What An Embarrassment

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022720.php

MCCAIN SLIPS A LITTLE FURTHER FROM SERIOUSNESS.... Perhaps during the next "exclusive!" interview with John McCain, a reporter can ask the senator to defend this shameless nonsense.

In a direct challenge to Democratic leadership, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced an amendment on Thursday night that would prohibit Congress from using reconciliation to make changes to Medicare.

Framed as an effort to protect the sanctity of entitlement programs, McCain's measure would deprive Democrats of a stream of revenue for their health care bill. The party has targeted hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts and savings to the Medicare program that it would turn around and use to pay for other reforms.

Specifically, McCain, engaged in the cheapest and most embarrassing of pandering, is arguing that "entitlements should not be part of a reconciliation process," because they're "too important."

How absurd is this? Let's the count the ways.

First, in recent years, McCain has voted for nine separate piece of legislation through the reconciliation process -- four of them included cuts to Medicare. He is, in other words, pushing a new measure to prevent a step he's already taken several times.

Second, it's hard to take seriously the notion that McCain is worried about cuts to Medicare just two years after he ran for president on a platform that included steep cuts to Medicare.

And third, McCain claims to believe that "entitlement reform" must be a top priority for policymakers, but he's now pushing a foolish amendment that would make "entitlement reform" almost impossible.

As Ezra explained, "The issue here isn't mere hypocrisy. It's dangerous shortsightedness.... {T}o render Medicare untouchable to the reconciliation process will hamstring future congresses that need to make tough decisions to avert the consequences of the program's substantial deficit. In his zeal to attack the health-care reform bill, McCain is making it harder to address our entitlement spending. It's wildly irresponsible."

What an embarrassment.
—Steve Benen

[gateley]

1. Unfortunately, most people aren't aware of the hypocrisy nt

[babylonsister]

3. And it's so consistent with him! I do remember and have posted

several times this old site, listing McSame's flip-flops from the primaries. The tally reached 76, and he hasn't changed a bit!

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/flipflops

[Mz Pip]

11. Most people can't

name the three branches of government much less know what a Senator does. There are probably a lot of people in AZ who barely know who their senators are.

John McCain is counting on those people to get him re-elected. Nmae recognition. Nothing else is necessary. Incumbancy rules.

[monmouth]

2. His mental abilities should be strongly questioned. I truly doubt

he will win this election and Hayworth is just too "out there." We need a good Dem, and if there is one I just don't know his/her name. I think McC is toast...

[northofdenali]

4. Off to the greatest with ya, babylonsister.

McCain will eventually realize his entire life is stamped "FAIL".

[Bluerthanblue]

5. is it possible he doesn't remember his own actions?

he seems to be making less and less sense- seriously.

I'm so thankful we didn't end up with him in the House!

[AllentownJake]

6. The only reason he was big on Campaign Finance Reform

Is because he got caught 30 years ago doing some not good things with some not good bankers. It had nothing to do with principles.

[HughMoran]

7. The challenge from the right in AZ has shown that McCain will say or do ANYTHING to remain in office

maverick my fucking ass - he's the worst kind of politician - pretends to be 'different' but is worse than most.

What a loser - put a fork in this fool, he's done.

[pepperbear]

8. and here I thought that health care wasn't an entitlement. n/t

[jenmito]

9. Chris Matthews just showed a bar graph of McCain's voting record. It was in the low 50s in how

often he voted with Conservatives until '09 when it shot up to 88%! He just happens to be running against a far RWer in '09. Coincidence? :eyes:

[applegrove]

10. McCain has hit lift-off. His feet are no longer on the ground. He is just a creepy

tool of the creepy neocons. Disgusting the fall that man has had. He used to stand for something.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. thanks for making me aware -- kick!

when I can't stand someone, I like to know my reasons.