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John McCain Gets Roses As Thank You For Background Checks Vote

John McCain Gets Unexpected Surprise
By 

Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

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Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) arrived on Thursday night for a town hall. He left with a show of great appreciation from survivors of the Jan. 2011 Tucson, Ariz. shooting.

Slate's David Weigel captured a heartwarming moment from McCain's Oro Valley, Ariz. event. Speaking six miles north of Tucson, the senator was presented at the end of the event with a set of 19 roses. Each flower represented the 13 individuals killed and six wounded in the 2011 massacre.

The gesture stemmed from McCain's decision to break with most of the Republican Party and vote yes on April's background check bill. Authored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), McCain stood as one of only four Republicans to support the measure, with Toomey included. The bill failed to reach the 60-vote bar for escape from a filibuster, with only 54 senators voting yes.

"I would like to thank you so much for your vote on background checks," said Pam Simon, a former staffer of wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), according to Slate.

In addition to his "yea" vote on the Manchin-Toomey bill, McCain was willing to publicly decry the Senate's decision to let the legislation go by the wayside. Among the events he spoke out on was President Barack Obama's speech addressing the same disappointment.

"I'm very familiar with the issue, but I understand how the president felt very strongly," McCain told CNN's Jake Tapper on April 18. "He was in Newtown. He feels the suffering of the families, and I can certainly understand, given his point of view, why the president got somewhat emotional."

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Before You Go

Senators Who Voted NO On Background Checks
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)(01 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) speaks during a news conference September 8, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.)(02 of46)
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Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) points to a flow chart of the State Department organizational structure during a press conference discussing the Accountability Review Board report into the Benghazi terrorist attack at the U.S. Capitol December 21, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)(03 of46)
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U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) speaks during a news briefing after the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon March 12, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)(04 of46)
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U.S. Senator Max Baucus speaks at the APEC Ministerial Meeting welcome reception at the Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana May 18, 2011. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska)(05 of46)
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In this March 28, 2012 file photo, Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) (credit:AP)
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)(06 of46)
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Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., talks on the phone on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (credit:AP)
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.)(07 of46)
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Then-GOP Doctors Caucus member Rep. John Boozman (R-AK) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol March 18, 2010 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)(08 of46)
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Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), listens to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testify during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on May 18, 2010 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.)(09 of46)
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U.S. Select Committee on Intelligence ranking member Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) speaks to members of the media after a hearing on the Benghazi attack November 16, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.)(10 of46)
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Congressional Joint Economic Committee member U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) delivers opening remarks during a committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill March 14, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)(11 of46)
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Committee ranking member U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) speaks during a hearing before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee March 20, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)(12 of46)
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Republican U.S. Sen.Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), pictured on April 19, 2006. (SABAH ARAR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)(13 of46)
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U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) speaks to members of the press at the Capitol February 14, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)(14 of46)
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Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 22, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)(15 of46)
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Senate Finance Committee member Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) listens to debate during a mark up session on the health care reform legislation on Capitol Hill September 24, 2009 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)(16 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Rights hearing on Capitol Hill on April 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)(17 of46)
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Sen. Mike Enzi, (R-Wyo.), ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday,April 24, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)(18 of46)
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GOP senator-elect Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), poses for a picture at the U.S. Capitol on November 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)(19 of46)
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GOP senators-elect Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), poses for a picture with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the U.S. Capitol on November 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)(20 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks during a news conference on immigration reform April 18, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)(21 of46)
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Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., February 13, 2013, on comprehensive immigration reform. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)(22 of46)
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FILE - This Oct. 17, 2012, file photo, shows U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, looking on before the start of the VoteUtah 2012 U.S. Senate Debate, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) (credit:AP)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)(23 of46)
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Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) participates in a news conference about the Marketplace Fairness Act in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill April 23, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.)(24 of46)
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Senator Dean Heller, R-Nev., waits for the start of a debate against Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) (credit:AP)
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)(25 of46)
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U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) speaks during a news conference July 26, 2012 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)(26 of46)
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Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)(27 of46)
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U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson attends NBC News Education Nation Job One Panel Discussion at Georgia Aquarium on May 7, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Moses Robinson/Getty Images for NBCUniversal) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.)(28 of46)
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Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill February 2, 2011 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)(29 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol March 1, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)(30 of46)
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Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)(31 of46)
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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to members of the media during a news briefing April 16, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)(32 of46)
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United States Senator from Kansas Jerry Moran during The 2011 Country Stampede Day 3 at Tuttle Creek State Park on June 25, 2011 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)(33 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to reporters on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)(34 of46)
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FILE - In this March 7, 2013 file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) (credit:AP)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)(35 of46)
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This photo made Thursday, March 21, 2013, shows Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)(36 of46)
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In this May 19, 2011 file photo, Chairman Mark Pryor, D-Ark., speaks during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance on cell phone privacy on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (credit:AP)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)(37 of46)
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***Note: Reid's vote was on procedural grounds***Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, following a Democratic strategy session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho)(38 of46)
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Newly elected Republican Senator Jim Risch, of Idaho poses for a photo in the office of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell November 17, 2008 at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)(39 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) speaks during a taping of 'Meet the Press' at the NBC studios February 12, 2006 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images for Meet the Press) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)(40 of46)
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U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a hearing before the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee March 12, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)(41 of46)
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U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) addresses the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) March 14, 2013 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)(42 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) speaks on April 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)(43 of46)
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Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) questions during a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill May 22, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)(44 of46)
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U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.)(45 of46)
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Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 7, 2009 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)(46 of46)
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U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks to supporters during his victory speech in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (credit:AP)
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