McCain Flip Flop – Environmental Record
September 30, 2010
McCain Claims Straight Talk Legacy Amid History of Double-Speak
September 28, 2010
PHOENIX, Ariz. — U.S. Sen. John McCain suggested during a televised debate on Sunday that his legacy for Arizona would be his reputation for “straight talk,” a legacy that the 28-year incumbent has shredded in recent years.
Unfortunately, McCain has lost his moorings on so many issues that his reputation of “straight talk” lies in tatters. Consider:
• He made a name for himself championing campaign finance reform, but now won’t even vote to force corporations to disclose when they try to buy elections in the wake of the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
• He originally voted against the Bush tax cuts because they were benefiting the rich, but now calls attempts to reinstate taxes on the wealthy “class warfare.”
• He co-sponsored legislation to establish a bipartisan balanced budget committee and then voted against the bill on the Senate floor.
• He once called for a “cap and trade” system to reduce pollution by letting corporations profit off reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but now that the proposal would generate funds for the government, he calls it “cap and tax” and adamantly opposes it.
“No political opponent could have done more damage to John McCain’s legacy than John McCain has done to himself,” said Bill Romjue, campaign manager for Rodney Glassman for U.S. Senate. “Sadly, when it comes to integrity today, his legacy is simply that of double speak.”
Glassman promises to leave a legacy of job creation, better schools and a U.S.-Mexico border that is finally secure.
“John McCain has had 28 years to establish a legacy for the people he has served and he’s got nothing to show for it,” Glassman said. “It’s time Arizona sent a senator to Washington who will seek a tangible legacy for the people he serves.”
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Glassman Easily Bests McCain in Debate, Calls for More Debates
September 27, 2010
PHOENIX, Ariz.– U.S. Senate candidate Rodney Glassman clearly bested 28-year Congressional incumbent John McCain in tonight’s televised debate. McCain utterly failed to explain why voters should give him another six years in Washington.
McCain had no real answers to a host of questions about what he’s done in the U.S. Senate for the people of Arizona since he was first elected to Congress in 1982. Instead, McCain relied on the same tired Washington tactics of cliched attacks, pledging a return to the policies that got us into the worst economic mess in 80 years and bungled two wars overseas.
Glassman pledged new ideas to get Arizona moving forward again, including tax breaks to small businesses to encourage hiring, and taking up the challenge to make Arizona a leader in 21st-century jobs. He talked about the future of Arizona and how we could not afford to wait to create 21st Century jobs. Meanwhile, McCain laid out no vision at all, acting as if he was simply entitled to the seat that belongs not to him, but to the people of Arizona.
Specifically:
Glassman challenged McCain on creating jobs, and the 28-year Beltway veteran had no answer other than advocating tax cuts for corporations, millionaires and estates bigger than $3.5 million.
McCain dismissed government-run health care, which he has personally received since the day he was born, and had no answer for what he would replace health care reform with.
Glassman discussed his plan to hire Border Patrol and Customs agents, while McCain only had vague talk about “high walls and open fences.”
McCain once co-sponsored legislation to create green jobs but tonight was silent on the issue of U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
“Voters finally got to see McCain try to justify another term in the U.S. Senate and not come up with one good reason,” said Glassman campaign manager Bill Romjue. “Senator McCain seems to have forgotten what he once called his core principles and is out of new ideas to get the country moving again.”
Perhaps McCain would like another try.
Glassman challenged McCain to more debates across the state of Arizona in order to give voters a better understanding of the choice they have in this election. McCain’s campaign has said the debate tonight would be the only one in which he would participate.
“John McCain clearly doesn’t like being questioned about his meager record serving the people of Arizona,” Romjue said. “But he doesn’t seem to understand this election isn’t about what’s best for him. It’s about who will best serve the people of Arizona.”
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