McCain: Republicans could lose seats if omnibus passes (McCain says he is speaking for Tea Party)

The Hill, Washington, DC ^ | 2010-12-16 | Jordan Fabian

[rabscuttle385]

Republicans could relinquish a significant portion of the gains they made in the midterm elections if they "allow" the omnibus spending bill to pass, Sen. John McCain said Wednesday.

The Arizona Republican said that Tea Party activists who helped the GOP make large inroads on Democrats are "enraged" about the $1.1 trillion measure to fund the government that contains nearly $8 billion in earmarks.

"They gave us a second chance last November ... And if we Republicans allow this thing to go through, then I'm not sure they're going to give us another chance," McCain said during an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity.

McCain's comments put in stark relief the political dangers Republicans, and some Democrats, could face if the appropriations bill passes the Senate as is during the lame-duck session.

The 2008 GOP presidential nominee said there are five or six senators from his party who "may vote for it," leading him to say that the bill "may pass."

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has introduced an alternative to the omnibus: a one-page continuing resolution that would fund the government until Feb. 18, at which point the new Congress could pass a comprehensive spending measure.

McCain also warned Democrats that they could feel voter backlash if they support the bill. Democrats must defend a whopping 23 Senate seats, some in swing and red states, in the 2012 elections.

The senator urged Tea Partiers to make their voices heard even louder against the bill.

"I was on the phone with the Tea Partiers all over Arizona today," he said. "They are enraged. They are outraged. I want to see an uprising all over this country from the same people who caused our [gains]."

[Blood of Tyrants]

And then explain to me, senators, why you didn't demand that they read the health bill before jamming it through unread.

Because we had 40 cowards who were afraid of being called names by the Rats and the media (Brown wasn't in office yet but he is a coward, too).

[Jim Robinson]

Guess these big spending, homosexualist corrupt bastard RINOs don’t understand what open season on RINOs means. Hope they find out in 2012, 2014, 2016, etc. I see no end to the RINO hunt. No bag limit!!

[rabscuttle385]

the next time they get raped by the DemonRAT Congress

It's not rape if it's consensual.

[shadeaud]

Thank you Tigers Eye to remind us who McCain is. He may have been a POW(sorry, but we had many poor souls in the Hanoi Hilton as well). We also have Rangel who,for some reason, is constantly reminding the cameras he was in Korea. Neither one in my opinion is a honest to God HERO. Everyone who serves in the military and comes home alive is a person of honor, those that gave the highest offering are more of a hero. When I served,purple hearts were passed out almost as freely as mind altering substances. I'm not saying that some of the recipients weren't deserving, I am saying that the acknowledgment of receiving such a recognition was compromised.

[bIlluminati]

ANY senator can request that the full bill be read out loud.

Rand Paul (T, KY). 2011 Jan 03 1200 - 2017 Jan 03 1200. Or longer.

[bIlluminati]

Actually 42, assuming you count both Brown and Kirk as Republicans.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Good old McShame. Lookin out for the conservatives. What a crock!!!

[RnMomof7]

He wishes.. that man NEVER speaks for me..hear me mickey??? NEVER

Go home and visit your abortion loving , gay marriage loving wife and leave us alone

[wolfcreek]

MCQUEEG F-OFF!

[wiseprince]

You know he’s on your side on this one. Doesn’t make sense to attack him now. He already won re-election so I take him at his words when he says he’s against this. He hasn’t moved left yet (since his election) so I’m willing to see what he actually DOES going forward

[wiseprince]

I saw a video of him on fox saying that he was going to ask it to be read (I’m not sure why the concept is such a “no go” zone). Let’s see if he follows through

[wiseprince]

exactly! People fight and fight to get others to believe/think as they do and when it comes to pass they don’t notice and/or don’t care. It’s a foolish way to win people over.

[SC_Pete]

If DemonPass was consensual, then the Republican whores are as bad as RATS and must be ranked #1 in PERFIDY.

[The Citizen Soldier]

Proving once again that even a stopped watch is correct twice a day.

[CitizenUSA]

I don’t understand the vitriol at McCain at this point. He seems to be doing better than most senators (”most” meaning Democrats and centrist Republicans). I hope he acts like a true maverick and bucks this Democrat and RINO attempt to steamroll legislation through the lame duck session.

Since McCain is safe for another six years, why shouldn’t we support him when he does the right things? I don’t know of anyone who I agree with 100% of the time, including my wife. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a wonderful, productive marriage. Take the good. Resist the bad.

Right now I’m all for the maverick. BUCK THE SYSTEM, MAVERICK! SHUT IT DOWN!

[upsdriver]

It was nice to see a positive response to my post.

Unfortunately, the goal of many is to drive the “RINOs” out of the party, which is pure stupidity. Reagan didn’t do that, he won in the arena of ideas. He convinced people that his way was the best way.

My goal is to replace the leadership of the GOP, not the membership of the GOP, other than to add more to the roll.

McCain has at least taken notice of the November election message. Let’s hope he means it. Let’s also hope he can convince his colleagues as well.

[upsdriver]

Excellent post!

[VRWC For Truth]

The ides of March are come.

[Salvation]

From Oregon: We must stop this Omnibus Spending Bill. I have included some information from FreedomWorks below. Learn about the bill and then make your calls. We need to defeat this bill and get a continuing resolution that will carry the government forward until February. If this bill passes, spending will be locked in at 20% about last year and the Republicans will not be able to cut spending until October 2011 and it will be made harder by the excessive spending in this bill. This bill will make it possible to move forward with ObamaCare. Please call the Senate Leadership and encourage them to keep fighting to defeat this bill Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541 Jon Kyle (202) 224-4521 Please call the weak Senators and ask them to vote against this bill Susan Collins (202) 224-2523 Olympia Snow (202) 224-5344 Robert Bennett (202) 224-5444 Call our Oregon Senators and ask them to vote against this bill Sen. Ron Wyden 202-224-5244 Jeff Merkley 202-224-3753 Wayne Brady FreedomWorks Information about this bill: Omnibus Podcast: https://ex03.mindshift.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/thale/freedomradio-max-pappas-talks-omnibus Here is a short policy paper on the omnibus bill: http://www.freedomworks.org/publications/key-vote-no-hr-3082-full-year-continuing-appropria Here is our Top Ten on the Omnibus with links: Web: http://www.freedomworks.org/publications/top-10-reasons-to-oppose-the-omnibus-spending-bill PDF: http://www.freedomworks.org/files/12-15-10_Top_10_Reasons_To_Oppose_the_Omnibus_Spending_Bill_0.pdf Top 10 Reasons to oppose the "Omnibus" Spending Bill Top 10 Reasons to oppose the "Omnibus" Spending Bill By Max Pappas At nearly 2,000 pages, and well over $1 trillion dollars, there are far more than ten reasons to oppose the “omnibus” spending bill that was sprung on us at the last minute by this lame duck Congress. But here are some of the worst parts of this bill, which is expected to be voted on as an amendment to H.R. 3082.

 1. Congress hasn’t learned their lesson. 

This lame-duck trillion dollar pork-laden bill is an affront to our democracy in that it ignores the message so many tried to send Washington at the ballot box just over a month ago. Overwhelmingly, the people rejected big government. 

 2. It will increase government spending. 

We called for less spending and this lame-duck $1 trillion-plus bill continues Congress’ reckless spending spree. At almost 2,000 pages, it averages $575,120,000 in spending per page.

 3. A trillion dollar spending bill deserves more open debate. 

We called for an honest and transparent process and the lame-duck Senate gives us another 2,000 page bill crafted behind closed doors that it wants to quickly cram though at the last minute. 

 4. It will fund ObamaCare. 

This bill includes over $1,000,000,000 in spending to implement the unpopular and unconstitutional ObamaCare health care takeover (see pages 983-1001).

 5. It includes the unconstitutional FDA Food “Safety” Bill. 

This over-sized spending bill includes the Food “Safety” Bill that will spend $1.4 billion giving the federal government unprecedented control over our diets while not making our food any safer. Federal bureaucrats who likely know little to nothing about farming will set the guidelines on appropriate temperatures, what soil to use, how much water to use and what animals are allowed to be on certain fields. This over-regulation bill has no place in this already over-stuffed spending bill.

 6. The focus should be on cutting government spending. 

In just the past two years, total government spending has increased by 16.8 percent. The omnibus continues our nation on the path to economic ruin. Instead, Congress should begin rolling back spending, like the Republican Study Committee suggests in their alternative bill that moves domestic discretionary spending back to FY2008 levels. For perspective, in inflation-adjusted dollars, federal discretionary spending alone has almost doubled since FY2000. Are you getting twice as much from your government?

 7. The omnibus moves Nevada to the Pacific Coast. 

It designates Nevada a “Pacific Coast State” so Senator Harry Reid and direct special finds to his state. Last we checked no part of Nevada touches the Pacific Ocean.

 8. It has over 6,000 earmarks costing over $8 billion. 

We called for no more earmarks and this lame-duck Senate gives us a pork-stuffed bill with over 6,000 earmarks that spend over $8 billion on pet projects, many beyond absurd and far beyond the appropriate role of the federal government.

 9. It steers federal spending to pet projects in lawmaker’s states. 

Sen. Inouye (D-Hawaii), is the lead sponsor of this “omnibus” spending bill, so it should be no surprise that among many other earmarks, it includes, $400,000 for Hawaii Fisheries Development in Honolulu, $1,000,000 for the Hawaii Seafood Program in Honolulu, $2,500,000 for the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

 10. It’s business as usual with enough pork to make Jimmy Dean jealous.

And the pork rolls out all over the place. Here are just 10 more to round out this Top 10:

 1. $277,000 for potato pest management in Wisconsin 
 2. $246,000 for bovine tuberculosis in Michigan and Minnesota
 3. $413,000 for peanut research in Alabama
 4. $247,000 for virus free wine grapes in Washington
 5. $94,000 for blackbird management in Louisiana
 6. $165,000 for maple research in Vermont
 7. $235,000 for noxious weed management in Harry Reid’s Nevada
 8. $150,000 for “Construction of a Children’s Playground” in Yauco, Puerto Rico
 9. $1,000,000 “for revitalization and renewal of the city’s downtown region” for Longview, Washington
 10. $400,000 for a “National Textile Center” at Cornell University R. Russell Walker 5434 River Road NE #366 Keizer, Oregon 97303 (503) 709-8864 mobile (503) 463-9457 office rwalker@freedomworks.org 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW North Building, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004 (202)783-3870- office

[dervish]

Give Sen McCain his due. The one message he managed to get out during his campaign was that earmarks were killing our legislative process.