Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July of 2017, has died. It’s the same form that took the life of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy in 2009. Cortney wrote on Friday that Mr. McCain would be suspending medical treatment. For the past year, the Arizona Republican has been fighting the disease, which has kept him from Washington D.C. Sen. McCain cast the deciding vote in the GOP’s failed attempt at the so-called skinny repeal of Obamacare. The measure went down 49-51. He has remained in Arizona for medical treatment since the end of 2017. Senator McCain was 81 years old, passing away nine years to the day of his colleague Sen. Kennedy, according to Jonathan Martin of The New York Times.
Mr. McCain ran for president in 2000 and 2008, becoming the Republican Party's nominee in the latter contest, though was ultimately not successful. He served with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, being shot down over North Vietnam in 1967, where he remained in captivity for nearly six years. He was released in 1973.
McCain succeeded Sen. Barry Goldwater, "Mr. Conservative," in 1987 after the latter decided to retire.
I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018
Breaking News: John McCain has died of brain cancer at 81. Once a prisoner of war, he made two bids for president and was a towering presence in the Senate.https://t.co/oWPRrWL6XX
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 26, 2018
Karen and I are praying for Senator John McCain, Cindy and their family this weekend. May God bless them all during this difficult time.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 25, 2018
Rest In Peace, @SenJohnMcCain.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 26, 2018
Sen. John McCain has died. He was 81. pic.twitter.com/D7pycAYUWD
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) August 26, 2018
Sen McCain died nine years to the day after Ted Kennedy passed away from the same illness. https://t.co/SI696aGoPj
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) August 26, 2018
UPDATE: President Trump sends his condolences, along with scores of other public officials, including U.S. Senators and former presidents. George W. Bush and Barack Obama have released statements on the passing of Sen. McCain. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) plans to put forward a motion to renamed the Russell Senate Office building after McCain.
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My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018
Statement from former President @BarackObama on the death of @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/DeAm0PyJRR
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) August 26, 2018
R.I.P. Captain John Sidney McCain III, USN, Ret. ????
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) August 26, 2018
Fair Winds & Following Seas, sir!
*Don’t Look Back!* pic.twitter.com/HxQnbCy877
Honor @SenJohnMcCain and his remarkable career of service, whether you agreed with him always or never, just honor him. No arguments. No using the moment to score points or settle scores. Just honor a great American.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) August 25, 2018
Condolences and prayers to the McCain Family.
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) August 26, 2018
Gratitude and respect for John McCain, who served the nation honorably and courageously as a Navy Captain, POW in Vietnam, and US Senator.
May he Rest In Peace.
John McCain was a giant of our time—not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedom’s most gallant and faithful servants.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 26, 2018
John McCain was a man of amazing courage, and a man who knew the meaning of honor and lived it. A true patriot. https://t.co/r7zQqMWtLD
— Al Franken (@alfranken) August 26, 2018
Rest In Peace Senator John McCain. I will never forget the moment in 2008 when he took the mic away from an audience member who was asking about then-Senator Obama using troubling personal language. Senator McCain explained political disagreement didn’t mean personal denigration.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) August 26, 2018
How lucky us chosen few were to count John McCain as a friend or a colleague or a mentor. How lucky America was to have him as as our inspiration, our rock. A masterclass in life, leadership and patriotism. I miss him already. pic.twitter.com/29OLbaN2QH
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 26, 2018
Rest In Peace John McCain. He was a good and courageous man with strong values. He represented so much that is great about America.
— Wes Clark (@GeneralClark) August 26, 2018
With profound sorrow, the Reagan Foundation mourns the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain. Today we say goodbye to an American patriot whose determination and courage improved the lives of people throughout Arizona, across the United States, and around the world. pic.twitter.com/qjOVV6Y1BH
— Reagan Foundation (@ronaldreagan40) August 26, 2018
INBOX: George W. Bush on death of @SenJohnMcCain: pic.twitter.com/QlGfDZZiMM
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) August 26, 2018
My statement on the passing of my colleague, @SenJohnMcCain, an American patriot pic.twitter.com/aToHJLJB5K
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) August 26, 2018
Sen. Schumer says he will introduce a resolution to rename the Russell Senate Office building after John McCain. https://t.co/TsPOQsttBE pic.twitter.com/eaAzQBSz4C
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 26, 2018
Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 26, 2018
.@SenJohnMcCain 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. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 26, 2018
UPDATE: Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) joins Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) move to rename Russell Senate Building after McCain (via Roll Call):
Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake intends to join the effort to rename the Russell Senate Office Building for his late colleague, John McCain.
Shortly after McCain died on Saturday night, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he intended to offer such a resolution, putting the Arizona Republican’s name on the building currently named for the late Sen. Richard B. Russell, D-Ga.
There has been an increasing debate lately about renaming the building due to Russell’s pro-segregationist views.
“I want to be the first Republican co-sponsor for that resolution. I think that that would be a fitting tribute. There are many other things that we need to do, but that’s a good one. John McCain had his office just right near mine in the Russell building, that’s where he was his entire time,” Flake said in an interview with the CBS program “Face the Nation.,” adding, “I think that that’s a fitting tribute.”
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