Warren: McCain always told me to get in the fight and ‘throw some punches’

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) honored the late Sen. John McCain in the Capitol Rotunda on Friday, saying the Arizona Republican always encouraged her to get into the fight and “throw some punches.”

“When John McCain and I worked together, he’d say: ‘Show some fight. Get in there – throw some punches,’ ” Warren tweeted as lawmakers gathered in front of McCain’s flag-draped casket as it lay in state Friday.

“That was his approach to life – if you’re gonna be in a fight, you better give it your all. It was an honor to serve with him. A patriot, a maverick, a fighter to the end.”

When John McCain and I worked together, he’d say: “Show some fight. Get in there – throw some punches.” That was his approach to life – if you’re gonna be in a fight, you better give it your all. It was an honor to serve with him. A patriot, a maverick, a fighter to the end.

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 31, 2018

McCain was given the highest honor on Friday as thousands of mourners came to pay their final respects as his casket lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, a service reserved for few public figures.

{mosads}The most recent senator to lie in state under the rotunda was Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a World War II veteran and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, in 2012.

Former Presidents Reagan and Ford lay in state in 2004 and 2007, respectively.

The late Rev. Billy Graham lay “in honor” under the rotunda earlier this year, as the designation “in state” is reserved for those who have served in government.

McCain died last week at the age of 81 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.