McCain Revealed: The Briefing Book
AFL-CIO Launches "McCain Revealed: The Briefing Book", a Campaign Denouncing McCain Anti-Workers Standpoints
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The AFL-CIO, announced on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 a $53.4 million campaign to denounce Sen. McCain's political positions on issues related to AFL-CIO members, hoping to elect a Democrat to the White House. "McCain Revealed: the Briefing Book" is a new interactive e-journal that details the ways a McCain presidency would take away worker's rights and reduce their standard of living. The Campaign is accessible at www.mccainrevealed.org.
The campaign links Sen. McCain with most, if not all, of President Bush's failed policies like tax cuts for wealthy Americans and NAFTA support which are unpopular with union workers.
On Economic Issues, the campaign informs its members that McCain skipped an important vote on the Economic Stimulus Package, despite the fact that he was indeed in Washington at the time of the vote. McCain said that the Government should consider intervening in the mortgage crisis only if efforts to help banks do not succeed. Moreover, the campaign condemns McCain's failing record to support policies designed to encourage good jobs with good wages and benefits. McCain opposes a Minimum Wage Increase for Working Families and supports Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He also voted against the protection of Workers' Overtime Rights; as well as curtailing legislative efforts to shore up Workers' Health and Safety. Also, the Campaign is vociferous about Sen. McCain's "Free-Trader" self-proclaimed label as he voted for "the most devastating trade agreements in our history", NAFTA and CAFTA; McCain also did not support Tariff Protection Barriers or outsourcing American opportunities to China.
On Healthcare, McCain's proposal is similar to Bush's failed plan that undermines existing employer-based health care plans and pushes workers into the private insurance market.
Perhaps the most important aspect of political campaign plans is the anti- Worker's Right that Mr. McCain has pursued. He opposes our freedom to form unions and in that light voted against the Employee Free Choice Act in favor of the National Right-to-Work for Less Law that would attempt to eliminate unions altogether. He also failed to Co-Sponsor the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act and voted against Collective Bargaining Rights for State and Local Police and Firefighters, and Transportation Security Administration’s Screeners (TSA).
When it comes to Retirement Security, Sen. McCain supported a Bush plan to privatize Social Security benefits, rise the Medicare eligibility age and missed a crucial vote to reduce prescription drug cost to retirees. Moreover, "McCain Revealed" defines a McCain Administration as a "Bush No. 3" deploring McCain's alignment with the Bush Administration 89 percent of the time.
In response, Brian Rogers, stated: "The American people know that John McCain alone has the experience, vision, and judgment to jeep America safe and secure our economic prosperity. Further comments on the "McCain Revealed" by Senator McCain's side are expected.
