WASHINGTON – The death of John McCain caused mixed feelings and triggered a heated debate over the American values represented by the Republican. While some commended McCain’s patriotism, others questioned his moral integrity.
Following the announcement of 81-year-old John McCain’s death, the public took to social media to express their condolences and share mixed feelings about the Republican’s life and deeds. Amid an endless outpouring of sympathies for the McCain family, some chose to challenge the massive praise McCain received posthumously.
In his 36 years of service in Congress, McCain had acquired a reputation as a maverick Republican who was not shy about throwing American troops in harm’s way. Over the years, McCain advocated for military intervention in a number of countries including Bosnia, Kosovo, Georgia, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, and Mali.
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/1033510248726769664
https://twitter.com/Larrypolya22/status/1033517391156850688
https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1033539420023148544
McCain also adamantly lobbied against Russia and China – policies which some Twitter users found confrontational and potentially disastrous.
https://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain/status/339455679800700928
https://twitter.com/M_OsO331/status/1033560937570086912
https://twitter.com/JasonHerron1776/status/1033528158572765185
Calling him a ‘warmonger,’ some users recalled McCain’s rendezvous with Syrian militants and even accused him of conspiring “with Hillary and Obama to create ISIS.” Others directly accused the deceased senator of pursuing his ideas at the cost of entire nations and wanting “to wipe Syria, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, and Vietnam off the map.”
https://twitter.com/Gus_the_Weim/status/1033529121437962240
https://twitter.com/StienYoGirl/status/1033529171874643968
Amid the torrent of praise from acting and former politicians as well as public figures, some people claimed that, while McCain was a useful “tool” of the GOP, his public image and policies nonetheless tarnished the entire Republican party’s reputation.
https://twitter.com/PBakerTX/status/1033557087874412544
https://twitter.com/behindyourback/status/1033515612746784773
