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John McCain wouldn’t be John McCain without his acerbic remarks and his hatred of earmarks.
In a conference call with reporters Monday on behalf of Washington GOP Senate candidate Dino Rossi, McCain railed against Rossi’s opponent, three-term Sen. Patty Murray and her work getting earmarks for her state.
When a reporter asked whether McCain thought Murray was acting corruptly, he replied, "I think it’s a corrupt practice. I know it's a corrupt practice – as I said, that’s why we have former members of Congress in prison -- and she engages in that corrupt practice. Now whether she's actually corrupt or not, I will let other people make judgment, but it certainly is a corrupt practice, earmarking and pork-barrel spending. And I’ve seen it with my very own eyes. I’ve seen staffers turned into lobbyists who then make lots and lots of money."
The Seattle Times reported last month that five of Murray’s former aides who have become lobbyists helped to obtain Murray-sponsored earmarks in the 2011 defense appropriations bill.
Julie Edwards, Murray campaign spokeswoman called McCain’s comments “simply despicable.”
“This is typical of the kind of dirty, hypocritical campaign Dino Rossi has run since the very beginning,” Edwards said. “As a state senator, he asked for earmarks, received earmarks, bragged about his earmarks and included earmarks in the budget he says he wrote. And he has a long documented history of intertwining his business dealings with individuals who lobbied him in the state senate.”
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"We want to shed light, not heat."
"We want to bring clarity to the day's headlines."
Two clear, concise uplifting ads for MSNBC.
And then we have the word "noble" that Rachel Maddow brought up Friday evening. A great word. How often do you hear that word to describe a politician these days? She was using this word to describe Senator Harry Reid's efforts in getting health care and stimulus legislation.
His seat was not on his mind when he worked towards these goals. He knew it would hurt him back home during this year's election. I remember how dog tired everyone looked during the health care fights. And no one looked as beat and tired as Senator Harry Reid. But he kept going, working 24/7. And he got it.
President Obama should have campaigned for Senator Reid, whether he wins or not. Senator Reid deserves all the assistance Washington DC can give him.
And then we have John McCain.
Noble?
Not even close. More like sell out. In order to win.
Oxymoron:
A noble politician
A honest politician
A truthful politician.
So Reid is "noble" and therefore he should be re-elected? That's not the criteria. Actions have consquemces. One person's noble act, is another's idiocy.
Now the voters get to decide if Reid and the rest of the dems did the right thing. It appears that Reid is getting precisley the assistance his "noble" acts warrant. In other words he made the bed, and now gets to go nite, nite. Nite, nite Harry.
Plus I hear the beds over at the Ritz are super comfy.
You may be the world's only Harry Reid Groupie..and by the way, this thread is on Patty Murray and John McCain...
I don't think McCain is "red-meaty" enough...you don't have ANYTHING on the C of C or foreign money? I can google and email...
Or at least another O'Donnell...:)
Deem and Pass. Cornhusker Deal. Louisiana Purchase. RaisingTaxes. Cutting Medicare Advantage for seniors. Making premiums soar. Making companies abandon workers coverage. Making individuals buy policies and only policies that Reid deems fit for them.
Yea that's noble.
American Peasantry thanks you Nobleman Harry for knowing what is best for us and cramming it down our throats.
dangerfield, I know full well what this thread is about. I can read.
Reid v. McCain
Not even close. Senator Reid had to put up with all the backstabbers in the GOP - McConnell, McCain, and the rest of them.
They lied. Big time. These Senators at one time were FOR health care reform. But since President Obama got elected, they changed their tune.
Not a principled Senator among them in the GOP.
bob, best of luck with the Republican Party, who have never done one thing for the American people. Never.
You get what you deserve.
Pat,
I don't know what I deserve, but I know Americans deserve a modicum of honesty and integrity, not the deem and pass/Cornhusker Deal etc. I think the seniors deserve to not have 500 million taken away from their benefits to finance younger people who have more means. We deserve to be able to shop across state lines for health insurance, not be forced to buy what Reid/Obama/Pelosi tell us to buy.
Business deserves to know what their taxes will be. Americans deserve to have the borders protected.
We deserve to be protected from the bad buys. We don't deserve governmental social engineering that collapses the economy and robs our jobs/401s.
Above all, Americans deserve representative government, a government that serves the will of the people, not elitists who think they know what's best for us.
Washington State needs Dino Rossi.
The description of John McCain as "simply despicable" simply fits. Just wondering, how many earmarked dollars went to Arizona? More than I can imagine.
McCain has been on a high horse about earmarks for years. Is there any data on his earmarks?
He has actually sworn off earmarks personally in recent years, but the other people in the Arizona delegation pick up the slack.
The border fence was a multi state earmark and most of it was built in Arizona. So you can be against earmarks, but vote for direct bills that benefit your state.
Hey Ron-
What do you think John McCain thinks of former Indiana Senator - Turned Lobbyist - Turned GOP Senate Candidate for Evan Bayh's old Senate seat?
Ron, Salt Grass, there is info on every dollar of earmark or pork barrell spending, www.citizensagainstgovernmentwaste.org, it is chock full of info (not party affiliated) Some very interesting reading, my own Senator, Kay Bailey Hucheson's name appeared many times in 2008 and 2009. Thanks, Kay!
McCain and his fellow senator Kyl have an agreement--McCain yells, moans, groans and otherwise throws fits about earmarks and Kyl puts them in the legislation. I can't imagine anyone seriously believes AZ would not get perks for their state if the others states do. McCain, all cranky and no action.
Bottom line is if they do not bring home the bacon, then some other state will get the slab. Ron Paul is the most out spoken against ear marks, but he gets his distict their share of the pork. It is out of control, because you have kids without adult supervision in the candy store.
Doesn't like earmarks but has no problem with letter marks, asking for stimulus money.
John McCain has a long documented history of intertwining his business dealings with individuals who lobbied him in the state senate; yet right. Especially that Lincoln Savings and Loan scandal that went before the Senate Ethics Committee.
McCain also has a long history of memory loss.
Somebody needs to slam McCain on the 'corrupt practice' of walking around in public, takingup good air. That, and unleasing the likes of one Sarah Palin on an unsuspecting and wholy undeserving public.
His selection of his VP running mate is a statement and insight to the clarity of his decision process.
My ALL time favorite campaign pin in 2008 was 'Just Say NO to Gidget & the Geezer'!
I gave a lot of them away but refused to part with that one! lol
Now see that was a trick statement. Depending on your view it could be a negative or positive statement. It was a Ink Blotter statement.
How sad. John McCain is a total embarrassment to himself. He and his legacy are nothing but a myth. He's a total hack.
Insult McCain all you want (he deserves most of it) but the truth still remains, Murray is the "Queen of Pork". A US senator's job is to vote on things that benifit the country, not things that just benefit your state. I know you have to get special money for your state to get elected, but that's not your job as a senator.
That's what they claim about every legislator--the king or queen of pork.
It is a senator's job to represent his state in the Federal Goverment.
Versys,
Yes it is, it is a Senators job to bring federal benefits to his or her state if they can. Its called representing your state in Washington. There is nothing illegal about it unless you take a bribe to do it and there has never been any indication of that on Murrey's part. Look, the federal government has billions available for various state programs, its her job to make sure Washington State gets its fair share. If she's good at it so much the better for Washington. And if her opponent actually wants to refuse Federal Dollars that would benefit Washington why would anyone vote for him?
What is McCain really saying here, "Vote for Rossi, he'll make sure the State of Washington will turn down any and all federal benefits it deserves! Who the hell does the thinking for Republicans anyway?? Ridiculous!
Allow me to quote from the Washington State voters' pamphlet on the job of a US Senator:
U.S. Senator
The U.S. Constitution prescribes that a Senator must be at least 30 years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which the he or she is chosen. A Senator's term of office is six years and approximately one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every second year. The Senate has 100 members - two from each State.
The Constitution assigns the Senate and House equal responsibility for declaring war, maintaining the armed forces, assessing taxes, borrowing money, minting currency, regulating commerce, and making all laws necessary for the operation of the government. The Senate holds exclusive authority to advise and consent on treaties and nominations.
Not once in there does it state that the Senator's job is to secure money for his or her own state. That is the state senator's job. In my opinion, many senators go beyond what they are supposed to be doing just so it looks good to voters so that they can stay in power. I really don't believe that they do it for the good of the people.
The pork pot calling the pork kettle black! Earmarks are par for the course in Washington and acting self-righteous about it after several decades in Washington and further suggesting that's its illegal, is as ridiculous as claiming you never called yourself a "Maverick". John McClain has lost all credibility, maybe his wife plans to divorce him after the election so he needs the job. Wonder if he gets to decide which of the seven houses to keep?
Murray is 12th on the earmark list. Of the top 11 places, 7 are Republicans and 4 are Dems. The top two positions are held by Sens. Cochran and Wicker, both Reps.
Mr. Cochran grabbed almost 3 times as much as Murray and Wicker doubled her results.
Has Mr. McCain called out his friends on his side of the room?
Who would play the game if there wasn't money involved? Ever play poker for match sticks? Get's pretty boring pretty quick. Our representatives in Washington are adults, they get to play with real money and do the best they can with it!
So let me get this straight. Some posters on this vine are actually defending earmarks? Listen to yourself people. Put down your partisan rhetoric long enough to realize you are part of the problem by accepting it as though it is OK. Wrong. Not OK. Our government is bloated and earmarks are a symbol of the largess. How can any of you be expected to be taken seriously if you support the corruption in our appropriations process.
Indpend,
Welcome to the real world. In Washington all you have to bargin with is your vote and your reputation. You do favors for others and they do favors for you. Depending on how well you play the game you either acquire power and inlfulence or you don't. Considering the naivete' that Patti Murray started from, its looks like she is quick learner and she has been doing a hellava job. Black and White thinking isn't going to get anyone very far in Washington, that's why these ideologues like the tea baggers are either going to go down in flames or they are going to compromise and actually get something done. Rossi and his kind would be very bad for Washington State.
This from a guy who says he is leader.. when this moron was captured and punished for his part in invading a Sovereign Nation ...Not to mention his being a lousy pilot .
Where were his leadership skills when he was ordered to invade ? He got what he deserved ! And his bad attitude got him beaten !
Another relic which is a shameful reminder of our corrupt government !
This is interesting reading. Mr. McCain's head must spin like Linda Blairs in The Exorcist
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_budget_according_to_mccain_part_i.html
McCain needs to keep his paws out of Washington State, the fact the Rossi is asking him to speak for him, speaks a lot for Rossi. Every time I hear McCain, I thank God, he didn't become President. We would be in a worse mess, if he won, and if Rossi wins Washington State would be in a worse mess too. Rossi seems is not for us, he is only for the people like McCain, who has lots of money. I am glad Patti Murray is bringing home the bacon. At least it means jobs, and that is what is important. Let Rossi go somewhere else and cut jobs, not in Washington!!!
John Mcain would sell out his own mother to get re-elected. He lost all credibility when he let GW steam roll him in the 2000 election debates, rolled over like a dog he did!
Dear John McCain,
For all her earmarking she is not the Senator from a welfare state. You however dear Senator, are! All you should say to her is thank you Senator Murray and all Washington residents for donating money to the federal government to keep Arizona afloat.
Whay does McCain call the money he brought back to AZ from DC? Hypocrite!
Patty Murray is the only way to go. Iam not from Wa. But i'am a neighbor & try to keep up,seems to me she has done alot for the folks of Washington,he wants to cut the min. wage? the standard tea party bs. McCain picks Palin so much for his choices.
you are all missing the point, Murry promotes earmarks for the personal gainds of her friends, who then pay her back in contributions. She is not about serving the state but staying oin office. she is a shamefull piece of @!$%#
Murryt ads said she helped pass the biggest tax cut in history, (bush tax cut) and now her ads critisize them, what a lying piece of @!$%#. she is a state embarassment
she is also an ugly piece of @!$%#. she nees to be retired and then she can go beg money off of her lobbiest friends. she is the one who has taken bribes, and channeled all the money to her friends, who then kick it back to her in contributions., she should be in jail
they put earmarks like studying ants, (yes ants) into bills cause this is for her friends companies and then when smart republicans vote no becasue of all the wasted money, they are accused of being the partys of no.....well. stop throwing earmarks like studiung ants or renovating a congressman's personal airport onto a child welefare bill and they would all be passed.
you are showing your ignorance if you buy the democrats bull@!$%#
don't worry about murry, we are voting her out next week
Um actually the largest tax cut in history was the one Obama and the Democrats put in the stimulus package. But once again Republicans neglect that point because the tax cut wasn't put in place for their corporate masters; just the rest of us 95%. McCain has just turned into a whining spoiled brat. Accept the fact you lost John. And to think he gets to go down in history as being the person who lost to the first black president. In Republican eyes that has to be the biggest slap in the face.
And when it comes to Dino Rossi he is just another shill for Wall Street. He wants to remove the regulations because he owns a substantial part of a bank. Why would he want reform when that will cut into his own pocket? Facts people, but once again science and facts were lost on the Right when they started railroading moderates out of their party