John McCain toiled for 28 years in the Senate before he finally won the chairman’s gavel of the Armed Services Committee last month. Now he’s making up for lost time.
The 78-year-old Arizona Republican strode quickly into Tuesday’s hearing of the committee — the ninth he had held in three weeks — and attempted to rush through approval of Ashton Carter’s confirmation as defense secretary without so much as a formal vote. “Is there anyone who would like a roll-call vote?” asked McCain. “I don’t know if we need it.” Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., piped up. “I’d like to be recorded as voting aye.”
McCain sighed and gave an impatient smile. “The clerk will call the roll,” he ordered.
Carter’s confirmation hadn’t been in doubt — McCain signaled weeks ago that he expected easy confirmation — and even the irascible Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joined the 25-0 tally.