McCain\'s Iran Humor Isn\'t Fully Appreciated

Senator John McCain just can’t help himself, it seems. At least not when there’s a joke to be told about Iran.

A statement Monday by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, in which he said he was “ready to be the first human to be sent to space by Iranian scientists,” prompted Mr. McCain to quip on Twitter:

So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn’t he just there last week “Iran launches monkey into space” http://t.co/PaZKAqac

â€" John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) 4 Feb 13

Rather than laughter, responses on Twitter tended toward accusations of bigotry.

Mr. McCain expressed surprise at the anger in a follow-up message less than an hour later:

Re: Iran space tweet - lighten up folks, can’t everyone take a joke

â€" John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) 4 Feb 13

But maybe Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican, should have seen that reaction coming. In 2007, during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. McCain sang his version of ““Bomb Iran‘” (to the tune of the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann”). He similarly dismissed charges of insensitivity.