Did McCain Vote for Busj in 2000? Does It Matter?

@anniepa (27955)
United States
May 9, 2008 7:14pm CST
There have been barbs traded back and forth between Arianna Huffington and John McCain over whether or not McCain voted for President Bush in the 2000 election, after McCain had been knocked out of the rce for the nomination by the dirty politics of Bush and Karl Rove. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/us/politics/09huffington.html I was surprised to read McCain had attended a dinner party at the home of actress Candice Bergen to begin with but it was at that dinner that at least three people claim to have heard John McCain state he had not voted for George W. Bush in the 2000 election. “She’s a flake and a poser and an attention-seeking diva,” is what Mark Salter, one of Mr. McCain’s closest aides, told The Washington Post about Arianna Huffington after being told she had heard McCain say this shortly after the 2000 election. Now, however, two others, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, both former stars of the long running TV series The West Wing, have also come forward to say they heard the same thing. Here's an excerpt from the linked article: “McCain was just sort of going off on how much he disliked Bush and the horrible things that the Bush campaign had done to his family in South Carolina, and his exasperation with Bush about his ridiculous tax cuts and he really wanted to talk to him about it, but he said the guy doesn’t have the concentration, and you talk for 10 minutes and then the guy wants to talk about baseball,” Mr. Whitford said. Another guest then asked Mr. McCain, Mr. Whitford recalled, whether he had voted for Mr. Bush. “And he put his finger in front of his mouth and mouthed, ‘No way,’ ” Mr. Whitford said. Mr. Schiff, who played Toby Ziegler, the White House communications director on “The West Wing,” said he was listening to Mr. McCain from the other of the two tables in the room. “Someone asked, ‘What do you think of Bush?’ ” Mr. Schiff recalled. “My recollection, and I have to qualify this, because I’m not 100 percent sure he used this word, but my recollection is that McCain said that Bush was dangerous and he didn’t trust him. Then this person said, ‘Why did you support him?’ And McCain said, ‘It was my obligation as a Republican to support the Republican candidate.’ And the person said, ‘Did you vote for him?’ And McCain said, ‘No.’ ” So, what do you think about this? Are you happier than McCain claims he indeed voted for Bush or would you rather if he hadn't? Does it matter that he was apparently either lying then or he's lying now when he claims he did vote for Bush in 2000? Also, what was this "maverick" doing partying with a bunch of Hollywood "elitists" anyway? Annie
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Adoniah (7512)
• United States
10 May 08
It is going to take a lot more than whether or not McCain voted for Bush to make or break his election. McCain needs to emphatically explain his prposed medical insurance package to the "I want it all free public!" And explain why his program IS indeed better than the Democrats supposed "free program" He also needs to get off the fence on immigration and state his ideas forcefully. He does have some good ideas, but he is afraid of offending the wrong pwople and losing their vote. Well you are always going to lose some votes. Better to lose some than the whole batch! He also needs to get over the hundred years in Iraq statement, and get on with taking a stand on what he feels needs to be done about the problems in the MidEast. Then folks would not be so apt to throw that statement in his face every time he tries to talk about anything important on foreign policy. Shalom~Adoniah
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 May 08
I agree, this isn't going to make or break him, I doubt it will change a single voter's mind. Out of curiosity, how about YOU tell ME why McCain's health care program is better than either of the Democrats' plans. From what I've seen and read about it it's pretty useless. Annie
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
11 May 08
So he thinks a $5000 tax credit is going to even put a dent in health care costs? He's not giving anyone $5000 in cash, it will be in the form of a tax credit so someone who doesn't pay any federal income taxes - i.e., the low income workers who are the most likely to NOT have health insurance will get nothing. The average health insurance plan which is very slightly more than a "bare bones" plan costs around $12,000 per year, and that's going by the rates charged for a group plan such as those provided by employers. The $12,000 figure is the total cost, that paid by the employer as well as any portion the employee pays. (It does NOT count do-payments or deductibles which tend to be rather high in these plans.) Many economists predict this will cause premiums to go UP rather than down and it will also cause many employers to opt out of providing even part of their workers health care plans. Also, McCain's solution for the elderly and those with preexisting conditions is to charge them more! Exactly how will this help anybody? Annie
@Adoniah (7512)
• United States
11 May 08
McCain's plan will give $5,000 dollars to each American to use to purchase their own Health Care Plan. The idea being, to go out and find the best but lowest cost plan they can find. Thus driving down the overall cost of Health Care in the U.S. This will make it more affordable to everyone, rich and poor alike. It is a complicated plan, but Americans should be able to grasp the concept and realize that this is the best idea. It is a one time Government handout and will not bankrupt the Government. The Democratic plan will run into the billions in a very short time and will bankrupt the Government. It is designed for the "I want it all for free so I will vote for you crowd!" This is a useless plan~ask the Europeans and the Canadians! Shalom~Adoniah
1 person likes this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
10 May 08
McCain voted for Gore...LOL. He's far enough to the left for a righty anyway. I wouldn't put it past him. Lieing is part of the political business isn't it? I'm sure it isn't the first thing he lied about and it won't be the last. What was he doing partying with Hollywood elitests???? Ummmm, errrrr, Hollywood owns Washington pretty much. Of course, it was for the votes.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 May 08
Or maybe he voted for Ralph Nader? Or wrote himself in like his wife did? I know lots of politicians hang out with the Hollywood stars now and then but Republicans like to brag that they don't, that they don't like the Hollywood scene. Annie
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
10 May 08
I know that I should be the better person here, but I just could not help myself with this one. Everytime I have misspelled you have ript into me. I do believe that you called me an idiot for using the word contexted. You wrote a whole response based an the fact I use the word to instead of too. Last time I check BusJ is not his name. Yes I know that is totally childish but you did have it coming. I could carless about your discussion, I just had to return the favor.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 May 08
I expected this and, yes, I knew I had it coming as soon as I saw this stupid typo I should have caught before I submitted it...lol! I did apologize for doing what I know was childish but possibly you didn't see my apology. However, I sure do NOT recall calling you an idiot, if you thought I did you either misunderstood or I made another mistake so just let it be said I'm sorry if you took it that way. I do recall you calling me names and turning a political discussion into a personal attack which I see no need for. Annie
@jormins (1223)
• United States
10 May 08
Although I don't remember that primary from the sounds of it that it was particularly nasty so I wouldn't be surprised at all if McCain voted against Bush. Considering there are multiple witnesses with no real reason just to make that up I think the Straight Talk Express might be losing some more credibility to those with an open mind this general. Its very easy to make the argument to those with an open mind that McCain is a changed man from the so called "Maverick" that he was.
1 person likes this