8/13/08

John McCain may have many people vote for him in November who agree with his newly found position in favor of offshore drilling for our dwindling oil supplies.  I guess many people will look past the fact that our consumption is down to its lowest level in 26 years.  That is an amazing statistic in itself.  There were about 100 million fewer Americans in 1982 and yet our sensitivity to oil addiction has led us to be more careful, slower and less frequent drivers.  That has led us to consume 800,000 barrels of oil LESS per day.  That’s without a consistent message from our leaders; that’s without a real plan.  George wants us to drill offshore.  John wants us to drill offshore.  At least one of those guys has been consistent.  Guess which one?

Yeah, ol’ Straight Talk John was an opponent of offshore drilling, but a funny thing happened on the way to the nomination—he needed money.  Guess where he got it?  He got it from those deep-pocketed oil boys.  The Washington Post reports that “oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May.”  Robin West, chairman of PFC Energy, an industry adviser, said "I think people thought it was a sensible thing that was long due," West said. "I think the industry was very appreciative."  I love it when a high roller tips well, don’t you? 

John McCain may win the votes of many who believe in military issues, but he won’t be winning the votes of people who look at his record in support of the military and veterans—it sucks.  Last September he voted against giving troops adequate rest between deployments.  Previously he’s voted against money for Veterans’ Affairs health care facilities, he was one of just 13 Senators to vote against money for VA outpatient care and medical treatment and in separate gestures he voted against VA medical services funding, voted against increasing vets’ funding, voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in veterans’ medical care, voted against more safety equipment for the US forces in Iraq and voted against more National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq.  Oh, yeah, he also voted against increasing medical care for vets.  John McCain may win the votes of people who support the American military, but it won’t be from the people who read his voting record.       

John McCain is a guy who says one thing and is another.  He says he’s for Americans, but he’s really for the rich oil guys.  He says he’s for the military, but they’re really just there as a prop for his photo-ops.  John McCain has been in Washington so long he really can’t separate his own priorities from those of the rich people who bought him so many decades ago.

Finally, John McCain may have many women vote for him in November.  None of those votes will come from women who care about women’s rights.  John McCain has earned a 0 rating from NARAL, a leading women’s group standing up for a woman’s right to choose.  McCain won’t be choosing a pro-rights VP candidate.  He says the Republican party won’t stand for it, but in fact, neither will he.  So women out there will support McCain, but they won’t be the ones who support women’s rights.  And for the men out there who claim to know and appreciate women’s issues?  They won’t be voting McCain either, no matter what they might tell you.