I can't recall a liberal blog having much to say about John McCain. That appears to be changing. The Carpet Bagger Report links to a 2007 item highlighting McCain's conflicting statements on Roe v. Wade, among other nuanced positions depending on where he's campaigning.
They also link to The Politco with a new item suggesting McCain's support for Pro-Life issues might not run very deep. Suppressing the traditional Republican base has often been a Democrat goal in national elections. Where Romney has confronted the issue honestly and went on to govern as a Pro-Life governor.
McCain's record is mixed, particularly for having filed a brief with the ACLU against a Pro-Life group's right to free expression. McCain really does seem to have a problem with a firm, broad interpretation of the First Amendment. That undermines his claim to support judges who would.
“For 24 years, I’ve fought for the rights of the unborn,” McCain said mid-speech at a jam-packed rally in Birmingham this afternoon, noting that pro-lifers could count on him.
Then, intentionally but revealingly, he quickly pivoted to the war and threat of Islamic terrorism by saying, “Let me talk to you just for a minute about why I’m running for president.”
Given his popular status as a maverick war hero, John McCain has a good shot at winning the 2008 presidential election—if he can get his party to nominate him. But one minute he's toeing the conservative line (on gay marriage, say, or immigration) and the next he's telling someone what he really thinks.
For pete's sake. Taking an extreme position AGAINST a politician you hate, and having to defend one you are supporting only as the alternative, apparently really forces you to make risible arguments. I could go into a long rebuttal of why Romney is the king of pander, but what's the point. You are willing to believe any promise he makes, give him the benefit of the doubt for all his promises of being the "only real conservative" while at the same time giving him credit for "confront(ing) the issue honestly" whenever he deviates from conservative orthodoxy.
Listen, Romney is the consummate panderer. He is a slickly packaged, self-financed, neatly coiffed, slicked back life-time salesman and missionary. He never loses his temper, he always responds more in sorrow than anger when attacked, he is always moderately tempered and ready to promise anything to any audience. He is all things to all people. He was elected governor of Massachusetts, and did what he had to as governor there, yet assures conservatives he will govern as president as a strict conservative.
No, he won't. If, by some miracle, he is elected, he will govern as a moderate, in all things. He will pull out of Iraq because most of the country is sick of war. He will do whatever is politically safe concerning abortion, immigration, fiscally, etc. because that is his style and his temperament.
I think the ABM people know this. They just detest McCain so badly they are willing to be either dishonest or disingenuous saying whatever they can to shift a few votes and extend this primary season in the hopes of damaging McCain and the Republicans.
That post is really a pathetic rationalization that ties itself in knots trying to excuse Romney even when he's forced to admit he's MORE to the left on issues than McCain. Jesus, do you even know what you are arguing anymore?
Posted by: docweasel | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Yes, Romney has his faults, doc. But McCain, considering his lack of interest in governing as a conservative (he seriously considered becoming a Democratic not long ago) has a major flaw as a candidate for president that Romney does not have. Romney is a listener. He would listen to his advisers, party, and his voters. McCain has a history of going it alone and bullheadedness. This is fine for some, stick by your convictions, etc, but he is too often on the wrong side for this to be a virtue for him. That's bad for lone-wolf McCain's presidency.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Whatsa matter, Doc? You sound like a Britney fan who transferred his fixation to defending McCain because Brit's locked away. You should make a YouTube asking people to leave Johnny Mac alone!!!!
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 01:24 PM
how many pro-lifers actually adopt? john mccain did.
Posted by: tally | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 03:59 PM
"--- Whatsa matter, Doc? You sound like a Britney fan who transferred his fixation to defending McCain because Brit's locked away. You should make a YouTube asking people to leave Johnny Mac alone!!!! ---"
Ya know, that's not a bad idea at all. Quick, someone call up that weird skinny transvestite and have him do a "Leave Johnny Mac Alone" video!
Posted by: seekeronos | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 10:50 PM
We only have Democrats word for it that McCain was going to leave, and they are hardly disinterested parties.
Dan, hasn't McCain been through enough? I mean, there was all that unpleasantness at that prison camp he was at when he crashed his plane (he had to be upset just at that alone!), then there were those investigators in the Keating Five thing that said all those nasty things and scared him so, then Bush was mean to him in SC in '00.
I mean, where does it end? When will you leave John McCain alone! He's a great talent and he's been through so much!
Posted by: docweasel | Sunday, February 03, 2008 at 11:03 PM