McCain's "Flip-Flop Local" Derails at Russert Junction
Way back in 2000, John McCain rode his "Straight Talk Express" to victory over Bush in the New Hampshire primary, home of flinty secular New Englanders.
But the next primary stop was South Carolina, a bastion of the religious right and its piety pimps, led by Ralph Reed, then a consultant to Bush's campaign via Karl Rove and Enron. Ralph unleashed his former boss Pat Robertson to viciously attack McCain, which led McCain to publicly denounce Robertson and his crony Jerry Falwell. Unfortunately for McCain, Robertson and Falwell kicked his ass in South Carolina, and Bush sailed on to the nomination.
Alas, that was then, and this is now. Think Progress has video of McCain's Falwell Flip-Flop. And that's just the tip of the iceberg; McCain flip-flopped on the 2001 tax bill too.
McCain is running neck-and-neck with Rudy Giuliani in most 2008 primary polls. But McCain's lead isn't based on his vision of the future; it's based entirely on his past reputation as a straight talker and a Republican maverick.
Because of his reputation, McCain can get precious TV talk show time whenever he wants, in contrast with other candidates who must beg for such time. But McCain's performance today - and his last appearance on MTP as well - were so disastrous that McCain is in danger of flip-flopping his way into political oblivion.
McCain can't have it both ways. He can't suck up to the Religious Right and their hero George W. Bush while promising to get America off the disastrous track that Bush has put us on.
Update 1: Georgia10 has more:
What we saw in that interview was the death of McCain the Maverick, and the birth of McCain the Chameleon. If there was any doubt that McCain is--with his eye on a presidential bid--a politician to the core, this interview should snuff that doubt out. Flapping about like a fish out of water, McCain showed America that he will sacrifice his principles to pander to the religious right, and that he will do anything to remain in good favor with the President. He wants the 2008 nomination--badly. But with interviews like this, the Presidency is slipping further and further away from his grasp.
- Bob Fertik's blog
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McCain's
performance in the Tenn. Repug Straw Poll was absolutely WEIRD to me. Lately he's all over the place trying to court Repug votes. Whether it's backing Bush in TN or courting the Christian Right, he simply looks wishy-washy.
Maybe we CAN use the "FLIP FLOP" against the Repugs this time!!!
McCain is a Hypocrite
During his run for the presidency he allowed his wife and family to be attacked by the religious right and the two Texans, the Wiley Brothers, who spent over 2 million dollars in ad campaigns accusing McCain to fathering an African American child, accused his wife of having mental problems, and so on and so on.
Now to sit and watch him suck up to George W. Bush and the religoius right makes me ill. These pseudo Christains that are taking over this country are as radical and as dangerous as Bin Ladin.
He obviously desires power over the feelings of his own family. He isn't a man, he is a mouse. He has no self respect and the thought of having to listen to him bash the party he loves so much as he runs again for president is frightening.
Everyone in the media tiptoes around this guy like he is some kind of saint.
Any man who would allow anyone, I don't care if it is George W. Bush to attack his family the way the Bush people did is inexcusable.
To all Americans, John McCain will be no different than any other filthy, corrupt Republican.
We pay these so called leaders to run this country and to take care of the people. John McCain is no better than Tom Delay, Abramhoff, Doyle,(recently arrested for child porn on the internet), Scooter Libby, Karl Rove.
We have no respect for him whatsoever. No respectable human being would allow Bush and his band of thugs to get away with attacking their wife and family.
So when 2008 comes around, remember, we have heard it all before, McCain is no better than George W. Bush.