Unable to Understand Economy, McCain Suggests 9/11 Commission-Style Probe He Opposed
John McCain doesn't understand the economy so with the U.S. financial system in turmoil, he called for a "9/11 Commission-style" probe into Wall Street.
Appearing Tuesday on the three network morning shows, McCain said there was indeed a financial crisis and that to understand what had caused it, the nation would need a review on the order of the one led by the Sept. 11 commission. That bipartisan panel studied the events leading to the 2001 terrorist attacks and recommended changes to avert another attack. [emphasis added]
Ironic since McCain opposed the 9/11 Commission:
2006: McCain Voted To Provide Tax Cuts For Those Earning Over $1 Million Over Funding 9/11 Commission Report Recommendations. McCain voted against an amendment to establish a Homeland Security Trust Fund to implement all 41 recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. It would be offset by eliminating certain tax breaks for individuals with annual incomes of more than $1 million. [2006 Senate Vote #244, 9/13/2006, Obama: N, McCain: Y, Biden: N]
2006: McCain Voted Against Providing $4.1 Billion To Implement 9/11 Commission Recommendations Regarding First Responders. McCain voted against an amendment to the Security and Accountability of Every Port Act of 2006 which sought to appropriate $4.1 billion for the implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations such as the screening of all cargo, and the provision of much needed resources for first responders, including the capacity to communicate on a common radio spectrum. [2006 Senate Vote #243, 9/13/2006, Obama: Y, McCain: N, Biden: Y]
McCain Missed Vote On Implementing 9-11 Commission Recommendations And Increasing Funding To First Responders. McCain missed the vote on an amendment that would implement remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission and aviation security screening measures; and authorize more than $4 billion for rail and mass transit security, $3.1 billion for homeland security grant programs and $3.3 billion for a new emergency grant program to improve communications among first-responders. Obama: Y, McCain: X, Biden: Y [2007 Senate Vote #69, 3/9/2007]
McCain Missed Key Vote On Passage Of 9-11 Commission Report Recommendations. McCain missed the vote on Passage of the bill that would implement remaining recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission and implement aviation security screening measures; and authorize more than $4 billion for rail and mass transit security, $3.1 billion for homeland security grant programs, and $3.3 billion for a new emergency grant program to improve communications among first-responders. It would extend collective bargaining rights and greater whistleblower protections to Transportation Security Administration screeners and require the screening of all cargo on passenger planes within three years. It also would bar transportation security cards from being issued to certain convicted felons and allow the Homeland Security secretary to modify the list of banned felonies. Obama: Y, McCain: X, Biden: Y [2007 Senate Vote #73, 3/13/2007]
In 2004, Nancy Pfotenhauer, a McCain adviser who regularly appears on television on behalf of the campaign, ripped the 9/11 Commission as "a gift to our enemies."
2004: Pfotenhauer Called 9-11 Commission “A Gift To Our Enemies,” Members “At Sleepy Phases In Their Careers” Who Are “Grandstanding” And “Showboating.” During an appearance, Nancy Pfotenhauer, then president of the Independent Women’s Forum, voiced her displeasure with the very existence of the 9-11 Commission: “Well, basically I think that the American people and this country deserves better than what we’re seeing right now. I think that the devolution of this to a ‘pin the tail on the elephant’ exercise is something that – a gift to our enemies and embarrassing to the country that wants to move on and focus on fighting the real enemy, and that’s Osama bin Laden.” When it was pointed out that the man running the commission was a Republican, Pfotenhauer responded, “The problem is that you’ve got a commission full of people who have formerly very prestigious positions, but this has resuscitated somewhat sleepy phases in their careers, and it is absolutely inappropriate for them to be grandstanding or showboating in front of the media right now.” [Capital Report CNBC, 4/15/2004]
McCain also opposed commission probes into the failings after Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005.
McCain Has Voted Twice Against A Commission To Study What Went Wrong During Katrina. McCain voted twice against establishing a Congressional commission to examine Federal, State, and local response to devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in U.S. Gulf Region, especially in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas impacted in the aftermath; and makes immediate corrective measures to improve future responses. Obama: Y, McCain: N, Biden: Y; Obama: Y, McCain: N, Biden: Y [2006 Senate Vote #6, 2/2/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #229, 9/14/2005]
McCain Falsely Claimed He Had Supported “Every Investigation” On The Response To Hurricane Katrina. According to the Associated Press, “Asked by a reporter why he voted twice against commissions to investigate the botched response to Hurricane Katrina, McCain insisted, ‘I’ve supported every investigation,’ despite his votes to the contrary.” [Associated Press Online, 6/5/2008]
2005: McCain Voted Against A Special Committee To Examine The Awarding Of Reconstruction Contracts Post-Katrina And Rita. McCain voted against considering an amendment establishing a seven-member Special Committee on War and Reconstruction Contracting to investigate the awarding and performance of contracts to reconstruction activities in the Gulf coast of the U.S. relating to damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Obama: Y, McCain: N, Biden: Y [2005 Senate Vote #259, 10/19/2005]
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