Ending Gridlock? AARP Survey Gets Blank Circles from McCain

[AlCzervik]

By Glenn Kessler
It would seem to be a Mom-and-apple pie pledge: "I commit to help end gridlock by working across party lines to develop and support common-sense, bipartisan solutions on health care and financial security."

While Sen. Barack Obama chose to agree with that statement for a "voters' guide" survey conducted by AARP The Magazine, John McCain did not. He simply left it blank (PDF).

In fact, McCain chose not to check any statements in the survey, which asked whether he opposed or supported policy proposals on health care, long-term care, Social Security and retirement security. Obama answered ten out of 11 questions -- each of which happened to exactly match the position of the lobbying group, once known by its full name of the American Association of Retired Persons. Obama declined to take a position on whether he supports or opposes a limit on Medicare beneficiaries' out-of-pocket costs. (AARP supports the idea.)

McCain did provide written answers on the issues, as did Obama. He said "among my highest national priorities would be reforming our nation's failing institutions and assuring American prosperity."

That's a Gotcha! questionnaire!