Senator John McCain joined his fellow Republicans to vote to maintain a filibuster on the minimum wage hike. This is clearly a vote to win him financial backing and support from the elites, but it is one that should come back to haunt him in his Presidential bid.A hike in the minimum wage is supported by at least 75% of Americans -- that number includes a large percentage of Republicans. And it's an issue you can use to win -- as Sherrod Brown learned in Ohio, a state where I'm guessing McCain will want to perform well.
2008 will likely be the year when the rightwing economic vision and electoral reality collide into eachother. This vote is a clear example of how that will happen.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 11)
1. John McCain, you love him you hate him. In my eyes he's a war hero great American. He needs to stop being a lap dog to George Bush and make his own decisions and choices. Than we'll talk.
Justin at 2:51PM on Jan 24th 2007
2. I pledge to work as hard as humanly possible to defeat this sleeze ball with the heart of stone.
In fact I am going to change my party registration to Republican, just so I can cast my vote for another.
I am so sick of hartless fools running my government. Fools who take real good care of themselves but could care less about the ordinary citizen and his hardships.
I think people like Mc Cain are making more communists in this world then Joe Stallin ever did, as evidenced by the Leftist revolution in South America. And looks like the workd. People will only take so much stealing from them, and then they react. Give yourself another raise Mc Cain,
Robert
God,
Robert Dinkle at 2:54PM on Jan 24th 2007
3. John McCain makes policy decisions based on one thing and one thing only:
"Is it in the interest of the country?"
McCain will often take unpopular positions if he thinks it is the right thing to do. He is not supporting a fillibuter on minimum wage in order to raise money for his campaign. He has plenty of money.
chris gersten at 3:33PM on Jan 24th 2007
4. I think the minimum wage issue,McCain is right. Our economy is doing good and a hike in wages at this time would not help us. Maybe later. I also think McCain would be a strong candidate for 08 because of the serious situations this country is faced with in terrorism. McCain is about the strongest one I see that could handle the issues.
Emily Cinicola at 3:56PM on Jan 24th 2007
5. I agree that the minimum wage issue is a big one. In fact, freshman Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)pushed minimum wage in his 2006 campaign ads. Ex-Congressman John Hostettler (R) was shown repeatedly against minimum wage hikes and for Congressional wage hikes.
Richard at 2:58PM on Jan 24th 2007
6. This is in keeping with McCain's past conduct. He is really a "no issue" candidate who will do whatever the party bosses tell him to do. His career both military and political is undistingushed - a "prisoner" who did not escape and a follow-the-leader politico; unforunately is is just a "vanilla" man. Bye Bye McCain
whscms at 3:02PM on Jan 24th 2007
7. Minimum wage must be raised. Raise that standard and you raise the standard of our economy. If people have the money, they spend it; without this raise you will see more and more people become discouraged with our system of government
Linda at 3:01PM on Jan 24th 2007
8. The minimum wage increase is a gimmick by the Democrats. The rate should have been raised to 7.25 at once with special tax breaks for small business. Democrats are anti-business and are not really for those who need financial help. Last night when Bush mentioned his health plan to help those who need real help they sat in their seats to show their opposition. Democrats are against real reform. Americans will see in the next two years what the Democratic Party is all about. POWER.
Jerry Bluhm at 5:05PM on Jan 24th 2007
9. Minimum wage will cost a lot of people jobs. Especially the younger worker. People need to wake up and think beyond their own backyard.
jack kenney at 3:05PM on Jan 24th 2007
10. Minimum wage is a major issue. Any successful business should promote the social uplifting of its workers and employees. Concern for thewelfare of its employees promotes a stable work force and excellent service that will be result oriented, threby benefiting the company and generating more efficiency and profits. It is an INVESTMENT in the future of the company.
A higher minimum wage level will guarantee an higher purchasing power and will result in more money flowing into the ecomony, with little impact on the bottom line of the company.
LUKE DIERICKX at 3:08PM on Jan 24th 2007
11. I THINK MCCAIN IS A GUTLESS, SPINELESS JELLYFISH WHO GOES WHERE THE WIND BLOWS. WHAT AMAZES ME IS THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO THINK OF HIM AS PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL.
REMEMBER AMERICA HE VOTED TO HAVE OUR SOLDIERS KILLED IN LARGER NUMBERS - AND HE VOTED AGAIN THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE. PUNISH HIM WHEN THE TIME COMES.
J RPU at 3:11PM on Jan 24th 2007
12. Raising the minimum wage will hurt workers, not managers. Managers will cut jobs and raise prices on goods before they cut into their profit margins. Don't support the minimum wage - let the market set the wages.
Matt at 3:12PM on Jan 24th 2007
13. As a Republican I think McCain made a HUGE mistake. The whole party needs to step back and remember WHO THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE REPERSENTING.
Sandee at 3:27PM on Jan 24th 2007
14. Sorry, J. McCain - you just lost my vote . There is a lot of scrambling to survive, hardworking people that need that min.wage hike. Sad, I thought you had more guts than that Mr. McCain
J.Christiansen
J. Christiansen at 3:15PM on Jan 24th 2007
15. Remember that McCain was one of the Keating 5:The S&L Bank failures that cost the tax-payers 400 billion. Four Senators resigned. Being a pw, he got slapped on the wrist. He married rich; he thinks rich, which leaves no room for minimum wage people.
Edward Resnick at 3:25PM on Jan 24th 2007