Questions that Should Be Asked of McCain at Wednesday’s Debate

[Time for change]

The most important purpose of our national news media is to report, clarify and explain issues that have the potential to affect the lives of the American people. Especially in the days, weeks and months preceding a Presidential election, the press should hold the candidates to account for misleading voters with respect to the major issues of the day. Since John McCain has repeatedly misled our country’s voters on so many issues, it is especially important that they confront him with his lies and mis-statements, and give him a chance to explain them.

The list of questions that McCain should be confronted with is very large. I realize that these questions aren’t at all likely to be asked of McCain by our corporate news media, but here are 10 that I think are especially important:


Veterans’ health benefits

Senator McCain: You often make a big point of telling your audiences how much you care about our veterans and our troops. At a recent presidential debate you said:

I know the veterans. I know them well. And I know that they know that I'll take care of them. And I've been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans. And I love them. And I'll take care of them. And they know that I'll take care of them. And that's going to be my job.

Yet you have consistently voted against health benefits for veterans, against minimum rest periods for troops in Iraq, and against adequate safety equipment for our troops. Most recently you opposed the GI bill sponsored by Senator Webb, which was supported by all of your fellow veterans in the Senate and passed in the Senate by a 75-22 vote.

You recently claimed that you have “received every award from every veteran’s organization”. Yet there are several veterans’ organizations that don’t support you, including for example the non-partisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, who gave you a grade of D for your Senate votes, while giving Senator Obama a B+.

When Senator Obama criticized your lack of support for Senator Webb’s GI bill, saying that he couldn’t understand why you believe the bill is too generous to veterans, you dismissed his criticism by saying that you wouldn’t listen to him because he has never served in the military.

My questions to you are: 1) How do you account for the large differences between your perception of your support for issues that veterans care about and their support for you on the one hand, and the perception of veterans’ groups on the other hand? 2) Why did you oppose Senator Webb’s GI bill? And 3) Do you believe that only those who have served in the military have the right to discuss these issues with you?


The Iraq War and occupation and the “surge”

In 2003 we invaded and occupied a nation that posed no threat to our country. That war and occupation has resulted in the deaths of more than a million Iraqis, made refugees out of over four million, and ruined their infrastructure. Polls of Iraqi citizens, whose freedom we claim to be fighting for, have consistently shown that over 90% of Iraqis want us to set a timetable for withdrawal and that more than 60% approve of violence against U.S. troops. Former N.Y. Times reporter Chris Hedges has summed up the attitude of many U.S. politicians and news media towards the tragedy of the Iraqi people by writing:

The reality of the war – the fact that the occupation forces have become… a source of terror to most Iraqis – is not transmitted to the American public… The Iraqis, those we kill, are largely nameless, faceless dead.

You often boast about your early support for George Bush’s “surge”, which was followed by reductions in the monthly toll of American soldier deaths in Iraq. To demonstrate the success of the surge you publicly led a Republican Congressional delegation from Baghdad’s airport to the city center, claiming that that was proof that one could “walk freely” in some areas of Baghdad, while neglecting to tell the American people that you were wearing a bullet proof vest and accompanied by 100 American soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships overhead.

At the same time, you often criticize Senator Obama’s opposition to the surge and his plans for U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, saying that those plans and his opposition to the surge would have precluded our ability to achieve victory in Iraq and “withdraw with honor”.

My questions to you are: 1) Given the vast amount of death and destruction we have brought to the Iraqi people for the purpose of “liberating” them, and the fact that the Iraqi people overwhelmingly want us to leave, where is the “honor” in staying there longer, and why do you consider Senator Obama’s plan to withdraw our military forces “dishonorable”? And 2) When you led the Congressional delegation through Baghdad to demonstrate how safe it was, why didn’t you tell the American people about the vast amount of U.S. military support that accompanied you?


Obama bill to teach comprehensive sex education to kindergarteners

One of your campaign ads claims that Senator Obama supported "legislation to teach 'comprehensive sex education' to kindergarteners." The bill that the ad refers to would have required “age-appropriate” sex education for kindergarteners. One of the major elements of the bill was to provide kindergarteners with the ability to recognize and refuse unwanted sexual advances, as illustrated by the following wording:

Course material and instruction shall teach pupils ... how to say no to unwanted sexual advances ... and shall include information about verbal, physical, and visual sexual harassment, including without limitation nonconsensual sexual advances, nonconsensual physical sexual contact, and rape by an acquaintance.

Do you think it was fair to disparage Senator Obama for supporting “comprehensive sex education” of kindergarteners when the main purpose of that legislation was to protect kindergarteners against sexual predators?


Earmarked legislation

One of the major themes of your campaign is your consistent stance against earmarked legislation. In a September 2008 speech you said “I have never asked for a single earmark, pork barrel project for my state of Arizona”

However: In 2006 you co-sponsored legislation that asked for $10 million for an academic center at the University of Arizona to honor the late Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist; In 2003, you won authorization to buy property to create a buffer zone around Luke Air Force Base in Arizona; and, in 1992, you asked the Environmental Protection Agency to provide $5 million toward a wastewater project in Nogales, Ariz.

Can you explain on what basis you consider this legislation that you sponsored not to constitute earmarked legislation?


Obama handing over our health care system to the federal government

You have repeatedly said that Senator Obama’s health care plan would turn health care over to the federal government. At the first presidential debate you said:

I want to make sure we're not handing the health care system over to the federal government which is basically what would ultimately happen with Senator Obama's health care plan. I want the families to make decisions between themselves and their doctors. Not the federal government.

But the Obama/Biden health care plan, posted on their website, contains no mention of government provision of health care. Rather, it offers Americans the option of purchasing health insurance from the government, with the aid of government subsidies. Furthermore, Americans have the option of sticking with their current insurance or purchasing government insurance, along the same principles used by our Medicare program. In summary, the Obama/Biden health care plan does not restrict the choices of the American people with respect to either the health care that they receive or the health insurance that covers them.

I have two questions for you: 1) Do you believe that Medicare interferes with the ability of families and individuals to make their own health care decisions and gives that power to the federal government? And 2) On what basis do you say that the Obama/Biden health care plan hands the health care system over to the federal government and interferes with the ability of families to make their own health care decisions?


Energy independence and global warming

Another major theme of your campaign is our need for energy independence from foreign oil. Related to that theme, you claim to have distanced yourself from President Bush by acknowledging the risk that global warming poses to our planet and the need to take corrective action. However, many of your policy positions and statements cast doubt on your commitment to the development of alternative energy sources that would increase our energy independence and reduce the load of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by our nation’s industries and people.

First, you have consistently opposed government subsidies for clean energy development. When asked your opinion on government subsidies for clean energy technology such as wind and solar, you said:

I'm not one who believes that we need to subsidize things. The wind industry is doing fine, the solar industry is doing fine. In the '70s, we gave too many subsidies and too much help, and we had substandard products sold to the American people, which then made them disenchanted with solar for a long time… There’s a point where you should let the free-enterprise system take over.

Secondly, you have proposed no plans for improving energy efficiency, as Senator Obama’s energy plan does.

Thirdly, you have made it clear that you favor the appointment of so-called “strict constructionist judges”, four of who argued in dissent, in a recent U.S. Supreme Court case, that carbon dioxide, “which is alleged to be causing global climate change”, is not an air pollutant.

Fourthly, though you say that you support a cap-and-trade system to lower greenhouse gas emissions, earlier this year in a Republican presidential debate you denied that a cap-and-trade system is a mandate, and you expressed your belief that voluntary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by industry will be sufficient to lower greenhouse gas emissions in our country by 60% by 2050.

And fifthly, the non-partisan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has given you a 24% lifetime score for your global warming policies, and a 0% score for 2007.

So, my questions to you are: 1) Why have you consistently opposed government subsidies for wind and solar energy development? 2) Why doesn’t your proposed energy plan include ideas for improving energy efficiency? 3) Do you agree with justices Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts that carbon dioxide in not an air pollutant? And 4) Why do you believe that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by U.S. industry should be voluntary rather than mandatory?


Obama “pals around with terrorists”

Your running mate has repeatedly accused Senator Obama of “palling around with terrorists”, which has incited hatred and calls for violence at your recent campaign rallies. You have gone along with these tactics by claiming that Obama has not adequately answered questions relating to this subject.

These accusations are apparently related to Obama’s tenuous relationship with William Ayers. Professor Ayers was a founding member of the Weather Underground, an anti-Vietnam War protest organization which took credit for some non-fatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capital building and was characterized by the FBI as a domestic terrorist organization during the 1960s, when Senator Obama was eight years old. Ayers has denied any involvement in terrorist activities and has repudiated terrorism in any form for any reason, stating “Terrorism is never justifiable, even in a just cause. I’ve never advocated terrorism, never participated in it, never defended it”. He and his wife turned themselves in to the FBI in the 1980s, and all charges against them were subsequently dropped.

Senator Obama served with Ayers on a Chicago public education improvement project in 1995, and from 1999-2001 Obama and Ayers simultaneously served as board members for a charitable foundation. In 1999, Ayers hosted a campaign event for Obama in his bid for election to the Illinois State Senate. Beyond those associations, Obama has denied any relationship or contact with Ayers other than running into him a little over a year ago in the neighborhood in which they both live. Obama has repudiated the actions of the Weather Underground.

Do you believe that it is fair to characterize Senator Obama’s relationship with William Ayers as “palling around with terrorists”, or do you think that it is fair to characterize Obama in any way as “palling around with terrorists?


The “Bridge to nowhere”

Your running mate, in an effort to establish her credentials as a crusader against wasteful spending, announced at the Republican Convention, and at least 36 times since then, that “I told Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ on that bridge to nowhere”.

The truth of the matter is that as a candidate for Alaska Governor in 2006, Sarah Palin supported the bridge, saying

This link (the bridge) is a commitment to help Ketchikan expand its access, to help this community prosper… I think we’re going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project.

After becoming governor Palin changed her mind about the need for the bridge. However, by that time Congress had already made the decision to provide Alaska with $223 million of the approximately $400 million needed for the bridge construction. Palin accepted the money that the U.S. Congress provided, and used it for other projects.

Do you believe that Governor Palin’s oft-repeated line that “I told Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ on that bridge to nowhere” is misleading and dishonest, and do you think she should quit using it?


War for oil

You said at a town hall meeting in Denver a few months ago:

My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will – that will then prevent us – that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East.

However, at the time that our country was considering going to war against Iraq, you espoused a very different reason for the need to go to war. You said at that time:

I believe Iraq is a threat of the first order, and only a change of regime will make Iraq a state that does not threaten us and others, and where liberated people assume the rights and responsibilities of freedom.

Do you believe that our need for another nation’s oil justifies our going to war against them, and do you believe that that was the reason that we went to war against Iraq? If not, then what sense does it make to say that your energy policy will prevent us from ever having to go to war again in the Middle East?


Alleged dishonest attacks by Obama against Palin

In September you released an ad that quoted FactCheck.org, saying “The attacks on Governor Palin are ‘completely false’ … ‘misleading’”. Those words are repeated while a picture of Senator Obama appears on-screen, thus giving the impression that FactCheck.org accused Obama or his campaign of making false attacks against Governor Palin. But Senator Obama never made the accusations that are the subject of the ad. FactCheck.org had this to say about that ad.

The McCain-Palin campaign has altered our message in a fashion we consider less than honest. The ad strives to convey the message that FactCheck.org said "completely false" attacks on Gov. Sarah Palin had come from Sen. Barack Obama. We said no such thing. We have yet to dispute any claim from the Obama campaign about Palin.

Do you believe that this ad was dishonest? If not, then why is Senator Obama pictured on-screen as the narrator says that the attacks against Governor Palin that are the subject of the ad are false and misleading?


The need for some hard questioning of the McCain/Palin campaign

The McCain/Palin presidential campaign has been one of the most dishonest ever conducted. Such a strategy could only have been undertaken in the belief that the national news media would be grossly negligent in its duty to confront the campaign with its numerous false assertions.

Fortunately, the U.S. national corporate news media has not been wholly negligent in reporting on the many lies of the McCain campaign – and that explains in part why Obama is beginning to put together a somewhat comfortable lead in national polls. In addition, Internet bloggers have greatly contributed to shining a light on most of the lies and distortions.

But the response of the national corporate news media has been far from satisfactory. Many millions of Americans believe the many lies and distortions that they hear from the McCain campaign. Worse yet, some of those lies have so inflamed with hatred certain segments of the U.S. population that the potential for violence appears to be greatly enhanced.

In response to the escalating toxic atmosphere engendered by his campaign, Senator McCain recently (and belatedly) made a substantial attempt to calm down his crowds, stating that Senator Obama is a “decent family man” and that our nation has nothing to fear from him if he were to be elected President. Senator McCain deserves credit for that, and I applaud his efforts in that regard, as does Senator Obama. Hopefully he will continue on that tack, and reign in his pit bull as well.

But the great bulk of the lies and distortions remain unaddressed. Our national corporate news media needs to do a much better job of holding the McCain campaign accountable for its numerous lies and distortions. Here is a list of 47 lies perpetrated by the McCain campaign, accompanied by detailed explanations, which need to be addressed much better than they have been. In addition to what I’ve discussed in this post, those lies include:

McCain 'suspended' his campaign.
Obama will raise your taxes.
Obama called Sarah Palin “a pig.”
Obama opposes all free trade.
Obama will increase spending by $1 trillion.
Obama will “hand the health care system over to the federal government.”
Obama thinks Iran “doesn’t pose a serious threat.”
Obama wants to bomb Pakistan.
Obama voted against funding the troops.
Obama voted for higher taxes 94 times.
Palin “vetoed millions of earmarks.”
McCain tried to reform Fannie Mae
Offshore drilling will reduce the cost of gas.
US companies pay world’s 2nd highest corporate taxes.
Obama will tax electricity.
McCain invented the BlackBerry.
Obama volunteer for the same charity.
Obama supports “infanticide.”
Obama thinks troops in Afghanistan are “just” killing civilians.
Obama snubbed wounded troops.
Biden supported McCain on Iraq until this election.
McCain refuses special interest money
Sarah Palin commands the Alaskan National Guard
Obama agrees that the economy is fundamentally strong
Alaska Produces 20% of US Energy
McCain's Campaign has no Connections to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
Palin Rejected $500 million Earmarks
Obama is 'mum' on the economic crisis
Palin sold the Governor's jet on EBay
Obama gave big oil millions in subsidies
Palin took on big oil
Obama Killed Immigration reform
Palin visited troops in Iraq
Obama wants to increase government size by 23%
Obama opposes the electric car
Obama is advised by the former CEO of Freddie Mac
Obama wants to bomb Pakistan
McCain supports a 'bipartisanship' in the bailout
"23,000 People at our rallies"
Palin Fired Trooper for Performance Reasons
Obama is part of the corrupt Chicago establishment

[dgibby]

1. Excellent, thoughtful post. Thank you. K&R

The question I'd like to hear is: Sen McCain, if you truly believe that Sen Obams is consorting with terrorists, have you called for an investigation by Homeland Security, the FBI, or the Senate Ethics Committee?
If not, then aren't you complicit, and shouldn't the public hold you accountable.

If you don't truly believe your and Gov. Palin's own rhetoric, then shouldn't you be censured by the Senate, and don't you owe Sen Obama an apology?

[Time for change]

12. Thank you -- That's a good question

Of all the things that McCain has accused Obama of, that's the worst. That more than anything else probably explains the red hot hatred that the McCain/Palin campaign rallies have been whipping up. That is SOOOOOOOOOO irresponsible.

[nichomachus]

23. The only purpose of the terrorist smear

is to give the GOP racists a reason for why they're not voting for Obama. It has no traction with anyone else. All these goons need is a "reason." My wingnut sister says she can't vote for him because he once said there were 57 states. The truth is she won't vote for him because he's black.

[JeffR]

2. This is a great read.

Well done.

[GoneOffShore]

3. Kicking this because it needs to be kicked.

[pathansen]

17. Yes, & what about disclosing his medical records? What is he hiding?

Thousands of pages need to be released to the public. He's had cancer 5 times, was tortured for years and is the oldest candidate running to the most powerful job on the planet.
Don't you agree?

[Time for change]

18. I agree

But it's not at the top of my list.

If Obama's medical records indicated that he had a 80% chance of dying in the next 4 years, I'd still vote for him. After all, if he died that would make Biden president. I imagine that almost all McCain voters feel the same way in the other direction.

But then, McCain's medical records could influence undecided voters, I suppose.

[voteearlyvoteoften]

4. Dem Talking Points

Read em and repeat em.

[Terri S]

5. Excellent!

Kicked, rec'd and bookmarked. Send them off to Bob Schieffer.

[Window]

6. Well done. K/R.

[Roland99]

7. You forgot one: "Did you ever find Mr. Puddles to give him his Snausages?"

If you haven't seen The Daily Show lately you won't get that.

[Time for change]

16. What does that mean?

I don't watch the Daily Show enough.

[Roland99]

19. Go to Crooks and Liars

and go back a couple days and look for video of Daily Show on McCain wandering about the stage.

[beac]

8. A hearty K&R! n/t

[MyOwnPeace]

9. How about this one......

At the last debate, you said you know how to find OSAMA. Why didn't you ever tell the rest of the Repubs in control your own little secret - or is that our "reward" for voting for you?

[Time for change]

14. That's a great one

That sounded so ridiculous when he said it. He acted like he had some great big secret but he couldn't tell anyone. He actually sounded kind of desperate.

Welcome to DU

[bluethruandthru]

10. Great Post!

Thank you! Let's hope even just a fraction of this gets addressed.

[Time for change]

21. Thank you -- I wouldn't count on it

Not from our corporate media.

[happygoluckytoyou]

11. MCCAIN, DOES SARAH STILL CHEAT ON FIRST DUDE... and DOES SHE CALL YOU SECOND DUDE ? ?

[Time for change]

22. My wish is

That McCain and Palin will be caught having an affair together. That would be the final nail in their pitiful coffin.

[carnie_sf]

13. Hear hear

I especially like the first question. When I heard McCane say at the first debate that America's veterans know he will take care of them I nearly fell out of my chair. And I'm a veteran. Supporting our troops by buying a made in china yellow ribbon and actually supporting our returning are two very different things "my friends". Also the DAV rates McLame at 20%.

[Time for change]

15. Yeah, I just do not understand how he gets away with that crap

It is so blatant. When he was confronted with it at a campaign rally not to long ago he lied his ass off about it. These Republicans just take it for granted that they won't get called on this stuff.

[chill_wind]

20. Fantastic job. You could replace any of those "Pro's", any day.

K & R



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