John McCain snaps on Henry Kissinger protesters, ‘low life scum’
Arizona Senator John McCain lashed out Thursday at protesters who loudly interrupted a hearing with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, calling their demonstration “disgraceful” and the protesters “low-life scum.”
The protest broke out at the opening of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on national security and global challenges, where Kissinger and other prominent former secretaries of state were testifying. Standing inches behind the Nixon-era diplomat, the Code Pink protesters shouted, “Arrest Henry Kissinger for war crimes.”
McCain calls protesters “scum”
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The disruption lasted about two minutes. As officers led the protesters away, McCain, R-Ariz., who chairs the committee, apologized to Kissinger.
“I have never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demo
McCain then threatened to have the demonstrators arrested. After another outburst, the senator responded: “Get out of here, you low-life scum.”
As they were escorted out of the room, others in the hearing room applauded.
Kissinger remains a controversial figure. The protesters referenced the secret U.S. bombing campaign in Cambodia during the Vietnam War, and other Nixon-era actions he was involved in.
McCain, who served in Vietnam, has a personal connection to Kissinger and brought it up shortly after the protesters left.
Also present were Madeleine Albright and George Shultz.
