Yesterday
I expressed some frustration with
Armando for copy/pasting quotes of Dean and Obama from a horrid NY Times article, then calling them idiots with no real explanation. While I understand the need to vent and sympathize being frustrated with Democrats who fall into Republican narratives, calling Dean and Obama idiots just perpetuates a culture of victimization that we as Democrats need to get over (or so I think).
So who do I think is an idiot? John McCain. While I think his intentions are sincere and fully-respect his service to our country, he is Bush's biggest tool. And that was before his attacks on Barack Obama.
First to summarize the exchange of letters between Obama and McCain (from
georgia10's post):
Obama:
I know you have expressed an interest in creating a task force to further study and discuss these matters, but I and others in the Democratic Caucus believe the more effective and timely course is to allow the committees of jurisdiction to roll up their sleeves and get to work on writing ethics and lobbying reform legislation that a majority of the Senate can support. Committee consideration of these matters through the normal course will ensure that these issues are discussed in a public forum and that those within Congress, as well as those on the outside, can express their views, ensuring a thorough review of this matter.
So McCain blows-up because Obama won't sit on his precious government-committee (instead wanting to work on real legislation):
Dear Senator Obama:
I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership's preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I'm embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won't make the same mistake again.
And:
As I noted, I initially believed you shared that goal. But I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party's effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman Senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isn't always a priority for every one of us. Good luck to you, Senator.
Funny how "anti-big-government" McCain's writing is full of jargon and confusing sentence structures (a sign of his growing senility?) while Obama's is clear, to the point, and respectful:
[I] am puzzled by your response to my recent letter. Last Wednesday morning, you called to invite me to your meeting that afternoon. I changed my schedule so I could attend the meeting. Afterwards, you thanked me several times for attending the meeting, and we left pledging to work together.
As you will recall, I told everyone present at the meeting that my caucus insisted that the consideration of any ethics reform proposal go through the regular committee process. You didn't indicate any opposition to this position at the time, and I wrote the letter to reiterate this point, as well as the fact that I thought S. 2180 should be the basis for a bipartisan solution.
I confess that I have no idea what has prompted your response. But let me assure you that I am not interested in typical partisan rhetoric or posturing. The fact that you have now questioned my sincerity and my desire to put aside politics for the public interest is regrettable but does not in any way diminish my deep respect for you nor my willingness to find a bipartisan solution to this problem.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
So, let's get this strait, the Republican Party for the past five years has been:
And John McCain is upset that Obama won't sit on a government-committee? It's interesting that he's so worried about "bi-partisan" reform while his entire party is corrupt to the core. Don't forget it's King George who's campaign allowed slander to be spread about him and it'll be interesting to see what he does when Karl Rove does it again when McCain runs for President.
(cross posted at UIUC Dems)