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Sen. John McCain just contradicted his own healthcare vote in a speech

Mark down July, 25, 2017 as one of the strangest days of John McCain's time in the Senate.

Colin Daileda

on July 25, 2017

July, 25, 2017: Mark it down as one of the strangest days of John McCain's entire, lengthy time in the Senate.

The senator flew to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday — days after being diagnosed with brain cancer — just in time to cast a vote that, moments later, he appeared to ridicule in a speech on the Senate floor.

McCain's vote helped Senate Republicans pass a motion to proceed to debate a possible bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare). Senate Republicans, by and large, don't know what's in the bill — because the Republican leadership hasn't told anybody. McCain voted in favor of the motion to proceed despite being aware of this, but then decried the secrecy he endorsed in a speech moments later.

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"I know many of you will have to see the bill changed substantially for you to support it. We tried to do this by coming up with a proposal behind closed doors, in consultation with the administration, then springing it on skeptical members, trying to convince them that it's better than nothing," McCain said, speaking with a gash over his left eye, the result of a recent surgery to remove a blood clot. "I don't think that's gonna work in the end, and probably shouldn't."

Many observers noticed the contradiction between the senator's vote and his speech.

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It's safe to say many eyes will be on McCain if and when the actual repeal comes to a vote.

Topics Politics

Colin Daileda

Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.