U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, took to the Senate floor Tuesday to praise U.S. Senator Russ Feingold's character and accomplishments, while calling him a ""true friend.""
""We are of different parties, and our political views are often opposed,"" McCain said. ""We've had many debates on many issues. But where we agreed—on wasteful spending, ethics reform, campaign finance reform and other issues—it was a privilege to fight alongside and not against Russ Feingold.""
Feingold worked with McCain to pass the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002—better known as the McCain-Feingold Act—which limited individual donations to a campaign, outlawed soft money from corporations and unions and required candidates to approve their ads on camera.
""We don't often hear anymore about members of Congress who distinguish themselves by having the courage of their convictions,"" McCain said. ""In his time in the Senate, Russ Feingold, every day and in every way, had the courage of his convictions. And … I confess I have always felt he was my superior in that cardinal virtue.""
McCain expressly noted that his comments were not a judgment of U.S. Senator-elect Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, who defeated Feingold in the midterm elections. Johnson was not available for comment.
McCain said he will not forget Feingold's dedication and virtue as a public servant.
""But I will miss him here. Every day. And I will try harder to become half the public servant he is,"" McCain said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVAk61JVDg&feature=player_embedded
