McCain flames Obama

Good for you John McCain. The truth is out. The Illinois shining star is no differnt than the other Senator from this state. All talk, no ideas or plans on anything. Just grab headlines to be elected from a rather uniformed electorate.
Gov. Blagoavich and Former Gov. Ryan come to mind.

RH.....

It is refreshing to hear when a "flip-flopper" is ID'ed and scolded.

Yet another example of our fine senators from Illinois helping to lead our country into the future.

DID MCsAIN HAVE A BAD HAIR DAY?

McCain is just peeved that the most noteworthy fresman senator isn't going to be in his corner on an issue. instead of attacking other senators, maybe McCain should focus his efforts on getting his work done. Sorry that you can't take advantage of Obama's noteriety for your own political aspirations (presidential race 2008 anyone?) but people are allowed to have other opinions that they feel advance the issue as well, Senator.

This is not surprising. McCain is such a jerk.

“disingenuousness?!" It must also apply to a man who continues to back the same administration that humiliated him and his family in 2000. How about, "Credibility."

I'm not a big fan of Obama, but John McCain is an utter fraud. He hates Bob Jones' anti-Catholic and anti-black bigotry...but only after the South Carolina primaries. He claims to be fiscally responsible but backed President Bush's reelection. He hates crude political attacks, but tells ugly jokes about Chelsea Clinton. Enough of this opportunist. Half my family served in the army and one of them died in it -- he was more liberal than Eugene McCarthy and it doesn't make him more right or wrong. If John McCain was truly a reformer, he'd have bitterly attacked the Tom DeLay redistricting plan which took gerrymandering, already bad, to a whole nother level. I'm not saying Barack Obama doesn't play politics with reform too, but enough -- they're ALL opportunists, including McCain.

The letter from Obama is probably his polite way of telling McCain that McCain had a conversation with Obama in his own head, and Obama has no idea what he's talking about.

I have much respect for both Senators. While I do not know the details of their conversations, obviously, Senetor McCain's letter seems both childish and bitter. I'd expect much more from a man of his stature and experience.

How dare he talk that way to the greatest freshman senator ever! Liberals will protest like the Muslims who are mad about the cartoons.

It is always refreshing to hear the very few like McCain who can really express how they fell and be HONEST about it. Obama is a fake. We need honesty in IL and Obama is just another "big smile".

Before people react to Obama's supposed flip-flop, it might be wise to see why he decided to back out. Secondly, McCain himself should be familiar with flip-slopping and double face. After being eviscerated in South Carolina a few years ago by the Bush team who accused him of fathering an illegitimate child among other ridiculous accusations, he returned to fawn over his former foe in this last election. McCain and Bush agree on virtually nothing as do many other "traditional" Republicans with the big-spending President, yet where is the grand display of principle? Regardless of if Senator Obama pulled a blatantly political move or not, McCain has little room to talk. Riding around on a bus and being "genuine" does not make you impervious to selling out every once in awhile.

Way to go John McCain. I commend you for pointing out another one of these phony, double-standard specialist, hypocritical, anti-white liberal Democrats.

McCain is playing the schoolyard bully, picking on a freshman. Grow up and get real -- it's just politics as usual, no?

THIS OBAMA THINK HE IS RUNNIG FOR THE OFFICE WITH MRS . CLINTION MAYBE CAN LIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH BUT SHE WILL NOT BAKE ''COOKIES'' FOR HIM . HE HAS SUCH A BIG HEAD NOW IL SHOULD HAVE HIM BE MAYOR IN CHICAGO>>>>>>> RON

Actually I find it amusing for political figures to go after each other. Whether you agree with one or the other or not. I personally feel that most if not all politicians are criminals whom haven't been caught yet. But if all these Representatives and Senators sent each other letters such as this regarding each and every issue, perhaps there would be enough of a paper trail that we all would know where each and every one of them stands on issues. And it would have more substance than, "I have a plan to fix everything that is wrong, but you have to elect me to find out if I'm full of it or not."

It's quite obvious that Obama is not going to sit around and wait for McCain's proposal to "look into things" and would prefer action as opposed to beauracracy. McCain should appreciate that, as Obama's call for action is ostensibly very Republican in spirit. However, McCain would rather widen the partisan rift, and work for a Congress that continues business as usual, in circles.

Isn't it funny how McCain wants to play tough always with the wrong people always at the wrong time. McCain try shifting that anger to those in your party who attack you.

McCain's letter reads like that of a petulant teenager, not a respected senator. Even if he feels disappointed by Obama's decision not to participate in McCain's particular avenue of reform, he should show more class and grace in how he expresses it.

Which skin is McCain wearing today? The thin one that can take offense at any perceived slight from a Democrat? Or the thick one that supports any Republican despite numerous and disgusting tactics his party has used to halt him?

I APPLAUD SENATOR MCCAIN FOR HIS HONESTY AND FRANKNESS. WHAT I FIND DISTURBING IS THE NORMAL RESPONSE OF YOUR DEMOCRAT READERS.YOU CAN'T WIN ELECTIONS WITH CAMPAINS BASED ON SPIN AND UNFOUNDED NEGATIVE CHARGES.JUST ASK AL GORE AND JOHN KERRY.WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE OLD AND REAL DEMOCRAT PARTY? YOU KNOW, PRE-HILLARY.

Thank you for printing that letter by McCain, so that we can all see for our own eyes what a total jack@$$ he is. Bush may be the worst president in the history of this great country, but thank the good Lord above McCain isn't in charge of our nuclear arsenal, he'd probably push the red button if he thought Putin was looking at him funny.
Go Obama, don't let that jackboot thug intimidate you. And regardless of what these neocon(federate) freeper trolls on these threads have been saying, most of Illinois has your back! What did you win by, 70%? And the Republican party's popularity has only gone DOWN since November 2004... hmmm, wonder why?

As an Arizonan, I am disheartened that McCain's jealousy has to be displayed in such a public forum. McCain is notorious for bouncing back & forth between refreshing bipatisanism, and typical conservative mud slinging. Stop whining Mcain and simply do your job. Memo to Obama: You should feel ashamed for falling into the ol' freshman senator trap.

I'm not sure how McCain can flip out about this letter. Just because Osama is a freshman senator doesn't mean that he will agree with his ideas. He decided to change his mind after thinking it's better to get something done in the short term and then more permanent measures after committee.

Wow what a awful temper! I'd hate to work for him!

Mr McCain has been beaten to the punch by a freshman Senator, and throwing a little hissy-fit with his letter does not cover-up the fact that he is a Jack-A**. Please Barack do not back down on this one, you will have my vote for life if you just take the time to show everyone that it is Senators' like Mr McCain that have caused our government years of misuse, waste and living off of my and all our hard earned wages...

Way to go Senator McCain - Call it like you see it.
Obama is only there when it is convenient for him to be there. A true political snake.

I am glad someone sees through Obama. He no better than Daley, Blogo or Guittierez. They are all slimeballs cut from the same mold.

John McCain just went up in my opinion of him. It's refreshing to see a politician called up for renegging on a commitment. I've never been a McCain supporter, but another episode like this could make me one.

John McCain, take your ativan girl!

Ed,

Please turn off the caps key, bro, we can hear you.

Your comment regarding elections not being won with "campaigns based on spin and unfounded negative charges" seems pretty ridiculous when one considers the tactics of Karl Rove (do a little research on the 2000 Republican primaries if you don't already know) as well as the "swiftboat" campaigns lodged against John Kerry, Max Cleland and now Murtha...
Furthermore, there seems to be a reasonable amount of evidence to support the theory that the last two presidential elections may have been stolen... I won't go so far as to make the assertion that they were, but I would recommend you take a look at the following links and decide for yourself if there's absolutely no possibility elections are being stolen...

http://nightweed.com/usavotefacts.html
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/
(be sure to scroll down and read about Jeff Dean)

Hello Senator Kettle, this is Senator Pot.

I question comments framing Obama him as a "snake" and "flip floper" On what evidence are these people basing these allegations? A letter from Republican John McCain? Sounds like more republican propaganda. It worked on half the country during the last election and all we have to show for it are dead soliders,billions if not trillions of dollars of debt and tarnished reputation.

I used to like McCAin but Joe Lieberman is the biggest NeoCon in the Republican party...citing him as a reference of bipartisnship is like Fox News offering up an illiterate 'liberal' commentary and calling one of their ridiculously biased segments "Fair and Balanced". Furthermore, nobody can appear to be more disingenuous than McCain after his shameless appearances on the Bush campaign trail. I might also add that it is no surprise that the Chicago Tribune, who should be embarassed by now to have endorsed "W", would print the first 3 responses as negative towards Obama. I would like to know who "leaked" this letter...could it be the McCain camp...nah, his camp is so morally above such an obvious partisan maneuver. Face it McCain and Trib, the backlash has begun and '06 and '08 isn't going to be pretty for any of you!

John McCain calling someone disingenuous proves again that irony is not dead.

I greatly respect both Senators, and look forward to a more complete explanation from Senator Obama about his decision.

I haven't taken Johnny Mac seriously since he campaigned for the candidate who smeared his family and his service in Vietnam.

If he isn't man enough to stand up for his family or the military, he isn't worth much of a damn to me.

Obama is just Hilary's lapdog, anyways. I'm glad somebody exposed him for the partisan fraud that he is. There's a reason Sen. McCain has been around awhile, and why his words still resonate with many Americans, even after his failed bid for the GOP nomination in 2000. Barack is being led by the nose by the DNC pitbosses, used as their playtoy from Illinois. While I think the guy has had a couple of good ideas, I've noticed his predisposition to being the poster-child (and flack-taker) for the childish partisan squabbling that Sens Clinton, Reid, and Pelosi seem to thrive on. I hate to see him waste his career just to take the heat off of Democratic senators who are tired of getting all the bad press themselves. Obama needs to be his own man, and do what he promised in his campaign - to rise above the fray of partisan bickering (look it up - it was his primary campaign theme). If he can't do that, then he's just another dirty Chicago politician with a pretty face.

Obama has been doing some heavy lifting for the Dems, speaking out for progressive causes AND raising oodles of money for Democrats. Republicans simply don't have an equivalent and they likely never will. So how do they respond to a rising star whose committed to uniting Americans rather than turning them against each other? They use their typical underhanded tactics and try and smear the guy. How classy. McCain should be embarrassed. You'd think by now he's earned the right to leave low-down attacks to lower level guys. So sad to see a once prominant senator reduced to Swift Boat tactics.

McCain protests too much. Shocked, shocked he is, since he himself is pure of intention and action and without guile. His embrace of Bush was just as pure.

Why is it he needs Obama on his committee, though? Obviously he is sincere about campaign finance reform and therefore I think he's sincere about lobbying reform, but why is he so pissed off at Obama for not joining his team? It could be that he's both sincere in his desire for legislation, but also has political aspirations for both himself and his party in dealing with this issue that is, after all, mostly a Republican problem, since the Republicans have been so heavy-handed in letting the lobbying firms know that to play they need to exclude Dems as much as possible.

I think the McCain's letter is an example of plausible deniability - his true claim of admirable legislative motives hides the fact that he's playing politics in favor of his career and his party.

A calculated political move if I ever saw one. McCain is obviously stepping out of character on this one in an attempt to cut into Obama's popularity, as Barack is already being perceived as a huge threat to the national Republican party in 2012 (possibly 2008, although it's unlikely he'll run...regardless, his starpower may help turn a few congressional seats in the upcoming midterm elections). I'm sure the typical GOP partisans had some say in this, thinking it wouldn't be as obvious with the maverick McCain doing the dirty work. The haters on here can say what they want, but Senator Obama is just one of those guys who, well, REALLY CARES about making effective change instead of merely acting as if he is achieving something noteworthy to score cheap political points. Download his podcasts and go to his website; I can gurantee he'll have a full, genuine explanation as to why he backed out, and I can assure you it's not because he is succumbing to any "partisan" party leadership requests. No, he is not just "another" anyone; he is the first Barack Obama and a true professional at that. This country will be proud to see him uphold our values as the nation's first black president. Godspeed, Senator!

Barack Obama has been tapped to lead the Senate Democrats efforts on lobbying reform.

McCain and his republican colleagues want to do whatever they can to keep this issue out of any form of public debate and it looks to me as though he (McCain) is trying to poison the well in order to keep the markup of this bill out of the normal committee process.

The cat is out of the bag. Good for Sen. McCain. He sees in the junior senator just what a bag of wind that he is. The junior senator is made from the same cloth that the other bag of wind who claims to be ass't majority whip. The people of Il. should be ashamed that these two represent them in congress. I am sick and tired of seeing the both of them getting the publicity that the press is heaping on them. What the both of them say and what they do, is typical of what common political hacks attempt to further their own agenda. Hooray for Sen. McCain. I am glad that some one is finally comming out and exposing the junior senator for what he is.
Ray Gorak

At least Obama's letter showed he has some finesse. John "Mac" just sounds like a grumpy ol republican.......

Did McCain have a hard on for Obama or what? That letter is truly weird.

First the vote against the Honorable Justice Alito & now the "fake interest" charges by McCain. Obama go back to the drawing board of what you stand for! Take a look at your book deal to see that you cannot live by the "ethics" you propose. What a fraud!

I'm not sure why --

A) People are shocked by McCain's immature and cartoonish-ly angry response

and

B) Republicans are tripping over themselves to "defend" him.

To any political observer with a long-term memory, this shouldn't be too surprising. McCain has had spastic and inappropriate outbursts before, which is one of the reasons the Republican brass has always been leery of him....you never know what he will say. Most of the time that's "refreshing" and interesting for the average political follower. However, every half a dozen or so years, he shoots himself in the foot. Enjoy!!!

McCain is an idiot, and the sooner folks figure it out, the better.

I have no idea who wrote this letter for him (he surely did not -- the text is too precise for big John), but the stooge did him no favors.

If I was handicapping a race between these two foes, I'm not sure 99:1 would be enough to attract any interest in McCain.

It appears that McCain wants the presidency so badly that he's sold "his soul to the company store". He seems to be attacking Obama for the very qualities that he (McCain) used to possess--the willingness to speak truth to power. Perhaps, now Obama will know that where the party of McCain is concerned, bipartisanship means "help us cover up".

Here's McCain's BIG BIG BIG lie.

"As I explained in a recent letter to Senator Reid, and have publicly said many times, the American people do not see this as just a Republican problem or just a Democratic problem. They see it as yet another run-of-the-mill Washington scandal, and they expect it will generate just another round of partisan gamesmanship and posturing."

You can say it publicly many times, but that doesn't make it true. The Abramoff scandal is an elephant scandal. The American people are not being fooled by republicans trying to claim otherwise. Obama is right not to co-operate with someone who can't speak the truth.

I am thankful to Senator McCain for disabusing me of the notion that people elected to one of the most powerful offices of our country don't use sophmoric rhetoric to express themselves. I'm embarassed to admit that I held these men to higher standards of communication.

Looks like the McCain ego got bruised--- how dare the freshman Senator turn his back on the paper tiger reformer ---where was GW Bush's harsh letter when, at the signing of the anti-torture legislation, Georgie crossed his fingers behind his back and said "I follow this if I feel like it"?? If the distinguished Senator from Arizona was serious about corruption reform he would forget the bi-partisan dress-up and take the leadership of his entire party behind closed doors and smack 'em around...

Bravo Senator McCain. It is great to hear from an elected official that will tell the truth, 'out loud.'

Just goes to show the voters of IL.,that you have elected another do nothing senator who is all talk and no substance.Sounds familar doesn't it Il voters.Just chalk up another one to people not paying attention to the details when they go to vote or are told how to vote by the Democratic party in IL.All Illinoisans should be ashamed of themselves for not electing quailified people for senators,govenors and all other political offices in this state.Go John McCain,you have my vote and support.

Mr. McCain, How dare, your such a flip flop in many issues. We in Arizona never know what side of the issue you may be on. You know there will never be any meaningful reform for lobbist. We who vote you in office, that's our only act, because once your in office the lobbist rule. All we get are never kept promises.

tough one. i dig mccain (will vote for the man should he run in 08), and i dig obama.

Don’t mess around with McCain. He has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he came home from Vietnam. Barack Obama, that’s one strange name. Is he a U.S. citizen? Riley

A note from an Arizona reader:
Somehow the rest of the country thinks that McCain is some sort of moderate who likes to find pragmatic solutions. NOT SO!
This guy is working overtime to court the radical right wing nut jobs in this country. I'd be highly suspicious of any project he is putting together. Good job Obama - stay away from our senator and any of his ideas. Hopefully a moderate will one day represent AZ.

I am no supporter of Senator McCain's, indeed I dread the thought of him winning the Republican nomination in 2008, but I have to say thanks and hurrah to him for his exposing Obama as the fraud that he is. Obama is just another hack Democrat. He is no different than that other disgrace, Dick Durbin, that brings shame to the State of Illinois by his actions in the Senate. Obama can talk nicely, and look nice...but he is just a hack...no more...no less.

Maybe Barack has taken ethiic lessons from Jesse Jackson.

Huh? Some elucidation of the issue at hand would be helpful, as well as some sensible commentary as to pros and cons are missing here.... The Trib should help us understand the issue at hand, and the interests of the opponents. A little help here, please.
tku-markwood

Nice to have one of my favorite senators give a well-deserved public spanking to the junior senator from my great state of Illinois. Don't think Obama will pretend bipartisanship so easily in the future.

Did Obama forget that he's still a rookie. Freshmen should be seen and not heard.
Can we bring in a substitute? How about that rich swinger?

It seems like our Senator Obama has been riding too high in the saddle as of late. He forgot that he's the freshman Senator and not the Dems messiah the media plays him out to be. Message to Barack: Get back to your populist roots that got you elected and quite trying to save the Democratic Party by being a partisan hack.

How long does it take McCain to be a member of the Senate to know that he is a politician and he is surrounded by them? The same man that attempted to show Bush for the idiot that he is--backed Bush 4 years later. And WHO wants to talk about "flip-flopping"?! Grow up. Maybe McCain has gone dumb since falling into the Bush camp if he truly believes Americans/Illinois are going to fall for this very public temper tantrum.

Whatever. I lost any respect for McCain in 2000 when Bush all but tore McCain a new one in S. Carolina. McCain barely mustered a beep and went home to pout with his tail between his legs. And now he wants to score some points on a freshman Senator? Pretty easy to do. Just a cheap trick to keep your name in the press.

McCain is right to point out the disingenuousness of Obama. Obama is a slick - what's in it for me - politician much like President Clinton. Didn't the African village Obama claimed heritage from lambaste him for exploiting his roots for political gain? And people wonder why I voted for Keyes.

http://obama.senate.gov/letter/060206-sen_obama_and_sen_mccain_exchange_letters_on_ethics_reform/

Senator Obama put up the entire exchange of letters, including his response to McCain's:

"February 6, 2006

The Honorable John McCain
United States Senate
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear John:

During my short time in the U.S. Senate, one of the aspects about this institution that I have come to value most is the collegiality and the willingness to put aside partisan differences to work on issues that help the American people. It was in this spirit that I approached you to work on ethics reform, and it was in this spirit that I agreed to attend your bipartisan meeting last week. I appreciated then - and still do appreciate - your willingness to reach out to me and several other Democrats.

For this reason, 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"

Is it just me or does McCain seem to be the one with the partisan issue here? I was just reading about Boehner's position on lobbyist reform and I failed to be impressed:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/05/house.leadership/index.html

""Sunlight is the best disinfectant," the Ohio congressman told NBC's "Meet the Press."

"If there is more disclosure of travel before you go, more disclosure of the relationship between lobbyists and members and their staff, let the American people take a look at this," said Boehner. "Let them watch it and let them judge what we're doing. I think that will reduce the amount of corruption and graft that goes on."

Boehner has taken trips valued at more than $157,000 since 2000, paid for by nonprofit trade organizations and think tanks, according to Federal Election Commission records compiled by the online research group Political Moneyline. "

Yeah, he's a REALLY great guy to lead the reform. :roll:

Riley,
Yes. Obama is a US citizen. You're on the world wide web ya know. You could google his name for info. You might also try googling for thoughts as well...

Believe it or not I'm a Black Democrat who has a lot of respect for Sen. McCain. Particularly his fiery desire for reform. I also have a tremendous amount of respect for Senator Obama as well. However I think Senator Obama has won this fight. Sen. McCain comes across frankly as a little baby who needs his bottle. I hope Mr Obama dosen't take this lying down. As for Mr Mike Mccarthy, you appear to be one of those anti-black conservatives and unfair to the good Sen from Ill. I hope Sen McCain will patch things up before 2008 and not use this as a political weapon. Huh! Yeah Right!!

I'm not a fan of either McCain or Obama, but McCain nailed this one on the head. Obama flip-flopped on Alito ("A filibuster would be a waste" then "OK, I'll support a filibuster as a symbolic gesture") and he flip-flopped on lobbying reform. You know what we really need, though, is term limits. Get McCain out of there and keep Obama idealistic instead of strategically trying to insure his political future.

All I can say is Obama is a million times better than Alan Keyes. You right wingers out there should still be hiding for voting on a lousy candidate ...

Obama and H. Clinton in 2008!!!

What a joke! Does John McCain not understand the opposition to reform within his own Republican caucus? Does John McCain not realize that he is being used by fellow Republicans to make it look like they are serious about reform when they clearly aren't? Obama saw right through McCain's approach and decided that the Democratic version would have more teeth. If half the Republican caucus openly agreed with McCain on his reform proposals then he'd have a point. After all, he could say, "I've got 30 Republican Senators ready to work with Democrats like Nelson and Lieberman to bring about bipartisan reform." But the reality is that McCain has no Republican support, outside maybe Susan Collins. His "bipartisan" plan is a ruse, and to put it into effect he would have to milk it down enough for the Republican caucus to accept it (the GOP caucus doesn't exactly like McCain anyway). In other words, the only plan a McCain-Nelson/Lieberman commission could pass would be worthless and toothless. Obama knows that. Sure, making reform a Democratic issue is good politics for the Democratic Party, but in this case it makes good policy sense too. Republicans have everything to lose with reform, and everything to gain by faking reform. Democrats have everything to gain by promoting real reform because, frankly, they have nothing left to lose and not much better to run on. Good for Obama. And as for McCain? Get a grip and start looking at your own caucus.

McCain sold his soul and turned a few of the party elite. Still has a long way to go to overcome all the ill-will amongst the rank (please take literally) and file Republicans. Many still see him as McCain2000, traitor to their beloved GOP. How to do that? Read a few of the posts above. Attack a young, nationally popular Democrat and the sheep will squeal and pledge their steadfast loyalty. Take it from a former McCain2000 county chairwoman, these people don't care about policy, ideology or what is best for the country. They don't even care if they are voting against their own self-interest. What gets them hot and happy is a good old fashoned slap to any Democrat.

McCain's response is a little beyond what was warranted. This is politics and Obama has decided to go with the Dem proposal...why this is such an afront to McCAin is puzzling. Obama gains nothing by siding with McCain while McCain stands to reap all the glory of having a popular new dem senator at his side while signing the MCCAIN reform act and providing cover for a REPUBLICAN corruption scandal.

I think Barak was just humoring the old grump.

While I go off to wash my eyes (which certainly need a good bleaching after reading that trash), please reflect upon the real purpose of McCain's "bipartisan" task force, which is to whitewash a purely Republican scandal. Maverick McCain is just pissy that Obama's not stupid enough to meekly follow along while McCain carries out Bush's promise at the SOTU (about the only Bush promise that has survived the 24-hour retraction deadline he's imposed on almost every SOTU proposal).

McCain continues by calling Obama a political opportunist (projection, anyone?) and claiming Obama isn't acting in the public interest:

Obama states:

||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.
||

And:

||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
||

In other words, take your BS Republican propanda and stick it. Obama won't be part of the Republican coverup job. McCain is showing himself to be part of the problem.

http://obama.senate.gov/letter/060206-sen_obama_and_sen_mccain_exchange_letters_on_ethics_reform/index.html

The most unworthy people are the ones posing insincerely as centrists (except in a very few cases) and use this to gain political power as McCain does. I do not take this accusation seriously as I don't give him the credit that many unquestioningly gives.

O'bama's response to McCain:

[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

It's sad that the GOP party has become what it has. I for one would prefer two responsible parties to choose from. Instead, we have one minority party that can't frame their issues with solid language and who continues to fail at getting the people of the U.S. to listen to their agenda within the media to shape a consensus. If that's not bad enough, the other party is anti-science, anti-freedom, pro-corporate welfare, anti-education, for huge deficits and the worst kind of liars around.

Man, do I miss gridlock!

"Obama is just Hilary's lapdog", well said. Hopefully he shall be a one term senator. Like Durbin, an Ultra-liberal fool.

Let the flames burn. This is the moment we have all been waiting for. A hit on Obama based on the words of a less than creditable source will feed the flames of hate. Callus words written to be read between the lines are only the beginning of the back stabbing to come. The flame of change and the true meaning of democracy must be set free.
How will Illinois be represented?
Good luck Obama, show us what you are made of ... and don't you dare turn the other cheek!!

Senator McCain's response seems incredibly intemperate and excessive for a polite turn-down from Senator Obama. I used to admire Sen. McCain but this seems like he is playing the race card in preparation for the 2008 elections - by publicly sparring with Sen. Obama over a non-issue issue, he is pandering to the extreme right wing of the Republican party. He must be taking lessons from Karl Rove.

John McCain: "Waaah... Self interested Partisan Posturing... Waaah..."

Barak Obama: "Get over yourself, girl...."

McCain is a rightwing phony. People who work in Washington know that.

Congrats to Senator McCain for getting it exactly right. Obama is a lightweight who was plucked out of obscurity by the democrats prior to their convention and his election before he had even attempted to do anything substantively. Since that time, he has done virtually nothing other than showboat, while ignoring the interests of this State. He seems to believe that he can do whatever he wants without any reactions and/or criticism. It is refreshing to see someone confront him about the games he likes to play.

I read both letters from Obama and McCain's response to the first letter was excessive. Barack simply said we should work on the bill offered by Democrats in the appropiate committee.
This is in line with the way the Senate is designed to work. If McCain believes thisis not the best path, he could simply say he thinks another path is better. But instead he calls Obama disingenius. Those who say Osama is not serious could not be basing it on the first letter.
McCain has demonstrated his inabilty to win anything from his party. Bush fought him on terror and then signed a bill that will cause no change.
McCain has been disingenious before. He refused to condemn the confederate flag in South Carolina because he was afrsid to loose votes. Afetr the general election he came back to SC and admitted what he did. Writing a public condemnation of a private comment is the height of dishonesty.

Uhm. Johnnie? You been in Congress all dese years and you ain't got no reform. Youse been dere sittin' all dis time, through the Reagan years, the Bush years, the Clinton years, and the re-Bush years, and dere still ain't no reform.
Well, we ain't ready for no reform!
Ain't no body ready for reform!
Who elected youse anyway?
You ain't the Boss!
Daley is da Boss, and I oughta know, 'cause I am an avid reader of the John Kass column.
What did youse do wit your lobby money? Did you spend it? Didja spend da money, John? Maybe Barracks wants to cash his Abramoff check, and spend da money too. Why can't we all be friends, and spend da money together? You cash your check, and he can cash his check, and botha youse can spread that loot around, see, after takin a piece for yourself. And that, my friend, will make the people happy. Enough of talkin' about reform. We don't need no reform.
We need some money. Now youse guys get together, and make nice for da people of da great US of A!

Judging by some of the comments above, I suspect several readers may have missed the crux of Sen. Obama's letter and Sen. McCain's objection thereto.
Stripped of its pleasantries and flourishes, Sen. Obama's letter essentially serves one purpose: distinguishing his stated preference for immediate legislative action on lobbying reform from Sen. McCain's alleged stalling on the matter. Anyone vaguely familiar with Sen. McCain's political career would recognize Sen. Obama's characterization as disingenuous. Sen. McCain has spent many years fighting for campaign finance reform and against excessive pork projects and pay-to-play influence peddling--often to the ire of fellow senators from both sides of the aisle. The freshman Illinois senator's attempt to publicly portray himself as being ahead of Sen. McCain on lobbying reform is as believable as, say, Rep. Tom Delay insisting that Rep. Barney Franks stop dragging his feet and join Rep. Delay in legalizing same-sex marriage.
By mischaracterizing Sen. McCain's record, Sen. Obama has managed not only to appear either uninformed or politically opportunistic. He may have succeeded in alienated one of the few Republicans still willing to consider investing his time and political capital in a genuinely bipartisan endeavor.

As a teacher of logic and critical thinking, it's always great entertainment to read ill-conceived diatribes from partisan hacks during these moments. The pathetic part is that most of you have no idea how incredibly poor your thinking skills actually are, and how riddled with fallacies your "arguments" are as well. But it's easier to be knee-jerk and to thoughtlessly repeat your preferred party's fallacious attacks against its opponents than it is to learn how genuinely to think for yourselves. The problem is that a healthy, robust democracy requires real discourse from people who are truly reflective.

On a day when a budget gets proposed with one HUGE deficit, McCain chooses to go after a Democrat...these people used to be big spenders, remember? At this point, senator McCain, you and the rest of your buddies, "the Republicans", control all the branches, you should pass anything you want, but maybe all those special interests cloud your judgement. Go after Gore, Clinton, Ted, Hilary, but until Senator Obama proves us wrong, at least make it look like it is non-partisan

I live in Phoenix and I am very disappointed that the Senator that I've always looked up to for not stooping to partisan hatred has now done just that in his unjustified attack on Senator Obama.

As an Arizonan, Senator McCain does not speak for me and I'm sorry I voted for him in the last election. Senator McCain is just as much an idiot as Duhbya.

McCain has a recent history of supporting campaign finance reform - but he also has a long history of dipping into corporate pockets (anyone remember his involvement in the savings and loan scandal?). Obama has a much shorter record, but until he is indicted in a lawsuit that costs taxpayers billions of dollars he has much more credibility than McCain.

I live in Arizona and McCain is one of my Senators. I find him to be an embarrassment to my state and to my country. If he is anywhere near as patriotic as he claims to be, he should be rounding up every Senator he can find to support major ethics reforms in Congress.

But if I was any Democratic Senator, I would tell McCain to go to hell on ethics reform. It is McCain's party - the Republicans - who are in the deepest legal trouble. The Democrats are not. The Democrats do not need ethics reform to bail out their party. The Republicans do.

Obama - tell McCain to find his own ethics reform supporters. You tell him and everybody else that you have better things to do than work to clean up the Republican mess. Let them stew in their own, self-made mess.

McCain has staked his role as an outsider. That is his political card to play. Obama seems intent on staking out a more pragmatist position that sometimes means furthering the part in order to gain a position to accomplish more. Neither seem to me to be doing anything reprehensible. John McCain is polishing his credential as one who doesn't compromise and Obama is polishing his as a skilled opportunistic (in the good sense). Much political noise to attract attention to themselves. Pure theatre.

My, there are a lot of racist little dittoheads on this thread, aren't there? What's wrong, fellas, having trouble getting throught to Rush on open line fridays?
I haven't read any legitimate criticism of Obama, it's all just pure vitriol!

McCain is an interesting skirmisher for the GOP. He appears one day as the troubled conscience for the party of "integrity and accountability"--a seeming outsider to the lockstep loyalty to K Street benefices . . . and then we have a rant like this that reaffirms his place in the desert.
Strange that we have for so long given him the benefit of the doubt because of these brief flashes of humanity (even in petulance). But they only further accentuate the great darkness and hyprocrisy of his party's paymasters.

McCain just wants to discredit Obama. McCain is the real jerk here by making this so public... he says politics as usual, McCain, look in the mirror!

I wouldn't want to play in McCain's sandbox either... he throws sand. That's just rude and imature.

As usual, the Democrats continue to fulfill their role as the opposition party--oppose everything, propose zero solutions. We heard it today from the Dems in the international wiretapping questioning--esp good old Russ Feingold running for pres in '08 "we're looking for wrongdoing!" "You didn't swear in!" FISA grants all wiretapping authority! Forget about Article 2 of the Constitution !

Mark Steyn recently discussed a piece in the Washington Post, by Dan Balz, headlined "Hillary Clinton Crafts Centrist Stance on War," assuming it perfectly natural to talk about the foreign policy and national security of one's own country entirely in political terms. The point of a "policy on Iraq" is not to have a policy that affects Iraq in any real sense, but to have a policy that advances domestic political fortunes....

Should we withdraw from Europe six months after D-Day ? Or commit ourselves to a phased drawing down over three to nine months ? If we say 10% of our forces might remin until February, 1947, that will give us a more flexible exit strategy with strong centrist appeal !

Obama barama will soon learn the ways of Washington. He's coming along nicely!

The vitriolic and witless response from McCain was unwarranted. Obama did not incense or ignore McCain, nor did Obama seem overly supportive of one party against another. Simply put, Obama and the Democratic leadership want a separate bipartisan ethics committee as both purveyor and watchdog of ethic rules over all the committees. McCain wants each committee to conduct their own ethics reviews within themselves. Since the Republicans hold a majority in every committee, McCain doesn’t want any bipartisan mingling into their already specious ethics.

One thing the old bulls of the Senate used to hang their hats on was the quaint notion of "comity." In the past few years, especially with the advent of the unprecedented rate of filibusters, comity is long gone.

No longer is a Senator's word his "bond." No longer can that body operate with any real sense of order.

Obama crossed a significant line when he went back on his word to McCain without first telling him face-to-face. From here on out, no Republican will be able to reach across the aisle to Obama.
One cannot deal with welshers in a legislature.

I am no supporter of McCain. But his visceral reaction to this violation of tradition is understandable.

I love the criticism of Barrack Obama that is being posted here. Its giving me a good laugh. Do any of you have anything at all to support your panning of this particular Senator, other than McCain's letter? McCain's 2008 presidential bid is almost a sure bet, and the Democratic ticket is almost guaranteed to include Obama's name. I have doubt that whatever is going on between the two of them has more to do with preparing for the next election by creating seperation between the two politicians, than it does lobby reform. And from what I understand, McCain's idea of lobby reform is more about limiting union and community service groups' access to Senators than it is about lobby reform in general. He loves to call them "special interest" groups, and occassionally throws foreign and oil lobbyists into the mix. But McCain has no real intention of including a limitation on corporate lobbying. McCain talks a good game, but considering that Obama's primary constituency is the blue-collar neighborhoods of Illinois, why the heck would he back such reform? Is he not elected to represent his constituency? Maybe not if you're in the Rush Limbaugh or Michael Moore camps, but come on people, the rest of us should know how to use our brains.

Temper. Temper. I can't imagine a co-worker sending me such a hateful letter based on a disagreement, even if I was in the wrong. Unless of course, that co-worker was a sneaky politician out for personal gain.

Hmmm. Do you think the good senator from Arizona ever sent Bush or Rove a similar letter when they were giving him the "Swift Boat" treatment back in the 2000 primaries.

McCain's finger pointing inspires an image of a man wearing Nike cloths denouncing Corporations while sipping Coca Cola. This is just another meager partisan attack, if McCain was sincere about bipartisanship he would consider the bill supported by Obama.

Right. Looks like another non-issue is being used to distract from real problems. Is this what Republican "leadership" means?

There's nothing to see here, folks. Please move on.

Obama is the consummate politician,

he has no ambition other than gaining more power, don't let the fact that he is mulatto fool you, he is a booker t type more than he is an mlk type, he stands for nothing but himself and that is a fact those who go to harvard only seek their own glory and he is no exception. a smart man like him has read beyond vietnam has read chomsky has read all that needs reading, but he is still silent, he is no race traitor but a traitor to all that the people of il stand for.. he stands as was intended for the state and will risk nothing in seeking its approval, shame on him for abusing power. and shame on us for electing him. how may high schoolers that smoke crack really get into colombia? not the real kids with problems that is for sure, as intended he can speak to us but care not for us.

How refreshing it is to see Obama stand up for his convictions and dare to inflame the temper of the senior McCain! McCain's letter was nothing more than a dress-down of a freshman standing up for what he believes. Americans haven't seen that kind of gut for many years. He must be some kind of leader to be so threatening to McCain.

How dare McCain scold the next president. Osama-Obama (to quote Ted "where is the next bar" Kennedy).

Obama has accomplished so much so quickly. Lets see. He has.... ummm. wait... dont tell me... I know he's done something.... right ?

Obama's long list of accomplishments.

He's black.........He....... and he..........

and........did I mention he's black!!!!

Obama is only half-black...his "black" heritage is one of his many equivocations. He is a self-important poseur and nothing more than a poseur. Anyone that thinks there is any substance to this man is a dupe.

Don't forget that he's black AND speaks so well.
Ignore the white side....remember he said he only identifies with his black side even though he was raised by the white side of his family in Hawaii......where they are not too fond of "whitey"

You're going to really bum the liberals out by exposing Obama. He is their "Great Black....er kind of White (but ignore that) hope"

The Trib will do whatever they can to help repair any damage to his image.

As a politician McCain is a pathetic and disappointing character for me. He has cultivated his 'maverick' image but never puts it on the line. He has tremendous political capital and never spends it. He has had numerous opportunities to stand for something and he has backed down whenever the going got rough. George Bush sandbagged him with scurrilous lies during the 2000 primaries, and a few years later there he is swapping spit with Bush, presumably in exchange for support for his 2008 Presidential run.

This latest bit was an attempt to burnish his fake maverick credentials yet again, to launch a CYA inquiry into lobbying that might innoculate Republicans against being associated with Abramoff, and he conned a few Democrats into joining up to provide 'bipartisan' cover. I congratulate Senator Obama for realizing that it was not to his benefit (or ours) to lend his name to this effort.

McCain's public tantrum is most revealing. He sounds like some fairy-tale villain seething at seeing his plots foiled again...NOT the hallmark of someone I would want to work with!

McCain and Obama are BOTH politicians. Obama, a junior politician, left an opening in the door that McCain, the senior politician, simply walked through. McCain is a more experienced politician who did grunt work as a junior senator (I'm not talking fund raising) considered unnecessary and unworthy of the "brilliant" "rising star" Obama.

This is not a case of one person being right or wrong. Obama is a slick little freeloader who was called on the carpet by McCain who is a savvy two-faced pragmatist.

I'd say round one goes to McCain. Obama's nose is still intact, just a little out of joint.

Get real people, this is an insight to the fiction of a functional congress and why senators should not, in principle, be considered desirable candidates for the presidency.

Ha, ha you sorry little racists are exposing yourselves! This is precisely why no one likes the Republican party in Illinois anymore, you're all a bunch of hapless neanderthals! None of you can support your arguments with anything, no links, NOTHING. Just a bunch of cheap shots!
As for McCain, if you want to see how spineless he is, watch this movie here:

http://www.youtube.com/w/whywefight?v=WB0iPfFX0mc&search=Why%20We%20Fight

Watch the part where he's talking about how Cheney should be investigated, then watch his reaction when Cheney calls him literally during the interview.

I'm no McCain fan, BUT... since the Democrats lost all 3 brances of government, their daily battle cry is "Oh those D*mn Republics are just partisan. They never include the minority in anything." Now doesn't it seem funny everytime they are invited to join the party, the are threatened by the local Polosi/Reid leadership of total party denial. THis is true of the Katrina hearing which Polosi threatened any democrat who participates with something that may be so vile they all back off. Maybe the treat is they would have to spend time with Polosi.

About time someone delivered a meaningful blow to the freshman Senator Rock Star. I believe it might be the first time in Obama's career as an elected official that an opponent has hit him square between the eyes. In his political career, Obama has accomplished nothing -- not even winning a true elective race. He was elected as a Democrat state senator from Chicago (not exactly an amazing feat, I'm told) and then ran virtually unopposed in the race for U.S. Senate. And since being elected, all the frosh senator does is talk -- namely, about how "disturbed" he is by the Republicans and how wonderful the Dems and their plans are. That doesn't sound like someone rising above the fray to me. Thank you, Sen. McCain. No, sir, you are not perfect. But at least you won't just bend over and take it in the rear from the media-created Obama-nation like everyone else in Washington.

First it was Obama's observation that a filibuster of Alito's nomination was to be avoided, then voting along party lines for the filibuster.

Now it's his stance on campaign reforms.

"Rising youmg Democratic star." Right. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Obama is one of Mayor Daly's political hacks. He doesn't give a damn about real reform

I believe the latest reports about $$$$$$ is that pre-election Obama $500,000; POST ELECTION AS OF 2006 $6,000,000. No wonder he doesn't want reform.

Obama is the token for the Democrats in the Senate. He's a disgrace. He runs over to West Virginia and raises money for a KKK recruiter. He talks about bringing the country together and then votes against qualified judicial canidates. Every time I see him on TV he talks so nice but has absoloutly nothing of substance to say. He's a typical postering Dumbacrat. You don't have to have any ideas or any kind of standards to have the dumbocrats falling all over themselves. This guy is your perfect dumbocrat canidate for President. Now only if he would turn traitor like Kerry and Murtha then he would be a cinch.

Hey McConnell you are so right. He is black. He is also Irish. And you obviously are another brain dead Republican

The trouble is that it's hard to find a democrat with honor anymore. I have a solution to clean up the Congres though. Let's make it lawful for them to duel again. This way any of those jerks like Kennedy who hide behind their tongues can be challenged. Maybe our children in Washington will learn to play together once a few of them are permanently shut up by being made responsible for their less than honorable rhetoric. I wonder if it is possible to find a place to call "a field of honor" in DC or will they have to go out of town?

After scanning the posted comments from and about Senators Obama and McCain I tried to analyze what I had readand came to these conclusions.

Liberal Democrats are horrible spellers and have a problem in explaining themselves!

Fooled at first by his good looks and smooth style I had early hopes that the neophyte Senator from Illinois would be his own man.

Then he backs out on his announced intent to vote against the filabuster in the disgraceful showing by the Democrats in the Alito hearings.

When I shook it all out I think that I will stick with McCain dispite his yo yoing from time to time, since unlike the slick Obama, Mr.McCain has already proven himself to be an extraordinary American after standing up to years of inhumane torture in the Viet Namn without cracking.

Sen McCain's continuing honorable service to our Nation, in particular, his years as a Naval Aviator, a Prisoner of War, and US Senator, has armed him with a capacity for truth, the courage to face up to the truth, and to act accordingly. Politics and Political Parties are not his prime motivators. I applaud Senator McCain for his continuing Patriotism.

It just goes to show you that 'Olde Dogs' (McCain) can recognize and teach 'Younge Dogs' (Obama) some new tricks. If people think this Obama hypocrisy is going to fly with the '06 voters, Dems get ready for another loss.
Posters here who call names and use the intellectually inferior ad hominem attacks just show to the readers here their frustration with their Dems leaders.
I say give them lots of Reps rope, the dems will just use it around their own necks in '06. LOL

Obama did the right thing. Any legislation sponsored by John McCain will have loopholes big enough to drive a Mac truck through (e.g., the torture law and campaign finance). I live in Arizona, and I remember John McCain and then-Arizona Governor Fife Symington (later imprisoned for fraud) meeting with insurance interests and, in violation of Arizona's Public Meeting Law, barred the press and the public. The meeting was held at the very up-scale Biltmore Hotel. John McCain never does anything that involves political risk (no, not even the torture bill because he did not protest when George Bush attached an addendum saying he would torture when it suited him). He isnot a maverick. He is an opportunist.

kudos for the junior senator from Ill for standing his ground. senator mccain is a wuss. he should have stood up to W when degraded him on national television and he did nothing. i know that this scares a lot of you neocons.

obama and clinton in '08.

huh