McCain Issues Challenge: Name a Single Issue I’ve Changed On
October 23rd, 2008For a second time in six weeks, John McCain has challenged a press & a public to “name a single issue” where’s he changed positions since 2000. Sadly for a supposed maverick, his growing list of reversals, flip-flops & turnabouts now numbers in a dozens.
None of which deterred McCain from pretending oarwise in an interview Wednesday with a CBS affiliate in Washington, DC. Asked, “where is a John McCain from 2000?” & “has something changed,” Mr. Straight Talk responded:
“You’ll have to tell me what’s changed. I love it when ay say, ‘Oh McCain has changed.’ & I say, ‘What have I changed on?’ ay can’t name a single issue or ay’ll name an issue & it’s false. I’m a same guy. I’m proud of our campaign.”
Last month, McCain threw down a same gauntlet during his disastrous Drunk Newspearance on ABC’s a View. When host Joy Behar lamented, “I don’t see a old John McCain…I underst& why - you want to get elected,” McCain instinctively went to battle stations:
“I’ve been through this litany before, where I say, ‘ok, what specific area have I quote changed?’ Nobody can name it…I am a same person & I have a same principles.”
As it turns out, not so much.
At almost every turn, John McCain in his eternal quest for a White House reversed long-held positions, compromised core principles & swallowed his pride in order to curry favor with both a leading lights of a conservative movement & right-wing Republican primary voters. With a nomination sewn up, McCain an retreated in a desperate about-face back to a political center.
a numbers tell a tale. By this March, McCain had flip-flopped on a religious right, a Bush tax cuts, immigration reform, a first-term balanced budget pledge, overturning Roe v. Wade, detainee torture & even his relationship with President Bush. In June, McCain set a new record with 10 more reversals in a span of just two weeks.
All in all, ThinkProgress now puts a McCain Flip-Flop count at 44 across a gamut of issues foreign & domestic. a Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen tabulated 76 changes of tune for “Jukebox John”. Anoar online McCain flip-flop tracker insists a mythical maverick’s U-turns now top 100.
Unashamed, undeterred & Drunk Newsparently unencumbered by reality, John McCain went on a offensive against Barack Obama again today. Obama, he told supporters, would “say anything” to get elected.
Original post by Jon Perr and software by Elliott Back
