There was a point, a couple of personas ago, at which John McCain didn’t mind showing some leadership skills on matters pertaining to public health. It’s what led him to work with John Edwards on a Patients’ Bill of Rights (which he has since given up on) and, for many years, support efforts to crack down on the tobacco industry.
But as is too often the case, the new McCain has little use for the positions taken by the old McCain. (thanks to A.B. for the heads-up)
Ten years ago, Senator John McCain took on the tobacco industry, saying he would never back down from legislation to regulate the industry. He also supported a $1.10-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund programs to cut underage smoking. “I still regret we did not succeed,” he said as recently as last October.
Now, McCain’s longtime effort to crack down on tobacco is being put to a new test. Within weeks, the Senate is expected to vote on legislation to allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco. McCain agreed months ago to cosponsor the current bill with Senator Edward M. Kennedy, but McCain’s policy adviser said the senator won’t commit to voting for it until he sees the final legislation.
McCain has also dropped his support for increasing cigarette taxes. Last year, McCain voted against legislation that would have used a 61-cents-per-pack tax to expand a children’s health program.
On the Hill and in policy circles, McCain was known as one of the “good guys” in the Republican caucus on this issue. The tobacco industry hated him, his fellow GOP lawmakers knew he’d vote with Dems on regulation, and public-health advocates came to see him as a reliable ally.
And then McCain decided he wanted to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008.
Reading about the crusading McCain in 1998 serves as a stark reminder of how far he’s fallen. At the time, working with the Clinton White House, McCain championed a $1.10-per-pack tax increase, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs.
The industry ended up spending an estimated $40 million to defeat the bill, one of the most expensive campaigns against a piece of legislation at the time, with McCain as the primary target.
“Is there anybody left in Washington who thinks that the McCain Tobacco Tax Bill is all about kids? . . . Contact your member of Congress now and tell them you oppose the McCain Tobacco Tax,” said a typical newspaper advertisement, paid for by Philip Morris and several other tobacco companies.
In response, McCain barred tobacco lobbyists from his office, and fought Republicans to pass the tax increase. Appearing on “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on April 21, 1998, McCain was asked whether he would give up in the face of objections from the Republican leadership. McCain replied, “Never.”
A month later, with the measure on the Senate floor, McCain upbraided the tobacco industry for its opposition to his tax proposal: “They have sacrificed the truth and our children to their greed.”
That was a decade ago. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won’t commit to supporting a regulation bill he’s co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris’ former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.
I suspect there are some people who still have positive impressions of McCain, shaped by his work on issues like these. It’s time for these folks to realize that this simply isn’t the same John McCain.
No Trackbacks To “McCain waffles on sensible tobacco policy“
Vote whore. McCain/Hillary 08.
But he smokes on sensible waffle policy.
Well, McCain’s a dope but you’ll NEVER get any mileage trying to say that “waiting to see the final legislation before deciding which way you’ll vote” is a bad thing.
Dick Morris never got over the fact that the blue dress with the stain on it belonged to Monica and to himself. This little twerp who never got laid without paying for it is consumed with his hate of and jealousy for the Clintons . He is a sad little man in so many ways , a perfect FAUX pundit .
mcfuck-every-one-over-now is willing to throw
away all his moral values just to be president.
this is just another bushco buddy willing to
lie for his reichwingneocon buddies and the greedy rich.
look, i don’t like tobacco executives either, but essentially labeling someone a bad person by taxing them for smoking is bullshit.
you want better healthcare for kids? stop fighting these fucking wars.
McCain will continue to suck up to the far right while the media focus on the Clinton/Obama horserace. Unfortunately, it looks like he’ll have a long time to shore up that support.
I wonder how much McCain is in for Tobacco…Haven’t heard about money problems lately…
Really why go for increasing tobacco regulation? The people who want to use it will do it regardless. Everyone who smokes knows its bad for them- but they made that decision on their own and its their right to do it. Who the hell are these people to tax them more just because they don’t like what they do. I don’t see them going for tax-hikes on dangerous prescription drugs or beer.
How about these guys focus on real issues, we have an economic crisis and two occupations going on right now. Don’t be surprised that people want to smoke cigarettes to feel some relief from their stress.
What? I just was at this site and there were two other posts ahead of this one. Did we go through a time warp or a site warp? Oh well no matter.
Over the years McCain has learned that republicans must say whatever is necessary to win the white house. Even if it makes them look like two different people, they know their base isn’t paying attention for more than two seconds at a time so they forget the candidates previous statements.
Ryan From Portland @ 6:
would you mind clarifying what you are saying? what fucking wars. that is
too general a statement. war on tobacco? war in iraq? war on proverty in
america? war on drugs? war on corporate rape of america?
war on all our jobs going overseas? and the list goes on, what are you complaining about?
For crying out loud, chill out. The bill has yet to be voted on. Perhaps you should wait until then to sanctimoniously castigate him.
pissed off patricia @ 10:
thank you for saying this for me. as usual you are right on the mark.
Don’t believe the hype;
Can’t vote Hillary, vote McCain - at-least we know who they really are & what they have really accomplished.
Ryan From Portland @ 6:
The government already pays about 40% of our health budget through programs like Medicare and others. Smokers on average have higher medical bills. If we don’t tax cigarrettes, we are essentially subsidizing people’s bad health choices - are you for that?
McWaffler
pissed off patricia @ 10:
Probably just a glitch. The site seems to be having technical problems today.
Luckily, though, the posts by the asshole whose favorite words are “whore” and “bitch” were saved.
ObamaBinLying @ 14:
so you are saying we should continue to let the gop
dry-fuck us for 4 more years. maybe that’s something you like,
but not me.
dadams @ 5:
I gave up on him when he let the bush people abuse his adopted daughter.
?Pro-life” Republicans for pro-death tobacco. Pro-drug war Republicans for one of the most addictive and deadly drugs on the planet. Hypocrisy thy name is Republican.
Walter @ 8:
He got linked into Bush’s fundraising network, which of course Big Tobacco is a part of. Large sources of money always come with strings attached.
Flip-flopping, lying, freak of a wimp knuckling under to his conservative pals and compromising anything he ever claimed to stand for.
All I want now is to see the old man do jumping jacks just to see his lil’ tyrannosaurus arms a-flappin’ around, struggling to get above shoulder height.
What? Was that mean and ad hominem? Feh. This man wants to do his part to ruin the country I love and live in, so I feel no motivation to be nice or respectful.
This is once again a very fiery issue. I detest McCain but on this one I am for him. You want better health care, don’t ask smokers to subsidize the health care program. That is just crazy. Remember that Big Tobacco settlement, you want to know where that money went? It went for roads (smoking didn’t cause erosion), it went to fund programs for abused women and children, and it went to almost everything in a state EXCEPT providing positive support for quitting smoking. Last time I checked only one state provided the necessary support to smokers to quit.
Where are the laws to enforce businesses to reduce their smoke pollution? Where are laws to reduce pollution from cars, trucks and buses?
Really, you want to see death reduction, then regulate alcohol. Tell the family of murdered victims that alcohol is okay, tell them it is not as bad as smoking a cigarette.
Can you say McHypocrite?! Thought you could…
X @ 12:
hmmm I read that as castrate the first time through
ObamaBinLying @ 14:
Accomplished? Now that’s hype. At least you’re honest with your Hillary/McCain association.
aquarius2 @ 23:
Non-smokers subsidize smokers - whether it is done through private or public insurance. alcohol is regulated just like cigarettes. Tobacco is also responsible for many more deaths than alcohol.
unfrozencaveman @ 21:
and an ass to kiss and a dick to
dadams @ 18:
X @ 12:
Hey ,someone’s gotta do it. The McCainStream media is constantly ball tickling him.
Sounds like old McSame spent too much time listening to the sounds his VC sandals made as he walked around his POW cell - flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop…..
I dunno know about y’all, but I prefer Brer Rabbits molasses on my waffles rather than tobacky.
ObamaBinLying @ 29:
Illogical troll. If McCain isn’t a “Bush Republican” why did he he put his entire tongue up Dubyah’s ass at that press conference praising the Prez a couple of weeks ago?
“And then McCain decided he wanted to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008.”
He already has the nomination. You can’t write off his drift to further and further extremes as simply pandering to the base anymore. The truth is he’s getting older and older and crankier and crankier and more and more clueless all the time.
THE Winning Slogan for the Democrats!
By Don Davis
JOHN McCAIN: THIS IS YOUR BUSH’S DADDY!
He’s running for president and needs the torture, racist, bigot, closet homosexual, bible thumping, Qur’an burning, wife beating, tree cutting, oil slurping, tax cutting, French hating, foreigner hating, Fox Viewing, Bush sucking votes that he can get.
Do you think he can waste the trailer trash and chain smoking votes?
Dont be cruel to McCain. The contract with america is just starting to kick in. The trickle down theory is just about to trickle to us. Mission is acommplished. We are known as liberators across the universe and the surge is paying off big time. VOTE McSame 2008.
StirFry @ 30:
I am now dumber as a direct consequence of your response.
X @ 38:
Your comment was an oxymoron when you consider dumb also means speechless.
dadams @ 5:
#704, thanks!
;-}
gwen @ 34:
He’s got the nomination but he doesn’t have the support of the base. He needs their votes and, more important, his campaign needs their cash.
Ryan From Portland @ 6:
That’s certainly an interesting compromise in the controvery over to Make Love, Not War.
But afterwards, wouldn’t they wan’t a cigarette?
Controversy want
Left&Left @ 33:
HaHa!!
Your turn to spank the pubetroll today, I’m busy. After yesterday, ya’d think the little McMonkey would go back ta spanking himself for awhile, LOL!
CoIntelPro - against Divisive Democrats @ 16:
#705, thanks C!
;}
StirFry @ 30:
OOoooh, good one wokman!
#706, thanks!
;-}
mmmmm waffles
McCainAintKeynes
I get tired of this tax-evil-smokers meme. Yes, the tobacco companies suck, but don’t punish smokers: they are addicted. Food, gas, heat, everything is going up and they already pay far too much in taxes!!!!!!!!!!
The governemnt could stop, say, blowing $300 million on shady arms c