McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and the Senate
March 14, 2008
Though he says it is his responsibility to "fight every minute of every day to make certain we have" a capable and decent government, the fact is John McCain has consistently put his campaign ahead of America's families, shirking his responsibilities in the Senate for his own political gain. [johnmccain.com, accessed 3/13/08]
Yesterday, after voting to extend Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, John McCain headed out to a $1,000 a plate fundraiser in Philadelphia. McCain ducked out long enough to skip difficult votes that would have forced him to take a stand on issues like Medicare prescription drug premiums, immigration, and energy independence. [2008 Senate Vote #63, 58, 59, 60, 56]
But playing hooky is nothing new to John McCain. Just last month, McCain was the only senator to miss a critical vote to give tax rebates to America's seniors and veterans because of his campaign. [AP, 2/6/08; Politico.com, 2/6/08; 2008 Senate Vote #8]
Apparently, John McCain's idea of straight talk doesn't include explaining why he puts his own interests ahead of the American people yet again.
McCain Heads To Philadelphia for Top Dollar Fundraiser. "Republican John McCain is arriving in Philadelphia right about now after voting for those tax bills in the senate today. Last night McCain was in New Hampshire starting his national fund raising tour. Tonight, he plans to attend a $1,000 a person event at a hotel on Rittenhouse Square. We will have a one on one interview with McCain on 'Eyewitness News' at 6:00 o'clock." [KYW (Philadelphia), 4 pm news, 3/13/08]
McCain Skips Vote on Medicare Prescription Drug Premiums. [2008 Senate Vote #64, Thomas.loc.gov]
McCain Skips Votes on Immigration. [2008 Senate Vote #58, 59, 60 Thomas.loc.gov]
McCain Skips Vote on Energy Independence. [2008 Senate Vote #56, Thomas.loc.gov]
McCain Skips Vote to Give Tax Rebates to Seniors and Disabled Veterans. "McCain skipped a difficult Senate vote Wednesday on whether to make 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans eligible for rebate checks as part of a proposed economic stimulus package" despite the fact that he "was actually in Washington -- his plane landed at Dulles Airport by 5 p.m., leaving plenty of time to make" the vote. [AP, 2/6/08; Politico.com, 2/6/08]
After casting himself as a "Maverick" in 2000, the new John McCain is walking in lockstep with President Bush, pandering to the right wing of the Republican Party, and embracing the ideology he once denounced. On the campaign trail McCain has callously abandoned many of his previously held positions, even contradicted himself, in a blatant attempt to remake himself into a candidate Republicans can accept in 2008. So just who is the real John McCain? The Democratic National Committee will present a daily fact aimed at exposing the man behind the myth.
