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TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – Senator John McCain made some stops in Tucson on Friday, shortly after announcing his bid for reelection to the Senate in 2016.
His first stop was alongside Congresswoman Martha McSally to honor the people responsible for missile defense.
The missiles are made at Raytheon in Tucson and are some of the most advanced technology used for defending our country and our allies. They find incoming missiles aimed at the U.S. and allies, locate them in space and blow them up before they hit land.
Senator McCain said this technology is more important now than ever. “It is clear to me, if not the President of the United States, that the Iranians are bent on the development of nuclear weapons,” he said. “We are facing adversaries throughout the world both in nation states as well as rogue elements who would love to get ahold of a weapon to strike the United States of America.”
Congresswoman Martha McSally said both Iran and North Korea pose a serious threat.
“It’s a game changer for them to have missile capabilities that can hit home on the homeland and our allies. It’s an absolute game changer,” said Rep. McSally.
The Senate Foreign Relation Committee is expected to approve a bill on Tuesday that would dismantle the proposed nuclear deal with Iran.
“I’m very concerned that we are so desperate for an agreement with the Iranians that they will make a deal that is bad,” said Senator McCain.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the event honoring the work with missile defense had a light-hearted feel.
Sen. McCain and Rep. McSally sent jabs back and forth that were met with laughter from each other and the crowd.
“Martha McSally, we’re very glad to see you here. You’re an accomplished A10 pilot. Unlike me, her number of landings matches her number of takeoffs,” said McCain, as well as instructing the crowd to not listen to anything Rep. McSally had to say.
She responded with, “I just do have to point out that Senator McCain went to the Naval Academy because his grades weren’t high enough to get into the Air Force Academy.”
Former NFL linebacker Riki Ellison also threw each honoree a signed football, which was very funny to watch in a fancy room at the Westin La Paloma. Sen. McCain caught his on the first try, Rep. McSally took a few tries but threw it back like a pro, and some of the flying footballs crashed into the tables knocking over glasses.
