Time for McCain to Retire and go Fishing

By Bob Haran;

Interesting article in today's Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/ by Dan Nowicki.

Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president in 2008 and four term senator from Arizona, claims that he was "misled" into supporting the massive bailout of the financial system known as Troubled Asset Relief Program, (TARP).

McCain, who is being challenged for the 2010 GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate by Jim Deakin and J.D. Hayworth, said that he was misled by then Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the $700 Billion bailout would focus on what was seen as the cause of the financial crisis, the housing meltdown.

At a meeting with The Republic's Editorial Board, McCain said "obviously, that didn't happen,"

McCain claims that President George W. Bush called him off the campaign trail, saying a worldwide economic catastrophe was imminent and that he needed his help. On Sept 24, 2008, McCain temporarily suspended his campaign for president to confront the economic crisis.

Henry Paulson in his book, "On the Brink," in regard to McCain's response to the crisis claims that, "when it came right down to it, McCain had little to say in the forum he himself had called." Paulson called McCain's decision to return to Washington without a plan, "impulsive and risky," even, "dangerous."

The entire article can be linked at http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/02/22/20100222mccain-tarp0222.html

I'm no fan of John McCain but I would expect something more from a former Naval officer then passing the buck by claiming that he was, "misled." Spending $700 billion of the people's money is no small decision and something that a four term U.S. Senator and candidate for president should not take lightly or allow himself to be, "misled."

McCain is known for moving from one side of an issue to another, as the political situation requires. Pander to the right to win conservative support, pander to the left to get liberal support. It has been said that the most dangerous place to be in Washington D.C. is between John McCain and a TV camera. This is a decision McCain spun into an image of the hero rushing to rescue the world's economy, to now claim that he was misled is to say the least, very disturbing. I would rather have a senator who would take responsibility for his decisions and either defend his actions or admit that he made a mistake.

Public office should be about doing the best of your ability to do what is in the people's best interest, not doing whatever it takes to get elected. Leadership is putting the greater good before your own self interest. Character is taking responsibility for your own actions.

If John McCain is going to pass the buck on one of the most important decisions he made in public office, then he has not the character nor the leadership to serve in public office and it is time for him to retire and go fishing.