In retrospect, it seems that John McCain was an appealing candidate in the 2000 primary--only because he was running against George W. Bush. By taking the opposite positions from Bush on practically everything, McCain made sense to many Americans--especially Democrats. Compared to Bush, McCain sounded like straight talk.
But now, McCain is running against Democrat Barack Obama. To do this, McCain has reversed himself on almost everything he said he believed when opposing Bush. This includes tax cuts for the rich, immigration reform, abortion, lobbying reform, warrantless-wiretapping, indefinite detention of terrorist suspects, torture, closing Guantanamo prison, the new GI Bill, gay marriage, ethanol, the Estate Tax, coastal drilling, campaign finance, and whether his Vice Presidential pick would be based on qualifications or purely for political reasons. (for a more complete list, see www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/flipflops.)
...and yet McCain continues to make statements like:
· “In all due respect to my colleagues, they’re drinking the Kool-Aid that somehow I have changed positions on the issues.”--AP, 8/22/08
· “Always telling the truth in a political campaign is a great test of character.”--in his book, Worth the Fighting For
· “...I say, ‘ok, what specific area have I quote changed?’ Nobody can name it. … I am the same person and I have the same principles.”--on ABC’s The View, 9/12/08 (check out John McCain’s 44 Flip-Flops at thinkprogress.org/mccain-flip-flops/
So, if you intend to vote for John McCain, or are still undecided, you should read “Make-Believe Maverick” in Rolling Stone, 10/16/08.
· “It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.”
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