McCain Cites Presidential Run in Homeland Debate

NewsMax ^ | 11/19/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

In comments sure to ignite new speculation about his presidential ambitions, Sen. John McCain, R-Az., invoked promises Tuesday morning that he made as a presidential candidate two years ago to justify his plan to vote with Democrats opposed to Republican-backed changes to President Bush's Homeland Security bill.

"I have an obligation to stick with what I promised the people of Arizona when I ran for the Senate - and, frankly, when I ran for president of the United States - that I would oppose this kind of thing because it's the misuse of American taxpayer dollars," McCain told WABC Radio's John Gambling.

McCain said he objected to amendments attached by Republicans in the House of Representatives to the bill that the Bush White House has made the centerpiece of its domestic war on terrorism.

"Why do you think it is that the House of Representatives would add on these provisions," the Arizona maverick asked rhetorically, describing the amendments as "the kind of thing I have fought against my entire career."

While McCain said he didn't think the White House instigated the changes, he complained that the changes would mean a prominent university in President Bush's home state would hit the pork barrel jackpot.

"Why shouldn't my universities in my state be able to compete openly and fairly for homeland security funds as opposed to it being earmarked for Texas A & M. Why should that be?" the McCain said in an edgy voice. "It's not fair to my taxpayers whose tax dollars will now be funneled to Texas A & M University."

He then warned against what he called the "hubris" that afflicted the GOP after its 1994 sweep of Congress.

"If they hadn't succumbed, as David Broder pointed out in his piece this morning in the Washington Post, to the same kind of hubris that earmarked their behavior after 1994, then we wouldn't have had any problem whatsoever."

McCain also slammed a provision in the bill to designed to offer liability protection for vaccine providers working to prepare for mass inoculation in case of a bioweapons attack, calling it "a one-sided reward for the pharmaceutical companies."

"That provision should go through my committee, which is the Commerce Committee, which I'm gonna be chairman of. I'd be glad to address that issue in hearing." But as things stand, McCain said, "I'm opposed to this process."

The former presidential candidate suggested that GOP's liability amendment was just another example of business-as-usual pay-for-play politics.

"I don't think it's accidental that the pharmaceutical companies contributed $20 million in helping Republican candidates in the last election," he told WABC. "I'm not astounded to find some good deal for the pharmaceutical companies."

By midday the Senate had voted against the measure to kill the homeland bill's amendments, with McCain casting the lone Republican vote in favor of the measure.

[wideawake]

Man, I cannot stand this joker. He is the worst.

[Sacajaweau]

At one time, I liked McCain but I find him wishy-washy. I'm sure the Dems would like to have him. Looks like he is as bad a sport with the election as Gore.

Now we know why the party supported Bush. They smelled this coming.

[wideawake]

An honest, nonsarcastic question: why did you like McCain?

I ask because I could never stand the guy and found his public persona to be an immense turn-off.

I still don't get what his appeal is to so many people.

[Dane]

McCain defends the trial lawyers as much as the demos.

[Dog Gone]

Maybe Texas A&M is a good choice, John, because it's not one of those typical wimpy leftist universities. I've never even set foot on that campus, but I know the difference.

I truly do despise John McCain.

[Blessings]

I am not Sacajaweau -- but I can add a comment re McCain. My 30 year old son was a huge McCain supporter because he perceived him as a non-politician politician, more independent in his thinking, not content with the status quo. He doesn't trust the typical politicians. Nor do I, although I do trust Bush and voted for him.

[WL-law]

"I have an obligation to stick with what I promised the people of Arizona when I ran for the Senate - and, frankly, when I ran for president of the United States - that I would oppose this kind of thing because it's the misuse of American taxpayer dollars," McCain told WABC Radio's John Gambling.

But, John, you didn't WIN the election -- so no "contract" with the public was formed based on your promises as a presidential candidate - except in your DREAMS!!

[Fiddlstix]

McCain = RINO
'Nuff Said!

[latrans]

Personally, I am sick and tired of this fool. Let him run as a Democrat, he voted with them on the Homeland Secuity
Bill. What is he thinking? I think he is ill.

[gnarledmaw]

Columnist Broder Sees Potential Party Switches by Senators McCain and Chaffee

Ive been telling people that this is all part of a setup and Im not the only one whos caught on.

[elbucko]

I still don't get what his appeal is to so many people.

Neither do I. However, I do notice that among my acquaintances, that those who favored Ross Perot were also attracted to John McCain.

[wideawake]

Hey guys.

I never liked McCain because at first he just struck me as phony - he couldn't seem to decide where his loyalties were. He was especially slimy on the issue of human life.

Then I learned more about his past - specifically his involvement with the Keating Five.

So I realized he was a phony hypocrite.

Much later, my brother (who is a first lieutenant in the armored calvary) told me that one of his best friends' (who was a classmate of his at the Citadel) father was a fellow inmate with McCain at the Hanoi Hilton.

This friend's dad will not allow the man to be named in his presence.

And yet, there are many Republicans I know who seemed to be charmed by this guy - people who are normally quite levelheaded and critical thinkers.

[mhking]

He has to make this stuff up as he goes along - it's a bit hard to keep up with all the lies he's telling...

[Bahbah]

"This friend's dad will not allow the man to be named in his presence."

I would love to know the reason for this. The only positive thing about him it seemed to me was his courage during that time. If that's a sham, then there really is no "there" there.

[wideawake]

His friend's dad says that he can't prove anything, but that once McCain arrived the guards seemed to get much smarter about what the prisoners were up to and the methods they used to communicate with each other.

Also that he was pretty puffed-up about his background (McCain's father was a heavy-hitting admiral, and so was his grandfather, I think) and that people seemed to be more responsive to his medical needs.

A McCain fan might say that this is just sour grapes from a guy who wound up being imprisoned longer than McCain did and who didn't have as much bargaining clout as an admiral's son.

But this guy is a very serious man and his son is a very upstanding young officer. I trust that family.

[wideawake]

I should also add that I have no knowledge of what it was really like in that prison and no concept of the pressures that may have been brought to bear on the prisoners.

[Bahbah]

I understand.

[Cicero]

There has been a lot of talk about McCain's conduct as a POW. Since I have seen no absolute proof, I will not get into it. But later on, it is well established that he used his POW credentials to seize control of the POW-MIA commission and to derail efforts to investigate the plight of MIAs remaining in Vietnam. There is some reason to believe that some of the MIAs were still alive at that time, but it was inconvenient for our government to admit it, and McCain helped to cover it up.

For these reasons and others, McCain is widely unpopular among many patriots who served in Vietnam.

[Bahbah]

If true, what a jerk!