Turn of Phrase - The Real John McCain Returns

Senator John McCain, (R - AZ)
Photo: Johannes Simon / Getty

"What makes America exceptional among the countries of the world is that we are bound together as citizens not by blood or class, not by sect or ethnicity, but by a set of enduring, universal, and equal rights that are the foundation of our constitution, our laws, our citizenry, and our identity.

When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it."

- From Senator John McCain, in his eloquent defense of Huma Abedin, Sec. of State Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff, who faces unsupported allegations that she used her position to exert a pro-Islamist influence over American foreign policy.

In remarks he made on the floor of the U.S. Senate, McCain completely dismissed a letter composed by Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann and four other Congressmen, in which the lawmakers questioned Abedin's loyalty and alleged she has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood organization.

McCain's speech, which you can view a clip of on Politico, is refreshing on two levels.

Human Population Hits 7 Billion - Bachmann Says Aliens Will Cower

Photo from Reuters/Denis Sinyakov

The earth's population will reach 7 billion today according to United Nations.

Not surprisingly, this announcement was met with anxiety and discouraging pronouncements from demographics experts and environmental activists who espoused concerns about scarcity of resources and human living conditions.


Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann subsequently commented on the population announcement saying this doesn't have to all be "so doom and gloom." Said Bachmann...

"While these namby-pamby science types greet the news of precious 'baby seven billion' with their usual wailing and moaning about silly things like water supply, food production, and medical care, I prefer to see the positive side. With 7 billion earthlings, the aliens will cower. There's no way they'll invade us now."

As it turns out, Bachmann was making (yet another) ill-timed and tasteless attempt at humor. She quickly put out a media statement clarifying her position.

"My earlier statements about population were an attempt to make light of this very serious situation. I assumed you all knew I was kidding when I mentioned an alien invasion. We all know God would never let that happen."

Can you believe she said that? I hope not, since I made it all up.

Happy Halloween :)