File photo from 2007
Last night, I saw a clip of John McCain just after he was captured in North Vietnam. I, and others watching the Vietnam series, saw him at one of the lowest moments in his life. (The narrator told us that after the interview, the North Vietnamese beat him for failing to sound sufficiently grateful to them for having treated his severe injuries.)
And now, in spite of once again being laid low, he ascends to the heights:
McCain says he will vote no on GOP health-care bill, dealing major blow to repeal effort
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced Friday that he does not support the latest Republican effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, dealing a major and potentially decisive blow to the last-ditch attempt to fulfill a seven-year GOP promise.
McCain’s comments came on the same day that Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who like McCain, voted against a GOP repeal bill in July, said she was likely to oppose the proposal, leaving the legislation on the brink of failure….
In a lengthy written statement, McCain said he “cannot in good conscience” vote for the bill authored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), which GOP leaders have been aiming to bring to the Senate floor next week. As he has done all week, he railed against the hurried process Senate GOP leaders used to move ahead.
“I would consider supporting legislation similar to that offered by my friends Senators Graham and Cassidy were it the product of extensive hearings, debate and amendment. But that has not been the case,” McCain said. He blamed a looming Sept. 30 deadline that GOP leaders were racing to meet to take advantage of a procedural rule allowing them to pass their bill with just 51 votes….
I doubt this will shame Sen. Graham into backing off his abominable proposal. But if anyone could, it would be McCain.
And we’re not out of the woods yet. This could still, conceivably, be crammed down the country’s throat.
But it’s welcome news.
Thank you, Senator!
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I guess Lindsey was too much of a weasel even for John McCain. This is dead unless Collins pulls a surprise or Rand Paul is flat out lying. Can’t relax just yet though.
Good for McCain. I was his constituent for years while in Arizona, from the beginning of his political career, and I’ve never seen him as the totally unblemished white knight that some do. However, sometimes he just really comes through, like now. Lindsey Graham, not so much.