A sad day, the end of a consequential life…rest in peace, Senator McCain.
KAINE STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF U.S. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the follow statement on the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain:
“John McCain was a hero, my Chairman, and my friend. After six decades of public service, he will be remembered as a maverick, a model of strength in Vietnam, and a champion of servicemembers, campaign finance reform, and innumerable other causes. In the past 13 months, John has urged us to listen to each other and restore the American people’s confidence in their government. May we be responsible enough to heed to his plea, wise enough to follow his example, and fortunate enough to have a career in service as long and accomplished as his. My condolences go out to the McCain family and the people of Arizona.”
I already miss my friend John McCain. A maverick. A model of strength in Vietnam. A champion of servicemembers, campaign finance reform and many other causes. His voice loomed large, was almost always desperately needed, and will be sorely absent in the times to come. Rest easy.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) August 26, 2018
STATEMENT OF U.S. SEN. MARK R. WARNER
~ On the passing of John McCain ~
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the below statement on the passing of U.S. Sen John McCain (R-AZ):
“We lost a hero tonight. John McCain served this country with honor, purpose and courage for his entire life, regardless of the personal cost. He was a giant of the Senate. His service, sacrifice and patriotism should be an inspiration to every American.
“My heart goes out to Cindy and the entire McCain family. The prayers of a grateful nation are with them during this difficult time.”
Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018
UPDATED: More statements from Virginia leaders, below.
Few have given more to this country than Senator John McCain. He is an American hero who showed unsurpassed courage right up to the end. He cannot be replaced, and we will miss him. May he rest in peace and honor. https://t.co/yiGiodMtHm
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 26, 2018
John McCain was a true patriot and a hero. Thank you, John McCain, for a lifetime of service to our nation. https://t.co/ztitzjdDE9
— Rep. Bobby Scott (@BobbyScott) August 26, 2018
Senator John McCain was the definition of a patriot and a role model. He always acted on principle and, literally risked his life for the love of this country. John McCain – a true American hero. May his memory be a blessing and comfort to his family and close friends. https://t.co/tUEjuuXqjT
— Rep. Donald McEachin (@RepMcEachin) August 26, 2018
Today we mourn the loss of a true American hero. Senator John McCain made service to his country the cornerstone of his life and he will rightfully be etched in history as a maverick. Pam and I send our prayers and condolences to the McCain family.
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) August 26, 2018
Prayers of comfort and peace to his family. Farewell to a remarkable American. https://t.co/uYe0Kc5u19
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) August 26, 2018
Rest in peace to a true American hero, Sen. John McCain. Thank you for your 60 years of distinguished service to the United States of America and for your honesty and maverick spirit in challenging political times. Godspeed.
— Justin Fairfax (@FairfaxJustin) August 26, 2018
We lost an American hero today. Senator McCain served our country for sixty years with the honor, moral courage, and decency rarely seen in our current political discourse. My thoughts are with his family and all those who loved and looked up to him.
— Jennifer Wexton (@JenniferWexton) August 26, 2018
Millions of Americans and thousands of my constituents still have health insurance because of one vote by Sen. John McCain.
And his legacy of courage in Vietnam will live on for centuries to come.
Rest In Peace, Senator… and thanks for the laughs:https://t.co/IvajxkOzK9— Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) August 26, 2018
Tonight America lost a giant in the U.S. Senate. Senator McCain served with integrity and honor, always putting country above party. His leadership will be missed. https://t.co/gIe6OmDptV
— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) August 26, 2018
RIP shipmate. Senator #JohnMcCain , served, impacted, and shall forever hold his place amongst the unbroken line of patriots who have advanced our great nation in the never ending cause of freedom. ??. Thank you, sir. pic.twitter.com/ARwofdyIYc
— Scott Taylor (@Scotttaylorva) August 26, 2018
Sen. Adam Ebbin
John McCain exemplified American exceptionalism both through his military leadership and sacrifice, and his elected service to the people of Arizona and the nation. An indomitable and independent spirit, he set an example for all in public life.
Del. Mark Keam
In the era of social media and customized news delivery, it’s interesting to see how people with different political views react to major national news stories.
Tonight, as our nation absorbs the loss of Senator John McCain, it is clear that he is one of the few political leader of our times who had more fans on both sides of the aisle than most others in politics.
And that is probably due to his reputation as an independent-minded “maverick” who tried — in his own ways — to do what he believed was right.
I didn’t agree with Senator McCain’s votes or views most of the times, but when I did agree with him on a few issues, such as the need to reform our campaign finance laws and to rein in the power of lobbyists, I was glad to have him champion those causes.
I had the privilege of working closely with Senator McCain and his staff for six years as a U.S. Senate staff, and I always admired his open style, bold approach, and tenacity.
One of the most memorable projects I worked on was having Senator McCain co-sponsor a bill that I drafted for my former boss who insisted that any of his bills that was going to be referred to the Commerce Committee have the blessing of its Chairman.
I spent many months working with Chairman McCain’s staff — and eventually the Senator himself — to seek their support for our policy goals. He asked a lot of good questions, and eventually agreed to be our chief cosponsor.
When I left the Senate a couple of years after that experience, he signed one of his books for me. Those were the days when we didn’t have cameras on our phones so I don’t have any photos with him, but I was happy to have a memento from my years of working with him.
Then, in 2007 when Barack Obama ran for President, I signed up as one of Obama’s first campaign volunteers. Little did we know that we would end up running against Senator McCain in the general elections.
Although John McCain was our political opponent, he was never our enemy, as we respected his desire to serve and to lead the nation in his own ways.
We didn’t agree with his agenda, and we certainly didn’t agree with his choice of running mate!!! But nevertheless, the Obama campaign kept a very cordial and respectful attitude to our electoral opponent whom we admired on a personal level.
Today, I join millions of Americans in mourning the loss of a military hero and a unique public leader who made a difference in so many ways.
John McCain spent 1967 to 1973 as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. I was in the same country from 1970 to 1975, and my father was captured and imprisoned by Vietnamese communists from 1975 to 1976.
As a son of a POW, I want to thank the Senator for his service to our nation and for his courageous survival during a time when most Americans didn’t understand or appreciate the true meaning of the Vietnam war and its after effects.
Rest in Peace, Senator, and my deepest condolences to your family and loved ones.
Del. Alfonso Lopez
Thank you U.S. Senator John McCain for your honesty, heroism, service, and belief in the best of American ideals and institutions.
In renewing relations with Vietnam – he knew how to forgive his enemies while always continuing to fight for more Democracy.
God bless & Godspeed.
Former Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling
I was sorry to hear of Senator John McCain’s passing. I had never met or talked to Senator McCain prior to 2008, but I had an experience with him then that told me a lot about the man.
In 2008 I chaired Mitt Romney’s campaign in Virginia. When Romney dropped out of the race Senator McCain called me to ask for my support. I wasn’t ready to jump onto another campaign and I wasn’t really sold on McCain, and I was honest in sharing my concerns with him. I’ll never forget his response. He said, “My friend, I appreciate your honesty more than you know, and I hope I’ll be able to earn your support somewhere down the road.”
John McCain was a patriot and a gentlemen. As the campaign wore on he not only earned my support, but more importantly, my respect. And in recent years, as the tone of public discourse has deteriorated, he was a voice of reason and decency. RIP Senator McCain, R.I.P.
UPDATE #2 – More statements from national figures, below.
Hillary Clinton: “Sen. John McCain lived a life of service to his country, from his heroism in the Navy to 35 years in Congress. He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him.” https://t.co/3ZmZHQsHuw pic.twitter.com/kdEUDJ4mr6
— ABC News (@ABC) August 26, 2018
John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. https://t.co/946T7PnG53
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 26, 2018
John McCain was many things – a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent.
But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly. pic.twitter.com/AS8YsMLw3d
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2018
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