Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., isn\u2019t making many friends among the conservative wing of the Republican Party these days. In an interview published Tuesday at the New Republic, he slammed the Tea Party, called Fox News \u201cschizophrenic\u201d on certain issues and called Hillary Clinton a \u201crock star.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also said that in a presidential matchup between Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul, he would have a tough time deciding who to support.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she did a fine job,\u201d he said of Clinton\u2019s performance as Secretary of State despite the scandal surrounding the Benghazi terror attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a rock star. She has, maybe not glamour, but certainly the aura of someone widely regarded throughout the world. I do think it is interesting that the issues where John Kerry is engaging is where Hillary Clinton did not engage in, that those decisions were left to the White House and the National Security Council,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Hillary Clinton versus Rand Paul occurs in 2016, I guess you are going to have to decide who to vote for, huh?\u201d the New Republic asked McCain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a tough choice,\u201d he said, laughing.<\/p>\n
He clarified his remark, saying Paul \u201crepresents a segment of the GOP, just like his father. And I think he is trying to expand that, intelligently, to make it larger.\u201d<\/p>\n
As CNN observed, however, McCain blasted Paul over his 13-hour filibuster, calling him and Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, \u201cwacko birds.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCain also praised Obama, saying he has \u201cgrown\u201d in office, especially since the president has reached out to him and Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who is often at McCain\u2019s side on issues like immigration. McCain praised Graham, saying he \u201cis like a son to me.\u201d<\/p>\n