Ahmadinejad's second act: astronaut?

Feb 04

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Ahmadinejad's second act: astronaut?

John McCain monkeys around on Twitter with Ahmadinejad's new space ambitions.

A handout picture released by the Iranian presidency website shows President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking during a ceremony to mark Iran's National Day of Space Technology in Tehran on February 4, 2013. The writing reads in Farsi "Space Technology Day." AFP PHOTO / HO / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY WEBSITE

On February 4, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced he is ready to be the first Iranian sent to space. Ahmadinejad is currently in his second and last term as president. The announcement comes a week after Iran claims to have successfully launched a monkey into space.

Some netizens could not resist cracking a joke, including United States Senator John McCain.

So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn't he just there last week? "Iran launches monkey into space" news.yahoo.com/iran-launches-…
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) February 4, 2013

View the story "Ahmadinejad's second act: astronaut?" on StorifyAhmadinejad's second act: astronaut?John McCain monkeys around on Twitter with Ahmadinejad's new space ambitions.Storified by The Stream· Mon, Feb 04 2013 09:40:05Within seconds of McCain's tweet, Twitter blew up with both additional jokes and heavy criticism. Some did not find McCain's comparison of a world leader to a monkey humourous: This man could have been president MT @SenJohnMcCain: So Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian in space - wasn't he just there last week?Gregg Carlstrom@hocinedim @SenJohnMcCain That is absolutely disgusting. Criticism of Ahmadinejad fine. Racist slurs are not.Rachel MossWithin the hour of his original comment, McCain responded to the Twitter upset:
Re: Iran space tweet - lighten up folks, can't everyone take a joke?John McCainOthers on the net found the humour behind McCain's comment, and added to the monkey mockery.
Monkey see, Monkey do. RT @KarlreMarks Ahmadinejad says he is ready to be the first Iranian in space http://goo.gl/PVqPVKarim Sadjadpourthat's why Iran sent a monkey into space last week. to test out if the real bigger monkey can survive up there as well. http://news.yahoo.com/ahmadinejad-says-ready-first-iranian-space-120423336.htmlSebastian Zar“@thedailybeast: Ahmadinejad Wants to go to Space http://thebea.st/11JgpqB // they sent a fake monkey now its time 2 send the real one! #P2Bita Lee 1st a monkey, then his uncle: Ahmadinejad wants to be Iran's first astronaut - http://news.yahoo.com/ahmadinejad-wants-irans-first-astronaut-115509770.html via @YahooNewsBill HudginsThen the jokes went a bit further:
First thing I've ever agreed with Iran on; yes, please do send Ahmadinejad to space! I think we all know how that would end. #IranMark JenkinsAhmadinejad said happy to be first Iran astronaut to sacrifice his life. A FB page is set up to help him go to space: http://on.fb.me/Y4Y4lQSaeed Kamali DehghanIf Ahmadinejad does make it to space, he will not be the first space-explorer of Iranian heritage. Anousheh Ansari, who was born in Mashhad, Iran, was the first person of Iranian descent to go into space. An Iranian-American engineer, she was the fourth self-funded tourist.

@AnoushehAnsari has yet to comment on the conversation.

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Ahmadinejad's second act: astronaut?

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