Payroll Tax Cut Fight: John McCain Says Failure To Reach An Agreement Hurts GOP

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain said Congress' failure to reach agreement on legislation extending a payroll tax cut for working Americans "hurts the Republican Party." The GOP's 2008 presidential nominee said his party made a mistake in voting down the Senate-passed version of a bill that would have kept the current payroll tax relief intact for at least two more months.

McCain told CBS's "The Early Show" he feels badly for 160 million Americans, whom he called "innocent bystanders." He said the House should pass the same bill that cleared the Senate "but put a year on it" and send it back.

McCain said in the CBS interview, "This is really tragic for the American people, and I would say that next November, no incumbent is safe, nor should they be."

The Arizona senator also blamed President Barack Obama for not doing more to end the standoff on CNN's "American Morning." He said past presidents "exerted a lot more leadership than going shopping," according to The Hill, referring to President Barack Obama's Christmas shopping trip Wednesday. "Republicans are losing this fight. We need to get back on track," he added.

McCain said earlier this month that Republicans were getting "picked apart" on the issue. He added, "I think there is certainly ample evidence that the Democrats are winning this debate."

McCain approvingly tweeted the Wall Street Journal editorial accusing House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) of possibly helping Obama win reelection because of their handling of the payroll tax cut extension.

One House Republican who voted with Speaker Boehner to reject the Senate version said that a two-month extension may end up happening anyway. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) said in the Wall Street Journal Thursday that "if we can't get the Senate sign-off on a one-year extension soon--in the next few days--we're going to have to move quickly to extend the payroll tax for a duration of time less than a year." He added, "That may end up being two months."

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) also attacked House Republicans for not approving the Senate's two-month extension. "The House Republicans' plan to scuttle the deal to help middle-class families is irresponsible and wrong," he said in a recent statement.

UPDATE: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that the House should pass the two-month extension. He also called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to convene negotiators on the longer-term extension that the House GOP wants.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[kvh]

02:18 AM on 12/23/2011

Well at last some truthful words from McCain. Why doesn't he go to war with the Republican Party just like he wants America to do every time a country does something he doesn't like? The Republican Iraq War comes to mind--that war caused by GREED--cheney--what's our oil doing under their land? HATE my daddy hated Sadam say Bush DELUSION deluded the American people into thinking Iraq had something to do with 911 and that they had Weapons of Mass Destruction. All those who lost their lives in death, body and mind.

[whynotspeakup]

06:32 PM on 12/22/2011

Amazing isn't it that the more vocal politician's trying to make sure the middle class and poor get no
breaks are now flipping to cover themselves.
These people will probably start coming out to support the people now that they have figured out what the real people want and not some made up bunch from Boehner and Cantor.

[MarsAmbassador]

06:19 PM on 12/22/2011

""The House Republicans' plan to scuttle the deal to help middle-class families is irresponsible and wrong," he said."

You could pretty much use that quote when talking about EVERYTHING the GOP has done for the these past 3 years. Trouble is, far too many people are still voting against themselves.

[quillerm]

05:45 PM on 12/22/2011

As long as Obama has CNN, ABC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, AP Huffington, and most of the print media acting like lap dogs instead of reporting the truth, we will never get out of this economic disaster that was once a vibrant US economy. I hope Obama, his family, and entourage enjoy the 4+ million in taxpayer money they are spending like water in Hawaii this Christmas. Obama is already rich, why does he use taxpayer money for his vacations? Has he no heart?

[kvh]

02:21 AM on 12/23/2011

and you think Mc Cain isn't---rich that is?

[quillerm]

05:29 PM on 12/22/2011

The real story is Obama's four million Hawaiian Christmas vacation at taxpayer expense. This is the second Hawaiian luxury vacation this year. He is spending our money like water.

[cristoballs]

05:21 PM on 12/22/2011

republicans should just agree to this bill, no matter what the dems request. this way, when revenues plunge and we produce even larger deficits this year, than last year, the dems will have nobody to blame but themselves.

[quillerm]

05:31 PM on 12/22/2011

How did Obama get away with his two month extension versus the Republicans offer for a full year? The left wing controlled media helped him mislead the public again.

[kvh]

02:28 AM on 12/23/2011

Mr G.WBush took 1.6 Trillion from Government Trust Funds. Why is it you think the Republicans want to get rid of SS and Medicare. Those are the funds that they used for the Republican Iraq War If they get rid of SS and Medicare then they don;'t have to pay back those funds and they can beat their chests and say "see we reduced the debt.". DEMOCRACY NOT PLUTOCRACYI

[allencollinsa]

04:43 PM on 12/22/2011

republicans are all liars and asswipes.

[Game On]

04:33 PM on 12/22/2011

"He said past presidents "exerted a lot more leadership than going shopping."


How is it a bad thing to see the president shop at a time when we are trying to increase demand for goods and services as to increase employment which will improve the economy? He wants the president to do more of the heavy lifting for HIS party once again only to be kicked in the nads once again. Shop on Mr. President.

[liebs94]

04:24 PM on 12/22/2011

ABC Reporting , Repubs cave. Can they change GOP to JOKE now?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-republicans-cave-payroll-tax-cuts-extension-obama/story?id=15212988

[quillerm]

05:33 PM on 12/22/2011

The Republicans decided that the people were more important than Obama's political career. We all know that Obama has a solid record of policy failures, the fewer policies he gets through, the better for America.

[liebs94]

11:27 PM on 12/22/2011

"The Republican­s decided that the people were more important than Obama's political career."

Yea, that's what happened.

Herman Cain To Protesters: It’s Your Fault If You Don’t Have A Job And Haven’t Succeeded

GOP Rep. Joe Walsh Melts Down, Screams At Constituents: ‘Dont Blame Banks!…I Am Tired Of Hearing That Crap!’

“Corporations are people, my friend… of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People’s pockets. Human beings my friend.”

[The ORF in Largo]

04:22 PM on 12/22/2011

This is what happens when kids get seated at the adult's table but don't have the manners to behave
properly

[quillerm]

05:34 PM on 12/22/2011

While Obama's wife is spending four million of taxpayer funds on vacation he is back in Washington screwing taxpayers out of a full year tax cut. Now we can play this game again in two months.

[Shreveport1]

04:13 PM on 12/22/2011

We the American people have the power to extinct either political party, one man one vote. Politicians know this, extinct the party that doesn't serve your interest....Display your anger...vote'em back to the stone age.

[tj123123]

05:18 PM on 12/22/2011

Vote these do nothings out of office.

[quillerm]

05:35 PM on 12/22/2011

Obama first, but make him pay back the 4 million in taxpayer funds he is spending on vacation in Hawaii.

[spunkyphd]

04:09 PM on 12/22/2011

The ethics committee needs to investigate Boehner. He clearly has an agenda that is not in the best interest of "the people" whom he is supposed to be serving. Talk about cutting of your nose to spite your face, he could not get much more self destructive if he set out to implode. Happily he is taking the entire GOP party along with him on his ramage, sadly he is also taking a large portion of Americans too.

[liebs94]

04:07 PM on 12/22/2011

Seriously, this false Narrative, about Obama not doing enough to prod Congress to get things done. I have been following politics a loooong time. I have never heard of such nonsense. CONGRESS is the legislative branch of Government. If the Republicans in Congress do not want to legislate, they should find other work. Remember what Herm “999” Cain said, if they can’t find a job it will be their own fault.

[cutesky]

04:00 PM on 12/22/2011

What's hurting the GOP are the moronic, ignorant, hypocrtical, members of Congress.

[jagcapt007]

03:58 PM on 12/22/2011

An agreement in one house isn't an agreement unless one is a socialist/communist. I'm Not happy with the house GOP, However I'm more disappointed with Obama who didn't call Congress back into session, to figure out what went wrong. I enjoy the spin from both sides, however I'm resolute in my opinion had these Middle Class taxpayers been union members, he would demand a come to Jesus meeting NOW, instead of a progressive philosophical principle. Last year with the air traffic controllers Obama made phone calls, and created a compromise during holiday recess. oddly this year when its only common class citizens, its take it or leave it.



While I see the DNC relishing in their political victory now, I suspect many of those 160 million Middle Class workers becoming more outraged at the failure of his leadership to protect them equally with union class workers. In the end its always about who brought a solution to the problem, rather than who gave better speeches in political rhetoric. I can't believe Reid closed down the Senate, before a vote in the house finalized the package. It reminds me of a colleague that put his pregnant wife in a taxi after her water broke, as his fair share of Parenthood. Oddly he was stunned his wife divorce him. I terminated him also. because I never again trusted his "GOOD" Judgements. Some President's and CEO's are powerful leaders, others sadly are ideological dictators creating only more victims