McCain raises impeachment - if boots hit ground in Syria
WASHINGTON (CNN) - After endorsing President Barack Obama's plan to launch military strikes against Syria, Sen. John McCain warned the president would face impeachment if he were to put "boots on the ground."
McCain told Phoenix radio host Mike Broomhead on Thursday that the president had "bungled" the entire handling of the Syria crisis and would open himself up to impeachment hearings if he overstepped the limits of the authorization before Congress.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'][twitter-follow screen_name='jseher']
"No one wants American boots on the ground," McCain told the KYFI audience. "Nor will there be American boots on the ground, because there would be an impeachment of the president if they did that."
While McCain said he still supports the current plan to intervene in Syria, the Arizona Republican's statement seems to reflect his contentious Thursday town hall meeting with some Phoenix constituents. At the meeting, McCain, who has favored a more robust American response to the Syria crisis, faced intense criticism.
"We didn't send you to make war for us. We sent you to stop the war," one man said.
Despite his warning to the president, McCain spoke out in favor of the Syria authorization again Saturday, endorsing former Army Gen. David Petraeus' endorsement of the administration's plan in a tweet.
Only one of three Republicans in the Senate Foreign Relations panel to approve the measure, McCain has vocally advocated for a stepped-up American response to alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government. He even refused to pass the White House resolution out of committee until it included provisions to bolster Syrian opposition forces deemed moderate.
McCain's support for action hasn't stopped the Arizonan from blasting his former 2008 presidential rival for inaction.
In an interview on CNN's "The Situation Room" on Tuesday, McCain told Wolf Blitzer the president needed to "explain to the American people" why urgent action in Syria is necessary. The Republican senator also said President Obama made a mistake by consulting Congress instead of immediately launching a bombing campaign against the Syrian government.
"It's common sense you don't warn them and give them plenty of time to disperse," McCain said.
From CNN Politics
- The names and places that define America's week of 'tragedy upon tragedy'
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Trump will hit the trail looking to reinvigorate his campaign
- Federal prosecutors discussed charging Trump in Stormy Daniels case when he left office, book says
- Inside Tom Emmer's effort to keep the GOP's razor-thin majority in line
- Untitled
McCain is playing one card short of a full deck!
McCain, you are hypocrite. You supported all the other previous wars and now you have the audacity to say the president will be impeached!? If he decides to put boots on the ground, we will do what is necessary to accomplish the mission. Stop campaigning. You will never be the president. As a former soldier, you should be supporting your commander in chief. You are on the committee that helps him decide what to do. Stop acting like an arse and do your job!!
Wow, if the warmonger McCain says something like this, Obama must really be in trouble..., though I'm thinking that the USA would be a much better place without Obama and McCain!
What a sour loser!
Impeachment,really Mr McCain? Where were you when Iraq was invaded for the wrong reasons? You lost the
Presidential election. You are either for or against the war. You don't know what will happen when air strikes begins so you cannot already conclude that you will impeach the President if he sends in ground troops. My stand is that we should stay out of Syria. We are not the world's policeman.
McCain, YOU PUT BOOTS IN IRAQ WAR. Should you be recalled? You shot yourself in the foot on this one.
You are right Unknowian, what a terrible choice we had in 2008.
Is it possible for john q public to impeach the Republicans en masse for being a DO NOTHING Congress?
So the Senate's angriest leprechaun threatens to impeach Obama over Syria? I think the old boy has finally lost it. This President is actually doing the right thing in asking for congressional approval, and Grumpy McSurly wants to toss out impeachment? What a douche.
He's just backpedaling now that he sees how much public sentiment there is against taking any action.
It is not a mistake that the AIPAC backed, ZIONIST controlled OBAMA will want to destroy Syria. Remember:IRAQ, then Syria, then Iran. Remember this Bom,Bom,Bom Iran guy( john McCain )! It is time white America take back its country from the lying,Israeli muderers and thieves! Should more American sons die for these pigs. Should more American jobs be lost because of these sons of satan. Remember Jesus told them that they were children of thrir father the DEVIL.It's another False flag operation another lie.
Isn't it ironic? Just several days ago McCain was critical of Obama for seeking congressional approval at all. McCain is nothing but an opportunist. He tries to portray an image of being a "maverick" with integrity, but anyone who thinks for half a second realizes that his strategy for doing this is just to sound all big, trying to tell other politicians what to do, when in fact he is not even consistent with himself.
John McCain appears to be confused about who won the election.
Don't worry. Obama's a coward. Nothing is going to happen, NOTHING.
This guy does not hear the words out of his own mouth! He is the one that initially wanted more done than airstrikes! repuglican cannot be trusted with Americans protection, security, economy, or diplomacy!
Why now? Why Syria? Take care of Afghanistan, Detroit, Chi-Raq and the cartel wars on our border 1st.
This guy should really retire. Especially his mouth. A has been who never was!
Really Senator MaCain!! Where were your impeachments threats when George W. Bush put "boots on the Ground" in Iraq? Are we still looking for the WMDs?
Stay out of Syria. Helping rebels is helping al quaeda, Muslim extremists are the last people we should help! Any Congress member voting in favor will not be re elected.
McCain: "... well, uhhh ... that is .. until I start hitting all the news programs demanding US put boots on the ground."
Stay out of Syria, we have no business there.
No one wants war. The outcome in the Middle East is uncertain.
this m an is a loose cannon
I really don't want another war where we fight people who hate us to help people who hate us. Also, our so called allies are not worth protecting. Let's get out of every country where the public hates us. Time to beef up our military and bring the troops home. We only protect ourselves and our close friends. China and Russia can police their areas of the world. Just tell our so called British friends good day and good luck.
Because boots don't make the Military Industrial Complex Money.
McCain and his pals should be charged with TREASON.