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McCain says not ashamed of calling protesters ‘low-life scum’

Protesters, bearing signs reading “Kissinger War Criminal” and “Cambodia,” interrupted a US Senate hearing on Thursday demanding Henry Kissinger be arrested for war crimes. (CODEPINK photo)

Republican Senator John McCain says he has no regrets for calling protesters "low-life scum" after they interrupted a US Senate hearing.

McCain told Fox News on Thursday night that he was not ashamed of using abusive language against the anti-war protesters, “because they are that [scum].”

"Anybody who would do that kind of behavior is guilty of it. It was terribly upsetting to me,” he added.

On Thursday, a number of demonstrators from the anti-war group CODEPINK interrupted the Senate Armed Services Committee meeting and demanded former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger be arrested and prosecuted for war crimes over his role in the Vietnam War and the coup in Chile. The 91-year-old diplomat was testifying at McCain's panel.

The protesters, bearing signs reading “Kissinger War Criminal” and “Cambodia,” rushed up behind Kissinger at the witness table of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which was holding a hearing on global challenges and the US national security strategy.

McCain, who led the committee, called the protesters “disgraceful” and “low-life scum” and ordered them taken out by police.

McCain told Fox News the demonstrators had threatened to hurt Kissinger.

"Frankly, when someone does almost physically threaten someone, I do believe they should be arrested," he added.

"If they want to demonstrate and be thrown out, that’s one thing, I don’t like it, but I have never objected to it, but what they almost did to Dr. Kissinger is beyond the realm of decent behavior in my view,” he said.

McCain said that protesters had been "waving handcuffs within inches of his head."

Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK cofounder, said the demonstrators never "physically threatened" the former US secretary of state, arguing that Kissinger is the thug, "associated with real physical intimidation and, unfortunately, has never been held accountable for the war crimes he is guilty of."

"CODEPINK is really proud of our action in the Senate today, speaking out on behalf of the people of Indochina, China, East Timor and peace-loving people everywhere," she said. "Henry Kissinger is responsible for the deaths of millions. He’s a murderer, a liar, a crook, and a thug, and should be tried at The Hague."

GJH/GJH


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