As a POW survivor, Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) has first-hand knowledge of what happens when a nation’s leaders have absolute power. His experience probably contributed to his outrage at Pres. Donald Trump’s congratulatory call to newly re-elected Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Here is Trump announcing the fact that he called Putin to congratulate him.
Here is a screengrab of McCain’s statement, via his Senate website.
An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election. https://t.co/lcQTBi7CA1
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 20, 2018
His daughter, co-host of The View and an analyst at ABC Politics, weighed in, invoking democracy and the ever-lying White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
This is a complete embarrassment – Sarah Huckabee Sanders won't answer directly if Russsia's election was free and fair. Slap in the face to those of us who STILL defend freedom & democracy and disavow brutal dictatorship regimes.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 20, 2018
As it turns out, Trump’s own staff told him not to congratulate Putin on his win.
Trump has disrespected McCain and his sacrifices on multiple occasions, so this is nothing new.
We have actual photographic historical evidence of John McCain’s capture when his plane was shot down. His survival and his triumph transcends politics, and his opinion of what constitutes democracy is certainly more valuable (and factual) that than of Donald Trump.
John McCain’s release as a POW
McCain in a meeting of what it should look like when a U.S. president greets a soldier
Featured image via YouTube