Posted on 01/31/2008 7:32:44 PM PST by jazusamo
February 1, 2008
We have been hearing for years that Senator John McCain gives "straight talk" and his bus has been endlessly referred to as the "straight talk express." But endless repetition does not make something true.
The fact that McCain makes short, blunt statements does not make him a straight-talker.
There are short, blunt lies -- and he told a big one on the eve of the Florida primary, when he claimed that Mitt Romney had advocated a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.
Even the Washington Post, which supports McCain, said that the Senator "has distorted the meaning" of what Governor Romney said, that Romney "has never proposed setting 'a date for withdrawal.'"
During Mitt Romney's ABC News interview that Senator McCain twisted, Governor Romney was asked by the interviewer whether he agreed with President Bush's veto of Congressional legislation setting a timetable for withdrawal, and whether Romney as President would veto similar legislation.
"Of course," was Romney's reply. There was no ambiguity.
Confronted with his lie on Wednesday night's debate, McCain blustered and filibustered in a manner reminiscent of Captain Queeg in "The Caine Mutiny," when he was caught in a lie during a navy inquiry.
When confronted with any of his misdeeds, Senator McCain tends to fall back on his record as a war hero in Vietnam.
Let's talk sense. Benedict Arnold was a war hero but that did not exempt him from condemnation for his later betrayal.
Being a war hero is not a lifetime get-out-of-jail-free card. And becoming President of the United States is not a matter of rewarding an individual for past services.
The Presidency is a heavy responsibility for the future of the nation, including generations yet unborn. Character and integrity are major qualifications.
The passing years and a friendly media have allowed Senator McCain's shortcomings in the character and integrity department to fade into the background.
McCain was one of "the Keating five" -- Senators who used their influence to try to protect a failing savings & loan company, which also became the subject of a corruption investigation.
During the 2000 primaries, the Associated Press reported Senator McCain's joking about people with Alzheimer's.
This went beyond bad taste because (1) it was known at the time that Ronald Reagan was suffering from Alzheimer's and (2) the media to whom McCain was pandering hated Ronald Reagan.
It is especially ironic now to see McCain wrapping himself in the mantle of President Reagan.
With the momentum of his Florida primary win behind him, going into the "Super Tuesday" primaries, John McCain has now been restored to the position of front runner that the media gave him at the outset.
Other Republicans are jumping on his bandwagon. This may have less to do with McCain's own qualities than with the prospect of getting Cabinet posts or Supreme Court appointments as rewards for their political support.
It may all look like a done deal. But the McCain-Kennedy bill giving amnesty to illegal aliens looked like a done deal two years ago -- until the public realized the truth behind the spin and brought that sell-out to a screeching halt.
Super Tuesday may be the voters' last chance to bring the so-called "straight talk express" to a screeching halt.
It should be called the "sell-out express" because McCain has sold out not only with amnesty for illegal aliens but also sold out the First Amendment with the McCain-Feingold "campaign finance reform" bill that was supposed to take big money out of political campaigns, but blatantly has not.
McCain also sold out on judicial nominations by making his own side deal with the Democrats, undercutting Republican attempts to stop Democrats from filibustering judicial nominees instead of voting them up or down.
This is quite a record for someone running as a straight talker.
--------
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His Web site is www.tsowell.com.
Thomas Sowell’s latest book, Economic Facts and Fallacies, is clear and very informative. He is a national treasure, and we might as well appreciate him while the nation lasts.
Is this a re-post or is Sowell as angry as me at the takeover of the GOP by RINO’s and just piling on by writing two anti McAmnesy articles within 24 hours?
Bookmark for morning coffee/Thomas Sowell fix. :)
Excellent article!
This isn’t a repost, it’s his new column.
DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! ...We have a winner!
This evening I was appalled to hear, on Brit’s show, 2 of the panelists (Krauthammer was one) defend McCain and actually claim McCain was being truthful. Fred Barnes, who isn’t always right, thankfully came out and called McCain’s “timeline” attack on Romney “Clintonesque” and called it out for the lie it was.
Why are often otherwise intelligent people, falling all over themselves for McCain?
Another thing, McCain’s attitude at the event in CA when AHnold endorsed him- did anyone else catch what a cocky attitude he had?
I should write in Thomas Sowell on the ballot in November.
Sadly, you better vote for Romney. I wanted to protest vote for Fred, but if I do that, I’ll end up with McPain. Arrrgh!
No good will ever come watching Fox News. Give CNN credit they at least offer some conservative views on immigration with Lou Dobbs and conservative views in general with Glenn Beck.
"A lie is as good as the truth as long as you get someone to believe it!"
And, McNuts is full of whoppers!!!!
I didn’t watch Arnie. McCain has sneared at most all debates, and it drives me nuts that he laughs while talking nasty about McCain. He has absolutely no class, and he is scary. I am with Ann, I would feel better with the Hill.
I missed Brit’s show today and usually watch it to see Krauthammer, he’s usually right on. That surprises me but am glad to hear Barnes got it right.
Sadly it seems that CNN has offered better quality election coverage than FOX.
FOX is becoming more and more like a tabloid news network. They used to be good.
Smart man Sowell. Glad another economist is picking up the torch for Milton Friedman.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.