Local tea party activists felt that Sen. John McCain had some explaining to do.
As a result, McCain, R-Ariz., spent some of a town hall meeting at Gilbert Municipal Center on Monday defending his comments last week in the U.S. Senate, where he read from a Wall Street Journal editorial referring to "tea party hobbits."
McCain said he quoted the editorial to make a point about some Republicans' insisting on a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution in exchange for agreeing to raise the nation's debt limit.
"What apology is in order?" McCain responded when asked if he would apologize. "What was wrong that I said?"
McCain continued: "There was no way that a balanced-budget amendment would have passed the Senate. If anyone said that it could, they were not being truthful. Hobbits are not real, and the point is that it was not real. You should not deceive people and say that something like a balanced-budget amendment could happen ...
"It's not my fault that it was misunderstood. I'm sorry that it was misunderstood."
McCain said that he has voted for a balanced-budget amendment 13 times, adding that it can become reality when "you have enough people committed to it." A Constitutional amendment must be ratified by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and approval by three-fourths of state legislatures.
The nation's debt ceiling was raised after an agreement was reached between Congress and the Obama administration. However, Standard & Poors downgraded the U.S. credit rating, and as McCain spoke, the Dow was en route to dropping 634.76 points.
In its report, S&P stated that the downgrade was, in part, "because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced" with the debt-limit deal that calls for $2.1 trillion of deficit reduction over the next 10 years.
But McCain suggested that the nation's $14.5 trillion debt reflected a spending - not a revenue - problem, and rejected raising taxes. He called for the nation's corporate-tax rate to be cut from 35 percent to 25 percent.
"We are paying a big price for unbridled spending," McCain said. "The U.S. fiscal situation is unsustainable, and it should be fixed ...
"I'm of the belief that you don't take money from people and give it to government in a time of a (slow economy)."
McCain said that current recipients of such programs as Social Security and Medicare should not have benefits cut, but future beneficiaries could be affected.
One Tea Party advocate scolded McCain as being part of the "old guard in Washington" that was around for the major drivers of the nation's debt over the last decade: the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and the 2003 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
McCain responded that he voted against Medicare Part D - its expected expenditures from 2009-18 are $727 billion - because it was not paid for. He voted against both rounds of tax cuts, but supported their extension in 2006.
"I will match my record as a fiscal conservative against anyone in the House and Senate, including the new members," McCain said. "I have fought both the Republican and Democratic leaders on spending. I will defend my record."
In other matters, McCain was asked about United Nations Agenda 21, a plan for sustainable development introduced at the 1992 Earth Summit. McCain was jeered by some in the audience when he asked the questioner to elaborate.
"It's a takeover of the United States," a man said. "The UN wants to take over our farms."
"You are so out of touch, dude," another told McCain.
After the 75-minute town hall meeting concluded, one audience member repeatedly shouted, "Where's our fence?" - the only time on Monday that the topic of illegal immigration came up.
DrJCA1 posted at 8:59 pm on Mon, Aug 8, 2011.
Why is it so difficult for the fanatics on the left and the right to realize that insisting on "their way or the highway" will NEVER work in this country? As a nation, we are almost equally divided between liberals and conservatives, with independents swinging either way, according to the mood they're in at voting time. You stubborn people had better listen well: if you don't compromise on many issues, we will always have gridlock in Washington and nothing will ever get done. The result will be that our country will do down the tubes. I'm sure your kids will thank you for being so insistent on having everything your way. Fools all.
jring281 posted at 10:50 pm on Mon, Aug 8, 2011.
Thanks to Dan Ziegler for a more accurate report than was published in the Arizona Republic.
This was my first Town Hall in person and I was impressed with how well participants responded to Senator McCain's call for respect for one another. Also, I was impressed by Senator McCain's composure during several rather direct accusations.
I have asked him in writing to not capitulate to bullies, those who call for compromise only when they are not getting their way. We need more dialogue and less idealogues.
I conclude that the root problem lies not with Obama or Congress but with us. We have been incapable of selecting and electing Representatives and Senators who look out for us (including the minority in any election) within the constraints of the Constitution. Let's do better.
Winghunter posted at 12:45 am on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
What possessed AZ to re-elect this outrageous RINO is far beyond any reasonable excuse. A ham sandwich would've been preferable just to get him out.
Had McCain joined with the 83 Tea Party Congressmen to voice his full support of a balanced budget amendment, public pressure on those who refuse to stop their spending would've been very high. Even if enough pressure could not have been applied to gain the votes required, the following discussion in the media would've helped educate the public in applying even more pressure later. Instead, McCain chose to publicly humiliate loyal Americans trying to reign in a rogue government on the floor of the Senate and the Mainstream Media was allowed to drop the issue entirely. Totally inexcusable.
McCain is a con man and is laughing right in our face when he refers to himself as a 'maverick'. He plays this game with the help of Lindsey Graham. Their relationship is explained in an article: Lindsey Graham - Maverick, deal-maker with 'vision’ by Robert Draker of The New York Times. It was meant as a puff piece for Graham but, it maps out what they're pulling on us.
Learn McCain's and Graham's con game and become capable for your own governance: McCain http://bit.ly/lhXZ0 Graham http://tinyurl.com/ycfvsl8
Winghunter posted at 1:03 am on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
I would also like very much to know the name of the "Tea Party activist" who actually complained about tax cuts. The fundamental relationship between tax rates and actual revenue is explained fully by the Laffer Curve.
“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.” —Thomas Jefferson
NothingButTheTruth posted at 11:39 am on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
Good old McRino, playing both ends for the middle, and making out like a bandit. Yes Winghunter, had McRino joined with those he says he agrees with we may have gotten a balance budget amendment. I'm sure McRino made out quite well holding the position he held. God bless you John McRino, you no good thief in the night.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 12:01 pm on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered." - Thomas Jefferson
And if we continue to elect the banksters foxes to run the hen house, you will continue to get the McRino shaft.
RationalHuman posted at 12:15 pm on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
Context, Wingnut, context.
While I admire Jefferson and quote him often, please be careful when quoting him and tying it to Americans and their freedoms.
During the time period Jefferson penned this quote, he and his family owned other human beings...and unless you're implying something sinister, it just doesn't fit.
Max Thrax posted at 1:13 pm on Tue, Aug 9, 2011.
Ignorant hillbillies are destroying our country. These same people screaming about deficits supported all the policies that created the deficit.....Bush tax cuts, the 3 Trillion dollar Iraq War and financial deregulation. They're always looking for someone else to blame though. I wish we could trade all our hillbillies for illegal immigrants, this country would thrive again.
samkat posted at 7:44 pm on Wed, Aug 10, 2011.
Actually McCain was kind in calling them hobbits since hobbits have some intelligence. Apparently nobody in Washington has heard of win-win bargaining much less the tea pots. I went to their web site and I failed to read any kind of mission statement that would lead me to believe they have even the foggiest idea as to how to actually achieve a balanced budget let alone solve our financial woes. Certainly, more tax cuts are not the solution anymore than mindless spending cuts. Fire away tea pot and include some intelligent comments on how to achieve success.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 11:30 pm on Thu, Aug 11, 2011.
RationalHuman, I fail to see what slave ownership has to do with the Jefferson quote. Having slaves somehow makes the statement any less relevant?
Who are these ignorant hillbillies you're referring to Max? Are you saying the tea party activists supported the false flag event which led to the invasion of the middle east by American soldiers? We do blame Bush and Obummer and all the rest of the bankster puppets that are draining the country dry. BTW, the bush tax cuts actually raised revenue that was subsequently spent by a democratic congress. I'm told the extra revenue generated by the Bush tax cuts could have paid for the entire Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Blame for Libya goes to the Obummer. Definitely we don't need any tax cuts or more mindless spending. So what is so wrong with living within our means. We all do it in our own homes, so why can't our government do likewise? Government is so overblown is actually accounts for around 30% of all paychecks in America. Government is huge and most of it only serves itself. Lets cut the government until it can pay for it's expenditures. Tea Party activists come from both parties and blame both parties for this mess. Just what is so radical of wanting our government to only spend that which the receive in taxes? Max wants to trade all our hillbillies for illegal immigrants, and says that will cure America's problems. Lets start with Max.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 11:55 pm on Thu, Aug 11, 2011.
Joe Wilson Was Right: Obamacare-Funded Health Centers for 'Migrants' Won’t Check Immigration Status…
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Tuesday that it has awarded $28.8 million to 67 community health centers with funds from the Obamacare health reform law.
Of that $28.8 million, “approximately $8.5 million will be used by 25 New Access Point awardees to target services to migrant and seasonal farm workers,” Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Spokeswoman Judy Andrews told CNSNews.com. HRSA is a part of HHS.
Andrews said that grant recipients will not check the immigration status of people seeking services.
“Health centers do not, as a matter of routine practice, ask about or collect data on citizenship or other matters not related to the treatment needs of the patients seeking health services at the center,” Andrews said.
Why don't we just give America to the Mexicans and save the trouble of taking it to court? Obummercare: just another wealth redistribution scheme. It's not about wealth redistribution within America. It's about wealth redistribution with the world.
http://nation.foxnews.com/health-care/2011/08/11/joe-wilson-was-right-obamacare-funded-health-centers-migrants-won-t-check-immigration-status
rouse2 posted at 4:55 pm on Mon, Aug 15, 2011.
this is someone that has never brought home pork to arizona, railed against pork barrel spending, and then he calls the very people that want to REALLY stop the waste and cut the budget 'hobbits'. what exactly does he stand for today? what will he stand for tomorrow? not what he said he stood for yesterday, that's fairly certain.