- The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Sen. John McCain didn’t pull punches when characterizing former NBA star Dennis Rodman’s cozy relations with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un: He’s an “idiot,” the Arizonan said.

But moreover, he’s a “dangerous idiot,” Mr. McCain said, Newsmax reported.

“I think he’s an idiot, but he’s a dangerous idiot because he gives good propaganda to … arguably, the most brutal, crazy man on earth,” he said, to “The Steve Malzberg Show” on Newsmax TV.

Mr. McCain’s comments came after Mr. Rodman organized an exhibition basketball game for the despot he’s described on several previous occasions as his “friend for life” — but before the former NBA great actually crooned a happy birthday song to Mr. Kim, as a pregame well-wish.

Mr. Kim is believed to have turned 31 on Wednesday. Mr. Rodman and 11 other American basketball players traveled to Pyongyang to play a North Korean team as a birthday gift to the despotic leader.

The trip has resulted in widespread criticism of Mr. Rodman, who also just suggested during a CNN broadcast that imprisoned American Kenneth Bae — who was sentenced to 15 years of labor camp for unclear charges related to distribution of religious materials in the atheist nation — may actually have deserved his punishment.


SEE ALSO: Kenneth Bae’s family ‘appalled’ by Dennis Rodman in North Korea: ‘This isn’t some game’


As Mr. McCain reminded, however, Mr. Rodman has always been a lightning rod.

“Rodman has always been a wacko, as you know, but the fact that he and his friends are giving good propaganda for this brutal dictator who had his uncle killed, had his ex-girlfriend shot and supervises the biggest gulag on earth … it helps this two-bit dictator,” Mr. McCain said, in Newsmax. “What he’s doing is helping this guy and giving him an increased prestige, and that’s what’s wrong.”

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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