(CNN) – A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security is downright "insulting" to veterans, Arizona Sen. John McCain said Monday.
In an interview on FOX News, the Vietnam veteran and former Republican presidential candidate said the Obama administration owes veterans an apology after releasing a report last week suggesting that members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could fall victim to "right-wing extremism."
Specifically, the report - "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" - said right-wing extremist groups may be using the recession and the election of the nation's first African-American president to recruit members.
"The last people on earth we need to worry about are our veterans," McCain said. "And by the
way, after the Vietnam War, for years there was this portrayal of the Vietnam veteran as crazed and committing - having committed war crimes. There were all of these problems they were going to have. Studies years later have proven that it's totally false."
Related: Napolitano defends report
McCain also took issue with the report's suggestion that Timothy McVeigh's military background made him more susceptible to committing terrorist acts.
"Timothy McVeigh didn't learn to make that huge bomb while he was in the military," McCain said. "He learned it afterwards. So to point out one veteran who committed an act of atrocity I think is outrageous. And as a veteran and having thousands and thousands of friends of mine who are fellow veterans, I think a real apology is owed throughout the administration.
Appearing on CNN's "State of The Union" on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the report is not meant to paint veterans themselves as "right-wing extremists."
"The report is not saying veterans are extremists, far from it," she told CNN's John King. "What it is saying is returning veterans are targets of right-wing extremist groups that are trying to recruit those to commit violent acts within the country. We want to do all we can to prevent that."
The homeland security secretary also expressed regret that in "the politicization of everything that happens in Washington, D.C.," some have taken offense to the report.
"But when you read the report, what it was saying is that, look, we have a threat of terrorism within our own shores and one of the groups being targeted to see if they will be aligned with that are some of our veterans," she said.
From CNN Politics
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It will never come. Obama will only apologize for America and not his own failings.
For the record, Napalahsjdkd was the one who said it, and boy, you are slow...that's so cute though, the old man can talk.
Wait a minute Senator, did you get your apology yet? I mean, from your party? LOL!!!
You guys are a waste of time...
Why.............
This nonsense gotta end!
John McCain go an retire in one of your eleven homes. Better yet offered some of the returning veterans a place to live.
Shut up,
You lost John, get over it.
Janet Napolitano is another rank amateur in a totally clueless administration.
Did McCain wake up from his nap or something? A little slow there, Senator...
This administration does not understand nor respect the traditions of the military.
McCain: are you going to demand an apology from the DHS govt. under Bush? THEY put out the same report in 2008!!! It kinda helps to get all the facts before making such demands!
Why should they apologize for telling the truth? And you need to apologize for unleashing the clueless pathological liar (palin) to the lower 48.
I guess John forgot that people in the military are affected the same way as any other person. Being a Vet does not shield you from being lead down the wrong path.
Maybe its McCain that owes and apology to the American public for trying to make political hay out of the report that only warns of some of the danger that may be out there.
"after the Vietnam War, for years there was this portrayal of the Vietnam veteran as crazed and committing"
John you displayed the above behavior during your run for president last year.
Back step and do the D.C. shuffle all you want, but lets face it DHS's report is wrong. Our vetrans have defending our liberties with Honor and now the DHS is pointing fingers at them, comparing them with McVeigh? McCain is wrong on alot of this, but this time he's got my support. Obama's DHS needs to apologize for any misunderstandings – just say say that its the "politiicization of everything". ITS YOUR REPORT DHS! Own up, change things...thats the platform right?
I agree on this one...show some respect for the troops.
Is that so? Then Sen. McCain should explain why a a U.S. Marine was arrested yesterday for carrying bomb making materials on an airplane!
No American is above the law, whether you were in the Military or not...
Stop making excuses and start making us safe again!
Obama don't owe nobody an apology. The GOP is the ones who needs to apology to the American people. Republicans has lost complete touch with the middle class. GOP is controlled by the radical right wings, so call christians, bigots and white surpremists.
The truth will set you free. Obama administration will apologize when you apologize, first to the American people.
the senator dosern't seem to remember the Oklahoma
city bombing. Must be somehymers!
What part of Timothy McVeigh does John McCain still not understand. The Secretary has already apologized for any offense given and the VFW has supported the DHS report. As usual McCain is just rooting around for a little publicity. He has turned into a pathetic figure and ought to retire after this term before he makes even more a fool of himself.
Country First McCain.......
Please tell us how to defeat Terrorism!
Please tell us how to fix the economy!
Please tell us how to restore our image!
Please remind us which part of our Country is Real America!
Please remind us why we didn't vote for you and "I'll get back at you Palin!
Oh,,,, but please tell me why you opposed Jim Webbs Veteran's benefits package for education! Is that because you wanted to keep our soilders uneducated to the idiocracy of the Republican Party.
Please you need to apologize for insulting our country during the elections and not running your own campaign of integrity!
It was a Bush appointee who prepared the report.
This is a complete creation of an issue by McCain to get some attention. The reality is that the report is correct and McCain is taking advantage of the veteran's issue to twist the truth.
He waits until now to act as if Vets are alway on his mind. Yea, right.
The Republicans are desperately trying to find ANYTHING to take the new President and his Administration down! FOX news is working overtime to interview any one of them they can find to try to keep the GOP intact and find fault with President Obama! President Obama has accomplished more in a mere (92) days in office than the Bush Administration EVER accomplished in (8) years. Further, in my opinion, it's time to find "new blood" in the GOP party to reenergize the Republican base. And Sara Palin, John McCain, Dick Ceaney, Michael Steele, and all the rest who are on "this bandwagon" are not the answer!
Well, I hope McCain, et al are holding their breath waiting for that apology.
The truth really hurts, doesn't it?
There are many extremists who enter the military just for the sole purpose of learning about explosives.
How do you think all the bombings of the 60's were carried out? The most recent on PUBLIC record was Timothy McVeigh.
Who do you think puts the "how to build a bomb" stuff on the Internet? Extremists.