McCain in the spotlight
Re “On a night of high drama, McCain held center stage,” July 29
Sen. John McCain encourages his colleagues to “stop the political gamesmanship” and put the needs of the country first. Really?
McCain has redefined political gamesmanship. First, his dramatic post-op Senate entrance and vote that kept the hateful McConnell-Trump-Ryan healthcare scheme in play.
Then, oh-so-dramatically, he stands in the well of the Senate, right arm outstretched as colleagues hold their collective breaths. With a quick thumbs down, McCain seals the fate of this misbegotten pathetic excuse for legislation that never should have even seen the light of day.
McCain and fellow GOP Sens. Murkowski and Collins are now hailed as heroes.
But consider this: All three expressed grave reservations about Trump before the election, yet none stood on principle after the election and lobbied to keep electors from handing Trump the presidency.
Think of the grief they could have saved the country and the world if they and nearly 200 GOP elected officials, who knew what a travesty a Trump presidency would be, had at least made an all-out effort to block him.
That would have been heroic.
Claude Goldenberg
Seal Beach
I believe the old warrior, the war hero, knew exactly what he was doing. Sen. McCain, with whom I often disagree, voted for debate consistent with his belief that legislation should be openly debated, knowing all along that he would vote against any measure that the GOP power brokers brought to the floor.
I think he knew any such bill was bound to fail the “smell test;” that is, it would not be properly vetted, nor would it advance the cause of better healthcare for Americans. Bravo, Sen. McCain.
James Stiven
Cardiff
There will be all kinds of long articles written on what happened with the healthcare vote in the Senate. It can be easily described in two very simple sentences. When Donald Trump was running for president, he said about Sen. McCain: “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
On the Senate floor, Sen. McCain said just one word: “Gotcha.”
Bill Simpson
Rancho Palos Verdes
I salute this brave soldier for his fortitude to stand up to this cruel administration.
The Obamacare health plan is not perfect, but with bipartisan participation it could be improved.
The GOP seems to have no qualms about the welfare of American people, but wants only to increase the coffers of the wealthiest.
Peter Jansz
Reseda