John McCain Censured by Arizona GOP for Being Too ‘Liberal’

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has received a formal censure from his home state’s Republican Party for what they say is his insufficiently conservative record, according to a report from the Associated Press. The measure was approved by a voice-vote after gaining signatures from at least 20 percent of state committee members.

Immigration reform and the Affordable Care Act were among the issues “associated with liberal Democrats” that the party criticized McCain for supporting. “We would gladly embrace Sen. McCain if he stood behind us and represented us,” Timothy Schwartz, the Legislative District 30 Republican chairman who helped write the resolution, said.

McCain has clashed with the tea party wing of the Republican Party over the last year, most notably when he referred to Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and others as “wacko birds” last spring.

While he has suggested that he might retire in 2016 when his current term ends, McCain recently went on record that he’s “seriously thinking” about running for reelection.

[photo via Wikimedia Commons]

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