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.
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Proves how little he values life and only wants to kill. Hopefully his days on earth are running out soon.
We're paying this guy to play videos games during a hearing and when it comes to his turn to speak he has nothing to say while all along he was promoting a strike on Syria. This guy needs to be removed from the Senate and the American people need to be reimbursed for the tax dollars spent on paying this clown.
I wish I could work for the government, get paid about $200,000 per year plus expenses, and get to play electronic games during meetings on topics including national security. Where do I sign up?!?
And to think this guy believed he was qualified to be president.
Such Politicians at this age (78) should be allowed to play computer games while the fate of Syrians and Popularity of US are under discussion...Old man is happy that he will not get caught and used as interpreter by Vietcongs.,,.seems to have carried smoking habit from Vietnamese..
the inmates have taken over the asylum.....!!!!!
Dear Senator, if you can't handle three and half hours of intense discussion, please consider stepping down and giving the opportunity to more willing candidates. Your services to the country were greatly appreciated, including your say at the hearing, but you deserve some rest, don't you think? All the best. A fellow brother in arms.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. These guys are a waste of taxpayer dollars. Fire them all.
IMPEACH HIM!!! ....oh yeah, he LOST the presidency, thank god!
John McCain is pushing us into a war we should not be fighting. Syria is no threat to us and that alone should be the deciding factor. Does he realize the gravity of dropping bombs,...l see him laughing like that and think my God help us from this less than competent pack of boobs.
What was that about losing credibility again?
If I, like most working people, got caught playing video poker on the job I would be fired. Senator McCain will continue to collect his six figure salary and, we decides to, retire with lifelong benefits. Awesome...
the shame is congressmen and women do not suffer under the same retirement system as the rest of Americans. How arrogant have they became. Where are the checks and balances while the rest of America goes un/under employed!
Sad to see such a blatant sign of Congressional dysfunction.
Sadder to see no comments yet– a blatant sign of National dysfunction?
And these are the people who determine our destiny!
Nice. Playing poker while he debates sending people off to die in another useless war. From a former Vietnam POW no less. Stay classy, Senator. Stay classy.
GUESS WHAT!!! While seal team 6 was conducting a raid on Bin Laden's compound, the Commander in Chief was not only out of the war room, but was in another room upstairs with 2 other people playing Spades!!!! So what's your point here????? Did you report on that little fact, or never once thought to mention something that makes a democrat (the president, no less) look bad? Anyone who doesn't believe this can google the words President Obama Played Cards During the Bin Laden Raid
I am speechless.
Whyam I thinking of those refugees all the time, instead of games.
Laugh and play, boys, while distractedly voting to inaugurate American military actions in Syria that might escalate into a full-blown war.
Did his friend Wolf Blitzer explain to him that he's a callous warmonger who can't even muster the decency to pay attention to hearings that might affect the lives of all us, and certainly will affect the lives of men and women who have volunteered to serve our armed forces?
Oh well, I guess if you're friendly with the media, you can do pretty much anything you want without consequences. It can even be presented as a "fun story" on pages like these.
What a disgrace.
At least he has a job
Why do you not use Disgus for all your articles?
Really Alluh? A box? I am no fan of McCain by far, but don't you think that was a little rough?
Because the hearings DON'T MATTER. Kerry said it outright even if congress doesn't approve President will do what he wants. And when the Senator said it has to be a congressional decision, Kerry said NO IT DOESN'T. Welcome to the new dictatorship.
Actually suzisaul there was an entire article dedicated to that very topic. The difference is Senator McCain is in a meeting that will determine what America will do when it comes to Syria. He should have been paying attention. When it came to the Bin Laden raid that was different. The POTUS has a right to relax, I'm sure those were some tense hours. There's no equation between the two situations.
Funny how all fellow republicans are silent. Can you imagine if Obama had been caught doing something even remotely like that? I can already hear all the screaming and the name calling....