After Attacking Earmarks, Graham Unable To Defend His Own Pork: ‘I’m Part Of The Problem’
After Attacking Earmarks, Graham Unable To Defend His Own Pork: ‘I’m Part Of The Problem’
During the presidential debate on Friday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) responded to a question about how he would “lead this country out of the financial crisis” by railing against the tangential issue of “earmark pork-barrel spending.” “The first thing we have to do is get spending under control in Washington,” said McCain, adding that earmarks are “evil.”
Asked on Fox News Sunday today about McCain’s “narrow focus” on earmarks, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) claimed that “if you believe earmarks is a narrow problem, then you don’t understand what’s happened because of earmarks.”
But asked by host Chris Wallace, “If earmarks are so bad, why did you ask for 71 projects totaling $305 million dollars in the last fiscal year?,” Graham could only respond by saying that he has “been part of the problem” and would change:
GRAHAM: I have been part of the problem. I — my earmarks have been authorized, number one. They’re out there for you to look at. And, I’m part of the problem, I’d like to be part of the solution because the good part of earmarks has been overwhelmed by the bad part. Let’s just start over. Let’s start over because the $3 million to DNA to bear studies in Montana, the $250 million bridge in Alaska for fifty people is drowning out some of the good things I’ve done and John’s done. So I’m willing to start over. But there’s one guy in this town who hasn’t gotten a penny. I’m willing to follow his lead because he’s convinced me that the greater good would be achieved if we all just had a time out on this.
Watch it:
Considering that McCain has demagogued against earmarks for years, it’s laughable for Graham to claim that he is just now “willing to follow” McCain’s lead even as he continues to request pork.
In fact, despite Graham’s previous vote for an earmark moratorium for fiscal year 2009, Graham recently placed $20 million in earmarks into the 2009 Defense Authorization bill.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
This whole “earmarks” issue is just one more example of right-wing demonization for the purpose of generating rage among its constituents.
They talk as if all earmarked spending is bad (and of course they wave about a couple of minor programs that can be made to sound absurd, out of context) when in fact, if the earmarking process were eliminated, the bulk of the spending still would be approved, just through a different channel.
When they say “earmarks” they mean it to stand in for “wasteful government spending” but it’s not the same thing. They thrive on simplification, however, and it seems to work for them.
Until their hypocrisy is revealed, anyway.
And by Faux News, at that.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:26 amAfter Attacking Earmarks, Graham Defends His Own Pork: ‘I’m Part Of The Problem’
As if that’s some type of revelation ?????????????
September 28th, 2008 at 11:33 amralph,
September 28th, 2008 at 11:34 amRemember back in the day when the same strategy was used re: foreign aid to demonize what was rarely a bad investment in moneies up front to prevent more monies later?
The McCain campaign is being over-run with idiot Republicans stepping all over each other to out-idiot themselves. And just when you thought it was a great idea to keep McCain and Palin away from questions, in steps Graham to take big bites out of the GOP idiot cookie.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:34 amMaybe someone here can clarify what I think I heard this AM:
On This Week, when asked about not mentioning the middle class, McCain was a little flustered in giving his reply, and I think he ended the reply with… “I have more important things to think about.”
Did I hear correctly?
September 28th, 2008 at 11:37 amGRAHAM:
“Let’s just start over.”
YES, by all means, let us start over.
A new Consitution that puts corporations in their place as having:
NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. CORPS ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO SEEL THEIR PRODUCT, PERIOD. NO FREEDOM OF PLITICAL SPEECH, AS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, SO WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO INFLUENCE THE CANDIDATES.
NO CORPORATE PERSONHOOD WITHOUT “PERSONAL” RESPONSIBLITY. IF THE CORPORATION SCREWS UP, THE EXECUTIVE GOES TO JAIL, OR FACES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IF EGGREGIOUS ENOUGH.
ALL CORPORATIONS MUST HAVE ONE VOTE PER STOCKHOLDER, NOT PER ISSUANCE OF STOCK. (THIS ALONE CHANGES THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF THE SUPPOSED DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISTIC MODEL.)
Please add your own “Start over” requests
September 28th, 2008 at 11:37 amI wish that Obama would take the offensive on earmarks because truth be told, there’s nothing wrong with most earmarks. There’s nothing wrong with federal dollars helping a small community upgrade their water system. There are many worthwhile projects that have been completed with earmark money.
The problem with earmarks is 1) the unnecessary “pet” projects that are put forth and 2) that they are attached to some bill that needs to be passed and 3) they are usually done under cover of darkness instead of in the light of day.
The way to solve the problem is to have Congress pass a couple of “special projects” bills each year and that is where the earmarks will be approved. And, the projects should be perfectly transparent, perhaps listed on a government web page. Other than that special projects bill, no earmarks can be attached to any other bill.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:39 amEven his own team is helping McCain out. This is from the Daily News:
Me, I’d choose the guy who acted presidential. YMMV.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:40 amMarie Says:
Maybe someone here can clarify what I think I heard this AM:
On This Week, when asked about not mentioning the middle class, McCain was a little flustered in giving his reply, and I think he ended the reply with… “I have more important things to think about.”
Did I hear correctly?
God I hope not. That’s a perfect Obama commercial.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:41 amdbadass Says:
ralph,
Remember back in the day when the same strategy was used re: foreign aid to demonize what was rarely a bad investment in moneies up front to prevent more monies later?
Seems to me that McCAin did that in the debate. Remember his saying something about giving millions of dollars to countries who hate us. The thing he is missing out on is why they hate us. Those countries didn’t hate us before Bush took office.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:44 amWhile earmarks still a problem, and should be dealt with,they are nothing but a sideshow.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:46 amEarmarks talk by Graham and McCain these days is only a useful tool used to deflect from major financial issues in the hundreds of billions of dollars resulting from Wall Street latest mess.
Earmarks is a minor problem compared with the huge US budget deficit,huge borrowing money from abroad and the current crisis we are in.
It is a useful tool for McCain and Graham to sell themselves as the guardians of US taxpayers money. But in reality all the dollar figures of all earmarks spent are no more than 1% of total money will be spent on stock market bailout.
But McCain keeps using this tool to his advantage by painting himself as the taxpayers savior,while ignoring his part and ex-Senator’s Gramm in deregulation bills they passed in the Senate, which caused this big financial crisis we have on hand today.
WHAT would have been the critics cry if OBAMA had NEVER looked at the white man on the stage?
I can’t even fathom the depths to which the media would have sunk Obama’s candidacy. And yet, the Old white gheezer NEVER looks at Obama once, and nary a word of import is conveyed to this obvious personal, professional, and political slight.
UN-Effing-believable.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:53 amJoe “louis” Biden kidney punches McCain
September 28th, 2008 at 11:53 amEarmarks ?!?
September 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pmThe Iraq invasion is the biggest fu[king earmark in history.
Interesting to note that the Iraq invasion earmark is going to provide some earmarks of it’s own.
It will earmark many, george, dick, the whole lot of them.
Just like cattle on the ranch.
.
Even with lipstick, Graham’s still a pig!
.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pmGraham isn’t “part of the problem” he IS the problem.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pmralph the wonder llama Says: This whole “earmarks” issue is just one more example of right-wing demonization for the purpose of generating rage among its constituents.
We it not for wedge issues, the Repulicans would have no platform at all.
The odd thing is that the redneck who keep electing them don’t seem to notice that even with a three-branch conservaive majority, the Republicans have not lifted a single finger to actually fulfll their campaign promises to eradicate abortion, welfare, public education, gay marriage, flag burning, Atheism, immigration, etc.
If they think earmarks are going anywhere, then we have much bigger issues in this country than we think.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
dbadass Says:
ralph,
Remember back in the day when the same strategy was used re: foreign aid to demonize what was rarely a bad investment in moneies up front to prevent more monies later?
Seems to me that McCAin did that in the debate. Remember his saying something about giving millions of dollars to countries who hate us. The thing he is missing out on is why they hate us. Those countries didn’t hate us before Bush took office.
Excellent points, both.
The thing about McSame’s “foreign countries who hate us” quip that gets me is that it’s just one more reflection of the right-wing urge toward the “punish/reward” model of policy, rather than the “let’s do what works” perspective of rational people.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pmNo cry at all. To hard-core racists, it’s an affront for a black man to look directly at a white man.
Therefore, most Republicans and pundits would not have noticed anything askew. Maybe this is what Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) meant when he said Obama is acting all “uppity”– that Obama has the temerity to look directly at a white man?
September 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
Why should someone reelect incompetence?
I mean, Graham admitted that he has contributed to the larger problem. His record prove his claim. On what basis does he stand AGAINST earmarks when he’s been for them for so long.
FLIPFLOP FLIPFLOP FLIPFLOP FLIPFLOP
And Kerry, the ‘Ole stump he is…. Let it slide.
.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:08 pmgummitch Says: Even his own team is helping McCain out. This is from the Daily News:
That is hilarious.
The McCainisms are no different than the Bushisms.
If Obama were white, he’d be ahead 75% to 25% rather than 50% to 42% in the Republican-biased polls, because even the rednecks around here agree with what he is saying. Stupids racists…
September 28th, 2008 at 12:09 pmdo the organizations and entities who ask for and are granted these earmarked funds have any say in this?
of course there needs to be better controls, evidently, but there are financial needs that are taken care of, for the People…
September 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pmand isn’t that what government is about? … GOOD government…
OT, the House and Senate have reached tentative agreement on the bailout bill. The House will vote on it Monday, and the Senate, later in the week.
It includes an insurance provision, that apparently socializes the risk to lenders.
It also includes the issuance warrants, that are agreements between the government and companies, which are similar to stock.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pmMcCain’s biggest problem thus far has been his inability to pin Bush’s Republican failure in Iraq, the economy, and leadership on the Democrats. Republicans can’t govern–it’s that simple.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:39 pmMaureen Dowd has a great piece on how easy it would’ve been to get McRage into full blown tantrum. I’m sorry Obama didn’t pull the right string.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pmI dont know about you but I thought John McCain shined in the debates
September 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pmMarie Says:
… I think he ended the reply with… “I have more important things to think about.”
Did I hear correctly?
i heard that too… and i heard nothing more about it…
great soundbite for an ad…
thanks, grampy!
September 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pmLet’s credit Chris Wallace on Fox with being tough on a Republican politician in a Fox show (and this wasn’t Ron Paul).
That sounds odd.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pmI’m detecting a strong odor of mendacity wafting in from South Carolina!
September 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pmAgreed.
Not sure if Chris Wallace is capable of finding some measure of integrity within his mortgaged soul once in a while, or if it’s just part of a strategy to provide a pinstriping of balance on an otherwise solid Republican suit over at Faux.
September 28th, 2008 at 2:51 pmWell, Linsday damned Caucasian of you to admit it.
September 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pmGraham is both a pathological liar and a fool. His obvious man-crush on John McCain is embarrassing to behold. ‘Nuff said.
-AF
September 28th, 2008 at 9:17 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
Lindsey Graham is a lying dog and he got caught with his pants down. He thought that Fox News wouldn’t dare catch him so he tried to get away with attacking Obama is doing the very same thing he does and so does every other elected official in Washington including McCain.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pmdear senator graham
Congratulations. Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery.
September 28th, 2008 at 9:30 pmOne person’s earmark is another community’s federally mandated sewage processing plant such as the George W. Bush Sewage Processing Plant in San Francisco!!!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am“Lindsey Graham is a lying dog and he got caught with his pants down.” Shield the childrens’ eyes!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:46 amYes, some earmarks do good and are very necessary. Except for
September 29th, 2008 at 2:32 pmGov Palin who received 230million and after congress canceled
the bridge to nowhere, she kept the 230 million (not giving any of it back) and spent some of on the road to the bridge to nowhere. McCain’s like to make the same sad joke about
3million spent on testing the DNA of bears, saying I don’t
know if that was for paternal or criminal case. What he fails
to mention is he voted for that bill. That is the real earmarks get attached to bill of legislation so if you agree with the bill your stuck with the earmark too.
McCain is distracting all of us, claiming he will veto every
earmark 18 Billion dollars, while he is ready, willing to give away 300 billion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy.
Lindsey, is owning up to this little tiny bit, hoping they
will not find the real big issues. But he is wrong. they will
find all of it.