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Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) looks on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) speaks during a brief press conference before an Armed Services conference committee meeting on the National Defense Authorization Act on Capitol Hill, October 25, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
McCain Drops 'Maverick' Facade to Deliver Massive Gift to Rich, Strip Healthcare from Millions
Arizona senator is a "maverick, except when Wall Street calls"
Nov 30, 2017
Senate Republicans moved a step closer to ramming through massive tax cuts for the wealthy on Thursday after "maverick" Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)--deploying thoroughly "unsound" justifications--fell in line with President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership by declaring his support for the GOP tax plan.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here."
--Ben Wikler, MoveOn.org"Though not perfect, this bill will deliver much-needed reform to our tax code, grow the economy, and provide long overdue tax relief for American families," McCain insisted, in a statement that ran afoul of countless analyses showing that the GOP plan would make the tax code more complicated, do little to grow the economy, and primarily deliver gains to CEOs and already affluent families--not workers.
While McCain's decision to support a plan that has been hashed out largely in secret may seem to conflict with his previous demand for "regular order," The Nation's John Nichols offered a simple explanation for the 180-degree turn.
McCain is a "maverick, except when Wall Street calls," Nichols observed.
New York Magazine's Eric Levitz similarly highlighted McCain's willingness to reverse his stance on issues of principle, contrasting the senator's 2001 vote against the Bush tax cuts with his support for the current GOP plan.
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief," McCain said then.
Despite the available evidence clearly showing that the Trump-GOP tax plan would do precisely what McCain once denounced, Levitz chided the Arizona senator--especially given that "economic inequality in America is dramatically more severe" now that it was 16 years ago--for handing Republicans a key vote as their bill hurtles toward passage.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here," concluded MoveOn.org Washington director Ben Wikler.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Senate Republicans moved a step closer to ramming through massive tax cuts for the wealthy on Thursday after "maverick" Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)--deploying thoroughly "unsound" justifications--fell in line with President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership by declaring his support for the GOP tax plan.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here."
--Ben Wikler, MoveOn.org"Though not perfect, this bill will deliver much-needed reform to our tax code, grow the economy, and provide long overdue tax relief for American families," McCain insisted, in a statement that ran afoul of countless analyses showing that the GOP plan would make the tax code more complicated, do little to grow the economy, and primarily deliver gains to CEOs and already affluent families--not workers.
While McCain's decision to support a plan that has been hashed out largely in secret may seem to conflict with his previous demand for "regular order," The Nation's John Nichols offered a simple explanation for the 180-degree turn.
McCain is a "maverick, except when Wall Street calls," Nichols observed.
New York Magazine's Eric Levitz similarly highlighted McCain's willingness to reverse his stance on issues of principle, contrasting the senator's 2001 vote against the Bush tax cuts with his support for the current GOP plan.
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief," McCain said then.
Despite the available evidence clearly showing that the Trump-GOP tax plan would do precisely what McCain once denounced, Levitz chided the Arizona senator--especially given that "economic inequality in America is dramatically more severe" now that it was 16 years ago--for handing Republicans a key vote as their bill hurtles toward passage.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here," concluded MoveOn.org Washington director Ben Wikler.
Senate Republicans moved a step closer to ramming through massive tax cuts for the wealthy on Thursday after "maverick" Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)--deploying thoroughly "unsound" justifications--fell in line with President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership by declaring his support for the GOP tax plan.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here."
--Ben Wikler, MoveOn.org"Though not perfect, this bill will deliver much-needed reform to our tax code, grow the economy, and provide long overdue tax relief for American families," McCain insisted, in a statement that ran afoul of countless analyses showing that the GOP plan would make the tax code more complicated, do little to grow the economy, and primarily deliver gains to CEOs and already affluent families--not workers.
While McCain's decision to support a plan that has been hashed out largely in secret may seem to conflict with his previous demand for "regular order," The Nation's John Nichols offered a simple explanation for the 180-degree turn.
McCain is a "maverick, except when Wall Street calls," Nichols observed.
New York Magazine's Eric Levitz similarly highlighted McCain's willingness to reverse his stance on issues of principle, contrasting the senator's 2001 vote against the Bush tax cuts with his support for the current GOP plan.
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief," McCain said then.
Despite the available evidence clearly showing that the Trump-GOP tax plan would do precisely what McCain once denounced, Levitz chided the Arizona senator--especially given that "economic inequality in America is dramatically more severe" now that it was 16 years ago--for handing Republicans a key vote as their bill hurtles toward passage.
"The fact that McCain voted against George W. Bush's ugly tax cuts for the rich and then voted for this far worse bill--which includes partial ACA repeal--gives the lie to the idea that there's an underlying principle at work here," concluded MoveOn.org Washington director Ben Wikler.
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