Actions speak louder than words
McCain’s vote undercut his lovely bipartisan speech
There isn’t a single word in Sen. John McCain’s speech on Tuesday I’d criticize. In fact, I loved it. One of my favorite lines was the Arizona Republican’s message of relying on humility and the need for cooperation.
“Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio, TV and the Internet. To hell with them! They don’t want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood.”
Another favorite line: “Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the president’s subordinates. We are his equal!”
It really doesn’t get any better than this.
The whole thing was heartwarming — the standing ovation of his colleagues and the nation’s collective gasp as he walked to the Senate floor where his presence has been forceful for the past three decades.
For a brief moment, the 80-year-old McCain tightly held a spellbound nation. For a brief moment, I too, felt hypnotized by his wisdom and decorum.
Here is the thing, though. While the senator’s words were perfectly crafted to be played out for future generations, his actions will reverberate louder.
McCain rushed to Washington a week after his cancer diagnosis to open the door for Republicans to try — at all costs — to repeal Obamacare.
The senator had a perfectly crafted defense for his vote to kick off Senate debate over health care legislation that, if approved as proposed, would leave millions without health coverage.
“Our arcane rules and customs are deliberately intended to require broad cooperation to function well at all,” he said as he cast the deciding 50th vote to move forward with the debate. Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie.
Yes, McCain made it abundantly clear that he will not vote for the legislation as it is.
And while I applaud McCain’s “appreciation for protocols and customs” of the Senate, I’m disappointed with his vote.
Yes, it was merely a procedural maneuvering, but a crucial one that might have tremendous ramifications for the nation.
McCain single-handedly resuscitated a moribund health care bill, which immediately drew praise from President Trump and countless grateful members of the GOP rank and file.
I’m sure McCain doesn’t give a damn about compliments from Trump or any others for that matter. But like it or not, he handed the president and his fellow Republicans a victory on a silver platter. And that I can’t ignore. So, McCain talked about bipartisanship while casting an urgent vote to move forward a Republican agenda. It doesn’t get much more partisan than this, folks.
In other words, our beloved senator gave a wonderful speech that could inspire political reconciliation of a divided nation while he remained loyal to his party.
Words matter, and McCain’s words were beautiful and inspirational. But actions matter more. We will remember both.