<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Dish]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://dish.andrewsullivan.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Andrew Sullivan]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://dish.andrewsullivan.com/author/sullydish/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Senate Priorities]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[
<p><span style="font-size: 0.8em;"><em>by Chris Bodenner</em></span><br />McCain is one of only four Republicans (out of 49) who hasn&#8217;t signed onto the GOP&#8217;s energy plan in the Senate. <a href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-mccain-holds-off-putting-his-name-on-gop-energy-proposal-2008-07-28.html"><em>The Hill</em></a>:  </p>
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<p>Democrats interpret McCain&#8217;s inaction as proof that the legislation will have no impact on gas prices. But the GOP leadership disputes that reading, saying the Republican standard-bearer supports the principles of the bill but is too busy with his campaign for president. </p>
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<p>However: </p>
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<p>McCain has found time to co-sponsor three resolutions since the energy legislation was introduced on June 26 — one honoring the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), another commemorating two slain U.S. Capitol Police officers and a third designating the second week of September the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. McCain also just signed onto two amendments to expand nuclear power&#8230;. Last week, he also added his name to a bill to help disabled military veterans to receive compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain’s office has not responded to several e-mails and phone calls seeking comment.  </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Also, the article notes how McCain &quot;has been far less active than Obama&quot; on the Hill.&nbsp; Out of 189 votes this year, Obama and McCain have attended 72 and 36, respectively. Obama last voted on July 9 and McCain on April 8.&nbsp; Yet McCain had basically wrapped up the nod when Romney conceded on January 29.&nbsp; Obama, on the other hand, was slogging it out with Clinton for <em>five more months</em> until she finally conceded on June 7.&nbsp; And Obama&#8217;s the one who&#8217;s supposed to be all style and no substance?</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/hearing-gate-ex.html">Worth recalling</a>:&nbsp; McCain highlights in his latest attack ad that Obama hasn&#8217;t held a single hearing on NATO&#8217;s mission in Afghanistan while chair of the <span id="inner">Foreign Relations Cmte&#8217;s Subcommittee on European Affairs.&nbsp; But the matter is typically dealt with at the full committee level, of which Obama attended.&nbsp; And of the six hearings on Afghanistan held by the Armed Services Cmte in the past two years, how many did McCain attend?&nbsp; Zero.&nbsp; &nbsp; </span></p>
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