McCain’s Big Idea: Create A Human Trafficking Task Force (That Already Exists)
McCain’s Big Idea: Create A Human Trafficking Task Force (That Already Exists)
In Rochester, Michigan earlier this morning, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) delivered a speech outlining his “vision for defending the freedom and dignity of the world’s vulnerable.” During the speech, McCain noted that “the State Department estimates that between 15,000 and 18,000 human slaves are brought into the United States, many of whom are forced into the sex trade every year.”
Arguing that the U.S. government has not done enough to address this dire situation, McCain said “we need to do more,” adding that as president, he would establish a task force to “increase cooperation and communication between” federal agencies to combat human trafficking:
While the past few years have seen increased efforts on the part of the State and Justice Departments and the FBI to combat the human slave trade, we must do more. As President, I’ll increase cooperation and communication between all agencies of the federal government by establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose purpose will be to focus exclusively on the prosecution of human traffickers and the rescue of their victims.
Watch it:
While McCain’s proposal sounds great and creates the illusion that he is a champion of this particular cause, there is one problem — an “Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking” already exists.
The “Inter-Agency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons” was created as a result of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. In fact, the task force is already set up to do much of what McCain proposed, including combating sex trafficking, bringing traffickers to justice, and focusing on victims:
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 authorized the President to establish the President’s Interagency Task Force (PITF), a cabinet-level task force to coordinate federal efforts to combat human trafficking. The PITF is chaired by the Secretary of State and meets at least once a year. […]
The PITF approved the following resolution reaffirming the victim-centered approach [and a] commitment to bringing human traffickers to justice, and a sensitivity that victims are just that – victims.
Moreover, McCain’s “proposal” does not match his past rhetoric. In 2001, he opposed an earmark that funded the fight against human trafficking. “There is also a $200,000 earmark for a conference in human trafficking at the University of Hawaii in this bill,” McCain complained at the time.
It may be tempting to chalk up this misunderstanding to another one of McCain’s “senior moments,” but his “new idea” came from prepared remarks — which could lead one to conclude that McCain is just simply confused.
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Idiot
May 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pmThis seems like an appropriate moment for one of our posters (forget which one) to warn us to “Cool it. Or you’ll piss the old coot off.”
May 7th, 2008 at 7:03 pmSee, there. Bombin’ John be GOOD!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:04 pmHe’s already got it up and running, an’ he ain’t e’en been elected yet…The man got some MOVES!
All McCain’s efforts will ever amount to is making sure everyone who gets on the Straight Talk Express has a ticket.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pmGramps McSame says - My friends, back in the day, we had mustard trucks, they were filled with mexicans and weenies, I was in the sun too long, and my watch stopped…uh…where was I? Oh, yeah, ice cream melts on mars sometimes and I like plaid underwear, oh, and my shirt has a mustard stain today…thank you, my friends, good night.
Oh, good gaud gramps, go to bed.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:06 pmMcCain’s staff issued a mea culpa for not vetting Hagee. Maybe they didn’t vet the Inter-Agency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons either. They have a problem with their Googles.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:06 pmHuh? Oh! He must have meant human trafficking, like driving in traffic. That’s what he must have meant, we need a commission which already exists, that I opposed funding for, that addresses humans driving their cars. My friends, I have completely lost it.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:08 pmSincerely, McIIIrd.
“They have a problem with their Googles.”
Yes, they never clean them.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:10 pmOk, Timmy Russert, we’re waiting to hear you report on this. Since you’ve all but torched Hillary’s MTP availability by advising her to quit the race, let’s see you toss a journalistic lariat around ‘ol Maverick.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:12 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Thank you!!!!! He’s an irritable old coot, isn’t he?
May 7th, 2008 at 7:14 pmMcCain’s Big Idea: Create A Human Trafficking Task Force (That Already Exists)
For his next trick, McCain will propose inventing the Internet.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pmWe’ve already had 8 years of “senior moments.”
Enough is enough.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pmFirst hitting the Ellison / Koran theme at the same time on the 24 / torture thread, then an indirect reference on this one - I’m having a wonder llama-ful afternoon!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:18 pmWOW! Next he’s going to announce his intent to creat a government paid health plan for seniors, and a compensation plan that is paid into over the course of one’s working life to ensure benefits after retirement, or for spouses and children after death. And the media will go apeshit over these great ideas! He’s a maverick, an innovator!
I’d like to suggest some names for the next programs: Medicare and Social Security.
PEACE
May 7th, 2008 at 7:18 pm“Moreover, McCain’s “proposal” does not match his past rhetoric. In 2001, he opposed an earmark that funded the fight against human trafficking.”
Talk about baggage! Seems like everything he says contradicts what he has said or voted on in the past!
Good ol Fred Thompson would make a better candidate for this neocon cabal. John McBush is a real joke.
I think that us Dems should hang a visual albatross (frame) around McBush’s neck early (like now). Take “hypocrite” for instance. No one likes a hypocrite! It destroys trust! Then simply tell one short contradiction and lean on the hypocrite thing. Just like the rethugs used “flip-flop.” They will be on the defensive and then give them another contradiction and throw hypocrite in their face again. It will drive them nuts.
What other albatrosses can we hang around his neck?
We need to be aggressive this cycle and not allow these thugs to take the initiative like they did with Gore and Kerry!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pmBuckie Boy Says:
….and I REALLY liked the “I like to sit in apple pies” a few threads ago.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pmYes confused one word that can be used for McCain. Now what’s the plan for the American slaves? As the US has innocent people held in jail for more then 27 years and as reported woman and children raped. Someone should give McCain a book about America before his next speech.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:23 pmAnd the MSM jumps all over this in 3, 2, ……………………..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
May 7th, 2008 at 7:25 pmJohn McCain R(ALZ)
May 7th, 2008 at 7:26 pmRUCerious Says:
And the MSM jumps all over this in 3, 2, ……………………..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
… in 3, 2, 100 years…
May 7th, 2008 at 7:26 pmThe only reason the old fool is tolerated is because the Rethugs have thrown him and King George the Dumb under the bus. They need a strawman out in front to draw the attention from the individual Senate, House, and local incumbent crooks that want to sneak back in in under the wire. The entire thinking populace of this Country should ignore the old fool and keep pinging at the “lesser lights.” Hillary or Barack will be our next President; that is a given. It behooves all of us to assure they have a filibuster proof majority of NEW Senators and Representatives. We need to clean house of the old bushco and bushco Democrat sycophants like Pelosi and company. We don’t need any more damn investigations and hearings. We need to throw some dumb asses in jail not continue to kiss them and their pocketbooks.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:29 pmrobbez, I’ve enjoyed your “old coot” line many times. I shall from now on give you full credit if you’re not around to deliver it.
And the Ellison thing — dang. I can’t believe no one saw it before us.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:34 pmIt may be tempting to chalk up this misunderstanding to another one of McCain’s “senior moments,” but his “new idea” came from prepared remarks — which could lead one to conclude that McCain is just simply confused.
They say they didn’t properly vet fat fu(k hagee before humping his leg. What’s their excuse for continually not vetting their own bull$hit? I think these screwups should more aptly be called his “un-prepared” statements.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:37 pmGood thin McGramps is so old otherwise we’d have to assume he’s just stupid.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pmor he’s a typical republican fraud who says whatever sounds good at the moment because it doesn’t matter what he’s said before because he know the press has too many ribs in their collective mouths to say anything intelligible
May 7th, 2008 at 8:00 pmMaybe he could recruit mr abramhoff to run his program. He has plenty of knowledge on the subject of trafficking from his Marianna Islands connections. If he is unavailable he might recruit one of mr abramhoff’s protege’s.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:05 pmWayne Says:
McCain’s Big Idea: Create A Human Trafficking Task Force (That Already Exists)
For his next trick, McCain will propose inventing the Internet.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
You know, he probably would. He is so out of the loop that he doesn’t know that his folks already pinned that on Gore.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:06 pmIf there was a functioning news media, they could have asked McCorpse about the contradictions mentioned in this article.
The next questions could be as follows:
1) Since you are rightly concerned about this issue, what legislation have you sponsored to address this matter?
2) Have you encountered obstacles to passing such legislation, and if so, how have you applied your leadership skills to address this resistance?
3) In your role as a senior U. S. senator, what action can we anticipate you making to improve this situation BEFORE the November elections?
May 7th, 2008 at 8:10 pmAnother senior moment for Grampa McCain. Didn’t take his geritol in time.
Memo to McCain: No more big ideas!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 8:12 pmIf this came from prepared remarks, then one must wonder at the lack of staffing. However, McCain should have caught it. Bush has talked up the program before. Is McCain senile? There are just too many senior moments. Annoying in a senator, deadly when that 3:00am call comes in.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:13 pmMcCain said he wanted it and within 10 minutes it existed. Doesn’t that show strong, rapid, leadership ?
May 7th, 2008 at 9:02 pm“he would establish a task force to “increase cooperation and communication between” federal agencies to combat human trafficking”
Another big government Republican.
Maybe he can pay for it with an earmark.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:04 pmHis lack of awareness of the already-existing Task Force is pretty foolish.
But, I have to say, I, too, would want a bit of scrutiny for an *earmark* for *any* conference at the University of Hawaii.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:18 pmSenile, confused or just plain stupid. To traffic his old carcass, he would have to be used for dog food.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:50 pmClearly we need a “League of Nations!”
May 8th, 2008 at 12:53 am.
O.K. WAIT RIGHT THERE…!
So,
When the US Government, through the funnelling US Tax dollars through the military so as to pay resident neighbors in Iraq a “bounty” reward for “turning in” their neighbor as an American enemy… or not, does it, then that’s NOT a form of human trafficking?
I’m beginning to think the synonym of America is Hypocrisy.
.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:58 amCan a 71 year old torture victim with cancer pull off another Gipper Moment in the White House?
May 8th, 2008 at 7:03 amKeep on having these senior moments Johnny and I`ll guarantee a victory ………….. for Obama.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:34 am“…which could lead one to conclude that McCain is just simply confused.”
Confused, or stupid? You decide!
May 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm