No Maverick, No Reformer

John McCain has based his presidential campaign on his experience as a "maverick and a reformer." He is neither. After the recent financial losses on Wall Street, McCain announced that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." He went on to promise to rout out corruption and greed and take names. He swore that this would never occur on his watch.

The truth is that McCain has built a political career on the influence of power and greed. Lobbyist interests have guided McCain's policies for decades. He was deeply involved in the Keating 5 scandal. He used his influence to minimize prosecution of wife Cindy who was guilty of addiction and theft of prescription drugs. (NYT 9/14/08) McCain's campaign advisors include dozens of lobbyists in energy, finance, insurance, phamaceuticals, military supply. Phil Gramm, the one who said we were suffering a "mental recession" and accused the American people of being "whiners," profitted from lobbying efforts to deregulate the mortgage, finance, and insurance industries- the root cause of the current economic meltdown!

Although McCain publicly rails against greed and corruption, he employs executives like spokesperson Carly Fiorina who left Hewitt Packard in disgrace and took 21 million dollars in a golden parachute with her. She stands to gain just as much in stock options and pension. For 8 years, McCain has supported deregulation and voted with the Bush administration 90% of the time.

As I see it, my friends, that's no maverick; that's no reformer. Apparently, the good people of Arizona have been aware of this for years. Now McCain says he will change the very laws that would put his friends out of work. Really? I just hate it when politicians act as though voters were stupid.

Senator McCain: Where have you been for the last 8 years? What have you done for us lately?
Perhaps you were inventing the blackberry.