McCain should have voted
John McCain this weekend proved he’s a pretty funny guy. The Arizona Republican senator and ex-presidential candidate hosted Saturday Night Live. And while McCain held his own on the stage, his appearance comes at an expense.
McCain missed a $355 billion defense spending bill vote Wednesday, which is inexcusable, especially since he criticized that very bill vocally and officially in a statement he submitted to the Congressional Record.
McCain did, however, make time in his busy schedule to appear on Don Imus’ morning radio show to promote his new book, Worth the Fighting For. He then flew back to Washington to attend President George W. Bush’s signing of the Iraqi war resolution, voted on an election reform bill at noon, skipped the 2:30 defense spending vote, which passed 93-1, and was back in New York later that afternoon for SNL rehearsals. Later that evening, he appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.
McCain’s crazy Wednesday wouldn’t be looked at so cynically, though, had his senatorial voting record not been so poor in the past.
In September, The Arizona Republic reported McCain was the Senate’s second most prolific vote-misser since 1995, second only to the aging and often ill Jesse Helms.
The report said McCain missed 282 out of 2,790 votes, more than 10 percent.
Being a decorated war hero with an incredible story, McCain has helped to humanize politicians, and his appearance on SNL further augmented his likability. But to have the audacity to criticize a bill and skip its vote is no laughing matter.
More Stories
Meet the Team
Oracle EditorProfile
USF gives it away in Memphis 34-33
At the half, a 14-point lead meant USF was on track to win its first conference game in over a calendar year. That energy was kept up even with under five minutes to go when the Bulls were up 33-20. Then USF watched as its lead went from comfortable, to slim, to nonexistent in the […]
Club teams missing competition, friendship due to COVID-19
Under normal circumstances, Grant Nolder, president of the USF flag football team would be preparing for the club’s biggest competition of the year, the Swamp Bowl. The annual tournament, hosted at UF, typically takes place during the fall semester and features some of the best club flag football teams in the country. Winners of the […]
Bulls battle with ECU in OT win
Coach Brian Gregory said Tuesday the Bulls didn’t play complete, 40-minute games in their two losses last week. It’s debatable if they did Wednesday night against East Carolina (11-18, 5-11) at the Yuengling Center, but it was more than enough to put up a 73-68 overtime win. “It’s funny. There were stretches where we played […]
First SG scholarship rewards student leaders
Student Government (SG) launched the first-of-its-kind, merit-based scholarship to students Nov. 5 on USF’s Tampa campus. As a part of Student Body President Britney Deas and Student Body Vice President Travis McCloskey’s platform, Bull S.H.I.F.T., — Success, Health, Innovation, Finance and Tradition — the SG’s Student Leadership Scholarship consists of two merit-based scholarships which will […]
On-campus Jabil institute sparks anticipation from students
A plan drafted on a bar napkin two years ago has now become the USF Jabil Innovation Institute, a multi-million dollar institute combining the College of Engineering and the Muma College of Business. Senior Vice President of Advancement and CEO of the USF Foundation Joel Momberg and Jabil CEO Mark Mondello jotted the idea down […]