FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Arizona Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential front-runner, was missing in action yesterday when it came time to vote on the economic stimulus package.
McCain's problem was that the bill contained provisions that would make 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans eligible for rebate checks.
It was, granted, a tough decision for McCain. Whichever way he voted, he would have risked alienating people. If he voted "no" to the rebates, he would have denied benefits to Social Security recipients and disabled veterans... you know, people he's counting on to vote for him. Plus there are probably members of each of those groups in Arizona who could have used the money.
If he had voted "yes" he would have no doubt angered President Bush, Republican leaders and conservatives – some of whom aren't too happy with McCain to begin with.
It was one of those moments that says a lot about someone's character. What did McCain do? Nothing. He ducked. Instead of representing the people in Arizona who elected him, he simply chose not to vote at all. John McCain, pilot of the Straight Talk Express, wimped out.
And it's not the first time. Not by a long shot. In the last year, John McCain has missed more than half of all the votes cast in the U.S. Senate.
This makes it look like John McCain wants to be president, but can't bring himself to do the job of senator that he was elected to do by the people of Arizona. Just another politician choosing to do what's best for him instead of what's best for the people he was elected to represent. When it came right down to it, McCain didn't have the stomach for the tough decision it would have required to come down on either side of the issue.
Here’s my question to you: What message did John McCain send by choosing not to vote on a Senate economic stimulus package?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Paulette from Dallas, Pennsylvania writes:
It means that McCain choked! The U.S. cannot afford to have a spineless dummy representing it in this globalized world. We are just getting rid of one of those!
Brenda from Arizona writes:
John McCain has missed most of the votes he was elected to cast on behalf of us from Arizona. He cares only about John McCain. He doesn't care about his constituency AT ALL! He would be a TERRIBLE president!
Kathy from Stamford, Connecticut writes:
McCain sent a powerful message to disabled veterans. He'll trade on his status as a war hero, but the hell with the other guys. What a total hypocrite he is.
Christine from California writes:
He's totally out of touch and a weenie. He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk.
Ryan writes:
This is a cowardly move. He had a job to do and people to represent. Instead, he selfishly did not vote, caring more about his own political future than the people. The Democrats have the image of caring more about the people, and if the Republicans want to counter that image, their candidate must at least do the job he's elected to do.
Joe writes:
As a 100% disabled Vet and a registered voting Independent in Florida, I think Sen. McCain told me not to vote for him. As a (former) member of the military, I would think he would know what having one's back means.
Chuck writes:
Jack, He's a conservative now. Caring about the little people would be inconsistent with his newfound position.
The Grahams write:
Just reminds me of Obama, who either doesn't vote on issues or votes present just for political reasons. Stand up and be men! Or do we need a woman? Yes, we do!