John McCain Roasts Joe Lieberman, Jokes About Converting To Judaism, 'F**king Kosher Meals'

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is set to retire from Congress at the end of the year, but not before being subjected to a stand-up comedy routine about Judaism by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), one of his closest colleagues.

The Jewish Daily Forward reports that McCain and others gave Lieberman, a modern Orthodox Jew, a rousing sendoff on Thursday at the residence of Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

McCain was quick with the jokes.

“I have a major announcement to make,” McCain declared. “I’m converting to Judaism.”

The Arizona Republican then went on to recount stories of observing Lieberman's Jewish customs throughout their cooperative efforts in Senate.

“I had to put up all the years with the bullsh*t of religion, I might as well convert,” McCain said, later quipping, "Why in every f**king kosher meal do we have to have salmon?"

The Daily Forward reports that McCain's ribbing was well-received by the audience.

Click over for more on Lieberman's retirement party.

As The New York Times reported this week, Lieberman's departure from the Senate marks the end of an era -- the era of "the three amigos," a trio composed of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as well as McCain and Lieberman. From the Times:

For Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham, the loss of Mr. Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent who is the chairman of the homeland security committee, goes beyond personal deprivation and could profoundly affect their ability to influence foreign policy. Though he frustrated many Democrats with his interventionist ideas, Mr. Lieberman gave Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham, both Republicans, a veneer of bipartisanship that lent credibility to their policy goals.

Lieberman recently split from McCain and Graham on their push to create a special committee to investigate the government’s response to the Sept. 11 anniversary attacks on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

“I respectfully separate myself from my two amigos,” he said at the time.