Posted by
Gary Holt on Saturday, February 09, 2008 11:18:37 AM
Give us a break…… Our friend Alan Colmes from FNC’s ‘Hannity and Colmes’, accused McCain of flip flopping on ethanol subsidies. Colmes claimed McCain did not campaign against ethanol subsidies in Iowa after saying he did in his February 7th, CPAC address. Come on Alan, who does your research, Ann Coulter?
John McCain made the following comment while testifying to the fact that he is open and honest about his beliefs, otherwise known to the world as McCain’s “Straight Talk”:
“Those are my beliefs, and you need not examine only my past votes and speeches to assure yourselves that they are my genuine convictions. You can take added confidence from the positions I have defended during this campaign. I campaigned in Iowa in opposition to agriculture subsidies.”
One must simply perform an internet search on ‘McCain & Iowa & Ethanol’ to display a myriad of articles testifying to McCain’s truth. For example, Tony Leys, staff writer for the Des Moines Register, wrote a column entitled “McCain: Ethanol subsidy unneeded” on November 6, 2007. An excerpt from that column is as follows:
“Ames, Ia. - Presidential candidate John McCain told biofuel proponents here Monday night that he opposes government subsidies on ethanol the same way he opposes subsidies on other products, including oil.
The Arizona senator was the only Republican among four candidates who spoke to a few hundred participants at a renewable-energy conference at Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum. He said he knows his position on ethanol might not be popular in Iowa, adding that it's what he believes.
McCain said that he believes American farmers can compete with anyone in the world and that they do not need the subsidies and regulations that come with big federal programs. "I trust Americans. I trust the markets. And I oppose subsidies," McCain said”.
Back in 1999, prior to the 2000 election, Kari Linder with the CyberCaucus 2000 News Service wrote on December 14, 1999, “McCain, Bush clash over ethanol during first debate in Iowa”. Excerpts from that article follow:
“DES MOINES, IOWA--Arizona Sen. John McCain and Texas Gov. George W. Bush clashed over the issue of ethanol tax breaks during Monday night's Republican debate--the first in Iowa.
Through his lack of support for ethanol, a fuel made from corn that benefits Iowa's farm economy, McCain, who has not campaigned in Iowa, made it clear he would take a stand for his issues. This was true whether or not the issues favored Iowa--making him look as if he was trying to appeal to his New Hampshire supporters more than gain the support of Iowans.
"I'm here to tell you that I'm going to tell you the things that you don't want to hear, as well as the things you want to hear, and one of those is ethanol," McCain said. "Ethanol is not worth it. It does not help the consumer."
"Those ethanol subsidies should be phased out, and everybody here on this stage, if it wasn't for the fact that Iowa is the first caucus state, would share my view that we don't need ethanol subsidies. It doesn't help anybody," McCain said.”
Flip flopping Alan says? Mister Geppetto must be rolling over in his grave…..