These talking points can be used if you are organizing or talking to members about making an educated decision when they vote. These points are a great resource as we participate and get out the vote!
•    Let me remind you that we definitely cannot afford a 3rd Bush Term! When Pres. George Bush tried to privatize Social Security, AFSCME was at the forefront of defeating that plan.
•    We were the first union to take action again this plan to privatize social security.  For John McCain to call for the privatization of Social Security means putting the lives of millions of Marylanders at risk.  It’s unbelievable
•    And he supports privatizing Social Security, the very program that keeps about half – that’s right, half – of our elderly citizens out of poverty.
•    Social Security is especially important for African-Americans.  African-Americans make up 13 percent of the population but represent 17 percent of those receiving Social Security disability benefits and 21 percent of the children who receive benefits.

•    Also, AFSCME has recently re-committed to supporting Quality Affordable Healthcare for the working families of America. While were committing to our families, Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain was continuing to vote against expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The program that helps working parents and their children to have access to good health care.

•    This program provides health insurance for children in families who earn up to double the federal poverty income level.  When he cast that vote, he denied health care to nearly four million of America’s neediest children.

•    The bill still passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.  But when President Bush vetoed it, John McCain said it was the “right call by the president.”

•    On at least nine separate occasions during his career in Washington, he voted against funding and expanding Head Start, the successful program that helps kids – particularly those in low income families – start school on an equal footing with everyone else.

•    Senator McCain also repeatedly voted against breakfast and school lunch programs for needy kids.

•    And John McCain voted against funding 100,000 new teachers, a move that would have reduced classsizes to a national average of 18 students per classroom.

•    The reality is, John McCain’s agenda is George W. Bush’s agenda.  It’s tired.  It’s old.  And after eight long years of putting the wealthiest Americans before everyone else, we need a change.

•    John McCain represents Bush’s third term.  WE CANNOT afford another third term for George Bush.

For more information contact: Nicole M. Francis, Ed.D. at nfrancis@afscme67.org