McCain Bends His Pledge To Eliminate All Earmarks Again: I Will Judge Spending Cuts ‘On The Basis Of Need’
McCain Bends His Pledge To Eliminate All Earmarks Again: I Will Judge Spending Cuts ‘On The Basis Of Need’
On the campaign trail, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) makes a big show of claiming that he is the “worst nightmare” of Congressional spending and that if elected, he “will veto every bill with earmarks.” At the same time, McCain’s campaign has said it will “cut some $160 billion in discretionary spending” out of the budget, including $95 billion that “began life as an earmark.”
But in an interview with NPR’s Robert Siegel yesterday, McCain bent his earmark elimination pledge, indicating that he would consider making an exception for projects like the Gee’s Bend ferry that he recently visited in Alabama:
SIEGEL: Why should voters, particularly in those places, believe that you’d do any better by them than other politicians, especially when you might even take away the earmarks that might bring them a new construction project or something like that?
SEN. MCCAIN: I can assure them that the earmarks that they have received, which have been few and far between because they are not represented by powerful lobbyists and special interests in Washington, that we will judge any expenditure of the American people’s tax dollars on the basis of need. Someone pointed out several earmarks that have been fortunately gifted to some of the neediest people in comparison to the earmarks that have gone, first of all. For an example, at Gee’s Bend they put in a ferry a couple years ago, and that was an earmark.
Listen here:
Just as with his false claim that he is “the only one the special interests don’t give any money to,” McCain has a credibility gap whenever he makes a sweeping statement that he will eliminate all earmarks.
As Think Progress has noted, in order to fulfill his pledge, McCain would need to cut U.S. aid for Israel and military housing. Faced with this reality earlier this week, McCain told ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos that he would make an exception for such programs.
Thus far, McCain refuses to “name programs he’ll cut” and when challenged on particular programs, he seems to always make an exception. Is that what he calls “straight talk?”
Transcript:
MR. SIEGEL: This campaign tour that you’re on is the It’s Time for Action Now tour. You’re campaigning in Youngstown, Ohio, rural Kentucky, Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Most campaigns say it’s time for action now or that it’s time to finally do something. Why should voters, particularly in those places, believe that you’d do any better by them than other politicians, especially when you might even take away the earmarks that might bring them a new construction project or something like that?SEN. MCCAIN: I can assure them that the earmarks that they have received, which have been few and far between because they are not represented by powerful lobbyists and special interests in Washington, that we will judge any expenditure of the American people’s tax dollars on the basis of need. Someone pointed out several earmarks that have been fortunately gifted to some of the neediest people in comparison to the earmarks that have gone, first of all.
For an example, at Gee’s Bend they put in a ferry a couple years ago, and that was an earmark. Several years before that, they refurbished a statue of Vulcan for many millions of dollars in Birmingham. In any comparative process, open and authorizing process, the refurbishment of a statue of Vulcan in Birmingham would have taken a far, far lower priority than one that went ahead of it, and that is a ferry for the citizens of Gee’s Bend. So I’m saying to you that the people have been shortchanged because of this pork barrel and earmark project. The people who are least and last represented in Washington, which is our lowest income Americans, and I can prove that.
MR. SIEGEL: But you still don’t want to spend any federal money on them do you? I mean, you’re against government spending.
SEN. MCCAIN: Of course I do if there’s a need. (Chuckles.) If there’s a need, we should take care of Americans in need. Frankly, I’m astonished at the question. Of course we need to take care of Americans who are needy. We need to do it through an open, honest, transparent process that is proceeded by hearings and authorization, not by putting in a project not only in the middle of the night but maybe even after the president has signed the bill, which was the case of some millions of dollars to a project in Florida, apparently put in either by the staff or a member of Congress after the bill was passed.
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38 Responses to “McCain Bends His Pledge To Eliminate All Earmarks Again: I Will Judge Spending Cuts ‘On The Basis Of Need’”
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The entire Iraq debacle is Boosh earmarked pork
April 24th, 2008 at 1:21 pmMcJowls: my friends, watch what I do, not what I say.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pmCaption contest entry:
“Damn — I forgot my lines again! Let’s see…earmarks bad, no — earmarks good — no — earmarks we LIKE are good…”
April 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pmA recent study showed that this last Democratic Congress has cut in half the amount for earmarks when compared to the Republican Congress that immediately preceeded it. In other words, much of the work McCain is proposing has already been done. Can John McCain be out of touch with reality? (That answers itself).
April 24th, 2008 at 1:25 pmNeed = kissing fat cat conservative ass.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:26 pmRe 4:
In Mcain’s defense, he has missed 58% of all votes this year, so he hasn’t been around that much, if you know what I mean.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:27 pmIt’s so simple even McCain should be able to figure it out. If it’s sponsored by a Republican it must be good.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:28 pmHe seems to willing to make a stand except when if affects him politically. Do you think Mr. Hagee would allow McCain to cut funding to Israel?
http://www.soultv.net
April 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pmJust what the hell will he do with a Democratic House and Senate with a veto-overriding majority. Even if he wasn’t too old to set in the Oval Office and play with himself his CRS (Can’t Remember Shit) would kick in and he wouldn’t know how to do it. The only earmark he will have to deal with is when Cindy gets ahold of one of his.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pmSo he’s showing signs of becoming rational again>?
But he refuses to provide any detail on programs he’d cut?
Same old, same older, John Sidney McCain III should stick to BBQing for the press.
He stinks at being a candidate for the highest office in the land.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm“I could’ve had a V-8!”
Seriously let’s ignore the 800 lb. gorilla that is Iraq-mire. Talk about an empty suit.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pm“Also, my millionaire wife, who obviously worked hard for every cent she has, deserves another tax cut.”
April 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pmWho needs earmarks for construction projects? Isn’t that what the “free market” is for?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pm/sarc
Geez, how many times has that “Straight Talk Express” driven into the ditch now?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pm#6 He hasen’t been around that much, even when he is around he’s not all there..I use to respect mcweird for his service although I would never vote for him….Now he has become a worse case senario of bull shit bush and the reich winger’s..He has shown he has no respect for women, our country and especiely our military..
Often when we age our ideas change or intensefy…In my own personal view all of my libral qualaties have grown…Saving all life, the planet have become my work…In mccrazy’s case he has joined force’s and become the worst bad boy, stop the madness, don’t vote for insanety and greed..Blessings
April 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pmI want a straight-talking president who takes food off the table
of Americans ‘on the basis of need.’ That I want out of the straight-jacket express.
John McCain, the President mental health clinics have been waiting for.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pmWow. The spin is all the way up to F5 these days.
*eyeroll*
April 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pmI suspect more promotions for Petraeus coming if McCain is (s)elected. The JCS chairmanship would look like an entry-level position.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm“we will judge any expenditure of the American people’s tax dollars on the basis of need.”
April 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pmYou all NEED to marry a rich beer heiress - that way you don’t NEED gummint handouts.
SEN. MCCAIN: Of course I do if there’s a need. (Chuckles.) If there’s a need, we should take care of Americans in need.
How many “Americans” live in Israel , McNitWit ?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pmCaption contest entry:
Debate the Democrats? The thought of it gives me a headache.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pmHe was against earmarks before he was for them. Tomorrow he will be against them again.
You say “maverick”, I say “bipolar”.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pmhe’ll remember what he wants for lunch and that is all you can count on.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pmA campaign run by lobbyists, a candidate in bed with lobbyists, and we are to believe that as prez McBush will cut off the lobbyists’ gold flow?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:30 pmWell no sh*t, Mickey. How does that make you different from any other candidate?
Sounds to me like he just found out what earmarks were. He seems to do that a lot. And I thought Obama had a big mouth.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:34 pmMcWars Says
April 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“straight-jacket express”
_______________________________
I like that. Can I use it too?
April 24th, 2008 at 2:39 pmMiss Molly, OF COURSE! And please don’t credit me, it’s the least I could do in recognition of your marvelous scholarship here.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
McWars Says
April 24th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“straight-jacket express”
_______________________________
I like that. Can I use it too?
Me too? Pleeeeease? :)~
April 24th, 2008 at 3:01 pmJust happened…I have an old friend, republican all his life..Yep! I do..He just told me he woulden’t vote for mccane if he was the last one standing no matter what..I asked him why and he said “Any one that disrespect’s his wife and neglect’s vet’s need’s to go to jail”..May I add this old friend is a vet and we rarely agree but remain civil and respectful of one another’s view’s..He’s 72 and a voter that just changed to the Dem’s….Blessings
April 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pmwe will judge any expenditure of the American people’s tax dollars on the basis of need.
No Johnny, you wont.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:10 pmBecause you will never be elected.
These days it’s easy to realize the Republicans don’t know what they’re doing. The hard part is realizing that the Democrats don’t either.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm“I Will Judge Spending Cuts ‘On The Basis Of Need”
Translation of Republican new speak - ‘On The Basis of Republican Needs’ if it’s a Democrat need, then, Screw em.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:58 pmCaption Contest:
Oh My God, did I really say all that Stupid Stuff!
Impeach Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pmAbu Ben Hussein Leporello.
#31 must agree in part, many of our representative’s are just as corrupt and blind…I don’t find it hard to realize though. I’m of the mind set most need to be booted out on both side’s…..Blessings
April 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pmIt sounds like he wants to be “The Decider”.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pmsed -e ’s/need/greed/g’
April 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pmWell it’s apparently hard for most folks. Some people live their entire lives as if there are only Dems and Reps.
It is reassuring to occasionally hear that I’m not alone in my thinking. Thank you.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:37 pmMcCain votes for billions of dollars of earmark subsidies for Israelis, who aren’t even American! If you want to cut pork, a good place to start is to eliminate any and all contributions to Israel.
Sen McCain, in case you didn’t know it, Israel is NOT part of the U.S. It is not the 51st state.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:10 am