A GOP senator from Wisconsin said his colleague John McCain’s brain cancer may explain his vote against repealing ObamaCare — drawing an angry rebuke from McCain’s camp, which called the claim “bizarre.”
“We did get a call from [House Speaker] Paul [Ryan] and he assured us that skinny repeal was not going to pass the House [and] it would have to go to conference,” Sen. Ron Johnson said on Chicago radio station AM560.
“Again, I’m not gonna speak for John McCain — he has a brain tumor right now — that vote occurred at 1:30 in the morning, some of that might have factored in,” he added.
The stunned host replied, “Really?,” but Johnson doubled down.
“Again, I, I, I don’t know exactly what — we really thought — and again I don’t want speak for any senator,” Johnson stammered.
“I really thought John was going to vote yes to send that to conference at 10:30 at night. By about 1, 1:30, he voted no. So you have to talk to John in terms what was on his mind.”
McCain spokeswoman Julie Tarallo took a slap at Johnson for demeaning a friend.
“It is bizarre and deeply unfortunate that Senator Johnson would question the judgment of a colleague and friend. Senator McCain has been very open and clear about the reasons for his vote,” she said.
McCain explained that he supported repealing ObamaCare but only with an immediate replacement.
The Arizona Republican returned to the Senate to vote on health care legislation after a surgery to remove a blood clot revealed he had brain cancer.
Johnson later said he regretted his remarks.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t more eloquently express my sympathy for what Sen. McCain is going through. I have nothing but respect for him and the vote came at the end of a long day for everyone,” he said in a statement.