McCain Was a Maverick Before He Wasn’t
Republicans are using the 2004 playbook, thinking they can pin the flip-flopper label on Obama, as they did with John Kerry. The problem with this is that their candidate is John McCain. John McCain today wouldn’t even support legislation with his name on it, such as McCain-Kennedy or McCain-Feingold. Steve Bennen at Carpetbagger Report has a list of 61 McCain flip flops.
Here are just the first six, on his supposed strong-suit, national security:
1. McCain thought Bush’s warrantless-wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.
2. McCain insisted that everyone, even “terrible killers,” “the worst kind of scum of humanity,” and detainees at Guantanamo Bay, “deserve to have some adjudication of their cases,” even if that means “releasing some of them.” McCain now believes the opposite.
3. He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it “one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.”
4. In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.
5. McCain was for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.
6. When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with predators, McCain criticized him for it. He’s since come to the opposite conclusion.
There is no “flip-flop”. First, there was “flip”. Next, there was “flop”.
Recently, Karl Rove presented a list of platform positions to McCain that were guaranteed to endear him to the Hagee/Dobson crowd.
McCain’s maverick “flip” positions were taken before Karl’s list was delivered, positions taken before McCain “understood”.
John’s “flop” positions are only his lining up with the … er … fruitcakes.
Understand?
July 16th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
One can not likely find out where either candidate really stands on any issue. Their handlers survey the polls, or donors, and can a values statement for them which fits the momentary need as they percieve it. Taking any position makes some happy and p/o’s others. To get elected they have to pander to the greatest numbers. And that is sadly how American politics works today
July 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
[...] Alan explains why McCain is a flip-flopper [...]
July 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Aren’t you trying to pin the flip flop label on McCain? So why are you hating on the republicans for doing exactly what you are trying to do? What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Liberals are delighted that the Supreme Court has given Habeus Corpus rights to terrorists, just like they are US Citizens. The terrorists should have been declared POWs and jailed “until the end of hostilities”. But now the practical result is that, if a trrorist kills your fellow soldier and you know that terrorist will someday go free; your best option is to but a bullet in his head. I hope the liberals understand this.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Tom N…the decision was that we wouldn’t treat the captives as POW’s as they weren’t wearing the flag or uniform of a nation, etc. etc. etc. Further if they were POW’s they’d be treated under international law like POW’s (as we expect our soldiers to be treated). Instead they were declared not to have POW status and subjected to terrible mistreatment including torture. The Supremes didn’t grat habeus…the Constitution did! I hope your bullet remedy does not apply as that violation of the code of military justice plays two ways. War is bad enough as it is. Enemy combatants declaration was a quick sand proposition.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
In addition, even the administration now admits that a third or so of those held in Guantanamo never posed a threat to the U.S.
Remember the days when real conservatives were the strongest believers in habeus corpus, in protecting America’s shores while not interfering with other nations’ affairs, and in not interfering with state decisions involving social issues? No wonder so many old-timers such as Pat Buchanan have become so disgusted with the GOP.
McCain used to agree with many of those same things, back when he was a pseudo-paleoconservative. Now he’s become a pseudo-neoconservative, and less appealing to many of us as a result.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Alan, what do you think about Barack Obama making such declarative and definitive statements about Iraq before going on his trip? You have to admit that’s a little irresponsible.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
will work for food?
July 16th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
John McCain may sound like a conservative now, but his voting record in the Senate has been liberal. Talk is cheap in presidential campaignes.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
McCain is nothing but the media’s crude invention. Not a maverick and not a hero…..he’s like an old man with alzheimers that needs constant attention. You can tell that many probably endure his townhalls because they feel sorry for him. They certainly look tired listening to him.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Some more flip flop complaining? Please, this is getting old.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pm