It was my daughter’s fault. Before she left, I asked her, "Are you sure that you want to wear that." It was a red tank top. Nothing immodest about it, but she was on her way to serve at a surprise party that her mother was hosting for a friend. My daughter is sixteen and just a little too - well - outspoken. She was heading into McCain land. This time she was wearing her feelings, her "Got hope?" tank top. I was both proud of her "in your face" courage and fearful that it might cause some discomfort for her mother who firmly believes, regardless of the evidence, that Obama refuses to say the pledge of allegiance, thus, must be the anti-Christ (my interpretation, not hers). When her mother saw the tank top she questioned its appropriateness but when she saw that Obama’s name was in small print, she decided it was okay. Everything was fine until someone finally read the small print. To make a short story its appropriate length, one of the guests brought up the "experience" issue. Having been asked to try not to argue, she just let the tank top do the talking.
However, when she got home, she asked me about the "experience" issue. I told her that there were many Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, who had little experience at the federal level. Then I mentioned that McCain’s experience had not helped him make the right decision about the war. While I am generally aware of the issues about which McCain’s experience has led him to make his decisions, I did not know the specific bills and how he voted on them. That’s when I decided to wade through, courtesy of votesmart.org, the voting records of McCain and Obama to see just how experience helps McCain make the "right" decision. A day and a half later, I was done. I picked out what I felt were the pertinent bills. For me the bill needed to do one or more of the following:
challenged both their courage and their intelligence
benefit the average citizen,
protect people’s Constitutional rights,
be compassionate,
benefit those who need it the most
be fair and ethical
do very little or no harm to the environment
not simply be self-serving (a legislative photo-op).
I know there are a lot of these so just think of it as a reference sheet more than a diary.
Topic: Not Voting
First of all, while McCain’s military courage may be unquestionable, his legislative courage is certainly very questionable. The following are important issues about which John McCain, summoning all of his Presidential ardor, decided he did not want to decide; he didn’t vote. NV = Not Voting (More details on the bills can be found in the categorized sections that follow.)
Clean Energy Achievement Criteria Motion Agreed - Senate (56 - 39)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Alternative Energy Subsidies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate(32 - 66)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Equal Pay Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill Concurrence Vote Passed (Senate) (92 - 6)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Bills Organized by Category: This section provides a little more detail on the bills.
Topic: Defense
Intelligence Appropriations Declassification amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (43 - 56)
McCain No Obama Not in Senate
Bill Number: S 858
Date: 06/19/1997
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that requires the President to include in the annual budget the total amount appropriated and total amount requested for intelligence for the current fiscal year.
Iraq Troop Reduction Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 47)
McCain No Obama Yes
Date: 09/21/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment to begin reducing the number of U.S. forces in Iraq within 90 days of the enactment of this bill, with the exception of a limited number of U.S. forces to be engaged in targeted counterterrorism, the training of Iraqi forces, and the protection of U.S. personnel and infrastructure.
Time Between Troop Deployments Amendment Rejected - Senate (56 - 44)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Date: 09/19/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that adds language to HR 1585 establishing mandatory minimum rest periods for members of the regular and reserve components of the armed forces between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and expressing the sense of the Congress concerning ideal rest periods between these deployments.
Judicial Review of Detainees Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate
(44 - 54)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Bill Number: S 1042
Date: 11/15/2005
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that alters Senate amendment 2515 to give the United States Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia (DC) exclusive jurisdiction on habeus corpus claims filed by or on the behalf of detainees at Guantanamo Bay who have already had a Combatant Status Review Tribunal.
Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate
(49 - 42)
McCain YES Obama NO
Bill Number: S 1042
Date: 11/10/2005
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to submit procedures for determining the status of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House.
Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Treaty rejected - Senate
(48 - 51)
McCain NO Obama not in Senate
Bill Number: Treaty Doc. 105
Date: 10/13/1999
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty that would require 44 countries that have nuclear power plants or nuclear research reactors to ban nuclear weapons testing six months after the treaty is ratified.
Business Consumer
Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 Conference Report Adopted - Senate (78 - 19)
McCain NO Obama not in Senate
Bill Number: HR 3108
Date: 04/08/2004
Project Vote Smart Synopsis:
Vote to adopt the conference report on a bill that would temporarily help worker pension plans remain in tact for the next two years until a long-term reform is set in place.
Minimum Wage Amendment Amendment Rejected - Senate (46 - 49)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Bill Number: S 256
Date: 03/07/2005
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment to S 256 that would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over a two-year time period.
Topic: Energy
Price-Gouging During Emergencies Amendment Motion Failed - Senate
(57 - 42)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Bill Number: S 2020
Date: 11/17/2005
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that makes it illegal to sell crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at a price that is excessive or takes unfair advantage during a declared state of emergency.
NOTE: A MOTION TO WAIVE THE BUDGET ACT, IF ADOPTED, TEMPORARILY SETS ASIDE A SPECIFIC PROVISION OF THE BUDGET ACT OF 1974, SO THAT AN AMENDMENT THAT VIOLATES THE ACT CAN BE CONSIDERED. A MINIMUM OF THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY IS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION.
Clean Energy Achievement Criteria Motion Agreed - Senate (56 - 39)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Date: 06/14/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to table an amendment that establishes clean energy requirements for electric utilities.
A SENATOR MAY MOVE TO TABLE ANY PENDING QUESTION THE SENATE DOES NOT WISH TO CONSIDER FURTHER. THE MOTION IS NOT DEBATABLE, AND AGREEMENT TO THE MOTION IS EQUIVALENT TO DEFEATING THE QUESTION TABLED.
Alternative Energy Subsidies Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (57 - 36)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Environmental Issues
Date: 06/21/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to invoke closure on an amendment to an amendment that provides tax credits for alternative energy.
NOTE: THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO A SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT. A SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT REPLACES LANGUAGE WITH ITS OWN.
NOTE: INVOKING CLOTURE REQUIRES A THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY OF THE SENATE. IT IS NOT A VOTE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT RATHER LIMITS FURTHER DEBATE TO 30 HOURS. CLOTURE IS TYPICALLY USED TO END A FILIBUSTER. A FAILED CLOTURE VOTE OFTEN PREVENTS THE LEGISLATION FROM EVER COMING TO A VOTE.
Energy Act of 2007 Bill Passed - Senate (65 - 27)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Date: 06/21/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that establishes provisions for biofuels for the purpose of energy security and transportation, promotes energy efficiency, establishes provisions for carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration, promotes cost effective and environmentally sustainable public buildings, prohibits price gouging, and establishes provisions for energy diplomacy and security.
Preventing Petroleum Export Organizations (NOPEC Act of 2007) Amendment Adopted - Senate (70 - 23)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that prevents foreign states who enter into or support multilateral oil associations from utilizing sovereign immunity within US courts.
Official Title of Legislation:
S Amdt 1519 to HR 6: An act to amend the Sherman Act to make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal.
LIHEAP Funding Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (51 - 49)
McCain No Obama Yes
Bill Number: S Con Res 83
Date: 03/16/2006
Official Title of Legislation:
S Amdt 3074 to S Con Res 83: To increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program by $3,318,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, increasing the funds available to carry out that program to the fully authorized level of $5,100,000,000, to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that increases income security spending by $3.32 billion for 2007 and increases federal revenue.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Amendment Motion Failed - Senate (54 - 43)
McCain No Obama Yes
Bill Number: HR 3010
Date: 10/26/2005
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that allocates an additional $2.92 billion to be designated as an emergency requirement for low income home energy assistance.
Reduction in Dependence on Foreign Oil Amendment Rejected - Senate (47 - 53)
McCain No Obama Yes
Bill Number: HR 6
Date: 06/16/2005
Official Title of Legislation:
S Amdt 784 to HR 6: To improve the energy security of the United States and reduce dependence on foreign oil imports by 40 percent by 2025.
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that sets a goal to diminish imports of foreign oil by 40 percent over the next 20 years.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate (52 - 48)
McCain No Obama Yes
Bill Number: HR 6
Date: 06/16/2005
Official Title of Legislation:
S AMDT 791 to HR 6: To establish a renewable portfolio standard.
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that requires the use of renewable fuel sources in place of fossil fuels.
Topic: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 Bill Passed - Senate (69 - 28)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill related to the acquisition of foreign intelligence via surveillance that defines what type of individuals may be targeted through electronic surveillance and outlines the certification and approval processes that are required as precursors to employing electronic surveillance.
Striking Telecom Immunity from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Bill Amendment Rejected - Senate(32 - 66)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Date: 07/09/2008
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment removing immunity for telecom companies from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008.
Expressing Support for General Petraeus and All Members of the Armed Forces Amendment Adopted - Senate (72 - 25)
McCain Yes Obama NV
Date: 09/20/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass an amendment to reaffirm support for all men and women of the United States Armed Forces, to strongly condemn any attacks on General David Petraeus and all members of the US Armed Forces and to specifically condemn Moveon.org's advertisement about General David Petraeus.
Expressing Support for All Men and Women in the U.S. Armed Forces Amendment Rejected - Senate (50 - 47)
McCain No Obama Yes
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment that opposes comments that criticize the honor, integrity, and patriotism of individuals serving or having served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.
Equal Pay Bill Cloture Not Invoked - Senate (56 - 42)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Date: 04/23/2008
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to invoke cloture on a bill that would designate that unequal payment based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability is a new violation with each payment.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 Bill Passed (Senate) (75 - 19)
McCain NO Obama NV
Date: 10/16/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $59.40 billion for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, science, and other agencies.
Habeas Corpus for Detainees of the United States Cloture Not Invoked (Senate) (56 - 43)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Date: 09/19/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to invoke cloture on an amendment that would reapply the habeas corpus requirement to persons being detained by the United States.
Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act Conference Report Adopted (Senate) (85 - 8)
McCain NV Obama NV
Date: 07/26/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to implement certain recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 Cloture Not Invoked (Senate) (57 - 42)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to invoke cloture on a bill that increases membership by two in the House of Representatives to 437 by adding seats in the District of Columbia and Utah, to become effective in the 111th Congress.
Religious Memorials at Schools Amendment Amendment Adopted - Senate
(85 - 13)
McCain Yes Obama Not in Senate
Bill Number: S 254
Date: 05/18/1999
Official Title of Legislation:
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to adopt an amendment declaring that holding religious memorial services and erecting religious symbols in honor of deceased students or teachers at a public school does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Flag Desecration Constitutional Amendment Joint Resolution Failed - Senate (66 - 34)
McCain Yes Obama No
Date: 06/27/2006
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that authorized Congress to ban physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
NOTE: AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL IN EACH CHAMBER OF CONGRESS, AND RATIFICATION BY THREE-FOURTHS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURES WITHIN SEVEN YEARS OF THE DATE THE AMENDMENT WAS SUBMITTED.
Foreign Intelligence Acquisition Bill Passed (Senate) (60 - 28)
McCain NV Obama No
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, National Security Issues
Date: 08/03/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the U.S. to monitor foreign electronic communications routed through the country.
Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 Bill Failed - Senate (49 - 50)
McCain NO Obama Not in Senate
Bill Number: S 2056
Date: 09/10/1996
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that extends the federal protections provided under the Civil Rights Act to sexual orientation.
Topic: Campaign Finance and Election Issues
Lobbying and Donation Regulations Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate
(83 - 14)
McCain NO Obama Yes
Date: 08/02/2007
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that increases regulations on members of Congress regarding lobbyists and donations.
Iraq and Afghanistan War Funding, Unemployment Benefits Extension, and GI Bill Concurrence Vote Passed (Senate) (92 - 6)
McCain NV Obama Yes
Date: 06/26/2008
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to concur on HR 2642, a bill that appropriates $190.39 billion and rescinds $3.86 billion for a net expenditure of $186.53 billion. This bill provides education funding for certain veterans, extends unemployment compensation, establishes a moratorium on certain actions regarding Medicaid, and appropriates funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.