GOP senator suggests John McCain voted against the ObamaCare repeal because of his brain tumor

John McCain and senate majority leaders.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) suggested in a radio interview Tuesday that Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) vote against Senate Republicans' ObamaCare repeal might have had something to do with his recent brain cancer diagnosis. "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," Johnson said.

Shocked, the radio host asked for clarification. "I mean he ... just had recovered from [surgery] and then flew all the way to Washington, D.C., but you really think that that played a factor in his judgment call?" the host asked.

"Again, I don't know exactly what — we really thought that, and again I don't want speak for any senator — I really thought John was going to vote yes to send that to conference at 10:30 at night," Johnson said. "By about 1, 1:30, he voted no. So you have talk to John in terms what was on his mind."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

McCain's decision to join Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) in voting no effectively killed Republicans' seven-year effort to repeal ObamaCare. He'd indicated prior to the vote that he had hesitations.

Listen to Johnson's remarks below. Becca Stanek

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us