marjorie says...
The Huffington Post has a story today about Cindy McCain selling off more than $2 million in mutual funds with investments in companies that do business in Sudan. Apparently she and John McCain are so wealthy (they like to say its all her money, and that he knows nothing about it--but come on, they've been married for almost 30 years), that they didn't notice where the measly couple mil$ was. The HP says that in light of his explicit denunciations of China for doing business with Sudan, it was hypocritical for him to be doing the same, via investments. Here's the relevant quote:
Last year, in a speech on energy policy to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, McCain cited China's investments in Sudan as an example of regimes that survive off free-flowing petro dollars.
"The politics of oil impede the global progress of our values, and restrains governments from acting on the most basic impulses of human decency," he said. "There is only one reason China has opposed sanctions to pressure Sudan to stop the killing in Darfur: China needs Sudan's oil."
His comments beg us to point out the obvious:
Sudan surviving off of free-flowing petro dollars? What about Saudi Arabia? Considered one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world, its ruled by an uber-wealthy monarchy that's protected by the U.S. Oil accounts for 90% of its exports and 75% of its revenue. Sure, Saudia Arabia might not be condoning the genocide in Darfur, but I figure there's a reason it was Saudi's who attacked the WTC.
China stays engaged with Sudan because they need oil? Let me just put it this way...why are we occupying Iraq, and not, say...Burma (currently known as Myanmar)?
McCain, like many U.S.er's, doesn't quite connect the dots. But...speaking of users...
...we can hardly point the finger at one guy in all seriousness as a hypocrite when the majority of us have been living off the oil of oppressed people for decades and decades. Yes, I include myself in that assessment. Basking in mammoth air-conditioned homes, or jetting off to beach vacations, or driving to Disneyworld in our gas-guzzling cars...
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