Sen. McCain calls Richardson and Schmidt ‘useful idiots’

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) thinks Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin would have called former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt “useful idiots.”

He tweeted as much on Monday, as Richardson and Schmidt arrived in North Korea on a controversial private tour. Their visit to the closed country is not officially sanctioned, and McCain apparently thinks it will function largely as a demonstration of sympathy toward leadership of the often-volatile country.

Richardson and Schmidt arrive in North Korea today - Lenin used to call them "useful idiots"

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 7, 2013

North Korea tested a long-range rocket last month, despite President Obama’s warning against it.

The State Department has emphasized that the trip is unofficial, and noted that the "the timing of this [trip] is [not] particularly helpful.”

Richardson, a former United Nations ambassador, said the State Department should not be “nervous” about the trip. He is expected to lobby for the release of Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American tour guide who was detained late last year, while in the country.

Google has described Schmidt’s visit as “personal,” although the group also includes another Google official, Jared Cohen, according to Reuters.

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