McCain campaign responds to ThinkProgress on earmarks for Israel.
Filed Under: Ethics
By on Apr 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
McCain campaign responds to ThinkProgress on earmarks for Israel.
Earlier today, ThinkProgress reported that in his promise to “veto every bill with earmarks,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) may also eliminate aid to Israel. According to the Congressional Research Service, U.S. aid to Israel is considered an earmark. Politico’s Ben Smith received an e-mailed response from McCain’s spokesman Brian Rogers:
Senator McCain will bring wasteful spending under control, and he will ensure America remains committed to the security of Israel, including maintaining America’s assistance levels.
Smith notes, “That’s one thing about spending cuts: Much harder when you get to the details.”
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“This little piggy went to market,
April 16th, 2008 at 8:48 pmthis little piggy stayed home…”
Record flop return time on that flip, John.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:53 pmWonder what other “earmarks” won’t get vetoed…..
Brother Lieberman will make sure Isreal get’s what ever they want or need not matter what McCain says. Isreal has gotten Nukes and billions of dollars from the US. Nothing will change that even if the US which is now in a recession and when we go into depression. Isreal will get the money they want even if it means raising taxes on all Americans. Americans could live in Pottersville but Isreal will continue to get US money when ever they want or need it.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:59 pmHere’s how the Office of Management and Budget defines “earmarks” for federal agencies>
Ithink aid to Israel would be considered an earmark only if not requested by the Executive Branch. McCain’s refusal to ask for earmarks as a Senator and his promise to veto bills containing earmarks is very sensible; I don’t see how that deserves to be questioned by progressives.
Newsprism
April 16th, 2008 at 9:03 pmdictatortot Says:
I don’t see how that deserves to be questioned by progressives.
Question everything.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:07 pmAnd never trust anyone who has been caught in a lie.
That includes most Republicans… and Clintons.
Wayne, you left out LIEberman. Always question LIEberman.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:10 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
Wayne, you left out LIEberman. Always question LIEberman.
Isn’t LIEman a Republican?
Votes like one….
=)
April 16th, 2008 at 9:14 pmWayne, all I know is that he’s not human. I think he’s really a Ferengi.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:19 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
Wayne, you left out LIEberman. Always question LIEberman.
—————–
You don’t have to question “Israel first” Joe.
We already know where he stands, even before he opens his mouth.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:19 pmpiltdown Says:
We already know where he stands, even before he opens his mouth.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Yes, right behind McSame’s shoulder. (shudder)
April 16th, 2008 at 9:25 pmYes, right behind McSame’s shoulder. (shudder)
Whispering sweet corrections in his ear. ;)
April 16th, 2008 at 9:37 pmInteresting.
Some things are cast in stone, are an immutable law.
Please, somebody, tell me again why we the USofA give Israel $3 billion in aid annually, plus (about) $0.5-3 billion in “loans”, which are “forgiven” next year, allowing Israeli government to claim that “we have never defaulted on loans from America!” (it is an inside joke for people in the know).
We give more to Israel than to the whole of Africa.
Obviously, this rich, vibrant country needs it more…
I wonder when will Americans pose a question: WHY?
PS
Just saw Obama being asked: “Will you treat an attack on Israel the same as an attack on the USofA?”
Funnily enough, we have no treaties of defense with Israel, and they are not part of NATO…
So… what gives?
WHY?
April 16th, 2008 at 9:38 pmTotally, totally off-topic
Clinton was just asked how she would use GDumbya (as a former president) — kind of like how Bill and Poppy Bu$h helped with tsunami relief. She missed a great opportunity when she said “I will have to give further thought to that”.
I can think of at least two better answers:
1) “I’d use him as a bad example.”
2) “I would use him as a ‘contrarian adviser’. That is, I would has him what he would do in a particular situation; then, I would do the opposite.”
April 16th, 2008 at 9:44 pmAs to the matter of Israel, we should adopt the same policy toward it as Clinton has proposed with regard to Iraq. That is, we should tell them that we are withdrawing (our money rather than our troops) and then we should do it.
The Israeli government has been no more responsive than has the Maliki government — in fact, it has been unresponsive longer. The only way to end its foot-dragging is to put it on notice that it’s time for it to stand on its own two feet. No more settlements. No more walls. No more attacks on Palestinians.
And the rest of the countries in the region should similarly be put on notice that they all have a shared responsibility to assure peaceful resolution to the conflicts in their part of the world.
We need to quit trying to be this world’s policeman and babysitter. We tried it and we’re not very good at either of these jobs.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:55 pmtom Says:
Totally, totally off-topic
Clinton was just asked how she would use GDumbya (as a former president) — kind of like how Bill and Poppy Bu$h helped with tsunami relief. She missed a great opportunity when she said “I will have to give further thought to that”.
I would use him to clear brush around the White House. He can wear his “43″ hat if he wants.
April 16th, 2008 at 10:15 pmtom Says:
She missed a great opportunity when she said “I will have to give further thought to that”.
Probably better than I would have said.
“Bwahahahaha. You have to be f-ing kidding me, right?”
April 16th, 2008 at 10:24 pmSource: politico.com
So what is the number one job prerequisite for becoming an AMERICAN president?
Why, “a love for Israel and a desire to keep the Jewish people secure”, of course…
Sigh…
April 16th, 2008 at 10:54 pmMcCain’s support for the sovereignty of Israel is not something that should be regarded as duplicitous.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:00 pmCompletely off topic but can we have a mention on TP of the complete of the character assasination of Barack Obama tonight on ABC? What the heck kind of debate was that? AWFUL!
April 16th, 2008 at 11:22 pmtom Says:
——————————————————————————–
Totally, totally off-topic
Clinton was just asked how she would use GDumbya (as a former president) — kind of like how Bill and Poppy Bu$h helped with tsunami relief. She missed a great opportunity when she said “I will have to give further thought to that”.
I can think of at least two better answers:
1) “I’d use him as a bad example.”
2) “I would use him as a ‘contrarian adviser’. That is, I would has him what he would do in a particular situation; then, I would do the opposite.”
April 16th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Would make more sense to ‘use’ him twice for proper sex education :
“This is what you get when you believe abstinence only sex education is the only way to go ; a horrible president and life-long child that Daddy has to continually bail out”.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:42 pmamericangoy Says:
I wonder when will Americans pose a question: WHY?
——————–
They won’t, or they’ll be called anti-Semitic.
In todays world, that’s worse than being a war criminal or child rapist.
The 11th American commandment:
April 17th, 2008 at 12:09 amThou shalt never question Israel.
piltdown Says:
——————————————————————————–
americangoy Says:
I wonder when will Americans pose a question: WHY?
——————–
They won’t, or they’ll be called anti-Semitic.
In todays world, that’s worse than being a war criminal or child rapist.
The 11th American commandment:
Thou shalt never question Israel.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:09 am
You’re exactly right. Any criticism of Israel or US policies regarding Israel is considered to be anti-Semitism. We can criticize any other country - well, not so much Saudi Arabia (hey, they’re technically Semites, too!) - without being called “anti-(insert country here).” Hmmm, curious…
April 17th, 2008 at 12:22 amSeems like a safe bet to suggest that someone on McInsane’s staff has been assigned to keep an eye on TP, just so’s he knows what’s bein’ said ’bout him.
I mean, it looks like it took all of about 3 hrs for Johnny to find time in his busy sched to reply to TP.
I love the Internet.
Politics are now on an hr-by-hr basis…
April 17th, 2008 at 12:33 ampiltdown Says:
In todays world, that’s worse than being a war criminal or child rapist.
______________
And if they’re both a war criminal AND a child rapist, I think it’s safe to assume they’re a GOOPer, ta boot. Prolly some sort of ranking party official…
April 17th, 2008 at 12:35 amI love the Internet.
It’s “Internets”, TRoS - you love the “Internets.” ;)
G’night!
April 17th, 2008 at 12:36 amThinkBalanced Says:
McCain’s support for the sovereignty of Israel is not something that should be regarded as duplicitous.
McCain’s support for Israel over the best interests of the United States is indeed duplicitous, and even treasonous. Israel has become a cancer on the USA, and a very bad actor in the Middle east. israel should be reigned in and made to support its own interests instead of meddling in other’s affairs and constantly extorting the United States.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:01 am>McCain’s support for the sovereignty of Israel
Please explain to me how you equate giving away money to supporting soveireignty.
That foreign country has us by the cahones, they make our security software and have undoubtedly installed backdoors in it, and thier lobbying clout is equal to the gun lobby. And thier affect on this countries politics is equally as positive..
April 17th, 2008 at 1:03 amJohn McFossil . . I look forward to the day he’s petrified.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:18 amplease please, McCain, keep talking…the more this guy opens his mouth, the more and more obvious it gets hes just trying to tell people what they want to hear..
April 17th, 2008 at 1:20 amFor decades, the United States and Israel have maintained strong bilateral relations based on a number of factors, including strong domestic U.S. support for Israel; shared strategic goals; shared democratic values; and historic ties dating back to U.S. support for the creation of Israel in 1948 (Which renewed in 1968). U.S. economic and military aid has been a major component in cementing and reinforcing these ties based on both interests.
Strategic relations with Israel are the among the better investments of US. You have to remember the US gives Israel 2.8 billion loan a year in order to buy US products. Israel spends most of the money in the US market and helps having it rolling. Israel spends 80% of the money for U.S. military and manufacturers’ purchases. A small help, one would say, but very unique, because those purchases help the US military industry to maintain jobs for hundred of thousands of workers, because Israel shares intelligence, technological and scientific information, know-how, unique experience in developing electronic and avionic matters, inventing and building high-tech platforms and military goods with the US. Arrow missiles, UAVs (Israel has been the first and most competent developer of UAVs and now leads in that field), C3I, Avionics, fighting techniques in urban and desert combat and more.
For years, Israel has been America’s secret weapon in defending the interests and lives of Americans for the United States. Late General George Keegan once said that: “Israel is worth 5 CIAs”. Israel gave to the US every information and materials of Soviet missile systems, radar systems, ammunition and planes - all of which were sent back to America for inspection. Billions of dollars would have been spent on reverse engineering to learn how to defend against them had U.S. industry NOT had the captured Soviet equipment which Israel sent to America. Israel’s assistance shortened the number of man-hours and money and ensured the quality to develop counter-measures against Soviet technology, missiles, radar frequencies and more. Israel, despite her minuscule size, gave back to her ally, America, more than any other nation ever had.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:38 am“You have to remember the US gives Israel 2.8 billion loan a year in order to buy US products”
So Israel gets US products for free, US companies MAKE NO MONEY!–and that’s a GOOD thing?
And Abe, the rest of your tract is utter nonsense.
April 17th, 2008 at 3:31 amAnd Abe, the rest of your tract is utter nonsense.
5th Estate Says:
No doubt.
_AIO_
April 17th, 2008 at 5:07 amDevil’s in the details and, sometimes, in the rhetoric!
April 17th, 2008 at 6:42 amFor years, Israel has been America’s secret weapon in defending the interests and lives of Americans for the United States.
And that they stole US weapons secrets only gives them the means to better protect us!
Riiight.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:30 am… because Israel shares intelligence, technological and scientific information, know-how, unique experience in developing electronic and avionic matters,
Or they steal it from us…
April 17th, 2008 at 8:32 amIt’s nice to know that McCain reads ThinkProgress (or at least, his staffers do). He probably could have qualified his blanket condemnation of earmarks somewhat, but all candidates commit gaffes (though somehow, only Obama’s result in polls questioning his patriotism, elitism, or fitness for office).
I suspect when McCain rails against “earmarks”, he means “earmarks from Democrats”.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:51 am__________
Wayne Says:
Record flop return time on that flip, John.
Wonder what other “earmarks” won’t get vetoed…..
April 16th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
_________
He only said he’d veto earmarks, not that he would stop support for Israel. Support for Israel doesn’t have to come in the form of an earmark.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:21 amAbe Bird Says:
Strategic relations with Israel are the among the better investments of US. You have to remember the US gives Israel 2.8 billion loan a year in order to buy US products. Israel spends most of the money in the US market and helps having it rolling. Israel spends 80% of the money for U.S. military and manufacturers’ purchases.
April 17th, 2008 at 2:38 am
_____
So THAT’s why we want them to go to war with Iran. Now it all makes sense - thanks for the clarification!
April 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am#31 Abe “Cuckoo” Bird said :
Israel, despite her minuscule size, gave back to her ally, America, more than any other nation ever had.
This “ally” gave us Jonathon Pollard and who knows how many other spies that endangered the security of the country.
Folks, we know where Mr. Bird’s primary allegiance lies and its certainly not the US of A. Its time for the internment camps to re-open to preserve our country and heritage.
April 17th, 2008 at 11:25 amJBaddo Says:
This “ally” gave us Jonathon Pollard and who knows how many other spies that endangered the security of the country.
IOKIYAI. Oy vey!
April 17th, 2008 at 11:33 amForget Israel, they are terrorists and they stole land from the Palestinians. America supporting terrorists?
April 17th, 2008 at 11:38 amGood to know the Jewish citizens of Israel will be taken care of by the United States Government while said government cuts off Medicaid and Medicare to its own citizens…
May 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pmI guess he is going to have to stop the earmarks. How else can he pay for our troops staying in Iraq for 100 years?
If he raises taxes, he will tick off a lot of conservatives.
May 25th, 2008 at 3:25 pm