McCain says 'lots of people' asked him to step into filibuster fight
07/16/13 02:02 PM ET
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Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he stepped into negotiations to prevent the nuclear option at the request of colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the White House.
“Lots of people asked me to be involved — both sides of the aisle,” he said.
He added that the White House also requested him to step in, but “not the president directly.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) praised McCain as the key deal-maker in the matter.
But the longtime senator, who was his party's presidential nominee in 2008, was quick to say he wasn't usurping his party's leaders.
“I don't mean to replace the leadership — usurp it in anyway,” he said, adding “I'm just there to help.”
He said he talked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) several times over the weekend as he worked with Reid on negotiations.
“He was encouraging me. He wanted to get this done,” McCain said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of McCain's closest friends in the upper chamber, said the Arizona lawmaker was helping out because he “really loves the institution.”
“I think John looks long-term in terms of the Senate. I think he's trying to keep the Senate the way he found it,” Graham said.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/311375-mccain-says-lots-of-people-asked-him-to-step-into-filibuster-fight#ixzz2ZEytDnOS
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I agree with Ezra that the filibuster is unconstitutional, and during the Obama presidency has been invoked more than any time in history. Since 1919, cloture was rarely invoked until now. Check his graph...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post/is-the-filibuster-unconstitutional/2012/05/15/gIQAYLp7QU_blog.html
This is a major reason why Congress can't even get routine business done, and has a 10% approval rating….worst ever in history by far.
--David