California leaders honor, remember Sen. John McCain
Leaders from across California turned to social media Saturday, Aug. 25 to share their thoughts shortly after the news broke that Sen. John McCain had died.
The 81-year-old ran for president twice and was known for his strong presence in the Senate and was once a prisoner of war. He passed away more than a year after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
Orange County Republican Congresswoman Mimi Walters, who has an office in Irvine, shared her thoughts on the passing.
Today, we lost one of the greatest Americans of our lifetime. John McCain lived his life serving a cause greater than himself, and history will forever remember him as a selfless patriot. He will be dearly missed.
— Mimi Walters (@RepMimiWalters) August 26, 2018
State Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, said:
“America has lost a patriot and public servant in Senator McCain. He served our country with honor on the battlefields of Vietnam and in the arena of politics. His proven commitment of putting country first will continue to inspire me and many other Americans across the political spectrum. I send my condolences to his wife Cindy and their family as they prepare to lay him to rest.”
Congressman Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, was among many who called McCain a hero:
Senator McCain always did what he thought was best for the country. Working with him on a bipartisan compromise to protect Dreamers was one of the greatest privileges of my time in Congress.
— Rep. Pete Aguilar (@RepPeteAguilar) August 26, 2018
The mayor of Los Angeles shared:
John McCain was a American hero. He served with courage, honor, and humility. Rest in peace and thank you for serving our nation. Our deepest sympathies to the McCain family. EG
— Eric Garcetti (@ericgarcetti) August 26, 2018
Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris called McCain the “conscience” of the Senate:
My colleague John McCain will be remembered as a devoted father and husband, war hero and a conscience of the Senate. Sending my condolences and prayers to his friends and family, and to the American people who have lost a true patriot.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 26, 2018
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sen Dianne Feinstein called McCain “a leader, a public servant and a patriot.”
John McCain was a leader, a public servant and a patriot, and he’ll be terribly missed.
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) August 26, 2018
After the Intelligence Committee released its controversial torture report, John didn’t hesitate to stand up and support it. He went even further, using his position as Armed Services Committee chairman to get an amendment through on a defense bill to permanently ban torture.
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) August 26, 2018
In a Facebook post, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, also a Democrat, said, “RIP my 24-year colleague, John McCain, who was a force in our nation until the minute he left us. I will always treasure the times we worked together and even the times where we disagreed and duked it out. His voice will be sorely missed in this time when his courage is so needed.”
The Richard Nixon Foundation, based in Yorba Linda, posted photos of McCain with the former president.
John McCain and Admiral John S. McCain with former President Richard Nixon in 1978, at the five-year Vietnam POW reunion in San Clemente, California.
RIP Senator McCain #AmericanHero pic.twitter.com/ibmfShGVeV— Nixon Foundation (@nixonfoundation) August 26, 2018
Rest in Peace, Senator John McCain pic.twitter.com/lgnBeAotdK
— Nixon Foundation (@nixonfoundation) August 26, 2018