Arizona Sen. John McCain fired back on Monday at the critics of Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” movie about Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.
“It is deeply regrettable that obsessive critics of U.S. foreign policy have sought to disparage this film and denigrate the memory of a noble American warrior,” McCain said. “Fortunately, their pettiness has not stopped millions of Americans from seeing American Sniper, and hopefully in the process, gaining a greater appreciation for the service and sacrifice of America’s military service members and their families.”
A number of Hollywood figures have been critical of the movie and the lead character, played by actor Bradley Cooper: HBO host Bill Maher recently called Kyle a “psychopath patriot” and liberal director Michael Moore has said of the movie: “Snipers aren’t heroes.”
“I congratulate Clint Eastwood and the entire cast and crew of American Sniper for an outstanding cinematic achievement honoring the life of a genuine American hero, Chris Kyle,” McCain added. “This film depicts with subtlety and compassion those brave few who serve our nation in uniform, their experiences in the horror of war, the burdens they often bear upon returning home, and the untold sacrifices of their families.”