McCain casts lone ‘no’ vote against DC voting rights.
McCain casts lone ‘no’ vote against DC voting rights.
Today, the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted 11 to 1 to give the District its first full voting seat in the House of Representatives. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) cast the lone “no” vote. Dave Weigel at the Washington Independent explains McCain’s opposition — and hypocrisy:
McCain was the only one of them who voted nay, and he gave two reasons. The first was that the proposed compromise that would give D.C. voting rights while giving Utah a fourth seat in Congress was unfair to other fast-growing states. The second was that McCain didn’t want to pass a bill that constitutional scholars are still tussling over “and then have the Supreme Court decide whether or not it’s constitutional.”
This is a problem. What would happen if — a totally random example here — a senator introduced a campaign finance law that, according to many constitutional scholars and the president of the United States, violated the First Amendment? What if the Supreme Court had to decide whether or not the law was constitutional? That would be crazy.
It’s unclear when the bill will go to the Senate for a full vote; a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said they “will try and get it to the floor as quickly as we can.”
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Once again, McCain demonstrates that he is an elitist.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pmThe lone no vote was for the lone reason – D.C. is rich with Democrats.
PEACE
February 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pmI could almost understand his reason A. But his reason B is silly (especially in light of the following in the article),
I’ll also never forget the Colbert Interview with the good Congresswoman from DC. Too bad DC isn’t a state and therefore can’t be a member of the United *STATES* of america
February 11th, 2009 at 2:09 pmMcCain; That would be taxation with representation! We can’t have that!
February 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pmAnd the tighty-righties STILL think he would make a better president than Obama.
Sheesh.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pmJohn ‘Maverick’ McCain has gone over to the Dark Side. From now on he shall be known as Darth Footnote
February 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pmMcSame is a worthless man.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:22 pmImagine if DC was a state. It would be entitled to two Senators and one voting Representative. Could be competition with Alaska.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:24 pmRalph sez:
Just keeping in their tradition of having an idiot looking for corners in the Oval Office…
February 11th, 2009 at 2:26 pmIs this a desperate delusional old man with hopes of being GOP prez candidate for ‘12?
February 11th, 2009 at 2:30 pmTP, we get it, Johnny boy is an absolute idiot. He barely remembers his name let alone what he’s supposed to be doing.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pmMcCain has to act all “mavericky” so he can use less Viagra.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pmIt seems like McSenile is stuck on NO. After the limelight was directed elsewhere, he no longer has to pretend to be decent.
Would any DECENT human being DENY anyone the right to vote?
February 11th, 2009 at 2:33 pmO.K., we’ve officially reached the point where grampy mclame is nothing more than a cantankerous old coot. time to send the old grump back to the over 55 active living community where he can spend the remainder of his days molesting visiting nurses.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pmOK….. Since when will Utah get a Fouth seat by allowing DC a seat to vote?????
“McCain was the only one of them who voted nay, and he gave two reasons. The first was that the proposed compromise that would give D.C. voting rights while giving Utah a fourth seat in Congress was unfair to other fast-growing states. The second was that McCain didn’t want to pass a bill that constitutional scholars are still tussling over “and then have the Supreme Court decide whether or not it’s constitutional.””
February 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pmGiven the quality of representation we’ve seen from Arizona, perhaps we should ‘trade’ voting rights from them To D.C…
February 11th, 2009 at 2:38 pmThat was hands down the best Better Know a district Mr. Colbert has ever done. Maybe the Westmoreland one comes close (wanted the 10 commandments in courthouses, but couldn’t name them)
February 11th, 2009 at 2:47 pmIf they gave DC a voting rep then everyone down there with a ‘Taxation without Representation’ license plate would need to order a new one.. that means jobs! lol
February 11th, 2009 at 2:49 pmLone Grandpappy McSame carries the same character as the Pharoah: Both stubborn and unwilling to change. As we know the end of results according to bible with the parting of the seas by Moses. McSame’s unwilling to change, his elitism, his love for his broken GOP party, and his more of the same of Bush stance will end of being his demise.
When this stimulus package by Obama works and the people are confident to spend and invest, jobs are created, and the investors feel confident to invest, McCain can never change back his vote on the stimulus pacakge regardless of how this package will benefit Arizonians in the long haul.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:51 pmUtah says thank you to Senator McCain– NOT! Can we take back our measly five electoral votes?
February 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pmThat’s part of the compromise. They’ll increase the total number of representatives in the HOR by 2, give one to DC (a safe Democratic seat) and one to Utah (a safe Republican seat). No net change in the balance of power.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:58 pmHey, he’s got seven houses! He’s a kept shell of a man who has no conscience.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pmMCLAME PALIN in 2012 ! ! !
Just another opportunity to KICK THEIR ASSES AGAIN ! ! !
Hang in there John McLain… (i especially liked you in the Die Hard movies)… must be the VIAGRA kicking in… LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD is what i always say… it also keeps him from rolling out of bed in the middle of the night.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:13 pmWe need to totally reapportion the US House. There are far too few Representatives. It is totally against what the founders had in mind.
Originally every representative represented about 30,000-50,000 people. Now they represent 500,000-1,000,000 people. That’s way too much.
There should be a constitutional amendment to cap the number at 50,000. That way there would be about 6,000 representatives in the House.
More “regular” people would be representatives. TV ads would play a much smaller role since, in large markets, they would be a waste of money. Door to door campaigning would dominate. People would more likely actually know their representative.
Anyway, I’m surprised that this isn’t ever thought of these days.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:14 pmI always get confused with McCain.
Is this senility or him being all mavericky.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:53 pmOh, well, here goes…
Obviously, I believe that all law-abiding citizens shoud be represented in Congress, and it does suck that people living in DC don’t have that equal representation. But before we try to “correct” that, shouldn’t we examine the intent of the Framers of the Constitution? Was it ever intended that people would live on federal property like this (especially the seat of Federal Government), and thus require representation in Congress?
Keep in mind that the District is, constitutionally, under the control of the Congress. It can never be granted equal “statehood” with the other fifty states because that would present a conflict. What if Congress decides to pass a law affecting the other fifty states but not the District?
I honestly don’t know what the best solution is, but I am concerned about unintended consequences. And I see no reason to give the Republicans another “safe” vote just because, at this point in time, the majority of DC residents would support the Democrats. That strikes me as prejudiced (in a non-racial way).
February 11th, 2009 at 4:08 pmPopulation of Wyoming 515,004
February 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pmPopulation of Alaska, 670,053
Population of the District of Columbia, 581,530
Although McCain has shown hypocrisy in his reasoning, the vote he cast is the correct one.
D.C. is not a State, and only States can be represented in the Congress.
A better idea would be to try to allow voters living in D.C. to be considered as if they lived in Maryland (which is where the district was carved out from). I’m not sure whether that would require a Constitutional Amendment or not, but its worth a try.
Of course, you could try an amendment that just gives D.C. a representative. That’s how they got representation in the Electoral College, through the 23rd Amendment. I doubt it would get much traction, though, even in this Congress.
Later,
February 11th, 2009 at 4:52 pmD.C. votes soooooooooooo Democratic.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:59 pmNext election, the people of Arizona may say “NO” to Senator McNo.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:31 pmDC voted 97% for Obama.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:36 pmSour Grapes,
brought to you by a
Sore Loser.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:48 pmHow Maveriky of him
February 11th, 2009 at 5:56 pm*wink* *thumbs up*
It is good this a$$wipe is not president.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:27 pmCicero Says:
Of course, you could try an amendment that just gives D.C. a representative. That’s how they got representation in the Electoral College, through the 23rd Amendment. I doubt it would get much traction, though, even in this Congress.
Later,
February 11th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I think a DC Representative, with full voting privileges like all the other members, is what they are planning to do. But because a new US Representative from DC would likely be a Democrat (as their Delegate has been), the Republicans want to give Utah an extra Representative that they are certain would be Republican in any election.
As usual, they are not interested in what is fair or right for the country, they see people acting and thinking as they (Republicans) would, and assume the worst of intentions. Because that’s what they would be doing. Because they never would have thought of giving the residents of DC a Representative with full privileges. Because they would gain nothing by it. And if they gain nothing by doing something, they don’t care how good an idea it is. Because they don’t care about our country. They put their party’s interests above their country’s interests every time they can.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:46 pmWhat a worthless old bastard this leprous creep has become. And to think that so many daft people out there would waste their time registering a vote for him and the laughable Winking Woman from Wasilla. This country is in serious crisis when such laughinstocks, as these two, pervades the Grand Opposition Party and sincerely believe that they are leaders.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pmI hope like hell that the bimbo Palin gets the GOP’s nomination in 2012, we will run her right into the ground.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:59 pmMcCain is once again showing us why he lost the last election. The 2012 elections will use redrawn congressional districts based on the 2010 census so this argument about Utah getting an undeserved House seat for 3 years is pure bull. In fact, this stunt is in the same category as his fake suspending his campaign in 2008 due to the financial meltdown. McCain has been acting in an odd manner for a while now, making one wonder how much this is age related senility.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:56 amI think most of those commenting are the bigger idiots. DC is not a state, its a district under the rule of Congress(political entity). There is no constitutional right for DC to have representation. Folks can live in a state for this right, or if Congress adds a new amendment to the constitution allowing for this (making it a state or providing special consideration). An amendment requires two thirds majority in both houses and three fouths of all the states to ratify. McCain knows that Congress is trying to exceed its authority so he is saying this is wrong, do it the right way or the courts will overturn it as unconstitutional. We do not rule by what feels right/fair, but by constitutionally supported law. All challenges to this process by Congress and courts have failed the court tests, and that is what McCain is saying don’t do it this way. This is a political move not constituionally supported, rather power hungry. This is why one party rule is bad, absolute power corrupts absolutely. He is right, you complainers are wrong, end of story. You do not want the truth because you cannot handle the truth.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pm