McCain's Hypocrisy

Primetime Politics ^ | February 28, 2008 | George Will

[Nony]

It’s disturbing to see such righteousness in a man grasping for presidential power.

[indylindy]

I am certainly glad that George Will sees through McCain.

McCain is a horrible candidate, and the embodiment of a hypocrite.

[scooter2]

McCain might not be the ideal candidate, but he very likely will be the Republican nominee. It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

[Mr. K]

I thought it was pretty smarmy too...

What does it mean when he says “I take full responsibility” and “I take that responsibility” etc etc..

All that guilt for someone else who dared to use Obama’s full name??

Geex what a wussmobile..

Seriously though, he is looking pretty old lately. shuffling around without the energy he used to have. I am wondering if he will make it to November, let alone through a first term.

If he picks a VERY conservative VP I will even consider votiong for him

[MortMan]

It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

Sorry, but it is the candidate that is tearing the party asunder, not the articles talking about him. This was a foreordained outcome upon the selection of McCain.

[tx_eggman]

It is this very kind of article behavior by McCain that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

There, fixed it for you

[dangus]

Why didn't he speak up earlier? I can't believe this sentence: "It’s disturbing to see such righteousness in a man grasping for presidential power."

What he means, of course, is self-righteousness. Righteousness in our leaders is something we have become so starved for, that our "opinion-makers," even conservative ones, use it as an epithet.

[Sybeck1]

The reason that Republicans will lose in November is on the shoulders of John McCain, and no one else.

[G.Mason]

" ... It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House."

Thanks for the laugh.

Articles are written against a faux Republican RHINO, and the author is responsible for "tearing the Republican Party asunder".

The scary part is you undoubtably believe that ... and vote.

[MBB1984]

I can already hear McCain’s response:

F#%k You! Chicken Sh&t!

[Schnucki]

Not even some text from the article, just a link to the site?

[COBOL2Java]

It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

Nah, McCain will manage to blow the election all by himself, without any help.

[COBOL2Java]

...his meeting with a broadcaster (McCain at first denied it happened; the broadcaster insists it did, and McCain now agrees)...

Straight talk all the time, except when inconvenient.

[CharacterCounts]

It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

Yeah, George Will's right to free speech should be quelled if it hurts the Republican candidate.

I think McCain would be in agreement.

[DManA]

If you can’t show that anything the author says is wrong then you are saying the truth is tearing the party apart.

[COBOL2Java]

I have a theory, that of all the Republicans lining up now to support McInsane, secretly hope he’ll crash and burn in November, so they can wipe their hands clean of the nasty little backstabber for good. “Farewell, John, we hardly knew ye”.

[Slump Tester]

"It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House."

IF RINO McCAIN WINS WE STILL HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Rewarding a RINO like McCain with the ticket is what has torn us asunder.

He's a RINO and is being rewarded for for it.

Look at his liberal track record of deeds and stated intentions - amnesty, eliminating waterboarding, closing gitmo, lawyers for enemy combatants, the gang of 14, etc... the list goes on and on.

After his little stunt about Obama's full name, I wonder if the stinking RINO has a deal worked with the rats where he throws it for them.

Think I'm over the edge? Wait and see what other stupidity this bozo comes up with.

[DManA]

Will is so fastidious about language, either the paper made the mistake or Will MEANT to say righteousness. What could he be saying using that word?

What he means, of course, is self-righteousness.

[COBOL2Java]

secretly hope = many secretly hope

sigh...need more coffee

[libbylu]

Same here, but I have a really short VP list. I worry about his health a lot. So his mother is alive, and his dad?

McCain is disgusting. I agree it is ridiculously juvenile to be upset by your middle name, shows no faith in the American public, and is just way too PC.

[Jane Austen]

The problem is McCain is at heart a liberal Democrat.

[Greg F]

Wonder why he didn’t use the term “self-righteousness?” There is nothing disturbing in “righteousness” at all. Poor wording.

[no dems]

McCain is a horrible candidate, and the embodiment of a hypocrite.

Come on; lighten up for God's sake!!! The stupid electorate of this nation is on the verge of electing a President who is the most ultra-liberal Senator in the history of the U.S., who is a closet Muslim being praised by the likes of Louie Farrakhan and his racist Pastor, who will destroy this nation and the nation of Israel. And you are posting stupid statments like this? Why don't you just go and join the Obama Campaign if you haven't done so already?

[Abathar]

Here lies the truth of a two party system. Voting third party means that you throw your vote away in a national election, you might as well not even bother going to the polls because you will have no say whatsoever in the process.

That being the case when it comes time to vote your choices are either "A" or "B", whether you support them in the primaries or not enough voters did that they were selected to represent one of the two major parties.

We need to step back and leave emotion out of it and decide which candidate will be the best person to lead the country for the next four years. Pouting and whining about this candidate or that candidate not making it all the way is pointless, people voted the primaries and that is the way the system works.

I look at Barack and McCain and see two people I would never support but will still be given a chance to choose between them, because no matter what we do or say here, one of them will be elected President come November.

I will choose the lesser of two evils, I may not be entirely sure of the Supreme Court Justice that John McCain will choose, but I damn well know what kind of Justice Barack will nominate as a legacy to his Presidency.

I also know that if we face another 9/11 I will sleep much sounder at night knowing John McCain is the CIC as I ever will with Barack. Neither one is going to do a damn thing about the border but we were given that choice in the primaries and unfortunately neither side chose to elect someone who reflects our feeling and importance on the matter.

We need to face the fact that either we pull together and support the lesser of two evils or we will be given a greater evil in return. I read the posts filled with hatred of John McCain, but my dislike of the man will still never outweigh my fear of what will happen if Barack is elected.

A Democrat President, Congress, and House all at a time like we have now is too large a disaster to our national defense and economy to allow to happen over hurt feelings.

[indylindy]

I don’t walk in lockstep with the GOP. I will vote, but not for John McCain. Get used to it. I am far from being the only one.

I will choose the write-in option and feel quite comfortable with it.

If you don’t like it, don’t blame me. Expect better from the GOP.

[indylindy]

What he means, of course, is self-righteousness. Righteousness in our leaders is something we have become so starved for, that our "opinion-makers," even conservative ones, use it as an epithet.

I believe that the problem with McCain is hypocritical self-righteousness.

Yes, we are starved for it, however, McCain is one of the last people to feed that hunger.

He has no room to ever speak about anyone else.

Shame he doesn't see it that way.

[Greg F]

All of you caught the same thing I did, that righteousness is used as an epithet by George Will. Just curious, but did any of you not have exposure to the New Testament? I’m thinking that the very problem with self-righteousness (as opposed to righteousness) might not be understood otherwise.

[VRWCtaz]

"Such is his towering moral vanity, he seems sincerely to consider it theoretically impossible for him to commit the offenses of appearances that he incessantly ascribes to others."

This line pretty much sums it up. One of Will's better efforts.

[DManA]

I thinking the most likely explanation is the newspaper screwed up. Will definately understands the New Testament point about the difference between self-R and R.

[The Citizen Soldier]

It is this very kind of article that is tearing the Republican party asunder and will likely result in a Democrat in the White House.

Stop and listen to yourself. If the Grand Old Party cannot stand up to the legitimate concerns of a George Will, they should lose.

More and more posts here seem to confirm the "Shut Up and Vote for McCain" attitude.

Having read the entire article, George Will raises some very valid points about campaign financing and the loopholes McCain is using to thwart the system. In part, these loopholes have given us McCain, no doubt the weakest Republican candidate, perhaps in history. Will is right to point out that McCain is the very one who authored the loophole legislation in the first place.

Write on George!

[tueffelhunden]

The article hasn’t done to the republican party, anything more than it’s done to itself.

[The Citizen Soldier]

I don’t walk in lockstep with the GOP. I will vote, but not for John McCain. Get used to it. I am far from being the only one. I will choose the write-in option and feel quite comfortable with it. If you don’t like it, don’t blame me. Expect better from the GOP.

You are correct, and you are certainly not alone.

[tueffelhunden]

I’ve come to the conclusion that altho what you say is 100% correct, you’re attempts to get through are akin to trying to teach a pig to sing.

It wastes your time and annoys the pig.

For some people it’s the party and the party alone, the country and conservative ideal be damned.

[ElPatriota]

...Certain kinds of conservatives, distrusting Richard Nixon’s ideological elasticity, rejected him—until 1973. Although it had become clear that his administration was a crime wave, they embraced him because the media were his tormentors. Today such conservatives, whose political compasses are controlled, albeit negatively, by the New York Times, have embraced John McCain. He, although no stickler about social niceties (see below), should thank the Times, for two reasons....

You know, I don't blame MACACA for anything he is doing.... He is doing EXACTLY what is supposed to: TO SELL THE GOODS AT ANY PRICE if he wants the presidency bad enough. We all heard about his 'consultants,' but I don't really hear too much about it. Just that alone you give us pause.

I blame the many MORONS here in FR and everywhere who don't seem to have any solid principles on anything. I guess this is the 'old school,' where "winning" is just having some a** with an (R) by his name regardless how bad the choice is.

If you are unhappy with Macaca, as many here have clearly expressed it many times: DON'T VOTE. That action will speak louder than all the BS you could ever say.

I don't mean to be so harsh, but frankly just BARKING AND BARKING like a silly dog, but running scare the moment someone turns around... it's just plain tiresome. No one has gotten much just by "compromising." Sometime you MUST TAKE A STAND and this one should an easy one.

[indylindy]

All of you caught the same thing I did, that righteousness is used as an epithet by George Will. Just curious, but did any of you not have exposure to the New Testament? I’m thinking that the very problem with self-righteousness (as opposed to righteousness) might not be understood otherwise.

Most of us know that being righteous is a good thing. A righteous man walks and talks, and lives it.

Yes, Will used it wrong, but we understood what he was saying.

McCain has a bad habit of trying to wrap this mantle around himself of self righteousness. He tries to set himself as the only one that is right and those who disagree with him are beneath contempt.

This is a bad character trait in McCain. He will defend and champion people who are awful people and villify those who don't deserve his scorn.

McCain would be a therapists dream. Sad part is that we the people don't have the inclination to want to bother with a whackjob like McCain

[org.whodat]

Although his campaign is run by lobbyists; and although his dealings with lobbyists have generated what he, when judging the behavior of others, calls corrupt appearances; and although he has profited from his manipulation of the taxpayer-funding system that is celebrated by reformers—still, he probably is innocent of insincerity. Such is his towering moral vanity, he seems sincerely to consider it theoretically impossible for him to commit the offenses of appearances that he incessantly ascribes to others. BTTT

[bkepley]

McCain responded characteristically, impugning Smith’s character. When, at a 2004 Senate hearing, Smith nevertheless extended his hand to McCain, McCain refused to shake it.

What the %#$& is wrong with this guy?

[org.whodat]

And you are posting stupid statments like this? Why don't you just go and join the Obama Campaign if you haven't done so already?

You have a problem with the truth. Look at the little meeting mccain had yesterday, there was a couple of hundred, over the hill people, and most of them were staffers. The students forced to stand behind him looked like they wanted to puke. The man is a joke as a candidate and you know it!

[org.whodat]

And you are posting stupid statments like this? Why don't you just go and join the Obama Campaign if you haven't done so already?

You have a problem with the truth. Look at the little meeting mccain had yesterday, there was a couple of hundred, over the hill people, and most of them were staffers. The students forced to stand behind him looked like they wanted to puke. The man is a joke as a candidate and you know it!

[org.whodat]

Anyone notice the ad below Ann on the link page. Damn!

[org.whodat]

We need to face the fact that either we pull together and support the lesser of two evils or we will be given a greater evil in return. I read the posts filled with hatred of John McCain, but my dislike of the man will still never outweigh my fear of what will happen if Barack is elected.

You need to face the fact, people forcing mccain off as a candidate will result with a Democrat in the oval office. There will never be a day when I would vote for a backstabber open borders loon and then claim I was voting to protect America. When in the long term that would be an endorsement to change this country into some third world hell hole.

[Abathar]

And exactly what will you think will happen if a whole bunch of people sit back and decide to do the same thing, you think America will be better off in 4 years with Obama as President?

If he gets to elect several supreme court justices that will be on the bench for the next 30 years???

McCain might not be a Conservative, but he isn't the most liberal member and least experienced candidate to ever to run for the Presidency either, like Barack is.

You equate a vote for McCain as a vote for his policies and a show of support. I equate it as a vote to help protect my kids from a even greater threat that is Barack and what he will take this nation down to if he is elected.

[roamer_1]

We need to face the fact that either we pull together and support the lesser of two evils or we will be given a greater evil in return. I read the posts filled with hatred of John McCain, but my dislike of the man will still never outweigh my fear of what will happen if Barack is elected

What has light to do with darkness?

The lesser evil is evil all the same. It's like trying to say you're a little bit pregnant.

[Abathar]

A strong conservative candidate can still bring us back in 2012 if he is a good VP choice now. If Barack is President there may be a chance he will be in for 8 years, have you seen his video of what his plans are for the military?

Clinton brought them to their knees, Bush has got them staggering to their feet and Barack could take them so low they might well leave us vulnerable like we have never been in the last 150 years.

This is not a black and white, night and day question. It is all a matter of grey now that Duncan, Fred, and (sort of) Mitt has left. I choose the lighter grey for our nations sake, it is far easier to bring it back to white from there than to start out in a dark black like Barack will have us at.

[kabar]

I am certainly glad that George Will sees through McCain.

I attended the CPAC Reagan Banquet. George Will was the guest speaker. He said that despite conservatives disagreements with McCain, he won the nomination "fair and square." Therefore, he urged us to vote for him as the only reasonable choice.

FYI: During the same speech, Will said that conservatives should face the fact that the 12 million illegals are not going home and that we need to legalize their status. He was roundly booed.

[roamer_1]

A strong conservative candidate can still bring us back in 2012 if he is a good VP choice now.

A fallacy. One would have to assume McCain is capable of being elected in order for that circumstance to be true.

This is not a black and white, night and day question.

Yes it is.

It is all a matter of grey now that Duncan, Fred, and (sort of) Mitt has left. I choose the lighter grey for our nations sake, it is far easier to bring it back to white from there than to start out in a dark black like Barack will have us at.

Choose what you will. It is a foregone conclusion.

Raise all the boogeymen. beat the drum for the lesser evil. Spread your buckets of broken glass. It is still a foregone conclusion.

One cannot fight liberalism with liberalism. one cannot fight evil with evil. One cannot fight Obama (or Clinton) with McCain.

[CMAC51]

We need to step back and leave emotion out of it and decide which candidate will be the best person to lead the country for the next four years.

Limiting the perspective to the next four years is wrong! The country will survive the next four years regardless of who is elected. The level of pain may vary, but the country will survive. The country will not survive the progressive slide of the Republican party into a cheap pandering imitation of the Democrat party. The future of my children depends on conservatives standing up, saying NO MORE and taking the party back. If we don't, my children will spend their adult life in a second class nation.

The next four years is not the issue. It's like spoiling a baby just to stop them from crying. We must look toward the future and make our stand here! Sometimes being an adult means making the hard (aka right) choices.

[wildbill]

The last Republican that Will had ANY good words for was Ronald Reagan.

He’s become the ‘anti-anybody’ pundit for years, always looking for the blemishes and not ever spotting the better parts of the Republican nature.

[dangus]

>> All of you caught the same thing I did, that righteousness is used as an epithet by George Will. Just curious, but did any of you not have exposure to the New Testament? I’m thinking that the very problem with self-righteousness (as opposed to righteousness) might not be understood otherwise. <<

I can’t understand how. “Righteous” simply means “being right,” in the sense of “being good,” but it even works in the sense of “being correct” (correct morals, correct actions, etc.).

Self-righteous can only be understood in the context of understanding righteousness. One who is self-righteous is often considered evil, because his righteousness is declared by himself, not by society, any transcendent existence, or anything self-evident; “self-righteous” means “righteous only according to one’s own declaration, as opposed to any outside standards.”

“Righteous” can be regarded as an epithet only to those who argue the invalidity of an external standard of morality or ethics; cultural relativists, ethical deconstructionists, nihilists, etc. That’s why it’d disturbing reading Will using the term as such. (Ironic, isn’t it, if Will has gone all Nietszchean on us?)

[no dems]

In comparison to Obama and Hillary, how big a deal is his faults?

I choose not to discuss this anymore.