‘John McWeasel’ Tells 9/11 First Responder That ‘I Can’t Help You’

[deminks]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/05/mcweasel-first-responders/

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that, this coming week, he will bring a 9/11 first responders bill up for a vote. The bill, which has been passed by the House, would provide $7.4 billion in medical treatment and lost wages for workers who were sickened and injured by their service at Ground Zero.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) office indicated that the chances for invoking cloture (ie, getting 60 votes to overcome a filibuster) hinge on getting more Republican support. “We still need one more Republican to come on board,” said a Gillibrand spokesman.

With that hurdle in mind, tow truck driver T.J. Gilmartin, “who hauled ruined FDNY vehicles away from Ground Zero and now suffers from breathing problems, headed to Washington this week to lobby” for the 9/11 health bill. Gilmartin described this rude and depressing encounter he had with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):

(snip)

McCain’s “pathetic” attitude towards a 9/11 first responder earned him this cover headline from the New York Daily News yesterday:

[Subdivisions]

1. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders. John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

John McCain won't help 9/11 first responders.

[gateley]

2. Should be coming out of every Democratic mouth on TV even if that's not the

question.

That's what they do.

[Tippy]

3. K&R.....McCain thinks it is more important to give tax breaks

to millionairs like himself then to see to it the 9/11 first responders get medical treatment....What a soldier!

[felinetta]

4. Wonder when Sunday programs will stop having him on. He is no longer

useful to any political party.