MCCAIN ENDS TREATMENT
U.S. sen. elects to stop care for brain cancer
Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain has discontinued medical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer, his family said yesterday, likely indicating the war hero, presidential nominee and longtime leading lawmaker is nearing the end of his life.
McCain has surpassed expectations for survival, but “the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict,” the family said. “With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment.”
The Bay State handed McCain one of just seven victories in the 2000 Republican presidential primary when he trounced future President George W. Bush here, 65-32.
Though he didn’t win Massachusetts on his way to capturing the 2008 GOP nomination for president, he fared well considering he was running against the state’s previous governor, Mitt Romney. In that contest, Romney won, 51-40.
Romney tweeted yesterday, “No man this century better exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice, and country first than Senator John McCain.
His heroism inspires, his life shapes our character. I am blessed and humbled by our friendship.”
Gov. Charlie Baker, also a Republican, said, “The best part about Sen. McCain is he is somebody who said what he thought, wasn’t afraid to work with the other side, and when he made a mistake, unlike a lot of people in public life, he was usually willing to admit it. And, I think his voice is really important, and I think his style and his sort of commitment to his country has been exemplary and I think this is a really sad day for all Americans.”
From across the aisle, former Bay State senator and Secretary of State John F. Kerry said of his longtime friend and fellow Vietnam veteran McCain, “God bless John McCain, his family, and all who love him — a brave man showing us once again what the words grace and grit really mean.” Democratic Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III tweeted, “Senator John McCain is a warrior in every sense of the word. To an inspiring man and a loving family, our thoughts are with you.”
In more than three decades in Congress, McCain became known as a political maverick willing to stick to his convictions rather than go along with party leaders — an independent streak that has drawn a mix of respect and ire.
McCain will turn 82 next week and has been away from the Capitol since last December.
If he should resign his seat or die soon, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey would name a replacement to serve until the 2020 election. The winner of that election would serve the remainder of McCain’s term through 2022.
McCain underwent surgery in July 2017 to remove a blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumor called a glioblastoma. It’s the same type of tumor that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy at age 77 in 2009.
McCain’s influence was felt in Massachusetts during the federal government’s investigations into the infamously over-budget Big Dig infrastructure project. He frequently railed against the way the massive downtown project was handled and was a driving force behind probes into it.