In an era that has almost extreme political partisanship, it seems rare that Hillary Clinton and John McCain seem to have genuine respect for each other and share a friendship.
Senator McCain (R-AZ) appeared on CBS’ “Face The Nation” Sunday and was asked by Bob Schieffer about Clinton’s comment that he is her favorite Republican.
“I hope this program is blacked out in Arizona,” he said. “Please cut.” He then spoke highly of Clinton.
“I respect her views. We have had disagreements on a number of issues,” McCain said. “You have got to reach across the aisle and work together on certain issues. And I’m not only not embarrassed about that. And I respect Hillary Clinton. I may not agree with her.” He then said he would maintain their working relationship if she “regrettably” won the presidency reported the Huffington Post.
Clinton is a former Secretary of State and Democratic Senator from New York and First Lady to President Bill Clinton.
McCain made the comments after Clinton made similar comments in June about him on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
When asked to name her favorite member of the GOP, she said “(McCain) and I have traveled a lot, we argue a lot, and he goes off on something that I disagree with, you know I admire him, and I spend a lot of time with him,” Clinton said.
When McCain and then Senator Clinton ran for president it 2008, they had a common target: Barack Obama.
Clinton said on a flight to a campaign stop in Texas “Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience to the campaign. I bring a lifetime of experience. And Sen. Obama brings a speech he gave in 2002,” reported the Los Angeles Times.
McCain, already the Republican candidate, attacked Obama. The Obama campaign attacked back, but Clinton and McCain did not attack each other.
After Clinton announced she was leaving the race, the McCain campaign issued a statement.
“Sen. Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received.
“As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend.”
As reported last week in The inquisitr, Clinton is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination should she choose to run in 2016.
[Image via T he Washington Post ]