Fox’s Neil Cavuto prompted John McCain to hit back at Senator Rand Paul for calling him a lapdog for President Obama – and McCain complied.
Cavuto played a clip of Paul (R-KY) attacking McCain (R-AZ) and asked McCain to respond.
MCCAIN: I put it this way: Senator Paul is the worst possible candidate of the 20 or so that are running on the most important issue, which is national security. And talking about being wrong, in 2007, he said… it would be ridiculous to call Iran a threat to the United States national security. Last summer, he publicly doubted whether ISIS was a threat to the United States national security. …In 2011, he proposed a budget that would have cut defense by 30%. In 2011, budget would have eliminated all foreign assistance to Israel. He said Iran isn’t a threat to Israel. …He simply does not have an understanding about the needs and threats of United States national security.
“If he were your Republican nominee up against Hillary Clinton, who would you vote for?” Cavuto pressed.
McCain said that as a “loyal Republican,” he would support his party’s nominee. However, he added, “I would hope that good sense would prevail here because the realities of the world today doesn’t allow for the isolationist policies.” He said Paul would be “leading from behind.” Given that that's the accusation Republicans always use against Obama, it was quite an insult.
Cavuto continued pressing. “Is he the worst of the presidential candidates within the party right now?” he asked.
”On national security, absolutely. There’s no doubt in my mind,” McCain replied.
Cavuto also tried to get McCain to go after Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), another Republican presidential candidate. Earlier in the week, McCain hilariously mocked Cruz after he took a swipe at McCain over guns on military bases. It forced Cruz to back down.
“You guys have kind of made up.” Cavuto said about Cruz. “Where do relations stand with you and Senator Cruz?”
“Fine, we’re friendly,” McCain said.
Cavuto tried again, this time asking McCain whom he liked more.
“It’s not a matter of like,” McCain said.
“Would Ted Cruz be better?” Cavuto asked.
”Yes, yes, yes. Ted Cruz has a much better handle on our national security issues,” McCain answered.
But McCain got in a plug for the guy he really wants. “Lindsey Graham is my candidate. He’s the guy that understands the best.”
Watch it below, from the April 22 Your World.