In this Fox News article, McCain Skips Spending Bill Vote, But Accepts Earmarks in It, I couldn’t help but notice a defeatist tone coming from McCain especially when the new Gallup poll shows Senator Barack Obama leading by 50 percent to McCain’s 42 percent.
This senator who has been raging against earmarks accepts this spending bill loaded with $6.6 billon dollars in pet projects? If he is the warrior against earmarks, then he should have voted no to this spending bill or more importantly yay and I will discuss that in a bit.
His reason for not voting for this spending bill, "That's the way they always do," speaking of his fellow lawmakers. If he had a problem with them loading it with pork, he should have admonished all of them to show some leadership. Earmarks are the corner stone of his campaign and by taking this stance, he fell on his sword.
Fox News in their article also reported, "You put in the, you put in the good deals, and then you put in the pork, as well." He said separate votes should be allowed on the bill's different provisions.” Some may be confused in reading, “You put in the,” but that is how Fox News assembled that quote coming from McCain. If McCain felt that separate votes should be allowed in the bill’s different position, he should have led and not acquiesced to the way things have always been.
Senator Barack Obama cited last week that a president must be able to attend to more that one thing at a time when it came to McCain’s suggestion to postponing the presidential debate. So, it boggles my mind to read in this article that McCain could not vote on this spending bill because he was working on the bailout bill. He was right there and could have voted nay or yay.
At the RNC one of the mottos which everyone seems to parrot is "Drill baby drill" and according to Fox News this bill, "also lifted a long-term ban on offshore oil drilling" Does the candidate mirror his supporters who have called for off-shore drilling? If he is out on the campaign trail, those gathered must ask why he did not vote on this bill. By not voting either way for this spending bill, McCain killed a talking point of his campaign.
To those living in Ohio and Michigan, listen up: This bill “included billions of dollars to subsidize loans to the battered auto industry.” Fox went onto report, “McCain reversed course earlier this year to announce support for additional drilling to help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The auto industry loans, designed to help car makers retool their factories to produce more efficient models, are particularly important in swing states such as Michigan and Ohio.” If you live in either of these states which are critical to whom the next president shall be, by not taking a stance either way, McCain just deserted you.
While McCain said he will support the $700 billion bailout to Wall Street according to Fox, he did not exactly support those living in Michigan and Ohio. McCain had this to say of the bailout bill, "This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with," I wonder how those living on Main Street in both of those states feel right now. Do the voters in Ohio and Michigan feel abandoned by McCain?
But, it is this quote that sounds the defeatist alarm coming from McCain when Fox News reported, "I'm a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. I've got to get in the arena when America needs it," McCain said. "And if that judgment wants to be made that I, whether I helped or hurt, I'll be glad to accept the judgment of history." As stated previously by so many in Washington, McCain's input in the bailout proceedings were not needed or wanted. He interjected himself into those proceedings. He continually says "Fight with me" and if I were a voter in those battleground states, I would turn from him because he could not vote either way on a bill to help them and more importantly their wallets.
When some conservatives have questioned Palin's qualifications lately and where a conservative columnist Kathleen Parker said of Palin that she is "out of her league" This is what John McCain said of these detractors, "They can complain all they want to," he said. "...I'm so happy that she is part of the team. And she's brought a kind of exuberance and a kind of excitement that makes you really think that political campaigns again can still be something that is an exciting trip."
I would like to remind, McCain that this campaign is not a trip but one of extreme importance to the millions around this country. While she may have brought some exuberance, she has not brought with her substance. Also in being dismissive of this conservative base, has he just back-handed them? That is for them to answer.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
