John Kerry: “I wish to thank the Senator from Arizona. I thank him for his comments just now, but most importantly I really…”

“I wish to thank the Senator from Arizona. I thank him for his comments just now, but most importantly I really appreciate his extraordinary leadership on this issue and a lot of human rights issues, issues of conscience. He speaks with a very important voice, and I think he knows I am always happier when he is working with me than against me on any issue on the floor. I know he used to pride himself in his fight occasionally with Senator Kennedy, but he also prided himself enormously when they were able to get together and work together. I have certainly enjoyed the many things Senator McCain and I have done together--most notably, I think, joining hands across a certain belief divide to help end the war in Vietnam, the real war that kept raging in the minds of a lot of people, and that was a 10-year journey we made together. I am certainly proud of that and grateful to him. But I want to come back to this treaty for a moment and Senator McCain's efforts on it. I would say to my colleagues who have raised in the minority report a couple of concerns--and none of us are dismissive of those concerns--every Senator has the right to express their beliefs, but I can't think of a Senator more compelled. He has been the ranking member and chair of the Armed Services Committee and for years has been one of the leading voices on defense issues and now the defense of our Nation. Everybody knows his record in terms of personal service.…”