McCain Issues Challenge: Name a Single Issue I've Changed On
By Jon Perr Thursday Oct 23, 2008 4:45pmFor the second time in six weeks, John McCain has challenged the press and the public to "name a single issue" where's he changed positions since 2000. Sadly for the supposed maverick, his growing list of reversals, flip-flops and turnabouts now numbers in the dozens.
None of which deterred McCain from pretending otherwise in an interview Wednesday with the CBS affiliate in Washington, DC. Asked, "where is the John McCain from 2000?" and "has something changed," Mr. Straight Talk responded:
"You’ll have to tell me what’s changed. I love it when they say, 'Oh McCain has changed.' And I say, 'What have I changed on?' They can’t name a single issue or they’ll name an issue and it's false. I’m the same guy. I’m proud of our campaign."
Last month, McCain threw down the same gauntlet during his disastrous appearance on ABC's The View. When host Joy Behar lamented, "I don’t see the old John McCain…I understand why - you want to get elected," McCain instinctively went to battle stations:
"I’ve been through this litany before, where I say, 'ok, what specific area have I quote changed?' Nobody can name it...I am the same person and I have the same principles."
As it turns out, not so much.
At almost every turn, John McCain in his eternal quest for the White House reversed long-held positions, compromised core principles and swallowed his pride in order to curry favor with both the leading lights of the conservative movement and right-wing Republican primary voters. With the nomination sewn up, McCain then retreated in a desperate about-face back to the political center.
The numbers tell the tale. By this March, McCain had flip-flopped on the religious right, the Bush tax cuts, immigration reform, a first-term balanced budget pledge, overturning Roe v. Wade, detainee torture and even his relationship with President Bush. In June, McCain set a new record with 10 more reversals in the span of just two weeks.
All in all, ThinkProgress now puts the McCain Flip-Flop count at 44 across the gamut of issues foreign and domestic. The Washington Monthly's Steve Benen tabulated 76 changes of tune for "Jukebox John". Another online McCain flip-flop tracker insists the mythical maverick's U-turns now top 100.
Unashamed, undeterred and apparently unencumbered by reality, John McCain went on the offensive against Barack Obama again today. Obama, he told supporters, would "say anything" to get elected.
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Does McCain have alzheimers? Perhaps that explains his lapse in memory.
If you are still a Democrat after watching these videos, I will respect that decision and realize we will always agree to disagree.
Enjoy, I look forward to the flames.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQluy7nymw&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbW64215HA8&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2amXLa-iZGw&eurl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93cFOjDG-Ks&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjo85WhbYqM
I watched two minutes of the first video and found it to be tremendously irritating. Beneath the intense, 'wacky' sarcasm I didn't hear anything even remotely compelling. Is there a manner in which you could surmise your--or his--opinions that would be a little less obnoxious and rhetorical?
I don't mean for the above post to sound like a 'flame,' though perhaps I came across as a little condescending.
It's cool, I really don't expect half the people to actually sit through the first one, but I honestly think if they saw all of them, walked away, sat for a while and truly thought about it, they may, just may, see things in at least a little different light.
Thank you.
Except that I've heard all the lies in those videos before and we're daily exposed to the same mind-numbing barrage of logical fallacy. What do you suppose it is about these videos that will suddenly make people stop and say, "You know, I've been clinging to truth and logic too long now! It's time to throw it off and vote stupid!"? The snappy delivery?
I really am interested in the process that people go through to convince themselves of these fallacies. Why do you think hearing the same lies and intellectual dishonesty in the format of these videos will change peoples minds so dramatically and profoundly?
If you really watched all of the vid's please oh please point out the exact lies that were made one by one, but I challenge you to show me proof it is a lie.
I do have to admit that for a party to reframe income tax as "redistribution of wealth" and then convince almost half of the middle class that redistributing wealth to them is an evil, socialist plot, but redistributing wealth away from them is patriotic, has got to be one of the greatest psychological manipulations of all time. It's evil but I admire the pure sociopathic audacity it took to pull it off. Still I cry when I think that so many people are vulnerable to such an obvious con.
so everyone, no matter race,creed, sexual orientation, poor, rich, etc.. actually pays their fair share.
Are the Bible and Christianity at the root of socialism?
To whom much is given, much is expected
- Luke 12:48
When the Democrats say rich people should pay their fair share...what do they mean? I mean come on, 45% of the people in the US pays no taxes, but yet the "rich" doesn't pay their fair share?
Jeebuz friggin' Ka-riiist...
Over 1/3 of the largest corps in this country (many who have moved aspects of their Corps offshore and don't hardly even Employ Americans at all) don't pay any taxes... period. There are more than enough Republican loopholes in the Tax Structure to get them off with not paying anything. And the Middle Class subsidizes that!
Raygun always used Kennedy as the example that since Kennedy lowered taxes and everything got so groovy... so therefor lowering Taxes is good. It worked well when Kennedy lowered them... because he busted up all the loopholes. They're back.
These Corps use the Commons and yet don't invest in them at all. They use the Monetary System; Their trucks use the highways; Their legal "complications" are supported by a legal system that is part of the Commons, and yet the only money that moves from their greedy little paws is the money that use to defend themselves against bad product... medicine... meat... etc..
One more thing. I'm curious. I know there are Right-Wing Groups that pay people to hit all the Liberal sites and post a load of nonsense Propaganda... It's fairly obvious since a lot of the Right Wing crap I read on YouTube threads is transparent cut and paste.
So... are you being paid to make those videos?
Wow, did you even watch them all? I stated actual facts on a lot of issues that I brought up, and no, no payment, why would you think someone is getting paid when they have different ideas other than you? Open your mind. Do some research, learn the facts.
I am not talking fox,cnn,abc,nbc,msnbc,facts, I am talking about history books fact, congressional records fact. Do this on many issues and you may be surprised? I mean come on...Harry Truman, of the Democrat party is the one who ordered atomic bombing, yet the Republican party are the warmongers? This of course is only one example.
I may yet sit through the others. I erroneously assumed that they all consisted of the same fellow ranting and raving in quasi-comical fashion.
"As a conservative Republican I appreciate what America IS..."
What?!? As if the Democratic Party and liberals in general don't?!? NEWSFLASH, one can love their country and still want to better it.
This guy is a dumb, free-market-at-all-costs typical Republican devoid of facts. In the last video he says...
"Obama is about to implement a socialistic economic system that has failed nations for generations... he's gonna bring the exact same thing that people around the world run from."
LOLWUT? Socialistic? He wants to raise taxes back to where they were under Clinton and Reagan, are those two Communists? People around the world run from?? You mean like pretty much all of Europe?!?
Anyone that watches those videos and comes away with a different opinion about this election should probably not be voting, as they are an uninformed voter...
CommonSense,
I issue the same challenge I issued someone else, find anything in the video's that are completely false and show proof of it. Then we can talk. Maybe you need to re-watch them and this time pay more attention. 45% of people that are in that "90%" that Obama always says will get a tax break or a refund or credit,etc... guess what....don't PAY TAXES.. why is this so hard to understand?
Yay commonsense... I agree 100%.
I am so sick of the Right Wing saying that if you don't agree with their Corporate Welfare and Extremist Religious policies, that you are not American.
I think that if you propose and disseminate crap that will destroy the Middle Class... Then you are quite apparently Un-American.
cuz if you made the vids, you are woefully misinformed
maybe you would enjoy life better pre civil war
you would make the perfect house negro
ya suh
Funny, if you're still a Republican after watching this video, I still won't have any respect for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELfiVTTb5Jw
It sounds all great that you're challenging people to refute the "facts" in your video, but took the bait and watched most of these things, and so far there's not a single "fact" to refute. It's all about emotions and a bunch of watered-down versions of talking points we've all heard 1,000 times.
But more importantly, think of what you're asking of your viewers -- you probably have at least 45 minutes of (old, overused) material there, and you're asking a bunch of strangers (who are working for a living and may have kids) to listen to that all the way through -- AND THEN spend the time to refute five-year old talking points that oversimplify and insult their veiws?
Oh yeah, and then you throw out a lot of false choices, such as:
+ Either you teach abstinence-only education or you have to hand out free condoms in the school office. OBVIOUSLY THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY CHOICES AVAILABLE.
+ Either you're a "conservative Republican" or you don't believe in God -- PLEASE! Quit wasting our time.
I'm just curious -- did you get paid by some (don't-)think-tank to make this propaganda? Because I feel sorry for you if you didn't.
Wow, is it so hard to imagine that someone can think outside of the box? That they must be getting paid to do something? That they research and come up with ideas?
The Democrat party is supposed to be the party of open minds, well, open your mind
I was wondering today if he has just become completely unhinged by the prospect of defeat. He's absolutely barking mad as far as I can tell. His smear campaign is revolting. His public appearances are disturbing, to say the least. I've lost any shred of respect I held for him so far as his political career goes. I really think he's going to stroke out before election night. I am hoping for landslide for Obama.
There have been moments when mcsame has looked pretty bad at his appearances. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he really isn't all there any more and they're just keeping him going until the end of the campaign.
This site has listed how many umpteen flip flops, McCain is desperate
McCain can go home to one of his 7 houses and die of old age...
Flipper
When is someone going to read this pathetic man the riot act? Won't someone just read a litany of his reversals and lies to the man, with proof? Please!
if mcfuckhead ever finds his
own mind maybe he will realize
he has changed it so many times.
he is like someone on a merry-go-round,
the horse goes up and down.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives...
McCain explained to a student about the reasoning behind the redistribution of wealth, that people who have more should pay more in taxes. Year 2008 on the Presidential stump: condemns Obama as a "socialist" for advocating the same thing.
Then there's McCain-Feingold, which put the brakes on campaign spending for such nonessentials as clothing. Year 2008: RNC pours $150,000 into clothing for Sarah Palin.
The list goes on and on (remember "agents of intolerance" in 2000 whose endorsements he sought last year and this year), but most everyone gets the idea.
http://howinsaneisjohnmccain.blogspot.com/200...
http://crooksandliars.com/2008/06/16/mccain-s...
I'm done! That should be enough if anyone needs some references.
I just got back from a hospital waiting room for about 45 minutes where the TV was on CNN but I couldn't hear the sound. Of course I didn't watch it constantly but I would guess by just what I saw John McCain and Sarah Palin were at least 5 different places, giving speeches and interviews and Barrack Obama and Joe Biden weren't anywhere and didn't give any speeches and interviews. The corporate media is going into overdrive to try to insure a close election if not a McCain victory.
They have to have something to fill their time with. The more those two go on the more people are turned off by them and their disciples of hate. It's just disgusting. I'd rather watch a Senior Citizen talent show than network news. Thank goodness for Discovery Channel, blowing things up in the name of science.
That that bozo criticizing Obama for visiting his Dying Grandma.
He's just been down-graded from pathetic lout to total gobshite.
john mcsame one sorry lying old desprate man!
My only question is why didn't anyone actually answer-up to McCains challenge. With so many flips and flops I just want to see the media nail him down. Catch him! Let's see that anger spew!
..I just saw a few bits of her show tonight and she had that video on. Then she ran and read a long list of issues That McGoo has flipped. Of course, she didn't confront him directly.
I'm thinking the all of the stress of the campaign and the accompaning humiliation of being on the verge of losing, is causing McGoo to come a little unglued. Stress is very bad for folks with emotional issues or with dementia.
Oh my dear sweet lord...
This will make the most AWESOME Daily Show bit ever.
Their "Reformed Maverick" bit was golden itself, but man, the kid gloves are off now.
McGasp, McAack, McCroak.
President Barack Obama ...... Get used to it!!
I will love the fact of it in a few days!
You must be on the Left Coast of the US or younger than 40.
Am I right?
and I'm drawing Social Security. Let's face it, I'm old in years but young at heart!
If he was to privatize SSI we'd be living in cardboard box's.
Absentee ballot.
And Every other American Ex-Pat I know here.
President Barack Hussein Obama ...... Get used to it!!
Good morning Bob!
What you got in those pockets today?.
Well let me see here. a rabbits foot. Ummmm, where did that come from? I thought that was chicken last night.
.
Haven't we had enough of smirking to last a lifetime?
Pathetic!
You forgot to mention "swaggering," "pompous posturing," saying inanely idiot things ("food on your family")...
Makes a good bumper sticker.
I wish I lived in a world wherein a fellow like McCain would be pitied, then ignored. I wish I lived in a world wherein people would be educated enough to understand critical thinking and ignore the intellectually vapid soundbytes John McCain speaks in - soundbytes that are, ultimately, judgemental, hostile, and designed to feed upon a nation's fears and deep-seeded divisions. And finally, I wish I lived in a world wherein someone like McCain would say, 'Tell me a single issue I've flip-flopped on,' only to be intensely scrutinized by a competent news person who can, indeed, name a dozen or so ways in which McCain has contradicted himself since 2000.
Rachel Maddow. Where do I go to collect my kingdom.
... John McCain will never appear on Rachel Maddow's show, for precisely that reason: she's likely to take the man to task. That, and she's obviously fairly left-wing and thus can't claim to be a neutral commentator.
Rachel is "Left Wing???" Maybe... moreover, she's just SMART!!!
without being polite or balanced or soft-spoken. Civil, yes but no more. And I'd applaud simple, short, clearly stated questions on the part of the journalist that don't allow for any wiggle room. And, one more time, the tenacity of a pit bull if the politician doesn't answer the question. In fact, I would suggest that the journalist be prepared to turn off the mike/camera if the politician avoids the question. In some cases, a slap across the face would be even more justified.
No, no, no! You don't understand. Robocalls are only disgusting if it's someone else attacking me!
When I do it, I'm just being Trooothful.
far easier on us and more economical on bandwidth if you challenged us all to find issues on which McCain has not flipped.
which house will McCain live in when he retires November 5, 2008?
How about TORTURE and the following of the Geneva Conventions. Asshole. (McCain)
and this is not from 2000..
http://www.bi30.org/wordpress/flipflopper.htm
Two words. Gary. Hart.
Seriously, McSoontobecomefootnoteinhistory, are you trying to sink the GOPtanic on purpose?
Battleground polls: Obama 47%, McCain 46%
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/20...
$150,000,000,000 of earmarks on the ludicrous bail-out.
Why was Obama's Chairmanship of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge Removed from his Senate Page?
Do the work.
New Senate Page:
Chairman, Chicago Annenberg Challenge...he's embarrassed that people might think he actually had close associations with the Reagan/Bush-loving Republicans who served on that Board. I guess there's always something new to worry about. Now we'll have to put up with the insane rantings and half-baked conspiracy theories of the rabid reich wing for the next 8 years. I guess you'll have ample opportunity to "do the work" yourself.
This clip didn't show whether the questioner accepted his challenge, and named some of the things he flip-flopped on. Did he?
Because, you know, that's what it would take to keep him from getting away with this kind of lie. When he "throws down the gauntlet", the reporter has to pick it up.
Not one reporter or talking head he has made this claim to has said:
You cannot be serious: 1. Torture. 2. Bush tax cuts. 3. etc., etc., etc.
Ya REEEEEALLY want the press to look into your record of flip-floppin wafflinesses?
Oooookay!
This may be too late to be relevant to the original discussion anymore...
But I am under the impression that the claim "45% of American's" don't pay taxes, or whatever % you want to throw at Obama to say he is "transfering wealth" from tax-payers to non tax-payers is a major distortion of the truth.
These people may not pay INCOME taxes, but all people pay PAYROLL taxes from the first dollar they earn, and a great many pay more in Payroll than in Income tax. Adjustments like the EITC have been shown to help people work MORE (pay for car repairs, bills, etc.), which is why even Reagan supported it as an economic stimulus.
So, John, please explain to me why you insist upon saying these people pay NO taxes, when that is clearly not true.
You beat me to that one Jake but I have another lie and I havn't even watched the vids(since I knew what to expect). Obama's economic plan isn't really more than restoring the progressiveness in the income tax code that was already there before the Bush tax cuts. And referring to a progressive tax code as "socialism" is, by any commonly accepted definition of "socialism", simply an outright lie...
There is only one logical explaination.....
John McCain died in 2000 his skin was removed and applied to a terminator type cyborg (or an insect like alien ala MIB)....or he has a brain tumor....I like the cyborg theory better tho.
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