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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere were gasps when McCain, after being furiously lobbied by Pence, joined two other Repub...
The arc of history is long, but it bends towards revenge.
Just over two years after candidate Donald Trump mocked John McCain's Vietnam War record, noting that he prefers heroes "who weren't captured", the Arizona senator stuck a dagger in President Trump's healthcare reform plans.
There were gasps when Mr McCain, after being furiously lobbied by Vice-President Mike Pence, joined two other Republican senators in voting against the so-called "skinny" repeal plan, considered the bare minimum Senate Republicans could agree on.
Instead of a big step toward becoming law - either in its skinny form or after further negotiations with the House of Representatives - the future of Obamacare repeal has been thrown into doubt.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40750071
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Was watching it live and we were straining to hear the votes as they were cast.
Heard the gasps when it happened and did not know immediately what caused it because apparently he didn't speak he gave a thumbs down but we knew something had happened.
A minute or two later it was announced he had voted no on the news in the background but the reaction had already indicated something big had happened.
greyl
(22,990 posts)Several votes later, he approached the center of the floor, gave thumbs down, Schumer gave the "cut it" motion to quell Dem's outburst of jubilation. I wasn't sure exactly what happened there...
bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)I thank him (didn't affect me).
zz-la
(224 posts)He is at least tolerable when it comes to the Republicans.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,753 posts)he is in position to be all mavericky and be the goat for Trump and the Republicans to blame for their "failure".
greyl
(22,990 posts)Most of the party voted "yes", so how is a "no" vote a sacrifice for the Party?
Republicans dislike Trump much more than they're willing to let on publicly, I think. Do you mean McCain provided cover for others who wanted to vote against but were afraid to?
wishstar
(5,269 posts)It looks like theatrical CYA maneuvering that only 3 of them voted no.
Those who voted yes will not be blacklisted and harassed and called traitors to Repub party by rightwing. Party cohesion is helped by only having 3 defectors. Whereas, Collins, Murkowski and McCain will be criticized, they are all in position to withstand any blowback. Many of the yes votes know it was a shitty bill that would cause bad repercussions between now and 2018 election, but they are now safe with their base and Trump and big money donors.
Duppers
(28,120 posts)JI7
(89,249 posts)excuse not to do anything about it.
LeftInTX
(25,305 posts)Most of them didn't know what was going to be in the bill.
I think there may have been a trade off with Heller.
Heller gets to vote yes and take credit for trying to repeal without passing this awful bill.
This was a really bad bill.
McCain doesn't have to worry about his political future.
Duppers
(28,120 posts)"McCain prefers Presidents who weren't captured by Putin."
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029382611
Edited to correct. I don't think it was McCain who wrote that - at least I could not find the quote in McCain's Twitter feed. But it is juicy.
my friend.
greyl
(22,990 posts)Duppers
(28,120 posts)Very sorry I misunderstood. Sleep deprived per usual. Yep, that's my excuse.