John McCain Insists Obama Is ‘Directly Responsible’ For The Orlando Shooting, Then Walks It Back

The world still searches for an all-encompassing explanation for the Orlando nightclub shootings, and fingers are pointing in all directions. Gunman Omar Mateen’s professed allegiance to ISIS was, as the FBI pointed out, full of contradictions. During his 911 call, he pledged solidarity to a number of entities that were either not affiliated with or even opposed to the Islamic State. Perhaps Mateen was radicalized, but he didn’t appear to have organized with a specific terror cell. There are plenty of other indications that Mateen was motivated by pure hate, and his unhinged and homophobic ways perhaps masked his own participation within the gay community. There’s not one clear explanation for Mateen’s actions, so the discussion continues.

John McCain, who is running for reelection again in Arizona, posed his own theory on Thursday. His words align with Donald Trump’s self-congratulatory praise about “radical Islamic terrorism” being the sole cause for the massacre. McCain recently backed Trump even after the latter attacked his war-hero status. Trump’s stance was that he didn’t like McCain because he got captured in North Vietnam. Well, these two are allies now, and McCain also didn’t enjoy losing to Obama in 2008. This may explain McCain’s thoughts on the Orlando shooting:

“Barack Obama is directly responsible for it, because when he pulled evrybody out of Iraq, al-Qaeda went to Syria, became ISIS, and ISIS is what it is today thanks to Barack Obama’s failures.”

McCain’s argument about the growth of ISIS isn’t a new one. Many have also blamed Hillary Clinton’s actions as Secretary of State in Libya, which created a political vacuum for ISIS to infiltrate the country and flourish. In turn, Clinton said that Obama was the true decision maker in that matter. But of course, McCain is being completely hyperbolic and attributing all of ISIS’ actions to Obama. And that somehow includes the nightclub massacre.

So, McCain is saying the Orlando shooting had nothing to do with current gun laws. This led to Igor Volsky, who is always quick on the draw when it comes to politicians’ connections with gun money, noting how McCain accepts plenty of donations from the NRA. He tossed out one figure and then corrected, and the amended entry makes McCain look even worse.

Once McCain felt some backlash over blaming the sitting president for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, he walked it back.

Also worth noting — McCain’s statement on the matter misspells “statement.”

(Via Associated Press & Washington Post)