Napolitano, McCain trade border barbs

Napolitano said that she would be happy to talk with McCain in private about efforts to curb the violence along the border, and then proceeded to shoot back at the former presidential candidate.

“We’re in constant contact with those very citizens,” said Napolitano.

McCain tried to jump in, but Napolitano continued: “All I can say is look, I measure what we’re doing by results and a lot of numbers and what should be going up is going up and what should be going down is going down. However, the situation is very very serious and it does demand our utmost attention and you are correct about that.”

McCain proposed bringing some of the local Arizonan sheriffs who patrol the state’s border with Mexico up to Washington D.C. to testify, saying that they would tell a different story.

“Let’s get [Cochise County] Sheriff Larry Dever and sheriffs that Secretary Napolitano says she’s in contact with and they’ll tell you,” McCain said. “They’re law enforcement people, they’re down there on the front lines, and they’ll tell you that they have not seen an improvement.”

At which point, Napolitano, encouraged by the suggestion, shot back.

“Let’s get [Santa Cruz County] Sheriff [Tony] Estrada and Yuma County Sheriff [Ralph] Ogden and some of the other sheriffs as well,” said Napolitano, as the room erupted in laughter.

“Be more than happy to,” said McCain, who ended his line of questioning and promptly left the hearing, which was halfway finished.

President Obama sent 1,200 National Guard troops to the border last month to address concerns about human and drug smuggling, as well as spillover violence and crime that has killed nearly 28,000 people in Mexico over the past three years.