Manchin Defends McCain: People Like Kelli Ward Not Welcome in Senate

People like Kelli Ward "aren't welcome" in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., tweeted Saturday.

In all the ways I measure good Senate colleagues (honor, class, integrity) Kelli Ward falls short. Ppl like her aren't welcome in the US Sen

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) July 22, 2017

Manchin took a swipe at Ward, a former Arizona state senator who ran against U.S. Sen. John McCain in 2016, after she urged McCain to resign following his cancer diagnosis.  

"I hope that Sen. McCain is going to look long and hard at this, that his family and advisers are going to look at this and they're going to advise him to step away as quickly as possible," she said on WOWO 1190 AM Saturday. "So that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward."

McCain, 80, revealed on Wednesday that he had been diagnosed with a primarily glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. He had surgery to remove a tumor-related blood clot last week but said he will return to Congress soon.  

I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support - unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by!

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 20, 2017

Manchin said the people of Arizona deserve better than Ward.

People like Kelli Ward are what's wrong with politics today. The people of AZ deserve representatives with dignity & decency.

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) July 22, 2017