The GOP is imploding, and this is prime evidence of this. Just like Bush's stab at comprehensive immigration reform was a punch in the gut at the right-wing nativist base, John McCain's defense of the outsourcing of the production of American military equipment cost Kansas -- a Republican stronghold -- millions of dollars in lost jobs and economic development. So, it turns out that the batshit fundies are not the only reason that Republicans are switching over to the Democratic Party in droves in Kansas -- a little punch in the gut from John McCain helped as well.
Yesterday, John McCain defended the Air Force decision to overlook Wichita-based Boeing Co. for a $35 billion contract to build airborne refueling planes, saying he would not work to overturn the decision and saying that military decisions should not be about creating jobs. [McCain Town Hall Meeting, Waco TX, 3/3/08; AP, 3/3/08] Unfortunately for American workers, McCain has the record to back his statement up.
In 2003, Sen. McCain authored an amendment undermining "Buy American" rules requiring U.S. military equipment, defense systems and components to be manufactured in the United States. By allowing the Department of Defense to purchase American military equipment from foreign companies, the McCain amendment laid the groundwork for the Air Force’s decision to outsource the production of refueling tankers for the American military. The amendment passed along party lines with Kansas Senators Roberts and Brownback voting in its favor. [Vote 191, 5/21/03]
So much for Republicans wrapping themselves around the American flag.
Had Boeing been selected for the contract, it would have created 44,000 jobs across the United States, including an estimated 3,800 jobs in Kansas, and added $145 million a year to the Kansas economy.
Wreaking havoc on peoples' lives:
I live in Washington state, where Boeing also has a huge presence. The news that they didn't get this contract . . . was like a direct kick in the crotch. It hurt. Of course, I have several patients who work at Boeing . . . and already knew McCain was way down their priority list for other things.
John McCain is not knowledgeable about economic development. John McCain is not knowledgeable about Iraq -- he said once that he didn't know how many more troops would be needed to stabilize Iraq. So, what else is John McCain not knowledgeable about?
It's 3 a.m., and the phone is ringing in the White House. Who will answer that phone? How can John McCain be trusted to protect our country if he lacks basic knowledge about important issues?