Sen. McCain: LI 'regrettably' part of U.S.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain Wednesday let his acerbic side slip out as he took a surprise potshot at Long Island, sparking a passionate defense of the region by the state's senior U.S. senator.

In an aside during a debate on the Senate floor about terrorist detentions, the Arizona Republican and 2008 GOP presidential candidate dissed Long Island -- a slap that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not take lightly.

"Last I checked, Long Island was a part -- albeit sometimes regrettably -- part of the United States of America," McCain said.

McCain made the comment in reference to a Supreme Court case on permanent military detentions of Americans accused of terrorism.

"Is it true that [former] Justice [Sandra Day] O'Connor was specifically referring to a case of a person who was captured on Long Island?" McCain asked during debate over language in a bill, before going on to crack his joke.

Schumer soon took to Twitter to demand satisfaction.

"@SenJohnMcCain -- All of America saw how heroic Long Islanders were on 9/11. #LongIsland deserves an apology," tweeted Schumer, who wasn't on the floor during McCain's remarks but heard about them from aides.

McCain did apologize in his own way, but not on Twitter.

"In an exchange I had on the floor I mentioned the wonderful people of wonderful Long Island," McCain said after rising on the floor again.

"I made a joke. I am sorry that there is at least one of my colleagues that can't take a joke," he said. "So I apologize if I offended him and I hope that at least someday he will have a sense of humor."

Schumer tweeted: "NYers can take a joke. But if @SenJohnMcCain wants to mock parts of America, stick to Arizona." But after the "half apology," Schumer said, "It's over and I'm very willing to move on."

Long Island's representatives responded with humor toward McCain's comment.

Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights), known himself for quips, deadpanned: "Yup, John McCain is known for his sense of humor."

Noting that "McCain's political idol, Teddy Roosevelt, might not agree" with the crack, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) offered McCain a tour of Roosevelt's Oyster Bay home, Sagamore Hill.

Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) said, "If John McCain had ever had a Long Island bagel, he wouldn't be saying that. I'm going to send some over and then ask him for an update on his views."

Rep. Pete King (R-Seaford), a longtime McCain friend and backer, played down the flap. "I have known John McCain long enough to know that he can have a cutting sense of humor," King said. "I never take this stuff too seriously."

On Long Island, politicians reacted with puzzlement.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Republican, said, "If the senator regrets that Long Island is part of this nation, then we certainly would welcome back all the disproportionate tax dollars we have sent to Washington."

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano called McCain a war hero: "I trust Senator McCain's apology is genuine."

O'Connor, in a 2003 decision, was referring to a case handed down in 1942 that drew a distinction between lawful and unlawful combatants. That case arose out of the capture of eight Germans who came ashore on Long Island during World War II and were tried in secret by a military tribunal. They were sentenced to death. Six were executed.

With Ellen Yan