After Voting Against Equal Pay Legislation, McCain Claims He’s ‘Committed To Equal Pay For Equal Work’
After Voting Against Equal Pay Legislation, McCain Claims He’s ‘Committed To Equal Pay For Equal Work’
Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) participated in a town hall meeting in Wisconsin. During the discussion, he claimed that he is a strong supporter of equal pay for women and other workers:
We haven’t done enough. We have not done enough. And I’m committed to making sure that there’s equal pay for equal work. That there is equal opportunity in every aspect of our society. And that is my record and you can count on it.
Watch it:
In fact, McCain seems committed to just the opposite. In April, he skipped the vote on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would have rectified the Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear “that made it much harder for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims.”
In fact, on that very same day, McCain said that if he had been in the Senate, he would have voted against it because the bill “opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems.” He also dismissed the importance of equal pay, saying that women simply need “education and training“:
“They need the education and training, particularly since more and more women are heads of their households, as much or more than anybody else,” McCain said. “And it’s hard for them to leave their families when they don’t have somebody to take care of them.
The issue is not “education and training.” When denied equal pay by her supervisor, Lilly Ledbetter was doing the exact same job as her male counterparts and received numerous performance-based awards.
As the Wonk Room notes, in 2000, McCain also opposed an amendment aimed at providing “more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex.” In 1985, McCain voted against a study to investigate pay differences among federal employees and determine whether they were the result of discrimination.
In May, McCain told a 14-year-old girl that equal pay and legislation such as Ledbetter bill don’t do “anything to help the rights of women.” McCain, however, is no expert on women’s issues. He has earned a 0 percent rating from NARAL ProChoice America six years in a row, from 2001-2007. (Tell McCain to support the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act here.)
I’ve demonstrated it a broad variety of ways from support of women in the military to all kinds of laws that provide employment to all kinds -- I'll be glad to provide you with my congressional record. I’m proud of my support of women over many many years.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Grampy McSame:
And I’m committed to making sure there’s equal pay for equal work. And just as soon as trollopy c*nts are willing to DO equal work, they’ll GET equal pay.
Now get the hell off my lawn!
July 11th, 2008 at 2:13 pmMcNumbNuts really only cares about one particular woman’s earning capacity — his druggy trophy wife’s.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:14 pmWith so many contradictions, when is his campaign finally going to implode? Either we are headed for the biggest theft of elections since ‘04, or everyone is waiting for a real train wreck of an election.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pmAnd the only place that you may hear about this is if it makes it on Countdown tonight.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:17 pmOnce McCain made his stand against the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, I just said, “that’s it — no matter what else he does, he’s NEVER going to get my vote now!”
His trying to spin his stance into one that supports women is obscene. I say this as a woman, but I happen to know plenty of men who are offended by this as well.
Why ANY woman would vote for this guy is beyond me.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:18 pm.
McFlipper
McFish
McFlopper
McLIAR!
.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pmAs McInsane’s said before, I reject your reality and substitute one of my own! How can anyone with any conscience and /or intelligence Possibly work with or for theis rolling train wreck of a campaign? I know that the MSM is almost exclusively a collection of over-indulged whores, but isn’t there Someone willing to state that this particular Chimperor-in-waiting has no clothes, much less Sanity?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:20 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Grampy McSame says - My friends back in the day we had equal pay for women, equal to mules that is, we republics consider women possessions, like mules or a chicken or something, so we consider equal pay to be the same for them, and what are they doing out of the kitchen anyway, I know I keep my trollup-C**T wife in the kitchen alot, that is where she counts our millions and that is what most household have, a wife counting their millions on the kitchen table, so why all the concern about the economy, everyone has a rich wife, right?…uh oh, I think I sat in some warm german salad.
We know you lie like there’s no tomorrow grampy, and of course the MSM is going to point that out.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Why ANYONE would vote for this guy is beyond me.
Let’s be fair about this. ;)
July 11th, 2008 at 2:29 pmDo you notice the BushCo photo op approach there; all women behind him?
This is too much like a caricature of Dubya to be believed!
Gotta love the old fart’s humour though!
July 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm“Say Anything” McCain. And I’ve been pondering lately that isn’t his wife a little long in the tooth to dress like a Barbie doll?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:33 pmMcCain got the nomination because he’s the only candidate they could find that was on the same intellectual level as Bush and as a party they assume anybody smarter than that is “elitist”. They don’t know what the word means but they know they don’t want that.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:35 pmMcCain said… “And it’s hard for them to leave their families when they don’t have somebody to take care of them.”…
Just like me. If Cindy wasn’t rich, who would take care of me? Sure she’s a trollup & a kunt, but us congress critters don’t make much. Sure, our health care is good, I haven’t been voted in the Senate since last December and if we don’t pay property taxes we still don’t go to jail, but I still say this here is hard work.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:35 pmI don’t know who this Abu Ben Hussein Leporello is but in writing “As McInsane’s said before, I reject your reality and substitute one of my own!” I can only say Welcome brother and peace be upon you, imshallah, and may your misfortunes be as mosquito-poop, and thrice welcome!
Also, hello, park your bum and have a nice cup o’ tea and a biscuit.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:35 pmJohn McCain is getting bolder and bolder with lies and distortions of his voting record. Where oh where is this being recorded in the main stream media? Are Dems out there (beside Obama) pointing out McCain’s outright lies, if so I haven’t read about it. That is the key, reading about it, if it isn’t reported then who is to know McCain is lying.
The main stream media helped elect Bush and now they are trying their damnedest to elect McCain.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:39 pmThe only honest word in his statement is “COMMITTED”, as in “He oughta be…….” - as well as any idiot who votes for him.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:39 pmIf McCain lies so frequently about his recent history how can we believe his version of his POW days. After all there are other’s who were there who view his stay as less heroic than he’d have us believe.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pmOf course he’s for it because he’s too old and senile to realize he voted against it.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pmLooked like a lot of skepticism/disgust among the audience.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pmMcCain said. “And it’s hard for them to leave their families when they don’t have somebody to take care of them.
What does McCain mean here: no one to care for the family or no one to care for the woman?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:50 pmMCCAIN: “And I’m committed to making sure that there’s equal pay for equal work.”
Q: So you agree the women should be paid the same as men if they do the same job?
MCCAIN: IF they do the same job. But they’re wome so the can;t do the same job, I mean it stands to reason, So yes I support any ridiculous hypothetical that might help me get elected and of course as we are talking about women here, it would only prove my point that women aren’t that bright if they vote for me and therfore etc and so on. Sure women are USEFUL but are they equal? Of course not–they’re like duct tape, they hold things together when you really need them, but once a bunch of men show up to fix things properly well, their real skills lie in providing refreshments and admiration for the guys doing the real work.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:54 pmThat’s how it is with me and my second wife. We’re equal–she provides the corporate jets and I promise not to take the controls and and the crash them.
That’s hard work, I can tell you; it’s MANS work! So to answer your question equality equals what I say it is. Or isn’t.
It’s the maverick in me!
He pays all of his hookers the same amount, so by his definition he is supporting equal pay for equal work.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:54 pmThose audiences better start responding or they’re going to piss the old coot off.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:55 pmAnd if he calls them all the “C” word …
July 11th, 2008 at 2:55 pmThis was a ‘woman only’ event…
I didn’t know Wisconsin women grew beards now. Does John-boy like him some ‘manly women’, or what?
July 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pmsorry folks you’ll have to surmise your way through the typos of post #21.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pmNo Zimzone, Johnboy only likes pretty, thin women. Just ask his first wife.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pmMcCain is just showing off that he is a master of Cerebral Flatulence, once again.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pmNext he will claim he gave women the right to vote, so what are they complaining about?
OK, so who flip-flops? Who can’t remember (excuse me, “recall”) what they did a week ago? I used to respect this man, but it’s running thin.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:58 pmYou’re right, Shane. Pardon me.
I got it! Those bearded women are Packers fans, & they grew them to look like Brett Favre.
July 11th, 2008 at 2:58 pmWhat are you saying 5th, after he crashed his fifth plane he would still be piloting if Cindy wasn’t paying for the jet.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:00 pmHere’s a list of some of McCain’s flip-flops (and not the real obvious ones):
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34696
July 11th, 2008 at 3:03 pmShayne: What are you saying 5th, after he crashed his fifth plane he would still be piloting if Cindy wasn’t paying for the jet.
Just riffing, Shayne…but with McCain alternating between declared positions between every TV commercial break and insisting most recently that Gramm doesn’t represent his economic views even though he DOES, I’d say there’s a bit of a struggle going over the controls in the campaign cockpit and it doesn’t bode well for a MCain presidency.
Bush drove the US into a ditch but McCain it seems is flying on rhetoric which is only going to lead to a nose-dive and an an impact crater.
Sorry Shayne (and everyone else), but you forced me to go all metaphorical on your ass! :D
July 11th, 2008 at 3:18 pmThe first time that my husband and I saw Cindy McCain the same words came out of our mouths at the same time: “Stepford Wife”. Course, we had recently seen the movie with Bette Midler.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:26 pmAnything that gets the creative juices flowing 5th is good. Apparently anything McCain flies crashes, just look at his campaign.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:29 pmApparently the video has now been made unavaqilable. Wonder why that is?
July 11th, 2008 at 3:32 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
Apparently the video has now been made unavaqilable. Wonder why that is?
Maybe because someone told McDepends that this stuff DOES get looked at on Youtube. I wonder how many others will ‘disappear’ over the next 5 months?
July 11th, 2008 at 4:05 pmLies, lies & more lies from McCain. A shameless liar- not a ‘misspeaker’ nor a ‘misrememberer’- an outright liar. Every one of his bold lies should be headline news.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
Apparently Google and YouTube are following orders…
July 11th, 2008 at 4:13 pmI think this mean we should boycott Google and YouTube… YOU?
McCain lies.
Dog bites Man.
Same sh*t, different day.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm“And that is my record and you can count on it.”
An outright lie, of course. The latest, but not the last. Because McCain and the Republicans know that it’s the soundbites that count, not the truth.
When the Democrats realize this, they will continuously win elections as the Republicans do.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pmAnd I’m not suggesting that Democrats lie in their soundbites. But simply that they make truthful soundbites that benefit them.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:40 pmThose darn women they should stay home and raise babies, let the real men do the thinking. Next thing they will be wanting to vote !
July 11th, 2008 at 4:45 pmPseudonym Says:
And I’m not suggesting that Democrats lie in their soundbites. But simply that they make truthful soundbites that benefit them.
Because most intelligent solutions will not fit into 2 second soundbites for the air temperature IQ crowd.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pmIncredible. This isn’t even flip-flopping. There is such an incredible disconnect in his words and actions that I think it’s schizophrenia. Or… even more likely, it’s his evil twin, Skippy McSame at work. That must be it.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pmI gotta say that the federal government should not be in the business of equal pay legislation or any “pay” legislation. Govt division of peoples money has to stop somewhere. They are already too deeply involved in business in this country. Let a free market decide what to pay men or women and discriminations be worked out through the state court system. The federal government loves to keep discrimination a major issue with such legislation. It allows them more ways in which to justify taxation and spending as well as gives them a centralized department meant to control the whole process. It also creates the false impression that someone is always acting in their best interest always. The Constitution extends it’s rights to all Americans without need for further legislation. Women can make equal pay on their own merits. They should just enforce the Constitution. Mcpain should quickly bow out of this race, retire, and immediately support Ron Paul. Obama will easily defeat Mccain.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:12 pmFor a variety of reasons, this being number one on the list, no woman should even consider voting for John McCain.
Actually, I could insert any group in a statement about who should not vote for John McCain couldn’t I: veterans, students, the poor, the sick, the elderly, economists — yes, they all would find a list of reasons not to vote for John McCain.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:03 pmI gotta say that the federal government should not be in the business of equal pay legislation or any “pay” legislation. Govt division of peoples money has to stop somewhere. They are already too deeply involved in business in this country. Let a free market decide what to pay men or women and discriminations be worked out through the state court system.
Now that’s the most ingenious piece of authentic neocon gibberish I’ve read in months.
If there’s no law against pay discrimination, how in the wide, wide world of sports are the courts going to enforce it?
Jeebutz.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:32 pmWayne Says:
Because most intelligent solutions will not fit into 2 second soundbites for the air temperature IQ crowd.
Who said anything about intelligent solutions? Unfortunately, intelligent solutions don’t make it to the 11 o’clock news. Was McCain’s lie that he’s committed to equal pay a solution (intelligent or not)? Was his lie that his record is good on this a solution (intelligent or not)? No - they were perceptions that he even has an intelligent solution. If that sound bite gets on the news unquestioned by reporters/anchors, then the perception is that McCain has an intelligent solution to the problem of unequal pay when the opposite is actually true.
The Democrats need to realize that this, unfortunately, is the way the game is play (and the crappy news in this country has made it a game).
Example soundbite that Obama can make: “John McCain voted against a bill that would have brought equal pay for women. This pay discrepency is shameful.”
July 11th, 2008 at 8:40 pmMarie Says:
For a variety of reasons, this being number one on the list, no woman should even consider voting for John McCain.
You are absolutely correct. But how would voters know this? The impression given by McCain’s comment was that he actually does have women’s interest at heart when the opposite is true. Detailed fact checking happens on excellent blogs such as Think Progress which more often than not preaches to the choir - which is a good thing because it activates the choir, but doesn’t really correct the “public record” if the sound bite is what is played on the news channels and news programs.
This is why he still has a maverick persona. Reporters trade in sound bites. These days, even they get their “facts” from sound bites because they are too busy editing together their segments to dig for the truth.
As a result, the only way to get the truth out there is to do so via truthful sound bites. Perhaps then when the sound bites conflict, maybe, just maybe some reporter will decide to dig deeper, or maybe the voters will.
But if the reporters/anchors won’t challenge the incorrect sound bites, SOMEONE needs to on the same air as McCain’s lies, not just on the blogs.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:46 pm#50 pseudonym
July 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pmYou are so right when you say that the public just doesn’t know. News reporting is simply stenography. Journalism is sound bites.
Too many people just get headlines and little more — one can’t depend on the media for facts and context.
Someone checked the senate payroll ‘female vs male’ on Hussein O and McCain’s staff. I’ll give you three guess’s who pays the females the most, equal to or sometimes more than the males. A clue, it isn’t Hussein O.
Now all of you know nothing liberal commenters can go hide under momma’s skirt.
July 12th, 2008 at 12:59 amI thought you liberals spent all of your time ’smoking’ dope, not I find you spend most of your time blowing smoke on subjects you are totally ignorant about.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:03 amMcCain skipped the vote on fair pay and skipped the vote on medicare cuts.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:45 amMaybe he should just skip back to Arizona and have a few cold ones with the trophy wife.
Scrapiron Says:
Someone checked the senate payroll ‘female vs male’ on Hussein O and McCain’s staff. I’ll give you three guess’s who pays the females the most, equal to or sometimes more than the males. A clue, it isn’t Hussein O.
Why not be a gentleman and share that information with us, in the form of a link to a reputable site?
July 12th, 2008 at 1:58 amThere are two things I don’t like about mcbush: his face.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am5th Estate Says:
That’s how it is with me and my second wife. We’re equal–she provides the corporate jets and I promise not to take the controls and and the crash them.
Now that is frickin hilarious :)~
July 12th, 2008 at 9:24 ambratboy Says:
There are two things I don’t like about mcbush: his face.
More hilarity :)~
July 12th, 2008 at 9:34 amPhil Graham was 100% correct. All you have to do is read the comments on here to prove democrats are 100% whiners. McCain is too much of a gentleman to back him up. Trying to run a clean campaign against a mafia connected slander machine isn’t working so time to change and fight dirty. Then it isn’t dirty to tell the truth about the biggest and most frequent liar to ever run for POTUS. Hussein is also a slow learner, he hasn’t figured out his lies will be slammed within hours. Like the ‘I don’t speak a foreign language’ this week as opposed to 2006 when he admitted he spoke Arabic and a little spanish. Was he lying then or is he lying now or will he say the media mis-quoted him? Caling the media liars has caught up with him, they are now looking under the rocks and in the sewer where he lives.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:20 amAnother distortion! The Lily Ledbetter Equal Pay Act, wasn’t about equal pay at all. The legislation was addressing the statute of limitations in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding how long one has to bring a law suit regarding pay discrimination. It was the statute of limitation that caused Lilly Ledbetter’s lawsuit to be unsuccessful. She filed her lawsuit after the statute of limitation had expired.
Although I certainly believe the statute of limitation duration needs to be extended (to two years? five years?) the legislation proposed ELIMINATING the statute of limitation altogether. Very few crimes have no statue of limitation - I believe murder is one of them. I am not a lawyer, but lawyers have argued that statute of limitations server a very necessary purpose regarding fair and balanced trials. A long or unlimited duration increases the risk of evidence of pay discrimination and witnesses no longer existing. This can hurt victims. This was poorly conceived and written legislation and it needed to be defeated so better legislation can be written.
By the way, the Congressional Record regarding the cloture motion for this legislation is most interesting! It seems the Senate session to debate this motion was delayed until 5PM so Obama and Clinton could return from the campaign trail to vote. And this is clearly acknowledged in the Senate minutes. Gee…. no politics or manipulation there from the majority party!!!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 am