After Voting Against Them 19 Times, McCain Claims He Supports Minimum Wage Increases
After Voting Against Them 19 Times, McCain Claims He Supports Minimum Wage Increases
Today on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) why he has voted 17 times against raising the federal minimum wage. (Wallace later corrected himself and pointed out it was 19 times, to which McCain dismissively replied, “Well, or 29 or 49, whatever it is.”) McCain initially attempted to wriggle out of answering by talking about tax cuts.
But when pressed again by Wallace, McCain claimed that he opposed the increases only because they were attached to unrelated spending bills:
McCAIN: I’m for the minimum wage increases when they are not attached to other big-spending pork barrel. The practice in Washington is attach a good thing to a bad thing. And that way, then you have to vote yes or no. […]
When I’m president, I’m going to veto every bill that doesn’t have straight up or down votes on the issues that are important to the American people. … The fact is that I am for a living wage for all Americans.
Watch it:
Ironically, one of the only times McCain actually did support a minimum wage increase was when it was tied to a war funding bill. But on at least 15 occasions, McCain has opposed minimum wage increases that were stand-alone amendments or bills. On April 7, 2000, he even voted against a non-binding “sense of the Senate” resolution “concerning an increase in the Federal minimum wage.”
McCain’s assertion that he supports a “living wage” for all Americans is even more questionable, considering his 19 votes against the minimum wage. After all, a living wage is usually even higher than the minimum wage.
Transcript:
WALLACE: But, if I may, Senator…
MCCAIN: Yes, sure.
WALLACE: … the Democrats pointed out at the convention that you have voted 17 times against raising the minimum wage. They say the only reason you voted for it in 2007 was because it was linked to war funding.
MCCAIN: Well, the point is that I have voted to keep taxes low and to cut taxes. And Senator Obama has voted to raise them consistently.
WALLACE: But why have you been (ph) against the minimum wage?
MCCAIN: Even on people as low as $42,000. I’m for the minimum wage increases when they are not attached to other big-spending pork barrel. The practice in Washington is attach a good thing to a bad thing. And that way, then you have to vote yes or no.
The energy bill, the energy bill had a lot of good things in it, and it billions of dollars of pork and good deals for the oil companies. Senator Obama voted for it. I voted against it, because we’ve got to start giving people a straight choice.
Now, you watch this September. Harry Reid will say, OK, we’ll let you vote on offshore drilling…
WALLACE: Senate Democratic leader.
MCCAIN: Yes. The Senate Democratic leader will say, well, let’s vote on offshore drilling, but you’ve got to have A, B, C, D and E. You can’t just have a straight up or down vote.
When I’m president, I’m going to veto every bill that doesn’t have straight up or down votes on the issues that are important to the American people.
WALLACE: So, you would have been for…
MCCAIN: I’m certainly…
WALLACE: … alone (ph), after the increases in the…
MCCAIN: Look, I’m certainly…
WALLACE: … minimum wage, even though you voted against it, I said 17, it was actually 19 times?
MCCAIN: Well, or 29 or 49, whatever it is. The fact is that I am for a living wage for all Americans. And I’d like to see them get it. But the key is to get them jobs, and get them the kind of good educational opportunity and affordable health care. So, I am committed, and my record clearly shows that I’ve done everything I can to keep their taxes low, to get them available and affordable health insurance, and to secure a good education and give them a choice, not be governed by the teachers’ union.
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McCain’s “living wage” is whatever keeps corporate profits growing.
He’s more concerned about the life of legal business entities than living, breathing workers.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:50 amDon’t let them pesky facts get in the way of a reich-wing talking point: “My friends, I was POW, that is why, my friends, the tax cuts, pre-9/11 thinking, Iraq, tax cuts, I am for minimum wage for all Americans….did I mention, my friends, that I was a POW? Anyhow, them tax cuts for millionaires are important for us POWs, my friends, and Iran, my friends, and POWs…..my friends”.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:54 amMcNumbNuts on FoxSnooze; then Cindy McBimbo on ABC.
Both professing their “salt-of-the-earth” mindsets and “wanting everyone in the U.S. to be rich”. Gimme a break! Just how stupid do these charlatans think we are?
Both of them are so thin and transparent that they don’t even cast a shadow. I am sick and tired of their cynical politics. Failin’ Palin is just another example of their knee-jerk, radical, thoughtless, desperate “win at any cost” mentality. Presidential nominees are the decision of the primary voters; VP nominees are the first and most important decisions of the the presidential nominee. McCain failed his first test. Time to send him back to the Senate.
I thought, however, that John Kerry made the best point of all those on the morning talk shows: “With this VP selection, John McCain has shown that he is not a ‘maverick’ . . . he is erratic.”
August 31st, 2008 at 10:56 amWell, it’s nice to see that Wallace called him on his BS. Unfortunately he either backed off or was not prepared enough to confront him on his last lie, that he voted against them because they were attached to other bills.
The sad thing is the only way the Democrats seem to be able to get a minimum wage bill passed is when they are attached to another bill that the Republicans want more than they don’t want minimum wage.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:57 amHe is certainly for a “minimum” wage for every worker. Just as minimum as the Corporate thieves can get away with. Why do you think they move the jobs overseas? You guessed it! MINIMUM wages.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:02 amWow! He managed to lie about his positions on minimum wage, the threshold for Senator Obama’s tax cuts, his support of universal healthcare, all at one time!
I honestly do hope that there is someone, somewhere, who spent the entire lettuce season picking lettuce, and who will present McStain with a bill, since he promised to pay any American $50/hour to pick lettuce for an entire season.
Now that would be priceless!
PEACE
August 31st, 2008 at 11:02 am… and on Face the Nation this morning, joe LIEberman states that he’s a “visiting democrat” at the convention…
i really really wish that he would drop that pose…
August 31st, 2008 at 11:06 am. . . and just one more thing.
Lindsey and all the other McNumbNuts surrogates this morning were delighted to talk about Failin’ Palin. She is a bright, shiny thing that distracts everyone from the real issues of this campaign — that is, the senile old f*rt at the top of the ticket who is joined at the hip to GDumbya and the right wing of the republican party.
A word of advice to the democrats — do not be distracted. Failin’ Palin will collapse under the weight of scrutiny. Others can and will do that. She will either withdraw or hang around and be a millstone for McNumbNuts. Stay on message. Stay on message. Stay on message.
“Eight years is enough.”
August 31st, 2008 at 11:06 amtom Says:
McNumbNuts on FoxSnooze; then Cindy McBimbo on ABC.
Both professing their “salt-of-the-earth” mindsets and “wanting everyone in the U.S. to be rich”.
I have news for these fools. There are many of us here in America whose ultimate life goal is not to be rich, but rather enjoy “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Money is all they see, money is all that matters, money determines a person’s worth and value in their eyes. Most Americans would be very content to be financially secure in the middle class.
McCain also referred to Palin as his “partner and a soulmate.” Wonder how Arizon Barbie feels about that?
PEACE
August 31st, 2008 at 11:09 amA living wage is only $1 million a year, right? If you can’t have $5 mil settle for $1 mil.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:11 amDoesn’t he realize that discerning people are actually listening to him, and judging what he says? When he brags, exaggerates, and lies he will be challenged!! (I HOPE?)
I would rather have 1 rich life than go through 100 lives being wealthy…………
August 31st, 2008 at 11:11 amMcCain also referred to Palin as his “partner and a soulmate.” Wonder how Arizon Barbie feels about that?
Ditto to your whole post, spencers mom.
As to the answer to your question above, I think Cindy McBimbo is meeting frequently with her attorneys to review and tune up her pre-nuptial agreement. She’s got to be hearing footsteps now that her “beauty queen” looks are fading and McNumbNuts has found a new “soulmate and partner”.
The good news in all of this is that McNumbNuts won’t have as much trouble the next time he’s asked how many homes he owns. The answer will simply be “zero”.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:12 amljm Says:
When he brags, exaggerates, and lies he will be challenged!! (I HOPE?)
Not on Fox News and not by the “liberal” media. They are to busy getting the message out to be afraid of the celebrity black man.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:14 amEveryone acts like this game has started……Obama has just barely begun to send out his message through adds. This is going to be good when it does start…right after the republican convention I am thinking.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:21 amSo, I am now watching local coverage in Minneapolis about the coming RNC funeral — er, convention.
A republican talking head is responding to a question about energy policy. He reaches in to his pocket and pulls out a tire gauge and says the republicans have a comprehensive energy policy while Obama says “inflate your tires”.
I seem to recall Obama setting an aggressive challenge in his acceptance speech for the U.S. to become energy-independent in ten years. This yahoo on TV right now brings an image to mind. Go back to 1960 and imagine the republican response to Kennedy’s emphasis on improving science education.
Here would be the today’s republican response: “We have a comprehensive approach to science education. We believe that creationism should be taught in our schools. Kennedy just wants us to put a man on the moon in ten years.”
August 31st, 2008 at 11:24 amMcCain can’t tell the truth.
Since we know the MSM won’t call him on his lies, I hope the Obama’Biden ticket continues to expose them. After all, it isn’t the messenger who is negative, but the messages of McCain that are negative.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:24 amBush seeks to make war powers permanent
August 31st, 2008 at 11:25 amWhy they must keep exposing McCain’s lies (it’s working):
Obama campaign buoyed by convention
DENVER — Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous. A volunteer who ran Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Palo Alto campaign office during the primary season, she had doubted Obama’s experience and arrived at the Democratic convention here unsure how she would vote in November.
She left town Friday with her mind made up: She is for Obama.
Republican John McCain seemed eager to peel off aggrieved Clinton supporters with his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. But various women’s groups and Clinton loyalists said Friday that the Palin pick wouldn’t spur defections.
“Gov. Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe v. Wade, they both want to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush administration, and they both offer more of the same,” said Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY’s List, which works to elect female Democratic candidates and endorsed Clinton in the primaries.
By the convention’s end, the Gallup daily tracking poll showed Obama had taken a race that was dead even and built an 8-point lead. The margin could grow when the polling data account for everyone who saw the speech.
http://www.latimes.com/ news/ nationworld/ nation/ la-na-dems30-2008aug30,0,1540767.story
August 31st, 2008 at 11:27 amLibs, McCain wasn’t making minimum wage when he was in that cell for five years.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:33 amtom Says: Here would be the today’s republican response: “We have a comprehensive approach to science education. We believe that creationism should be taught in our schools. Kennedy just wants us to put a man on the moon in ten years.”
The Cons doen’t seem to get that time has ONE direction only - forward. They waste their efforts on moving us backward in time, to the Dark Ages.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:33 amtom at 10:56 am
I liked Kerry’s last point, “…with this choice John McCain has proven he’s a ‘prisoner’ of the right wing…”
August 31st, 2008 at 11:36 amBecause he didn’t pick Ridge or Lieberman.
Schieffer on Face the Nation didn’t even have ONE Democrat on his show. A half hour Repug lips on Repug asses!
McWars Says: Libs, McCain wasn’t making minimum wage when he was in that cell for five years.
He also wasn’t on the front lines getting shot at…
August 31st, 2008 at 11:39 amMcWars Says:
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Libs, McCain wasn’t making minimum wage when he was in that cell for five years.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:33 am
He was drawing up plans to look for a younger , wealthy mistress who could become his wife upon his return……..
August 31st, 2008 at 11:41 amA half hour Repug lips on Repug asses!
Last week he had only Democrats on the show.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:46 amrepublicans are afraid to be on a face anyone show with a democrat….haven’t you noticed?
August 31st, 2008 at 11:52 amMcWars Says: “Libs, McCain wasn’t making minimum wage when he was in that cell for five years.”
You are absolutely right! He was drawing full pay, including flight pay and a housing allowance. Hell, he was making more than most of the troops than were fighting to save his dumb incompetent traitorous ass.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:00 pmNat at 11:46 am
Last week he had only Democrats on the show.
In the first five minutes they aired part of the Katie Couric interview with Mcsame and a McSame ad against Obama. Sorry, doesn’t equal up. If McSame had to pay for all the free ads the Corpo-Feudalist Media have given him “reporting” on his campaign, he’d have already burned through his Public Matching Funds and be broke.
I will give Stephanopoulous credit, though, he never let Lindsey back on after he started with Kerry and I was sure he would.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pmI’m not a violent person, but really want to punch something right now.
Barack Obama voted to raise taxes on those making as little as $42K (even though the vote wouldn’t have actually raised taxes).
Barack Obama voted against funding the troops (as if McCain hadn’t)
Barack Obama voted in favor of the Cheney Energy bill.
Never did he mention the bureaucracy that damns legislation. Not one time did he point to the difficulty in the decisions made more difficult by wasteful spending. Now he wants you to understand the nuances involved in politics.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pmTom….EXACTLY RIGHT!! Stay on message..the truth comes out, sooner, I hope, rather than later. These idiots will be exposed for what they really are. I hope people are all paying attention, and they’re not blinded by the flip flopping old man and the ex beauty queen…This is comparing apples to oranges.I wish for 2 things: that the media would do their jobs and expose these farces for what they really are, and that people like us, no matter what their party, get SO sick of the sh&%, that they work VERY hard to get Obama/Biden elected and restore some sense of honor and decency to America.
August 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pmAccording to Marilyn Vos Savant in the generic Sunday magazine Parade, statistics show that the majority of minimum wage jobs are not in small businesses but large hotel, restaurant and retail chains.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pmSo much for the GOP argument that raising the minimum wage hurts small businesses.
.
So, McGramps was against a “FAIR LIVING WAGE” 19 times before he was out voted and now that Americans have a “LIVING WAGE”, fair or not, he’s for it?
He’s only FOR something when he can’t manage to be AGAINST it and win.
.
August 31st, 2008 at 3:42 pmHow will McCain “get them jobs” when his tax cuts for big corporations only serve to send AMERICAN jobs overseas?
August 31st, 2008 at 5:19 pmNow I get it - McCain says he wants to keep taxes low. What beeter way to do it than to keep wages low. Make less, pay less!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:45 am