McCain put lobbyist friends, contributors ahead of Washington jobs
SEATTLE – Democratic Chairman Dwight Pelz today called on GOP Attorney General Rob McKenna to stop putting his partisan loyalty to the Republican Party ahead of the interests of Washingtonians by resigning his role as Washington State Chairman of John McCain’s presidential bid. Pelz’s call comes as pressure continues to mount regarding McCain’s role in the Boeing tanker deal controversy.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that McCain helped EADS, the French-owned company for which many of his top campaign advisors lobbied to win a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract over Boeing – a move that will ship at least 9,000 jobs overseas directly from the state of Washington.
“Now that John McCain has decided to put his lobbyist friends above the interests of Washington’s working families, Republican Rob McKenna should set aside his blind loyalty to the Republican Party and step aside from the campaign,” said Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz. “Washingtonians quite literally can't afford a third Bush term of failed economic policies that ship American jobs overseas, and Republican Rob McKenna should stop leading that charge here in Washington state.”
McCain reportedly pressed the Pentagon to ignore the fact that EADS receives subsidies from European governments that give it an unfair advantage over Boeing. After the Pentagon awarded the contract, McCain defended the process, saying he's “never believed that defense programs, that the major reason for them should be to create jobs.” This isn't the first time McCain has helped ship American jobs overseas. McCain has been the leading opponent of “Buy American” rules that encourage the Pentagon to buy American-made goods for the American military. [The Hill, 3/7/08; AP, 3/3/08; Senate Vote 191, 5/21/03]
3/14/08 ###
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