Not since Rutherford B. Hayes vetoed four bottles of sarsaparilla passed by the 45th U.S. Congress in 1877 has a president (or presidential candidate) threatened a popular beverage's natural course through the legislative process. But now, Senator John McCain has taken an intrepid stand against another beloved drink.
On Tuesday, while speaking at D.C'.s National Small Business Summit about excessive earmarks, the presumed Republican presidential nominee--holding aloft an ominous black Sharpie--promised to veto "every single beer" that comes to his desk. Check it:
Now, before we belittle Senator McCain for his overzealous and reactionary agenda, we should realize that the current Democratic Congress--out of all the Congresses in recent memory--is likely to send some beer, if not copious amounts of it, to the Oval Office for approval. If you have strong feelings about your president signing various lagers, stouts and Hefeweizens with permanent ink, now is the time to make your vote count.
B. Brandon Barker is the author of the novel Operation EMU.
B. Brandon Barker's writing has appeared in Global City Review, The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror (St. Martin's Press), Verbicide, The Feed and online at McSweeney's. He's also the author of the novel Operation Emu. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, he was born in England, raised in Arkansas and now lives in Virginia.
Point one: Every "Earmark" should stand or fall on its own merits. No riders, attachments or amendments, pass or fail one at a time. Nothing will get done? Good!
Point two: The President should veto evey earmark that crosses his desk.
Ron Paul for President !! (write it in)
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David S.
1:56PM Jun 10th 2008
McCain misspoke - I hope. Good lord - every president threatens to veto earmarks that pass their desk and they never do. I would have more respect for a presidential candidate who just said I will support them. At least that is honesty.
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JOHN
3:13PM Jun 10th 2008
During a Michelle Obama appearance at Carnegie Mellon University, the school paper The Tartan reported the attention-getting phrase: The Tartan's correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, "Get me more white people, we need more white people." To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, "We're moving you, sorry. It's going to look so pretty, though."
"I didn't know they would say, 'We need a white person here,' " said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. "I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn't know it would be so outright."
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iynaroc02
3:51PM Jun 10th 2008
JOHN3:13PMJun 10th 2008
During a Michelle Obama appearance at Carnegie Mellon University, the school paper The Tartan reported the attention-getting phrase: The Tartan's correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, "Get me more white people, we need more white people." To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, "We're moving you, sorry. It's going to look so pretty, though."
"I didn't know they would say, 'We need a white person here,' " said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. "I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn't know it would be so outright."
----------------------------------------------- John, you really take the cake as a stupid idiot. Hope you have enough education to read the topic of discussion which has nothing to do with Obama's wife. You're only displaying your stupidity.
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iynaroc02
3:59PM Jun 10th 2008
John McCain hosted a bbq outing at his ranch in Arizona and beer was consumed. So, this is his economic plan for the country. He was one of the republicans that voted against the energy bill today. This bill would have taxed oil companies' windfall profits and distributed to the surfering middle class. The bill would have also stropped the oil companies of the $17 bill subsidy which we the tax payers have been giving them to help reduce our foreign energy dependence, the 5 oil companies made $30 billion in just first 3 months of this year with Exxon leading the way with $11 billion profit. For people that didn't know, now you know McSame's, Bush's and Chenney's constituents.
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willy
4:02PM Jun 10th 2008
As a Great-Great Grandson of the one time 2nd largest Brewer in America, I say:"Pass the TANNHAEUSER!"
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jerry
4:10PM Jun 10th 2008
What do you expect from some one who stood in church and screamed--"get whittey" or was it "why me"
Democrats for McCain--join us for a safer Amerika
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Jeff
4:10PM Jun 10th 2008
Democrats for McCain--"PLEASE"
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Matt
4:14PM Jun 10th 2008
If you wanted a true conservative you missed your opportunity when you didn't vote for Ron paul in your states primary. You have one vote left that counts. Vote Ron Paul, and let's get our country on the RIGHT track.
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fausto gabon
4:21PM Jun 10th 2008
If I was tappin' Cindy, I'd have beer on the brain too!!
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Attila
4:32PM Jun 10th 2008
Is "beer" a slang for earmarks???
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Patriotic American
5:15PM Jun 10th 2008
We just celebrated "Memorial day" remembering what we stand for, what we faught for, what we died for. This is the time to Honor American Values and Patriotism.
THERE IS NO PLACE IN OUR GOVERNMENT for an anti-American racist bigot Obama. There is no place for the DNC to betray the American voters and steal their votes. There is no place for a few super-delegates to override the will of the people. There is no place for special interest to hijack our presidency because they give the most money. ONE MAN ONE VOTE as clearly as all 50 stars shine on our star spangled banner. All votes count.
WE THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE. WE THE PEOPLE VOTE HILLARY OR MCCAIN. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR RACIST ANTI-AMERICAN OBAMA.
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chip
5:26PM Jun 10th 2008
Ah brother can you spare some change for a bill opps some beer?
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chip
5:42PM Jun 10th 2008
Apparently patriotic American slept thru civics class as did most people. THIS COUNTRY IS NOT A DEMOCRACY IT IS A REPUBLIC; THERE WAS NEVER ONE MAN ONE VOTE! It is not designed that way never was never will be. The founding fathers "for the republic for which it stands" sound familar never intended it to be a democracy.
What is sad is you claim to be such an American and you don't even understand the history of this country. So why am I not suprised that people claim Obama is a racist and a bigot since its apparent that they don't listen to the things they claim to believe in let alone someone is who is radically different than what they expect or want America to be. Yes I am a 16yr Navy vet who would have layed down his life for this country but when we f up as a country I am the first to call it because I have earned that right. I love you baby but I don't condone wrong!
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spencerkn4
5:58PM Jun 10th 2008
I have been drinking beer years and still have no marks on my ears
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Jim
7:07PM Jun 10th 2008
Calling Obama a Racist is like calling the KKK friends of Blacks and Jews.
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JEAN
7:23PM Jun 10th 2008
BY CALLING HIMSLEF BLACK IS DENYING HALF OF HIM WHICH IS WHITE ... HE IS NOT BLACK .. HE IS MULTI ... FACTS CAN'T LIE
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Sally
10:25PM Jun 10th 2008
THE KKK IS SLEEP AT THE WHEEL YOU GOT YOUR FACTS WRONG VOTE HILLARY OR MC CAIN TELL THIS DELEGATES AT THE DNC THAT IS HILLARY OR MCCAIN! Donna Brazile, (202) 628-8081, donna@brazileassociates.com - Mark Brewer, (517) 371-5410, mbrewer@mi-democrats.com - Martha Fuller Clark, (603) 271-6933, martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us - Ralph Dawson, (212) 318-3337, rcdawson@fulbright.com - Donald and Carol Fowler, (803) 799-7550, don@fowlercommunications.com, carol@fowlercommunications.com - Yvonne Gates, (702) 455-0855, YRG@co.clark.nv.us - Alice Germond, (202) 863-7183, germonda@dnc.org - Jaime A. Gonzalez, Jr., (956) 664-0100, 855748@gmail.com - Janice Griffin, (703) 248-1990, griffinassoc1@aol.com - Alexis Herman, (202) 833-8800, rramirez@alexisherman.com - Alice Huffman, (916) 498-1890, alicehuffman@sbcglobal.net - Thomas Hynes, (312) 845-3272, thynes@chapman.com - Ben Johnson, (202) 973-5899, ben.johnson@porternovelli.com - Elaine Kamarck, (617) 495-9002, elaine_kamarck@harvard.edu - Allan Katz, (850) 425-1605, allan.katz@akerman.com - Eric Kleinfeld, (202) 293 1177, Eric@rpum.com - David McDonald, (206) 370-7957, david.mcdonald@klgates.com - Mona Pasquil, (916) 567-2945, monapasquil@hotmail.com - Mame Reiley, (703) 370-2891, mame@thereileygroup.com - James Roosevelt, (617) 972-9564, james_roosevelt@tufts-health.com - Garry Shay, (818) 502-7503, gss1@aol.com - Elizabeth Smith, (202) 879-4436, lsmith@aft.org - Michael Steed, (202) 595-2960, rmadison@paladincagroup.com - Sharon Stroschein, (605) 226-3440, stroschein@nrctv.com - Sarah Swisher, (319) 530-8364, seiusarah@msn.com - Edwards Ward, (919) 733-2520, eward@ncdot.state.nc.us - Jerome Wiley Segovia, (202) 360-3801, jerome@puente-latino.com.
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sandra n. pruitt
11:33PM Jun 10th 2008
Is this all McCain has on his agenda? Good Grief are we ever in trouble! BEER now that's something to worry about instead of unemployment, high gas, wars, health care, etc. This man needs to get out of his fairy tale world and get in the real world like the rest of us are! I am really sick and tired of all the politians crap!