McCain's record includes 'some inconsistencies'
By Steve Benen Sunday Mar 02, 2008 8:03pm
I’m delighted the NYT noticed.
Senator John McCain likes to present himself as the candidate of the “Straight Talk Express” who does not pander to voters or change his positions with the political breeze. But the fine print of his record in the Senate indicates that he has been a lot less consistent on some of his signature issues than he has presented himself to be so far in his presidential campaign.
Mr. McCain, who derided his onetime Republican competitor Mitt Romney for his political mutability, has himself meandered over the years from position to position on some topics, particularly as he has tried to court the conservatives who have long distrusted him.
For its part, the McCain campaign told the Times that the senator “has evolved rather than switched positions in his 25-year career.” That’s a perfectly sensible spin — when a politician holds one position, and then, for apparently political reasons, decides to embrace the polar opposite position, it’s only natural for his or her aides to say the politician’s position has “evolved.”
But in McCain’s case, the spin is wholly unfulfilling. First, McCain sells himself as a pol who never sways with the wind, and whose willingness to be consistent in the face of pressure is proof of his character. Second, Republicans have spent the last four years or so making policy reversals the single most serious political crime in presidential politics. The dreaded “flip-flop” is, according to the GOP, the latest cardinal sin for someone seeking national office.
And if we’re playing by Republican rules, McCain’s “inconsistencies” should be a fairly serious problem.
John Amato: Bob Somerby concurs:
As we mentioned last week, a ten-year love affair with McCain seems to be reaching its end at the Times. That, of course, is a very good thing; journalists aren’t supposed to conduct love affairs with Big Major Pols. Then too, they aren’t supposed to stage 16-year wars—vendettas built on open loathing. But that’s what they did with the Clintons and Gore—and it’s too late to roll that one back.
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Obama/Dean 08
"Paradigm Change"
It's too late for the NYT or any other media outlet. Americans have tuned them out, or are tuning them out, and moving on to other sources for news. Newspapers are platforms for the elite upon which to editorialize.
My friends, I haven't changed my position. My friends, I've evolved. My friends.
Why is it when democrats change their mind the media cries 'flip-flop' but when republicans change their mind its because they are 'evolving'??
In truth I wish they would 'evolve' into honest humans instead of the lying chimps they are.
McCain sold his soul 8 years ago.If that ain't a flip flop,I don't know what is.
slippytoad @ 2:
I believe that you are half right.
Newspapers are tuned out except as they are quoted by Television personalities ( they ceased being newspeople sometime in the '90's)
The televised media outlets still carry too much weight with the reality-challenged. Things don't seem real to them unless they see them on TV.
That's nice. I've stopped reading the New York Times.
I, too, am meandering and evolving!
The Democrats could have fun with McInsane.
But will the two Democratic contenders vow to be civil to thier country club senate brethren, McInsane?
Tell you what:
I'll vote for McCain if he can hold a pinwheel above his head in a mild breeze for ten seconds.
Ok, that was just plain mean. But I was trying to think and debate like a republican (attack the messenger, avoid the topic at hand, etc)...and look what happens! I feel so dirty....
Astral Technician @ 1:
I AM intrigued to find out who his veep will be...I mean, should he win the nomination.
mudshark @ 5:
eggs-zact-ly!
I don't remember his temper being as bad as it has been the last few years. it was always there but he kept control of it before. To me thats a sure sign that he isn't happy with something. I agree he had to swallow lots of garbage from Bushboy and Karl. How can he look Karl Rove in the face after the things said about his Family, without wanting to kill him.
I wrote a post about your appearance on the Young Turks, John Amato. I'm sure you'll find it amusing,
I'll bet there are some evolving prevarications to go along with some of those inconsistencies, and misunderstandings of minor details, and you can take him on his word about that too. Really!
natisman @ 11:
McDementia forgot.
So Republicrits believe in positional evolution and social Darwinism, just not evolution and Darwinism, 'cause the bibble says, (F. Gumpish)"duhhh - that would be wrong!"
mudshark @ 5:
Not so much sold as rented. Attractive off season rates are still available.
McInconsistent.........McHurlinCrap........McGhostOfRonRaygun........McTooF'nSenileToWin..........McDualPersonalityDisorder........McOutToLunchOnTheWhackoExpress.......McWhatTheHellEverPossessedThisHalfDeadHalfBraindeadBastardToRunForPrez.
Proud2bHumble @ 15:
2b, was McDementia on the list?
Forgot one last one for the night........McOneHappyMealShortOfAFullMenu
I'm thinking McCrocs. They've evolved from flip flops.
Is it me or does McCain look like he's on Thorazine lately?
I'm guessing from the picture there's a lobbyist kneeling under that podium.
yep
In Corporate Media land, when a Republican flip-flops to pander to the right, it's called evolving
When a Democratic politician updates their views based on changing circumstances, it's called a "flip-flop."
Hey P2b. Remind me to always be nice to you. I know someone whose not feeling so peaceful and easy. At least he's got a fine new collection of assholes to crap through.
It's funny how opting out of the Mainstream Media years ago gives me a totally different reality.
I never drank the "straight-talking moderate" Kool-Aid so McCain has always just seemed like an
unpleasant person with untreated PTSD who would do anything and forgive the GOP anything for
his chance at the presidency. Nothing for me to feel betrayed about.
Crooksandliars are the crooks and liars.
[Kevin, only a moron returns again and again to a website he doesn't like. Your comments make it clear you dislike C&L. Got a life much? Sitemonitor]
Note to John Amato:
McHagee – McBFF popephobe giveths props to the sit-kneel-standers for being satanic enough to make him look good enough to marry, and takeths away the Kosher contingent. The McHagee is an Indian-giver of biblical proportions, the fat fuck. This is the Gospel of McHagee according to John.
#446, thanks! ;-}
How can a Republican evolve, if they don't believe in EVOLUTION??
Has he been re-created?
Part of the reason the mainstream media services the Republican talking points is because over the last several years (decades?), the Republicans have been better at packaging narratives. They've been consistently focused and determined to hammer home certain messages: "Gore has a problem with the truth," "Kerry is a flip-flopper."
We may like to think the media is controlled by partisan hacks; the sadder truth is that it's populated largely by lazy hacks who are content to serve the easy stories that Rove and Drudge hand them on a plate.
I'm quietly astonished that the NY Times has managed to find the flaw in McCain's narrative about "The Straight Talking Maverick" apparently on their own... (and they didn't even hit on the really hot-button issues, like his reversal on same-sex marriage and playing patty-cake with Falwell after having once called him an "agent of intolerance".)
If we're paying attention, it's the perfect time to start building that counter-narrative. And the narrative isn't just about his right-wing voting record... it's about character flaws. (Narratives like the "flip flopper" saga and "Gore the braggart / liar" weren't intended to bolster party loyalists; they were designed to sway moderates, independents and undecideds.)
"What Straight Talk?" We need to be constantly showing the contrast between what McCain says vs. what he does... The Straight Talk Express backtracks, makes wild U-turns -- and when it sees a fork in the road, it takes it.
"McCain turned to the Dark Side." We need to show the people who buy into The Maverick myth how McCain has embraced his former (perceived) enemies -- the Religious Right, the warmongers, George W. Bush -- in his craven attempt to win the nomination. This guy will say and do anything to get into power... how can you trust a guy like that?
Inconsistencies? Gee, ya think?
The Bullshit Express is chugging along on all cylinders.
Gregg @ 29:
No, he's been born again, and again, and again..............................
Inconsistencies? What does that mean?
In my book of elementary education, it means to "flip flop".
How in almighty hell can any citizen contemplate voting for a Republican in 2008 given the past eight years? The fact that half the voters still find it a viable option to vote for McCain (or any Republican) represents a failure of the highest order to devise and execute a simple public education campaign by the Democratic leadership establishment. The DNC should be running ads every minute from now (and I mean now, immediately) to November reminding the dazed and confused populace that they will never get healthcare or jobs or peace or the Constitution back from any Republican, ever. This cannot be the duty solely of the the candidates.
What the hell is the DNC doing with all that money they are getting? Why are they letting the Republicans frame this debate all over again? Can it be news to them that the media is unfair and that Republicans like to talk about national security? Do they really intend to piddle around until after the convention to respond while the RNC and its minions build a bigger, better wrecking ball to smash whomever the Democratic candidate turns out to be?
Are they that void of strategic skills or do they really want to lose?
mcinsaneinthebrainshitstain is so old and senile he let hagee and haggard ass rape him repeatedly in exchange for an endorsement
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