John McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and Transparency

June 5, 2008 -- John McCain says he is running the most transparent campaign in history. Yet just yesterday McCain and his campaign were caught misrepresenting his record on Hurricane Katrina, trying to cover it up, and then backtracking and shifting their answers on the issue.

This follows a pattern of deception we've seen with McCain: he insists on raising campaign money behind closed doors to hide the fact that lobbyists and the special interests are funding his campaign, he is not transparent about his tax returns and finances, and he is not transparent about the lobbyists running his campaign.

If McCain is such a straight talker, then why is he trying to cover up the truth? It's time for John McCain to show he's interested in bringing about real reform and not just rhetoric on transparency.

2008: McCain Promised "A New Standard For Transparency And Accountability." In a May 2008 speech in Columbus, OH, McCain said, "My administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability." [McCain speech ( http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/e8114732-e294-4a0d-b0b... ), Columbus, OH, 5/15/08]

2008: McCain Website: "Accountability And Transparency Are The Pillars Of Essential Reform." According to John McCain's website, "accountability and transparency are the pillars of essential reform." [John McCain website ( http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/issues/4a3ab6fe-b025-42b1-815b-13c69... )]

McCain Says He Supported Every Investigation Of What Went Wrong During Hurricane Katrina. "I have supported every investigation and ways to find out what caused the tragedy." [Media Availability, Baton Rouge (LA), 6/4/08: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD8X1ZKTsBg]

...But McCain Voted Twice Against Establishing A Commission To Study The Response To Hurricane Katrina. McCain voted against amendments establishing a Congressional commission to examine Federal, State, and local response to devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in U.S. Gulf Region, especially in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas impacted in the aftermath; and makes immediate corrective measures to improve future responses. [2006 Senate Vote #6, 2/2/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #229, 9/14/2005]

...Then Campaign Claims McCain Wasn't Talking About Specific Votes. "The McCain campaign says that he didn't know about the specific votes, but was talking about his support for the investigation already underway by the Senate Homeland Security Committee when the proposals were floated in the Senate." [Politico.com, 6/4/08: http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0608/McCains_Katrina_claim_gets_rapidly_factchecked.htm]

...But In April McCain Said He Was Proud He Voted Against Wasting Spending Like the Commission. "McCain defended those votes aboard his campaign bus as part of his campaign against wasteful spending, saying the legislation could have led to 'waste' and 'mismanagement.' 'They were all partisan votes,' McCain said. 'I'm proud of my support of American citizens regarding the taxpayers. I will not vote for projects and programs and bills that are laden with pork-barrel projects that waste taxpayers' dollars … They were full of pork-barrel, wasteful, unnecessary projects and earmarks.' He opposed the commission, he said, because 'there have been many investigations taking place - the causes are well known,' adding he thought most people in America know 'what caused that mismanagement.'" http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/25/nation/na-campaign25

Source: DNC

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