I think the Senator proved his heroism by even consenting to and participating in an interview with ROLLING STONE. You can bet that whatever was said or not said, RS would find reason for "outrage" and demeanment of the Senator, along with any and all who could be associated with him.
It takes a third grade education, at best, to recognize that what the Senator was saying was quoting a Biblical passage and that the quote referred to DEEDS. That people are known by the deeds they do. By WHAT THEY PRODUCE, as in, "fruit", "fruit of their labor."
RS is a crazed organization. Oh, yes, and, "d'oh." I'm surprised RS hasn't tried to now claim that the Senator is "homosexual" because he used the word, "Sweden" in an interview. Or, similarly, RS alleging that anyone who speaks to RS is "gay." That sounds, all to sincerely, like how they DO, in all seriousness, today opine.
It's a rag organization. Jan Wenner, Editor and Publisher, campaigned for Clinton and apparently, still is.
Wenner is also a homosexual who's come 'out of the closet', in case you weren't aware of that.