McCain's poker scandal
(CNN) - Sen. John McCain, perhaps the Senate's most outspoken voice in favor of military action in Syria, was caught playing poker Tuesday at the first congressional hearing about giving the president authority to use force in the war-torn country.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee grilled the panel of top Obama officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
While McCain spoke up when it came his turn, a Washington Post photographer snapped a photo of the Arizona Republican trying his luck in the meantime.
The senator later explained his poker habit on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
"As much as I like to always listen with rapt attention constantly (to) remarks of my colleagues over a three and a half period, occasionally I get a little bored and so I resorted," he said, chuckling. "But the worst thing about it is I lost thousands of dollars in this game."
He followed up, saying it was only "fake" money.
From CNN Politics
- Trump now in open dispute with health officials as virus rages July 8, 2020 09:09 pm
- Trump's threat to defund education adds pressure to schools squeezed by coronavirus July 9, 2020 12:17 am
- Trump trashes CDC school-reopening guidelines -- then CDC updates them July 8, 2020 10:43 pm
- Joint Biden-Sanders task forces unveil progressive platform after months of negotiations July 9, 2020 01:42 am
- Prospect of chaos in November grows as coronavirus cases rise and Trump escalates attacks on voting July 8, 2020 07:00 pm
- Trump granted another 45-day extension to file annual financial disclosure July 9, 2020 03:31 am
Can we give him back to the Vietnamese?
Hmm...
We are talking about one of the most serious decisions regarding way, that will effect many innocent lives.. and John McCain gets bored and decides to play poker on his iPhone. And then wants the american public to find it funny. Do you find it funny? If so, why?
Poor Johnny was bored. Perhaps he should have led a sing-along of his favorite Beach Boys song.
Technically every dollar that isn't backed by gold or silver is a fake dollar?
Please take this clown out of the office. He's an american representive laughting stock.
Between this and the occasional joking between them all, I don't think any of them except for Ron Paul took this seriously.
In a real world this guy would get fire. He's playing on the clock.
As a conservative, I very much dislike John McCain. He is absolutely nuts on a whole range of issues and his policies are outdated.
Republican John McCain is ready to vote for war where likely many people will die and many millions will be spent, and in the meantime he's playing poker during a critical meeting. Wonderful.
McCains incredible stridency when calling for Syria to be dealt with immediately, is rendered almost meaningless when he is viewed playing video poker while attending committee meetings on that very subject. Is the man truly serious about what he encourages or is all this puffery?
Adults and kids are dying .If syria gasses its own people what can we expect he would like tomdo to us .we elect representaves to make an educated vote and what does zmcCain do the schmuck playes video games. We emply him to represent us and he has the nerve not to pay attention..Thank God he wasn't elected President
McCain:
"Scandal! Caught playing iPhone game at 3+ hour Senate hearing – worst of all I lost!"
Nope
Worst of all...that is how seriously you take your job... and your 'explanation' is condescendingly flippant.
Worst of all...you got caught That Time.
How much other time have you wasted ... on the job, between Pontificating about Whatever and Urging War?
If McCain felt the same concern for an embarrassment to his office (and to his "reputation" as a "serious" Senator) as he displays when encouraging whomever will listen to him to back Obama's self-inflicted "Red Line"...
(to shore up American Credibility, trashed by Obama, as well as Obama's Presidency, also trashed by Obama)...
...he would have stopped as his hand reached for a Toy in the Senate...thought about his own pretense...and left it in his pocket.
such a role model.
What does a congressman earn per year?
People's lives are a stake here and this idiot is playing poker??? And Mr. McCain thinks he can just make a joke about it and it will all go away. I can assure you sir we are paying attention.
As a mom of a Marine this sickens me. Our political leaders are incompetent and irreverent. Let them send their kids.
Now that I think about it, didn't Bush keep reading a children's book when we were being attacked?
It's OK if you lost fake money, John. You're a fake senator.
As much as I'd like to tear him a new one for this, I do the same kind of thing at really long meetings.
These hearing go like this:
Senator gives a predictable speech for ten minutes, then asks a 30 second question. A 1 minute answer is given. Repeat until every senator has a turn or two.
You need to listen for about 2 out of every 12 minutes. The rest is self promoting camera time. And if you did miss anything, transcripts and summations are available shortly after the meeting ends.
His actions speak for themselves. War is no mundane for him he has time for games. Sad.
Yeah, play games and send some missiles to attack another country! Who voted for you!?
Great, McCain wants to bomb Syria today (tomorrow, another country) and this clown can't even pay attention to the hearing. This is the best we have?
McCain has lost all credibility
We are about ti murder thousands of people and he is laughing...
Oh my goodness! Gambling is clearly illegel in Washington DC so unless he has an exempt from these laws he should go to jail. Only ignorance people voted for him.