Cafferty Wacks McCain

I heard Jack Cafferty did a nice segment on CNN smacking John McCain for not bothering to show up for the stimulus bill vote. Nice to hear of someone in the press breaking with the love-fest. You can see his blog post on the subject and it's pretty solid stuff:

It was one of those moments that says a lot about someone’s character. What did McCain do? Nothing. He ducked. Instead of representing the people in Arizona who elected him, he simply chose not to vote at all. John McCain, pilot of the Straight Talk Express, wimped out.

And it’s not the first time. Not by a long shot. In the last year, John McCain has missed more than half of all the votes cast in the U.S. Senate.

People on the road are going to miss votes, but which ones you choose to show up for and which you consider skippable are telling. Especially the ones where you're the only absent Senator, as McCain was on this vote.

Comments

True, but at least he didn't kill Vince Foster, unlike another senator we all know and love (or don't).

Posted by steve duncan | February 8, 2008 8:41 AM

People on the road are going to miss votes, but which ones you choose to show up for and which you consider skippable are telling. Especially the ones where you're the only absent Senator, as McCain was on this vote.

And EXTRA-especially when you're actually IN Washington, D.C. at the time of the vote, as McCain was -- not "on the road" at all -- but still don't bother to vote.

Posted by Ryan | February 8, 2008 8:49 AM

It seems like this should be a no-brainer question for the Tim Russert's of the world: "Senator McCain, which way would you have voted on this, had you been present?"

"Well Tim, the reality is that it is just not going to happen that I'd ever be present to vote on a bill like this..."

Posted by Will Hutchinson | February 8, 2008 8:50 AM

All the more reason to vote for Barack "I vote Present" Obama!

Because a vote of "Present" is so much better than no vote at all!

Posted by Al | February 8, 2008 9:17 AM

Can we start calling it "the self-titled straight talk express"?

Posted by meta4head | February 8, 2008 9:17 AM

What Ryan said.

AND McCain's non-vote was the functional equivalent of a vote to block cloture anyway. (60 votes are needed for cloture, regardless of how many Senators are present. Reid had 59 votes.) So he helped kill the bill just as much as the 40 GOP Senators who voted against cloture did, but without being willing to explicitly say so.

Profiles in courage, indeed.

Posted by low-tech cyclist | February 8, 2008 9:46 AM

The fact that you would give credence to, perhaps, the emptiest suit in the history of television journalism (oxymoron)reduces my respect for your abilities tenfold. Cafferty couldn't even get WPIX in NYC to give him a raise 10 years ago, and they were the 4th rated channel in town. Be careful who you pay attention to....

Posted by robertl | February 8, 2008 9:49 AM

"Senator McCain, which way would you have voted on this, had you been present?"

McCain's already said that he would have voted with the rest of the Republicans.

Posted by Al | February 8, 2008 10:02 AM

"Cafferty couldn't even get WPIX in NYC to give him a raise 10 years ago, and they were the 4th rated channel in town. Be careful who you pay attention to...."

I am reminded of the response the last place Pittsburgh Pirates owner, Branch Rickey, gave Ralph Kiner when he wanted a raise after leading the league in homers for seven straight years - "We can finish last without you."

Posted by Njorl | February 8, 2008 10:36 AM

And yet, Al, brave, brave Sen. McCain decided not to vote. Why would that be? Spending time in the Hanoi Hilton doesn't mean that you can't turn into a coward once you're out.

Posted by Emartin | February 8, 2008 10:53 AM

According to the AP the bill passed 81-16 with McCain voting yes...

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iA47JQIWwjeApjMXs4hlyh8fGi_wD8ULSQRO1

Posted by Mark Close | February 8, 2008 11:15 AM

In terms of "which ones are skippable", I was going to note that this would depend on the whip count--is this a foregone conclusion, or is your vote needed for something more than pundit's sophistry?

Then I saw the 11:15 am post of Mark Close. Let's look up "journalism" in the dictionary, shall we?

Posted by Robert Powell | February 8, 2008 11:34 AM

I am so sick of both sides of the aisle refusing to do their job. What did I elect my senators and representatives to do? Vote in Congress. That's it. That is their only job. It is not to get re-elected, it is not to always be campaigning, it is not to give speeches. If you're too much of a wimp to vote the way your citizenry wants you to, then quit. As this is the time of year, where I have to go through my review, does anyone honestly believe that I would get to keep my job if I only showed up for it half the time? No. And I'd like to also point out that if I was trying to be promoted, I couldn't get away with not doing my regular job until I was promoted. Neither should my senator or representative. They are my only way to influence government. They represent me and when they do not vote, I lose my voice. Fired. All of them.

Posted by Julene | February 8, 2008 11:41 AM

It's particularly egregious considering he was in Washington at the time of the vote. There wasn't a scheduling conflict; this was strictly a profile in cowardice.

Posted by Robert | February 8, 2008 12:57 PM

Especially when the two other senators he flew into Washington with were able to attend and vote. Was he hiding in the cloak room?

Posted by carsick | February 8, 2008 1:33 PM

Ah yes with every post about McCain incompetence we get the redirection crew.

Well sure but what about Hillary? Mitt? Obama?

The post is about McCain and he didn't vote... it has nothing to do with Cafferty pointing out he didn't vote.

Face it. Whatever he once was he is now simply a loser and a bum... here comes the redirection crew again "bum?! who are you calling bum? He was a war hero! you are so liberal!"

Facts are irrelevant to passengers on the straight talk express.

Posted by AJ | February 8, 2008 2:36 PM

As others have said, the attack ad—and an effective one at that—writes itself. Here’s mine:

“John McCain cares so little about economic matters that he was the only Senator not to show up for the close and important vote on the stimulus package earlier this year. He had already wrapped up the Republican nomination the day before on Super Tuesday. What’s more, he was in Washington DC at the time. But John McCain felt it was more important to go to meetings across town than to do his job. John McCain can’t be bothered with little things like helping out those in need during hard economic times. He’s too busy making sure we stay in Iraq for 100 years.”

God it’s easy. I think everyone should give it a try.

Posted by blah2 | February 8, 2008 2:40 PM

Blah here is mine...

"John McCain thinks everyone should voluntarily serve their country. But he can no longer find the time to do it when it is his job. McCain missed over 50% of votes in 2007. Missing 50% of important decisions would get most Americans fired. Don't worry McCain will happily employ you to fight in America's perpetual war"

Posted by AJ | February 8, 2008 4:29 PM