John McCain: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Vote for Him

Never. Am I scared he will be? Yes, to the point of shaking.

Anyone but McCain.

Some one say Nader was running again too?

Haven't heard much about Nader lately although I heard a few weeks ago that he was considering running.

Agree. His "legendary temper" is all too well known around Washington. His method of "discussion" with people who disagree with him is often to curse them with language you wouldn't want your kids to hear, then come back later to apologize. His colleagues in the Senate have gotten used to it, but the people who work for him quickly learn that they will get fired if they dare to disagree with anything he says. A President unwilling to listen to honest disagreement from his own advisers is a really scary thought. You will see lots of retired and former military officers lining up behind the Democratic candidate because they know Senator McCain all too well.

I will not vote for McCain.

"A President unwilling to listen to honest disagreement from his own advisers is a really scary thought. "

Yes, Ada. That would be just what we had with George W. Bush, although he would listen but ignore what he heard.

Total deficit since the founding of America is $9 Trillion. Half was incurred when a Bush was president and 20% more was added by President Reagan. 70% was incurred by REPUBLICAN administrations! The 3 of them submitted 19 budgets, but only 2 of the 19 were balanced!

Senator McCain has Phil Gramm, the once Texas Senator turned lobbyist for Swiss bank USB, a corporation that wrote down $37 billion in bad mortgage loans over the past six months, for his domestic advisor (think Treasury Secretary if McCain gets elected).

Got debt? Want even more? Gas prices too high? Want them higher? Food costs escalating? Want more? Health care costs keeping you from visiting the doctor? Want it higher? More American jobs in China? Count on it. Counting on SSI? Don't count on it, but count on all of the former if you vote for McCain come November -- or should we say McBush, for more of the same and less of the middle class.

Yes, I do. He beats the socks off either of the Dems, neither of whom is to be trusted at all.

Number two is missleading.

McCain first uttered the comments in question during a January town hall meeting in New Hampshire, saying he'd be fine with a long-term U.S. commitment in Iraq.

"President Bush has talked about our staying for 50 years, maybe 100. We've been in Japan for 60 years, in South Korea for 50 years or so. That would be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or killed," McCain said at the time.

And:

Obama has campaigned vigorously on his pledge to pull troops from Iraq. On Monday, he said he wouldn't abandon the Mideast in the process of ordering a withdrawal.

"What I said was I would have a strike force in the region, perhaps in Iraq, perhaps outside Iraq so we could take advantage of or we could deal with potential problems that might take place in the region," Obama said. "That's very different from saying we'd have a permanent occupation in Iraq. And it's certainly different from saying we would have a high level of combat troops inside Iraq for a decade or two decades or, as John McCain said, perhaps 100 years."
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/01/mccain-obama-spar-over-spending-100-years-in-iraq/

So what the heck is Obama saying? He's going to get us out? He isn't going to get us out? Does he flip a coin as to what he'll say on any particular day?

Isn't Obama saying the same thing as McCain? Or maybe he'll change that tomorrow.

His method of "discussion" with people who disagree with him is often to curse them with language you wouldn't want your kids to hear, then come back later to apologize. Ada D., Apr 6, 2008, 4:01pm EDT

So what? He isn't speaking to your kids, is he? He's speaking to grown ups. I admire someone who is passionate and who can appologize. McCain talked about his temper on FOXnews today with Chris Wallace. I'm fine with it.

I've heard that Hillary's pretty much a bitch to the staff. I guess they'd run out the door if she got elected? Yeah .... sure.

Number six, who cares?

John Kerry is married to TaRAYsa Heinz Kerry who is filthy stinking rich. What does that have to do with running for president?

Number 7, you say, "Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander-in-chief." How many? Who are they?

Lera, the last thing we need is a president with a hair-trigger temper. McCain is known for his.

Number 10:

Clinton got a 73% which is down from the previous year.
Obama scored a 67%, also down from previous years.

I understand the group based the 2007 rankings on 15 pro-environment votes to compile the list. McCain was absent on all 15 votes while he was campaigning. Clinton and Obama each missed four of the 15 votes.

I guess Obama's spiritual guide for the past 23 years and the crap he says doesn't bother you, so why should McCain's bother you?

Number one:

John McCain regrets his vote on the MLK holiday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7SjvQvykNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ozQz0qe3c&feature=related

Thanks for your comments, Lera. It's obvious that you believe in your candidate. Although, missing 4 out of 15 votes isn't quite as bad as missing 15 out of 15. And 0 compared to 67% and 73% is pretty sad.

Lera, Senator Obama has always called for a responsible withdrawal from Iraq. He is committed to the people whose lives have been decimated by the Bush administration's invasion of their country. He has a better plan for helping the civilian population, one that doesn't call for escalating the problem.

Mary Ann, I am so glad to hear you say that. The process for choosing a Democratic nominee has been competitive, but no matter who the eventual candidate is in November, we must put aside our differences and come together in the best interests of our country.

Well said, PD. I don't think that anyone can dispute that the last eight years have been bad for this country in so many ways. We all want to see things change for the better.

Obama is a liar and a racist. Hillary ran for cover under sniper fire. LMAO. She's never heard a shot fired except from Bill's gun.
If Obama were white, the news media would already have crucified him. Can you imagine the stink if McCain had been friends with David Duke. But Obama is buddies with Louis Farrakhan, just a good ole boy. And the righteous reverend just made some "ole uncle" remarks. How much bull shit can one man dispense.
Hillary Clinton would sell YOU, her mother, Chelsea and Bill for a chance at the White House. She is as crooked as they come.
Neither one of them will withdraw all the troops from Iraq. They can't, simple as that. If they do, you better take up a new religion. I mean besides Obama worship.

Uh... ummm...

Once again, it will be narrowed down to who I believe would do the least harm... *sigh*

When America has an election it seems to take over almost everything.

For anyone who would like to see the sources for the list above, here they are:

1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007
5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007
6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/newspid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008

Good list with solid sources.

Many people think that Oprah Winfrey would make a great president. She happens to be "rich" and people don't criticize her for this.

I don't believe that we should criticize people for what their pastor's say. Obama would agree. (To paraphrase the words of one of our moden 'philosophers,' "Everybody knows that when your pastor says something that you don't agree with, you march down to the pulput and punch his lights out.")

That said, I hope that infighting in the Democratic Party don't pave the way for a candidate less viable than Obama to win, because I don't want to see the world short-changed again.

David, the issue isn't his wealth (#6). It's about his comments regarding those people facing financial challenges due to the mortgage crisis.

Stan -- you and Jesse Ventura!

Stan, I was actually thinking of Canada. Juarez is a little dusty.

I was, at first leaning towards McCain, but after watching him in the debates, early on, I got an uneasy feeling about him.

He reminded me of the crazy captain, played by Hunphrey Bogart, testifying yammering neurotically) on the stand, while twirling two steel balls around in his hand.

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.

He apologized. Are we not told to NOT judge Obama for his 20 YEARS RELATIONSHIP with Wright? Many "civl rights laws" are written to hide other agendas. Without knowing EXACTLY what McCain opposed and why we simply do not have enough information to judge him on.

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Even conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi." He has already said that he would have us stay in Iraq for 100 years if he had anything to do with it.

McCain's stance on Iraq is CORRECT. As he has pointed out, and as others have pointed out, it is in our best interest to stay in Iraq for a very long time. Obama has twisted this into meaning he intends to FIGHT A WAR for 100 years. FALSE! That is not what Senator McCain is saying. He is saying that we will be involved in Iraq for a very long time AS WE ARE CURRENTLY WITH VIETNAME, SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, GERMANY ... "DUH" .. when are people ever going to catch on???

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.

Waterboarding has worked. Personally, I would use acid. Very effective. Don't believe me? Let me pour some on you and see what you will talk about.

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."

As do most Americans find abortion sickening. An abortion is a denial of life to another human being. There is no way around this. I've known three women who had abortions. And all three have regretted it deeply. At least one of the guys involved also regrets it. He can not even talk about it after 15 years without his eyes misting up. Life is not a game.

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.

McCain does not want to lock us into a FAULTY SOCIALIST SYSTEM OF HEALTH CARE. The Republicans believe in ALLOWING MARKETS TO BE IN CHARGE NOT BIG GOVERNMENT. And as a single white man, with no children, I should not be made to pay for YOUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE.

6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes. And though his jet-set wife's inherited fortune is separate, don't tell me he doesn't have access to it. Anheuser-Busch's political action committee was among McCain's earliest donors. Cindy McCain's father, James Hensley, and other Hensley & Co. executives gave so much the Federal Election Commission ordered McCain to give some of it back. Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.

Since when has being wealthy become a crime in America? Hillary is wealth as well.. although less so now that she blew it on a failing bid for the White House. John Kerry was supported by his wealthy wife.. when did the Democrats oppose that?? As for the fools who PAID TOO MUCH or BOUGHT OUTSIDE THEIR MEANS TO REPAY .. why should I have to bail them out of their mortgages?

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander-in-chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

Many of Abe Lincoln's fellow Republicans said the same thing about him. The Democrats pushed the foolish notion that President Bush is "stupid" and yet he beat them .. twice.. for the White House. People claim, "we need to take back the country" .. again .. the Republicans won twice. Words like these are cheap. Fact is, McCain understand the military and what it will take to win in Iraq and elsewhere.

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates. And now, with the George W. Bush endorsement, he will have access to the Bush family fundraising machine and the Karl Rove school of underhanded spin. He may have been gritting his teeth, but there was a reason he was grinning from ear to ear in the Rose Garden.

This is as if to say Obama and Hillary doesn't do the exact same thing! BULL. Hillary, $260 MILLION in "earmarks" .. Obama $54+ MILLION in earmarks. McCain, "0" in "earmarks". McCain has called for Obama and Hillary to stand on their words to do away with earmarks BY CANCELLING THE ONES THEY HAVE GOING INTO EFFECT RIGHT NOW! They haven't responded.

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult.

Obama has Wright. Now outted for being a racist. There are nuts in every wood pile.

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0--yes, zero--from the League of Conservation Voters last year.

Lay out exactly what he voted against.

Now, seriously, do you want this man to be President of the United States? I don't.

There is no better choice then McCain right now. Hillary is done for. Obama will be beaten by McCain.

How about "White History Month"? A month of telling the nation and everyone else who cares to listen, what the white race did for America? Then we need "Native American Month" so my many Sioux and other native-tribes can tell how we too added to the landscape. WHERE ARE THESE CELEBRATIONS?? Why aren't the Great Chiefs celebrated with a day? Is there any wonder that Native-Americans feel hurt over all of this? Why aren't people as outraged about this as they are over who did and who did not vote for King's day of glory?

Dan, I like the idea of a day to celebrate Native Americans.

I like the idea of National Native American Month. We could all learn a lot.

There was a brief segment on CNN last night about McCain's many gaffes: he slurs his speech, forgets where he is speaking from, mistakes Iraq for Iran, thinks that Czechoslovakia still exists, and calls Putin president even though he no longer is in power.

Good thing for him that his name isn't Clinton.

;)