2012 9:15:02 GMT -5 worthyfox said:

Jul 19, 2012 7:19:23 GMT -5 teflep said:

Me either. Maybe she is remembering it done to him (his daughter) in 2000?

Didn't his campaign consistently refer to Barack as "Barack Hussein Obama"?

that is his name, but I don't remember it.