(2003-12-01) -- An embarrassed Senator John McCain, R-AZ, today apologized to members of the U.S. Navy's version of Alcoholics Anonymous for comparing Congressional spending to that of "a drunken sailor."

"It was a mean, insensitive remark," said Mr. McCain. "A drunken sailor could never spend as much money as Congress has, with that kind of speed. My analogy was also wrong because a drunken sailor usually spends his own paycheck."

In related news, Mr. McCain, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, said he hopes that Americans enjoy the pre-Christmas shopping season.

"Everyone should get out to the stores and malls and spend money like an incumbent legislator," he said.