{"id":2129,"date":"2008-02-18T05:08:54","date_gmt":"2008-02-18T10:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/?p=2129"},"modified":"2008-02-15T16:17:49","modified_gmt":"2008-02-15T21:17:49","slug":"whats-in-a-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/?p=2129","title":{"rendered":"What’s In A Number?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whenever I refer to John McCain’s “American Conservative Union” (ACU) rating (lifetime: 82:\u00a0 2006:\u00a0 65), I almost always disclaim it “for those of you who believe in these things”.\u00a0 While I support the ACU on most issues (duh), trying to cram someone’s stances into a simple 1-3 digit number is at best unclear, and at worst very, very misleading.<\/p>\n

Such numbers\u00a0can <\/em>make useful guidelines, of course; your gut can tell you that John Kyl (97) is a better conservative than Jim Ramstad (68), who is in turn better than Dennis Kucinich (who cares).<\/p>\n

But as Kouba notes<\/a>\u00a0over at TVM, there’s much more to Mac and his rating than just the number:<\/p>\n

Just so we know what went into that rating, I looked up McCain\u2019s votes on the issues the ACU used to make up its rating for 2006. Here is the list<\/font><\/a> of the 25 issues the ACU used. Here are the Senate roll call votes<\/font><\/a> for 2006.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He helpfully provides them all, in convenient table form (which I lift wholesale from his post):<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Alito Nomination<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Asbestos Trust Fund<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNot voting<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Reconciliation<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Cut Rules<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiscal 2007 Budget Resolution\u2013Energy Funding<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spending Limitations<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earmark Definitions<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pork Barrel Spending<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medical Malpractice<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNot voting<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Reconciliation<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Small Business Health Plans<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Overhaul\u2014Social Security Credit<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Overhaul\u2014Voter Identification<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Reform<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Same-Sex Marriage Ban Constitutional Amendment<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Death Tax Repeal<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Native Hawaiian Government<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iran Sanctions<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iraq Amnesty Policy<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minimum Wage<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iraq Troop Withdrawal<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Border Fencing<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Embryonic Stem Cell Research<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parental Notification of Abortion<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gulf of Mexico Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Jeff notes some of the nuances to at least a few of the votes that oppose the ACU, and concludes:<\/p>\n

There are press releases addressing other votes here, and if you\u2019re interested, you could go find out why McCain voted the way he did. I think by going through the votes, we\u2019d find we may not always agree, but at least he had his reasons, reasons that had more substance than \u201cI wanted to please my buddy Ted Kennedy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Indeed, the overall rating is relatively useless for parsing what Mac is really <\/em>about.<\/p>\n

So let me totally geek out, here, and break the votes above into categories that actually mean something.\u00a0 Let me geek out even further<\/em> by adding my own choices in some or all of the categories, where they might differ from those of the ACU.<\/p>\n

Judiciary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, only one of the roll call votes in the ACU’s list really addresses the Judiciary, an issue on which Mac has his legitimate conservative detractors.\u00a0 But still:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Alito Nomination<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Total<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n100%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

100% of one vote is hardly dispositive – and I remain to be convinced that he’s not going to buddy up to the left on SCOTUS and Federal bench nominations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So convince me!<\/p>\n

Fiscal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Reconciliation<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Cut Rules<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fiscal 2007 Budget Resolution\u2013Energy Funding<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spending Limitations<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earmark Definitions<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pork Barrel Spending<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tax Reconciliation<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes (*)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Death Tax Repeal<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n75+%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

I put an asterisk on the Tax Reconciliation vote; McCain’s “no” was, reportedly, due to the Dems and the Administration breaking their word on spending caps.\u00a0 I made the “fiscal” rating a 75% for that reason.<\/p>\n

Economic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Small Business Health Plans<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minimum Wage<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gulf of Mexico Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n100%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Granted, it’s an assortment of three bills that covers the waterfront.\u00a0 But if we’re using the ACU’s sample as the gospel (and I don’t), it’s instructive.<\/p>\n

Immigration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Overhaul\u2014Social Security Credit<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Overhaul\u2014Voter Identification<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Immigration Reform<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Border Fencing<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\nTotal<\/strong><\/td>\n25%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Well, we knew that was gonna be a problem, didn’t we?<\/p>\n

Social Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are a couple of issues here where I differ from the ACU, and alter Mac’s score accordingly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMitch<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Same-Sex Marriage Ban Constitutional Amendment<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nOpposed. This is a state issue<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Native Hawaiian Government<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nOppose, maybe. Don’t know the issue.\u00a0 Not sure why any mainlander would care, unless money’s involved.\u00a0 Which, being a federal issue, I’m sure it is.<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Embryonic Stem Cell Research<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nBroadly opposed, but unsure of specifics<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parental Notification of Abortion<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\n\n

Support Strongly<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Yes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\n

Total<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

70%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

It’s a composite score, for me – I differ from the ACU strongly on the gay marriage amendment, don’t much care about the Native Hawaiian government (but it sounds wrong), and would need to know the specifics of the Embryonic Stem Cell bill.<\/p>\n

And finally…:<\/p>\n

Foreign Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Issue<\/th>\nACU<\/th>\nMcCain\u2019s Vote<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Iran Sanctions<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nNo (*)<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iraq Amnesty Policy<\/td>\nSupported<\/td>\nYes<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Iraq Troop Withdrawal<\/td>\nOpposed<\/td>\nNo<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/td>\n\n

Total<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

80%<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Kouba notes the “nuances” of the Iran Sanctions bill in his post, which you really need to read.<\/p>\n

Is it an adequate measure of Mac’s acceptability to conservatives?\u00a0 No.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Are six numbers better than one?\u00a0<\/p>\n

I think so.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whenever I refer to John McCain’s “American Conservative Union” (ACU) rating (lifetime: 82:\u00a0 2006:\u00a0 65), I almost always disclaim it “for those of you who believe in these things”.\u00a0 While I support the ACU on most issues (duh), trying to cram someone’s stances into a simple 1-3 digit number is at best unclear, and at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-campaign-08"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2129\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.shotinthedark.info\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}