***UPDATE: AMASH RESPONDS***
Cranky McCain says that Rand Paul, Cruz, Amash, whoever, don’t represent the views of the majority of Republicans, after he calls them “wacko birds”:
WASHINGTON EXAMINER – Elder Sen. John McCain, who this week engaged in friendly fire when he launched his “maverick” missiles at fellow Republicans seeking clarification on the administration’s drone policies, has upped the ante, deriding Tea Party-backed GOP lawmakers as “wacko birds.” …
“It’s always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone,” McCain told Huffington Post’s Jon Ward in a story titled “John McCain: Getting Back To Maverick, With An Eye On Retirement.”
He added, “I think it can be harmful if there is a belief among the American people that those people are reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans. They’re not.”
Ward wrote: “I asked McCain to clarify who, specifically, he was talking about.”
McCain said, “Rand Paul, Cruz, Amash, whoever.”
Despite McCain’s view, several GOP leaders, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, praised Paul’s efforts. McConnell even said he was “proud” of Paul, further proof of a growing divide in the Senate Republican caucus.
UPDATE: Amash tweeted the following out in response:
Sen McCain called @senrandpaul @sentedcruz & me “wacko birds.” Bravo, Senator. You got us. Did you come up with that at #DinnerWithBarack?
— Justin Amash (@repjustinamash) March 8, 2013