In the early morning hours of July 28, as I watched Arizona Senator John McCain cast one of the three earth-shaking votes against the “skinny repeal” of the Trumpcare bill, I came to the bittersweet realization that John McCain is making his last hurrah.
Ever the maverick who, to the dismay of senate Republicans, will still surprise by voting his conscience instead of the party line, McCain dealt the death blow to McConnell’s last hope of passing a disaster of a health care bill.
Why his last hurrah? Because John McCain has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer whose treatment is every bit as devastating as the disease itself. Still recovering from the surgery to remove a blood clot from over his left eye, McCain mustered the strength to pull himself from his sick bed in Arizona to make the 2,000 plus mile trip to Washington DC to cast that fateful vote and to spend a few days participating in other significant legislation before going home to further treatment.
John McCain is no stranger to adversity. Most of us are familiar with his heroic tale of being shot down over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, being gravely injured when ejected from his plane, denied medical treatment by his captors, being confined to solitary for two years and being repeatedly tortured, then refusing repatriation to the United States so that he could remain in the normal rotation of returning prisoners to America. Initially McCain was not expected by his fellow prisoners to survive those first few days of captivity. But McCain endured, and came home to take his place as a contributing m
ember of the House and then the Senate of the United States. He has served 30 years, all those years still afflicted with physical reminders of those years at the Hanoi Hilton.
Throughout this protracted battle over repeal and replace, Donald Trump, his administration and the Republicans themselves have made repeated, not-so-veiled threats against their own who have turned on the party line over health care. Right up to the fateful vote, I watched on C-Span the vain attempts by McConnell, Reince Prebus, Jeff Flake and other Republicans to cajole and coax McCain into “doing the right thing.” It was to no avail.
McCain appeared downright defiant when he turned his thumb down in opposition to McConnell’s ill-advised bill. McCain appeared almost liberated from party politics-as-usual.
“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.” These words from Kris Kristofferson’s ’60s-era song “Me and Bobby McGee” offer an apt sentiment to describe John McCain’s unique position in Trump’s Congress. In voting his conscience, McCain had nothing left to lose. Because he is facing his mortality (he will likely be gone from us within the 14-month survival expectancy this disease imposes upon its victims), John McCain is embracing this freedom.
McCain has lived an honorable life — not perfect, but honorable. He decided to meet his maker on his terms, in the knowledge that he did not sell out to the misguided promise of repeal and replace. To my mind, that is a freedom to be celebrated. Hurrah!
I’ve often said,.. “The most dangerous person is the one who has nothing left to lose.”
Mortality has a way of reshuffling the cards.
When faced with your own end, a sort of “peace” is inevitable, and an individual looks to what legacy they will leave behind. Material possessions & titles lose their value and acts of altruism retain their importance. “One” begins measuring their worth through good deeds and the greater good, and perhaps, what’s in the best interest for the future, rather than the strategies of party politics.
I find it comforting that McCain has chosen to be a humanist over being a Republican. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it illustrates just how insignificant party loyalty is, in the grand scheme of things.
Mike Pence likes to say.. “I’m a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.”.. and while that’s admirable, in it’s language, it’s far from the truth in his actions. Pence has aligned himself with a president who practices no Christian values or conservative lifestyle, and has sided with a Congress that cares more about political manuvering & party politics than the people they represent.
It’s very evident, from his actions, that “Party” comes first while what’s in the American people’s best interest, comes last.
I had a similar read on John McCain, about a week ago.. and while I don’t agree with many of his opinions about governing.. I can look at his actions to “kill” the healthcare bill and see a real human being. Probably for the first time.
There’s something really admirable about a man willing to “spit in the face” of his own party, especially when most of his life has been spent in the interest of that organization.
It’s the difference between doing what’s easy and doing what’s right.
Classic example of Trump Derangement Syndrome by an honored veteran. After declaring his support for repealing Obamacare multiple times, he discredited and dishonored himself by voting essentially for keeping it. Senator McCain, you are an ineffective and trivial Senator from a state that deserves better representation. Please do the right thing, resign, and live out your remaining time on this earth in Arizona with your family.
Obamacare is failing the American people and increasing costs of insurance will collapse the system. Lies by President Obama, the Marxist he is, classic takeover of 1/6th of the economy without firing a shot. President Obama will be known in the future for the ineffective liar in chief he was. God help us!