The real McCain

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | April 30, 2006 | Jonathan Chait

[neverdem]

John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative. Indeed, those of us who saw McCain as lurching to the ideological left a few years ago are now being portrayed as delusional romantics and partisan schemers.

McCain's allies, and delighted conservatives, are...

--snip--

In the first two years of George W. Bush's presidency, McCain became, in the words of one prominent Democrat, "the leader of the loyal opposition." McCain voted against both of Bush's major tax cuts. In addition to shepherding campaign finance reform through Congress, he co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights with John Edwards, D-N.C., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.

McCain also co-sponsored with Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a measure to allow the importation of generic prescription drugs; co-sponsored with John Kerry, D-Mass., legislation to raise auto emissions standards; co-sponsored legislation with Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to close the "gun-show loophole" and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with the Kyoto accords.

McCain also showed signs of abandoning his social conservative views. He came out in favor of government-financed stem cell research. During the 2000 presidential campaign, he declared "certainly in the short term or even in the long term, I would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade." He said that if his daughter wanted an abortion, he would leave the decision up to her. (He did retreat from both these comments after conservatives recoiled in horror, but his real thinking on the subject seemed perfectly clear.)

--snip--

McCain is clearly happy to be denounced by liberals like me. It reassures conservatives, who (correctly) distrust McCain's popularity with the liberal media and whom McCain needs to make him president. Well, I'm not going to give him the pleasure. Go ahead, senator, flip-flop away. I know you're with us at heart.

[neverdem]

Jonathan Chait is a senior editor at The New Republic.

[maine-iac7]

ping

[sgtbono2002]

McCain sucks. The Campaign Reform Bill sucks.
McCains Amnesty plan sucks.

Just about everything Mccain does sucks.

The fact that the MSM has a brown nose from kissing McCains butt makes him suck even more.

[lormand]

"John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative"

I strongly disagree. This statement is BS!

[jazusamo]

LOL...Does that mean you won't vote for him. :-)

[Altair333]

"McCain is and always has been a right-wing conservative."

I just spit my drink out on my computer screen.

[JohnLongIsland]

you could answer the above article in two words:
McCain - Feingold

[AnotherUnixGeek]

you could answer the above article in two words: McCain - Feingold

One of the worst pieces of legislation ever passed in my lifetime - I'm still amazed it wasn't completely thrown out by the SC. That said, if it's a choice between Hillary and McCain (and I don't think the GOP has anyone else capable of beating Hillary), I'm voting McCain.

[SittinYonder]

John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative.

Wha Wha What!?

[Recovering Hermit]

He is and always has been a right-wing conservative.

Mmmmmkay. He's just trying to "reach out" across the aisle, right?

[RdhseRat]

If the Republican party gives McCain the Pesidential nomination, the party deserves to go down in flames.

[sgtbono2002]

Thats exactly what it means. If Mccain gets the Republican nomination, I will write in my vote "anybody but"

[jazusamo]

You know what? I'm with you.

[ThanhPhero]

I think Giuliani is the only prominent Republican contender that Mrs. Bill Clinton can beat.

[JohnLongIsland]

i couldn't disagree more! mccain is the only gop candidate that the beast could beat. any other gop candidate will beat the beast easily.

[JohnLongIsland]

then again rudy wins new york...do the math

[Radix]

"I'm voting McCain."

You are not going to get anything different by voting McCain over Hillary.

I'd sit that one out myself.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I'll "see" your Looney McCain and "raise" you one Traitorous Feingold!

You know, we're going to be stuck with these two fruitcakes the same way we've been stuck with Kerry and Kennedy and any other worthless Senator you care to name that are currently riding America over a cliff! Grrrrr! :(

[Kakaze]

In the first two years of George W. Bush's presidency, McCain became, in the words of one prominent Democrat, "the leader of the loyal opposition." McCain VOTED AGAINST both of Bush's major TAX CUTS. In addition to shepherding CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM through Congress, he co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights with JOHN EDWARDS, D-N.C., and TED KENNEDY, D-Mass.

McCain also co-sponsored with CHARLES SCHUMER, D-N.Y., a measure to allow the importation of generic prescription drugs; co-sponsored with JOHN KERRY, D-Mass., legislation to raise auto emissions standards; co-sponsored legislation with Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to close the "GUN- SHOW LOOPHOLE" and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with the KYOTO accords

Right wing conservative huh...........you'd never know it by the company he keeps and the deeds he performs.

[Wuli]

And The New Republic is no friend of conservatives.

The more of this "re-positioning" of McPain that I see in the media, the more I am convinced it is a charade manufactured with McPain's request to his liberal media friends - "write some negative editorials about me so I can use them to convince the GOP base I am still one of them".

[zook]

"That said, if it's a choice between Hillary and McCain (and I don't think the GOP has anyone else capable of beating Hillary), I'm voting McCain."

You and me both, my friend. There's plenty to knock JM about, but there's no perfect candidate, at least not one who can win. McCain has regained my respect in the past year. The country would be far far better off with him in office than any Dem.

[zook]

McCain is surely "moderate" on some things, but he's come around on taxes and there's been few who have supported W more in the war on terror.

A contest between McCain and any Dem is no contest as far as I'm concerned.

[VOATNOW1]

"McCain is and always has been a right-wing conservative."
I just spit my drink out on my computer screen

LOL. McCain is something alright.......but "right-wing conservative" he is not.

[RightWinger]

McCain scares me.

[lowbridge]

The real McCain

A RINO nutcase

JOHN MCCAIN is NOT FIT TO LEAD THIS NATION.

[ThanhPhero]

then again rudy wins new york...do the math

And loses the south and midwest. New York is not America, pace New Yorkers.

[pepsi_junkie]

This statement is BS, but it signifies something important. McCain was media darling as long as he was harmless and attacking republicans. But as 2008 approaches, and he looks like a serious candidate for the GOP nomination, the poor sap will start to see that his pals in the media who loved him so will now tear him apart to prevent serious competition for Hillary. And here we start. He's a right winger, a scary conservative, yadda yadda yadda.

He thought he had them all in his pocket, he will now find out he was their dog all along.

[ExSoldier]

If the Republican party gives McCain the Pesidential nomination, the party deserves to go down in flames.

Yup. And so it shall. Imagine a matchup of Hillary as the RAT nominee and McLAME as the 'Pubbie. Talk about a no win situation!

[fish hawk]

I believe McCain is crazy. I mean really mentally ill. He will do anything or take any position to become the POTUS. It is up to us sane people to not let that happen.

[fish hawk]

PS: Only Al Gore is more mentally ill than John McCain. Well, maybe they are tied in that department.

[EternalVigilance]

What we see here is an intersection of interests between John McCain and the MSM.

He desires that they portray him as a raving rightwinger, because obviously, we're heading into the '08 primaries.

The Media is more than glad to oblige, since they know that after they help him create that false illusion, they then get to pull it all away, dooming the Republicans if they are stupid enough to nominate the raving looney.

[absolootezer0]

That said, if it's a choice between Hillary and McCain (and I don't think the GOP has anyone else capable of beating Hillary), I'm voting McCain.

gilchrist for president?

[wmileo]

The problem with McCain is that he is an unstable jackass not fit to lead anything. His views are not the reason I say this. It is his attitude. He thinks kissing up to Don Imus on the radio will make him a viable candidate for President.He is as unfit for command as JF Kerry, Hillary, Dean, pick a donkey, etc.

[realrepublican63]

There is no question that McCain is a liberal and a true rino (republican in name only) I for one will NOT support him in any way shape or form. No true conservative would or could support him. If he turns out to be the nomine I will vote for an independent candidate! McCain and hilary could be on the same ticket!

[Eva]

For the REAL John McCain, see Amy Silverman at the Phoenix New Times. She has been covering McCain for years.

[rabscuttle385]

McCain is a Ted Kennedy conservative.

The Just Say No to Juan McCain Ping List. Building the McCain Truth File, one thread at a time. To join: FReepmail rabscuttle385 to subscribe or to unsubscribe from this ping list. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. We are exploring giving subscribers two different options for receiving pings: either to individual threads or to a single "digested" thread at the end of each calendar day. FReepmail rabscuttle385 if you are interested in receiving one or the other. Take care to check the "mccainlist", "mccaintruthfile", and "mccain" keyword search links for related threads, since we can not possibly ping you to every relevant article that is posted. To flag a relevant thread, please add the keywords "mccainlist" and "mccaintruthfile". Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the irrational rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of deeply confused conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless trolls who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

McCain is on his best behavior until after the elections are over. If he wins, look out. There will be some serious pay-back for the lack of Conservative support for his Shamnesty scam.

the GOP will soon be suffering from “Abused Wife Syndrome. And forget having another majority for decades to come.

[rabscuttle385]

This thread is extremely funny!!!

[calcowgirl]

The good old days... when most folks recognized McCain for what he is.

[JoJo Gunn]

Yes, but it’s a little stale.

[rabscuttle385]

Yes, but it’s a little stale.

I realized that after pinging people. Sigh. Oh well. It was good for some laughs.

[Rastus]

Head shots. It’s the only way to make sure necroposts stay down.

[rabscuttle385]

Head shots. It’s the only way to make sure necroposts stay down.

Thanks for the heads up. Someone flagged this thread for pinging, while I was in the middle of pinging other threads, and I blindly pinged this one too.

[Rastus]

I’m just kidding, making a little zombie joke.

[Jean S]

I’ve noticed your “Juan McCain” pinglist. Obviously you’re not voting for him, who will you vote for?

[rabscuttle385]

Obviously you’re not voting for him, who will you vote for?

I don't know right now. Definitely not Obama. Most likely a write-in.