Flashback: McCain Opposed Divestment From South Africa
Flashback: McCain Opposed Divestment From South Africa
During his speech before the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) touted the success of America’s divestment campaign from South Africa’s racist apartheid regime and proposed a similar policy towards Iran:
We should privatize the sanctions against Iran by launching a worldwide divestment campaign. …Years ago, the moral clarity and conviction of civilized nations came together in a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid. In our day, we must use that same power and moral conviction against the regime in Iran, and help to safeguard the people of Israel and the peace of the world.
Years ago, McCain lacked the “moral clarity and conviction” to consistently support divestment from South Africa. Despite voting to override President Reagan’s veto of a bill imposing economic sanctions against South Africa in 1986, McCain voted against sanctions on at least six other occasions:
– 1985: Voted To Recommit Anti-Apartheid Act To Foreign Affairs Committee Postponing Sanctions Against South Africa: McCain voted to postpone for one year the imposition of any sanctions against South Africa, permitting the president to waive the sanctions if he determined that the African National Congress had not renounced violence. [HR 1460, Vote 129, 6/5/85, Failed 139-282, D 7-238; R 132-44; I 0-0]
– 1985: Voted To Allow U.S. Firms Continue Investing In South Africa: McCain voted to let U.S. firms continue investing in South Africa if their units comply with a code of worker rights. [HR 1460, Vote 110, 5/21/85, Failed 148-256, D 3-227; R 145-29; I 0-0]
– 1985: Voted Against Requiring Immediate Withdrawal Of U.S. Investment From South Africa: McCain voted against imposing a total ban on U.S. exports to South Africa. [HR 1460, Vote 128, 6/5/85, Failed 77-345, D 77-167; R 0-178; I 0-0]
– 1985: Voted Against Establishing A Commission To Study Apartheid In South Africa And To Recommend Sanctions: McCain voted against establishing a commission to study apartheid in South Africa and to recommend what sanctions the United States should impose on the government. [HR 1460, Vote 126, 6/5/85, Failed 108-310, D 6-235; R 102-75; I 0-0]
– 1985: Voted Against Imposing Sanctions Against South Africa: McCain voted against imposing sanctions immediately against South Africa. [HR 1460, Vote 130, 6/5/85, Passed 295-127, D 239-6; R 56-121; I 0-0]
– 1986: Voted Against Considering Imposing Economic Sanctions Against South Africa: McCain voted against providing for House floor consideration of the bill to impose economic sanctions against South Africa. [HR 4868, Vote 159, 6/18/86, Passed 286-127, D 238-4; R 48-123; I 0-0]
McCain’s schizophrenic voting record on divestment undermines his lofty campaign rhetoric and moral platitudes. McCain was as slow to recognize the importance of “helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid” as he is quick to consider bombing Iran.
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Whiplash McSame, ladies and gentlemen. :-)
June 4th, 2008 at 8:36 pmThis isn’t a good tactic, as it sounds too much like whiplash Obama with the gas tax. He’ll just argue he learned from the experience and changed his mind as Obama has…
June 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pmLet us not forget, also, that Obama was the one that proposed a bipartisan bill that would pressure American companies to withdraw their investments in Iran. In Tuesday’s pre-buttal speech, McCain accuses Obama of promoting the “failed policies of the past”, but then goes ahead and promotes Obama’s policies. Does anyone think we are going to lose to this joker in November?
June 4th, 2008 at 8:43 pmMcCain only has “clarity and conviction” when it comes to making money and keeping the lobbyists happy. Sorry, I can’t use the word moral in the same sentence as John’s name. He lost his morality years ago. His insistance at bomb, bomb, bombing Iran, and making a joke of it, shows how little importance he values human life.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:44 pm“McCain was as slow to recognize the importance of “helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid” as he is quick to consider bombing Iran.”
Yes, and slow to get behind the MLK holiday, too. Guess McCain has a real problem getting behind African-American issues. Are we now to believe that he’s grown from these experiences?
But then, if he really did rank 894th out of his class of 899 at Annapolis, s-l-o-w seems to be his real problem.
PEACE
June 4th, 2008 at 8:45 pmCan’t be lettin’ them darkies get uppity - next thing you know, one of ‘em will be wantin’ to be Prezdnit.
What is wrong with these goddamned Republicans?
If you rob, politically disenfranchise, and oppress a group of people mercilessly and for a long time - especially when based on an inherent and immutable thing such as skin color - they will rise up in violence against you. They are not terrorists. You, however, are a racist thug.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:51 pmOFF TOPIC:
Clinton to suspend campaign, bucking for VP bid?
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Hillary Clinton will officially suspend her campaign for the presidency by the end of the week, multiple sources told CNN on Wednesday.
The Clinton campaign said she “will be hosting an event in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity.”
June 4th, 2008 at 8:55 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
June 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Ya got nothin’, rhf. Obama said the gas tax holiday was a dumb idea, and he was right.
Hey, Hillary is finally doing what she could have done gracefully last night. :-D
June 4th, 2008 at 8:56 pm# 8 Zooey Says:
Ya got nothin’, rhf. Obama said the gas tax holiday was a dumb idea, and he was right.
Hey, Hillary is finally doing what she could have done gracefully last night. :-D
Good evening Zooey, how is your mom doing? Good I hope:)
June 4th, 2008 at 8:59 pmLongtime Senators leave a paper trail. This is why they rarely become presidents. If you’re a Senator, run early.
No, even earlier than her.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:00 pmFreedom Rebel Says:
June 4th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Hello, Freedom Rebel. We’re still in IL, but Mom is recovering nicely in the rehab unit to re-build her strength. I hope to put the parents on an airplane home, and get headed west in the next week. :)
June 4th, 2008 at 9:04 pm#11 Zooey
Hello, Freedom Rebel. We’re still in IL, but Mom is recovering nicely in the rehab unit to re-build her strength. I hope to put the parents on an airplane home, and get headed west in the next week. :)
Glad to hear she is progressing. It rained here most of the day in Ohio, I hope you had better weather in IL.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:12 pmEverybody sing!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, hopeless and fright’ning,
No one you see, panders more than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of bluster,
Lying to muster, muster the presidency!
Everyone knows the king of the flip flop,
On one position he can’t stop,
Tricks he will do when voters appear,
And how they laugh when he’s near!
They call him Flipper, Flipper, hopeless and fright’ning,
June 4th, 2008 at 9:17 pmNo one you see, panders more than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of bluster,
Lying to muster, muster the presidency!
Freedom Rebel Says:
June 4th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
We were headed for Ohio! The weather here has been terrible. We had tornado warnings last night — a first for this westerner. Yikes.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:21 pm#13, PLC — Fantastic!
June 4th, 2008 at 9:22 pmRaise your hand if you helped build a cardboard shanty town on the quad.
June 4th, 2008 at 9:44 pmThank you, Zooey. BTW, I don’t really know the story about your mom, but I hope and trust that things are improving.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:03 pmObama needs to take this idiot up (after a rest period) on his town hall meeting. McCain thinks that’s his sdtrong point…I’d hate to see his weakest point. Do it away from the media pundits, bring this kind of crap up and see how long McInsane lasts. Unless he McFlipper (great song, by the way!) remains delusional, he will probably bow out ater 1 meeting. Bring it on!
June 4th, 2008 at 10:04 pmApparently Obama literally backed McCain up against the wall in the Senate today and gave him a talking to.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:19 pmRight on!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2008/ 06/ 04/ lieberman-carries-mccains_n_105179.html
#13 PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
Thanks for the laugh you are on a roll tonight….
June 4th, 2008 at 10:31 pmDivestment? How funny.
The use was ready to when the ANC come to power.
In comes the IMF, the world Bank ad something called the
Washington Consensus.
The blacks got the government and the whites total control of the
economics
There is still apartheid.
The real question is what was McCains role during these
later negotiations.
If you follow where I’m going with this you’ll see that
the US would love to do to Iraq and Iraq ad the rest of the Middle East
what they’ve done to South Africa.
Good reference: Chapter 10 of the Shock Doctrine
June 4th, 2008 at 10:40 pmDemocracy born in Chains.
Prolific pandowaffling.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:03 pmMcCain is totally out of his league now with Barack Obama as his rival.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:19 pmHe (McCain) might have been able to hold his own for a little while against Hillary…
Barack will leave behind him in the dust a babbling and bumbling burnout that will make even George Bush look good.
That idiot “McBush” can’t even remember all his lies. He doesnt know if he is going our coming. What a joke. Surely no one is taking little McBush seriously? are they?
JT
June 4th, 2008 at 11:54 pmIs your ISP Snooping on you?
Why should he care? He’s old, rich, and so white he looks (and probably smells) like he was rolled in talcum powder. What a maroon.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:19 amYes, this was the same policy introduced by Obama/Brownback (of all people), that McIIIrd opposed. Jackass.
June 5th, 2008 at 12:56 amMust all our political candidates kiss the Jews’ asses?
June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 amI am not involed in US politics, living north of the 49th, but having said that, I think Obama is inspirational and hope he will be the next US president.
John McCain’s comments are rather ironic not only considering his record voting on the subject but also his audience. I almost fell off my chair when I saw this post.
Considering that Israel set its self apart from the rest of the western world was one of the most fierce opponents of the sanctions against South Africa during the 80’s, there must have been more then a few uncomfortable glances among members of the audience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Israel-South_Africa_relations
Many said G.W.Bush, although clueless, would be a good president because he would have great advisers to guide him. That worked out well didn’t it?
Looks like those advisers are working the McCain campaign.
Just one more reason why McCain is unfit for the nomination.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:51 amNevar Says : Apparently Obama literally backed McCain up against the wall in the Senate today and gave him a talking to.
Right on! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2008/ 06/ 04/ lieberman-carries-mccains_n_105179.html
– spell it out for me : what exactly can Obama threaten Lieberman with?
June 5th, 2008 at 4:01 amRowan Berkeley Says:
Nevar Says : Apparently Obama literally backed McCain up against the wall in the Senate today and gave him a talking to.
Right on! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2008/ 06/ 04/ lieberman-carries-mccains_n_105179.html
– spell it out for me : what exactly can Obama threaten Lieberman with?
I did not use the word threaten in my post, neither did I find the word threaten in the linked article…
June 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amAre you flailing at the oars again?
I want to know what leverage Obama has over Lieberman. The exact terminology was not my concern. I wasn’t criticising you.
Whenever I see any account of what Obama said to Lieberman, I shall pass it on. I have even checked the comments thread at HuffPost on that story several times since it went up, in the hope that someone will post such an account. I’m really, really interested.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:57 amThis really nails the situation, doesn’t it, Nevar?
“The Democratic majority in the next Senate is almost certain to be big enough that it will not have to depend on Joe Lieberman continuing to call himself a Democrat”
June 5th, 2008 at 10:04 amMark Schmitt, American Prospect, May 27, 2008
http://www.prospect.org/ cs/ articles?article=can_identity_politics_save_the_right
Someone in that HuffPost thread says that Harry Reid said Joe could caucus with the party even if they didn’t need him after November.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amNevar Says: Are you flailing at the oars again?
You sound like the same kind of person who thinks that he can establish Iran’s malign intent by referring to Ahmadinejad as “I’m a a dinner jacket.”
June 6th, 2008 at 2:31 amYou sound like the same kind of person we have had here before who thinks he can bait and confuse with obtuse and wandering non-statements of position.
You also seem to have an inability to steer a straight course.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:36 amIf your oars meet in the middle and crush your thumbs, either your boat is to narrow, or your oarlocks are misplaced.
You may simply abandon ship, or try paddling over the side with one oar.
Another remedy is to alternate port and starboard oars.
That’s left and right, in case you are unfamiliar with nautical terms.
In any event, you are likely to get wet before it’s all over. Fortunately the patches on the elbows of your blazer are vinyl, and won’t suffer any permanent damage. See you in class, Professor.