Sen. John McCain dismissed Code Pink protesters as “low-life scum” Thursday after they called for former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to be arrested for war crimes. A group of Code Pink protesters interrupted the start of an Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, chaired by the Arizona Republican, holding up a banner behind the former secretary of state and chanting repeatedly: “Arrest Henry Kissinger for war crimes!”
McCain got angry when the protesters weren’t quickly removed. “Could I ask our Capitol Police to help instill order here? You know, someone find out where the Capitol Police is?”
When the protesters kept chanting, McCain told them, “You know you’re going to have to shut up, or I’m going to have you arrested.”
And a man yelled back at McCain, who shot back: “Get out of here, you low-life scum.”
McCain apologized to Kissinger for the outburst, saying he had “never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demonstration that just took place.”
The hearing was interrupted for a second time when Kissinger began his opening statement, with protesters from the anti-war group standing on a chair in the audience and again calling for his arrest for war crimes.
Former Secretary of State George Shultz, who was also testifying, stood up and saluted Kissinger, and the senators and audience members cheered to drown out the protesters.
