Four Questions for John McCain

When President Bush was running for office, when he was on vacation before 9/11, when he was talking big afterward -- I did complain to my co-workers. I talked about what his language really meant when you took away all the things it implied and did your best not to jump to conclusions. I remember talking to people about the Plame leak, and Bush's comment that he would "take care" of the leaker(s) when they were identified -- and I know other people tried to do the same. Most of us were ignored, derided, called 'pessimistic' and 'unpatriotic,' perhaps even 'traitorous,' depending on our timing. Today, I believe the only mistake those of us who objected made was that we were not loud enough -- not, perhaps, that it would have mattered, but it would have been harder to leave out of the narrative later.

In that spirit, here are four questions I'd like someone to ask Senator McCain, and that I'd like him to answer -- without parsing, without equivocating, just answer. And if he doesn't answer -- we keep asking. And if these questions no longer seem topical--we ask something else. I don't want to act like the Republicans, but I do want to make sure our narrative gets equal play--that's what gets "teh Googles" to wake up and pay attention.

1. Senator McCain, it's my understanding that Karl Rove, known to some as "Bush's Brain" is acting as an informal advisor to your campaign. Are you aware that Rove is currently evading a congressional subpoena, that he has left the country & shows no inclination to appear?

2. Are you aware that several members of the Bush White House have now failed to respond to congressional subpoenas? What is your opinion of people who show contempt for you & your fellow congresspersons in this way?

3. You have supported President Bush on many issues, including his handling of the war and his stance on tax cuts (which, before you were running for president you opposed), you have been photographed publicly embracing him, and yet now you have a little old lady arrested for holding up a sign that reads "McCain = Bush." Please tell us why you would not like to be associated with President Bush? Why is he a political liability to you now?

4. I understand that you have distanced yourself from Phil Gramm's comment to the effect that "We have sort of become a nation of whiners," and yet, I find it hard to believe that you chose this man to work on your campaign on economic issues, you have worked with him closely for a year, and yet you were unfamiliar and/or in disagreement with this sentiment. Clearly, if Mr. Gramm had known this statement would embarrass you, he wouldn't have said it. Do you think it would be unfair, given this context, to argue that you have distanced yourself from the public declaration of this comment, but not of the sentiment itself?

Those are my questions -- what questions do you have?

Comments

[TimFredrickson]

Question for John McCain: Are you for change in America?
Answer:
He was against religious intolerance until he needed their endorsement and was for it;
He was against torture until he voted for it;
He was against tax cuts for the rich until he needed their money and voted for them;
He was for campaign reform when he tried to borrow against public financing and then against it after he got more private money;
He was against lobbyists until he let his corporate buddies and pals run his campaign for him;
He was for gay marriage before he was against it;
He was against earmarks until his pals contributed to his campaign and "Reform" Institute and had "requests" for the Commerce Committee;
He was for American businesses until his campaign managers went to work for Airbus;
John McCain: Change for America and Change and Change and Change...

[firewmn]

After all the criticism you Senator McCain and your surrogates had with constant questioning about Senator Obama's patriotism by NOT wearing a Flag Pin,, why don't you wear a Flag Pin..?

Do you believe the media is giving you a pass for not asking you why you don't wear a flag pin.?

[itmaybetoolate]

Do you believe that it strengthens the institution of marriage when people commit adultery?

[larry278]

Would you allow visitors to the White House to wear flip flops [to honor your pragmatism]?

[4President]

You must have forgotten that John McCain is a maverick - he answers to no one!

[didleijoe]

Recently it was disclosed that you were four years behind on taxes on a property you own in San Diego. If you can't remember to handle your own budget properly or at least hire someone competent to do so why would we let your run the whole country and pick cabinet member for much bigger task? You could've just paid it online... oh yeah, I forgot you are still learning about that ;-)

[drolleen]

1. Are there reason to believe that Republicans are going to support you in government if you were elected and FOLLOWED MANY POLICIES THAT ARE AT ODDS WITH GEORGE W. BUSH POLICIES?

2. Would you run for president in 2012? If not, how can we be sure that you will be able to change the direction of the country? Talking about straight talk: You will probably not be around when the social security fund runs dry, so why should we trust YOU to solve it for us? (yes, I know your children will be around, but they will not have to answer to the charges of losing social security.)

3. You are highlighting your military career. Jeopardizing a fellow American in harms way is a conduct unbecoming to a soldier that results in dishonorable discharge. If it turns out that the leak of Obama's schedule jeopardized his personal safety, would you consider not accepting your nomination?

4. You were a supporter of Barry Goldwater and the Republican renewal of 1964. You since accepted your mistake on the issue of civil rights. On the other hand you never rescinded your support of other Goldwater agendas. Do you still support abolishing all the New Deal insititutions? DO YOU STILL OPPOSE SOCIAL SECURITY? UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS? FDIC? MOVING AWAY FROM FORCED ASSIMILATION OF NATIVE AMERICANS? FEDERAL RELIEF FOR DISASTER AREAS? HOW ABOUT MEDICARE AND MEDICADE? (Newer, but similar).

[Tenebrae]

Why do you think your military service automatically qualifies you to be commender in chief? My father-in-law served in Vietnam. Does that mean he too is fully qualified to be Commander in Chief? If not, why were General Clark's observations so roundly attacked by your campaign?

[dsbsh]

Your campaign has been pushing a claim that Sen. Obama has proposed and voted for increasing taxes for people making as little as $32,000 per year, and you have claimed Obama will raise taxes on the middle class. This claim distorts and ignores Obama's actual votes, proposals and statements; and confuses gross income with taxable income. The non-partisan Annenberg Center's FactCheck.org site calls your claim misleading and "phony." Is this what you mean by "straight talk?"

[NotMcCain]

Good questions. (And don't forget that McCain himself said the economy was "strong" and perceptions to the contrary were "psychological". Hard to believe he and Gramm haven't called us poor folk "whiners" many times in private. My questions:

1. You call Senator Obama a "flipflopper". Have YOU ever changed a position on an issue? And, if so, why doesn't the same criticism apply to YOU?

2. Why is it so difficult and so time-consuming for you to learn to "get online" by yourself? What seems to be the problem?

3. You were a POW for 5 years. Do you think that experience gives you any military expertise that a non-POW doesn't have?

(If "no", then what was wrong with what Wesley Clark said? And, if "yes", please explain what expertise you got because of being a POW.)

4, (And, also if "yes")...D­o you think the Gitmo POWs are also getting military expertise from their incarceration?

5. You've said waterboarding is torture. Since we DO waterboard prisoners, is it right or wrong for the U.S. to torture prisoners?

6. You have a $500,000 credit limit on your card with AmEx with ZERO PERCENT INTEREST. What do I need to do to qualify for the same AmEx limit?

7. You committed adultery with Cindy when you were still married to your first wife. What makes you a better representative of "family values" than Senator Obama--who has never broken that Biblical Commandment?

[jollyelle]

Do you have a general understanding of the hierarchy of power of the government of Iran? If so, please explain it to the American people in order for us to better understand Iran and how it operates.

Do you feel that it is important to have a firm grasp of other cultures in order for the USA to provide responsible leadership???

Why haven't you wanted to learn how to use the computer before now? How have you managed to stay current in your senatorial position without basic computer understanding? Would you describe yourself as a curious person, do you enjoy learning new things and embrace innovation?

Are there any programs or policies (i.e. education, healthcare, environmental) you have observed in
other countries that could be a framework for change in this country? If so, what are they and in what country did you notice it?

........on­e answer to this would be a corporate run school in Sweden that is pretty darn amazing and successful­..........­.great article about it in The Economist about a month ago......

[obamagirl1968]

Why have you shirked your day job? The last time you appeared in the Senate for a vote was in April! Yet you air a negative ad about Obama not holding subcommittee hearings. At least he showed up to vote on FISA and Medicare and the housing bills; if you are going to attack him, at least do your part and show up....even if you just vote 'Present'.­....

[NotFooledByDistractions]

You know...som­ething kind of off subject, but, McCain has never held a non-governmental job - he's never had a regular joe job like the rest of us. Does that seem like a handicap to anyone else but me?

[arglebargle]

I dimly recall that he tried to work for Cindy's dad as a beer distributor, but he didn't care for the job.

In context, not exactly a "regular Joe" job, either.

[WhiteHat]

Do you feel the Guantanamo prisoners are entitled to a fair trial? How do you respond to legal experts who disagree?

If a criminal suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, how many Guantanamo prisoners are currently innocent? What are your thoughts today concerning the torture of innocent suspects?

Leaking Senator Obama's itinerary is considered by most to be a significant security breach. Why did your staff leak Senator Obama's ininerary?

In the past, you have said that if the Iraqi government asks us to leave, we should. Last week, the Iraqi government said it required a timetable for US troop withdrawal. President Maliki has stated several times that US troops "can leave any time." What are your thoughts today on withdrawing US troops from Iraq? Would you care to retract your "100 years" statement?

US courts consistently void laws which discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual preference. What are your thoughts on the likelihood of US courts upholding "anti gay marriage" laws, or anti gay adoption policies?

What is the price of gas today?

How many US citizens are projected to lose their home in 2008? 2009?

No less an authority that Warren Buffett has called Senator Gramm's legislation to deregulate financial markets "financial weapons of mass destructio­n." Given the current state of the MBS market, what are your thoughts?

What would be your advice to someone without health care coverage who required surgery to live?

[BassMonk]

Why did you vote to allow the CIA to torture prisoners?

Why did you refuse to support the new GI Bill, then pat yourself on the back after it passed?