Article called for John McCain to ‘just … die already.’

By Kristine Phillips / The Washington Post

A member of the Republican National Committee in Nevada apologized after retweeting an article that begged for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to die.

Diana Orrock, a national committeewoman for the Nevada GOP, shared a story headlined “Please Just F- – – -ing Die Already.” In retweeting the piece, which was published on Medium, Orrock wrote “Amen.”

Several hours after posting the now-deleted tweet, Orrock apologized to McCain and to the Nevada and national GOP, calling the ailing senator “an American hero” — and her own post “disrespectful.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The article was published on Medium — and shared by Orrock on Twitter — as McCain was recovering from eye surgery.

The Washington Post was unable to reach Orrock, but she told CNN on Monday, before she tweeted her apology, that she wasn’t calling for the 80-year-old senator’s death — just agreeing with the “sentiments” in the article.

In the article, writer Caitlin Johnstone said McCain “can die a proud, happy man.”

“And he should,” Johnstone added. “Like, yesterday.”

Throughout the article, Johnstone did not mince words. At all.

She described McCain as a “murderous warmongering neocon” and an “evil man” who has “supported every US military bloodbath in his obscenely long lifetime.”

She wrote:

“If you’re waiting for the part where I say I’m just kidding and would never wish death on anybody, please allow me to make myself clear: I sincerely, genuinely hope that Arizona Senator John McCain’s heart stops beating, and that he is subsequently declared dead by qualified medical professionals very soon. I don’t wish him a painful death, I don’t wish him a slow death, I don’t wish him an unnatural or violent death; I only wish that he becomes incapable of facilitating the merciless slaughter of any more human beings.”

Orrock emphasized that she only wants McCain out of the Senate, not harmed or dead.

“People are going to read things into things,” she told CNN.

Republican National Committee spokesman Ryan Mahoney called Orrock’s tweet “extremely inappropriate.”

“Senator McCain is a hero who made countless sacrifices on behalf of all Americans,” Mahoney said, according to The Associated Press. “We look forward to his speedy recovery so he can return to the Senate and the work of the American people.”

Efforts to reach the Nevada GOP on Tuesday morning were unsuccessful.

McCain’s office announced Saturday that he’d undergone a procedure at the Mayo Clinic to remove a blood clot above his left eye.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on the same day that he would delay the vote on the Republican health-care bill as McCain recovers. Two nights later, the effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, suffered a major blow after two more Senate Republicans declared their opposition to the latest version of the bill.

“Thanks to MayoClinic for its excellent care — I appreciate your support & look forward to getting back to work! ” McCain tweeted.

Orrock, who told CNN that she doesn’t agree with McCain on foreign policy, has been a committeewoman for the Nevada GOP since 2012. She ran for the 9th District of the Nevada General Assembly in 2016, but lost to the incumbent, David Gardner, in the primary election. Gardner was later defeated by Democratic candidate Steve Yeager.

Orrock told the Las Vegas Review Journal last year that she decided to run against Gardner after he voted for a $1.5 billion tax package to bolster education funding.

“I think a lot of politicians have lost sight of what they’re supposed to be doing. They’re supposed to be representative of the people who elected them, not the lobbyists,” she said then, adding: “If that wasn’t a slap in the face of the voters in Nevada I don’t know what.”

She has also been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.

In October, after The Post broke the story about an “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump could be heard making vulgar remarks about women, Orrock said she wasn’t offended by Trump’s “goofy” comments.

“We understand the context of that conversation from 11 years ago for exactly what it was, two guys talking, trying to outdo each other as to who caught the bigger fish,” she told the Boston Globe. “And to think men don’t talk that way about women and women don’t talk that way about men, I tell you what, you’re living in a very protected world of unreality.”

She also denounced a U.S. Senate candidate from Nevada who decided to not support Trump because of the “Access Hollywood” tape.

“I am no longer endorsing Joe Heck in the Senate race,” Orrock said in October, according to CNBC. “How hypocritical of him to denounce Trump on comments that were 12 years old and locker room banter? By not endorsing Trump, he is supporting Hillary.”

That same month, she tweeted a list of Republican politicians who opposed Trump, calling for her social media followers to vote them out of office.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Sound Transit approves contract to build Bothell bus facility

The 365,000-square-foot facility will be the heart of the agency’s new Stride bus rapid transit system, set to open in 2028.

One dead in Everett crash involving motorcycle and two vehicles

Police shut down the 10300 block of Evergreen Way in both directions during the multi-vehicle collision investigation.

Katie Wallace, left, checks people into the first flight from Paine Field to Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Executive order makes way for Paine Field expansion planning

Expansion would be a long-range project estimated to cost around $300 million.

A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to seek Creative District designation

The city hopes to grow jobs in the creative sector and access new grant funds through the state label.

Former Herald writer Melissa Slager’s new book was 14-year project

The 520-page historical novel “Contests of Strength” covers the 1700 earthquake and tsunami on Makah lands.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.