Yesterday, there was a terrific postcalled "John McCain: Friend of Labor" that exposed a particularly tone deaf comment the senator made at an AFL/CIO meeting in 2006.
It's worth showcasing McCain's pathetic comment for the next few days, while the Republicans try to distract everyone with speculation of their VP choice:
John McCain: "I don't think I need to tell you that there are jobs that Americans will not do. I don't think I have to tell you that there are ... the backbone of our economy...
Audience members: "Pay them the right wages."
John McCain: "You know I've heard that statement before. Now, my friends, I'll offer anybody here fifty dollars an hour if you'll go pick lettuce in Yuma this season and pick for the whole season. So, ok, sign up! Ok, when you sign up, you sign up, and you'll be there for the whole season, the whole season, ok, not just one day. Because you can't do it, my friend."
Just for fun, let's have a look at the kinds of work Americans seem willing to do for LOT less than $50 per hour. See below for wage table.
Tough Jobs Americans DO for a Lot Less than $50/Hour*
Occupation |
Median Hourly Wage |
Bakers |
10.86 |
Bus and truck mechanics |
18.58 |
Cashiers |
8.25 |
Drywall Installers |
17.56 |
Farm workers and laborers |
8.19 |
Fast Food Cook |
7.75 |
Fishers and related workers |
9.86 |
Floor layers |
16.88 |
Home Health Aides |
9.62 |
Janitors |
10.00 |
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Workers |
8.86 |
Logging equipment operators |
14.83 |
Maids and Housekeepers |
8.82 |
Mine Cutting Operators |
19.20 |
Pourers and Casters, metal |
15.20 |
Preschool Teachers |
11.12 |
Probation Officers |
21.40 |
Registered Nurses |
28.85 |
Septic Tank Servicers |
15.74 |
Shoe Machine Operators |
11.73 |
Social Worker |
22.02 |
*Source: US Department of Labor Statistics
<FONT SIZE="-3">Table 1. National employment and wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics survey by occupation, May 2007<FONT>