President Obama’s decision to recess-appoint nominees to two controversial boards was an “absolute abuse of power,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday.
McCain was especially critical of the president’s National Labor Relations Board appointments, which will bypass a likely filibuster from Senate Republicans and keep the controversial agency operating in 2012.
“Arrogance of power, abuse of power,” McCain said.
The NLRB “made a judgment that Boeing could not set up a factory in South Carolina because the fact that South Carolina is a right-to-work state,” McCain said. He called it “one of the most disgraceful decisions in history — outrageous.”
Republican lawmakers have been infuriated by the NLRB’s complaint against Boeing last year for allegedly retaliating against union workers in Washington state by moving a large portion of production to South Carolina. The labor board dropped its case against Boeing in December, appearing to bow to political pressure.
In a Wednesday speech in Ohio, Obama contended that he had an obligation to staff the agencies because Congress had refused to act.
“The American people deserve to have qualified public servants fighting for them every day — whether it is to enforce new consumer protections or uphold the rights of working Americans,” Obama said in a statement.
McCain also accused Obama of appointing “far, far left” people to the labor board.
“[That is ] another reason why the president of the United States should not serve another term,” he said.
McCain was making the rounds on morning talk shows discussing his recent endorsement of Mitt Romney for president.
For more on McCain’s endorsement, click here.
