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Obama Criticizes McCain on Flood Funding

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June 21, 2008 3:35 PM

Sen. Barack Obama pounced on Sen. John McCain’s vote against funding for levees and flood control programs as river waters continue to rise in the Midwest today.

"Now both Sen. McCain and I have traveled recently to the areas that have been devastated by floods," Obama said. "And I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did, feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. And I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."

The Water Resources Development Act, which McCain voted against last fall, was vetoed by President Bush for being "fiscally irresponsible" but the bill survived because Congress voted to override the president's veto -- the first presidential override in Bush's presidency.

Republicans were quick to point out that by grilling McCain on his vote, Obama in turn attacked his own national campaign co-chair Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who also voted against the act.

Obama said there are "profound differences" between himself and Sen. McCain on the gas tax holiday as well.

"Sen. McCain has proposed a gas tax holiday that would take $3 billion a month out of the Highway Trust Fund and hand it over effectively to our oil companies," Obama said, and he pointed out that the nation’s infrastructure received a "D" from the American Society of Civil Engineers. "At a time when the Highway Trust Fund is beginning to run a deficit for the first time in history, I think that's the last thing we can afford to do. That is the last thing we can afford to do," he said.

While telling mayors from around the country that he would be "a partner in the White House," Obama touted policies that he said would help on the state level.

"I’ll also launch a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over 10 years, and create nearly 2 million new jobs," Obama said to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "Instead of building bridges to nowhere, let’s build communities that meet the needs and reflect the dreams of our families."

Obama also promised funding for teachers, police, housing and broadband Internet.

June 21, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (38)

User Comments

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McCain lies a lot. He making the claim that offshore drilling will provide short term energy relief, but govt estimates are that if approved today, it wouldn't have much impact before the 2030s. He also misrepresents Obama as being anti nuclear, while the truth is Obama is for using nuclear as part of a package of alternatives. A McCain ad is suggesting that he is pro alternative energy, but it's a lie. He only favors centralized alternatives like nukes, he opposes alternatives that encourage individual citizens to be energy independent, like wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen exchange batteries.

Posted by: Javalation | Jun 21, 2008 4:47:50 PM

Look the Republican party is not pleased with McCain and John McCain is telling lies

I mean how else can he win the White House

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 4:53:25 PM

Arizona....

What ever makes you happy.

Now the big problem is trying to determine which is which.

Posted by: Omentum | Jun 21, 2008 5:28:47 PM

Samantha

McCains proposal was just a drop in the bucket. Obama is looking to give this project the resources that needed.

Enough of pandering. We need true solutions

Posted by: Omentum | Jun 21, 2008 5:33:49 PM

You McCain supporters have to know that Obama going to win

Why else would they bother to blog

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 5:41:59 PM

Old Mccain tried to sneak around on his wife Cindy with a lobbyist.

Trust me that one is coming back to bite McCain

I can't wait for you Republicans to see that

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 5:44:33 PM

Not all african american will vote for OBAMA WHICH IS THE RIGHT WAY..

VOTE ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOUR CANDIDATE STANDS FOR

NOT COLOR

I'M VOTING FOR OBAMA BECAUSE I BELIEVE A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE..

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 6:07:18 PM

And yet Samantha seems really proud of who to be a black woman who didn't vote for Obama

And I say so what..Your vote is a drop in the Bucket

Obama is still going to be President and you will just be one of the 10% who didn't vote for him

BIG DEAL..

OBAMA FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT O8

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 6:40:36 PM

A person like Samanthra who thinks that not voting for the First African American candidate makes her feel good to have to be that person say.

OH I'M BLACK I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM..

TO MOST African American THIS is a proud moment in history..For mother and grandmother who have never in their time seen anything like this is such a joy for them..

For many Africans American who didn't believe this could happen this is a joyful moment for them..

And for Samantha and the other 10% of African American because OF Martin Lurther King. Lincoln AND JFK..

African American such as yourself are free to vote now,,free to say I don't want to vote for an African American..

Well there were people who didn't want to vote JFK..and like JFK Obama has risen above the rest..so I say to you..blogger..

SOOO WHAT.

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 6:45:37 PM

This is free country and I will what I want..

Rather you like or not..

If you support Obama as you say you do because we all know people on this blogs

TELL LIES..

Than asking me to shut up isn't something a REAL OBAMA SUPPORTER WOULD DO..

Posted by: betty | Jun 21, 2008 6:53:17 PM

The only problem Obama will have getting elected in november is Michelle.With Michelle with him he will never be elected president of the USA.

Posted by: Walter | Jun 21, 2008 6:55:35 PM

OBAMA promises funding for teachers, police, housing,for everything under the sun, for everything that you want him to say he will promise funding and more funding....and it will all come with HIGHER TAXES! Samantha has it exactly right, this candidate is a joke and I think the American people are just waking up to see this...his funds last month dropped--hopefully a trend.

Posted by: Ann | Jun 21, 2008 8:11:57 PM

Does anybody count how many articles are being post for Obama as oppose to McCain?.. the ratio is 8 to 1... Obviously He gets nods with ABC also on MSNBC, CNN and CBS... Only Fox news gives equal time to both...Please count the discrepancies daily..

Posted by: graymatter | Jun 21, 2008 8:29:01 PM

i'm wondering when the states are going to stop relying on the federal government. And take the responsibility of not taking care of their towns.

Posted by: doiy | Jun 21, 2008 8:35:34 PM

so i am curious how did obama vote on the issue? and how did her vote? real question no sarcasm please.
just wondering, anybody know?

Posted by: sonia trevino | Jun 21, 2008 9:30:57 PM

If anyone out there thinks that McCan't is running for President because he wants to help average people..... or that he wants to help ANYONE other than the corporations, lobbyist and the rich...... they need to rethink this whole election thing...


OUR COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY!


We cannot allow our country to suffer 4 more years of Bush thru McCan't.

Obama 08

Posted by: Amy | Jun 21, 2008 11:11:51 PM

Amy, you seem to have pegged Old Man McCain. Somewhere.

When he sounds like George Bush one day and Al Gore the next, how do we know where to categorize him?

Just like Obama, McCain says whatever the people want to hear in whatever crowd he's speaking to.

Our wonderful two-party system... we have two "unelectable" candidates, except ONE of those two yo-yo's will be our next President!

Posted by: Rhys | Jun 22, 2008 12:18:48 AM

GOP are thieves:
It won't Happen In Your Lifetime!
No You Can't!

Posted by: reaganfan | Jun 22, 2008 1:45:15 AM

Obama is just sounding like a hack politician.

What will he quibble about today?

Posted by: Regina | Jun 22, 2008 7:12:01 AM

Will not even consider voting for Obama: No experience, No ideas of his own, owes everything to George Soros, the "Daily Kos" and the "Huffington Post" Would like to seem him on TV answering questions without a teleprompter. Would like to know if he could even make a speech without the help of a teleprompter. Of course, as I've seen written elsewhere, we have little choice for president this election year. That has been caused by the high cost of running for president. The laws should be changed so that those running for election must use only the money contributed by the collection from those marking the spot on their tax returns, but raising the figure to $100.00 per party. Divide the money between the three, yes three parties and let the games beging. Keep the rich away from Washington, change the laws that those in congress can only serve two terms and then get out. If the President can only serve two terms we know Congress is no better.
Congress is rated by the public about 22%, somewhat less that the current President. Also, let's drill anywhere we can for oil so we will have enough for the next twenty years or so while new sources of energy can be developed. Build Nuclear Power Plants in every state. Damn those that are trying to bring down the USA from within preventing new drilling, new nuclear plants, etc.

Posted by: Bert Lasagna | Jun 22, 2008 10:19:18 AM

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