by Seth Michaels, Apr 2, 2008
Members of the Mississippi AFL-CIO joined progressive activists outside a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser at the University Club in Jackson for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) earlier this week. The event is the latest in which union members around the country show up at McCain events to ensure the glowing media coverage he typically receives is balanced by the reality of his anti-worker record.
Despite his image as a “maverick,” McCain has been a loyal backer for Bush’s priorities—voting with Bush 89 percent of the time and 95 percent in 2007. McCain’s attempt to win a third term for the Bush agenda has prompted this new nickname: McSame.
McCain hopes to concentrate on his biography this week, including his military record. It’s no wonder he prefers not to highlight his Senate voting record, in which he:
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Voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and other bad trade deals that don’t protect workers.
- Opposed improving children’s health care.
- Voted against extending unemployment benefits.
- Blocked a vote on the Employee Free Choice Act.
- Voted to raise the Medicare age and raid Social Security.
Last week, union members in California and Colorado gathered outside McCain fundraisers to ask what the longtime Washington insider plans to do if elected.
McCain, as the presumptive Republican nominee, has been invited to join union members at AFL-CIO roundtables around the country focusing on key economic issues. Local union members and labor leaders hope to get a chance to talk to McCain about his voting record, his policy agenda and the real issues that they want to see addressed in 2008. They want to encourage McCain to support pro-working family policies that will turn around America. Roundtables are being held this week in Maryland, Florida and Arizona.
Will McCain show up, or will he ignore workers and continue to focus on photo ops and closed-door, big-dollar fundraisers? We’ll find out this week.
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