The real McCain

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | April 30, 2006 | Jonathan Chait

[neverdem]

John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative. Indeed, those of us who saw McCain as lurching to the ideological left a few years ago are now being portrayed as delusional romantics and partisan schemers.

McCain's allies, and delighted conservatives, are...

--snip--

In the first two years of George W. Bush's presidency, McCain became, in the words of one prominent Democrat, "the leader of the loyal opposition." McCain voted against both of Bush's major tax cuts. In addition to shepherding campaign finance reform through Congress, he co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights with John Edwards, D-N.C., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.

McCain also co-sponsored with Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a measure to allow the importation of generic prescription drugs; co-sponsored with John Kerry, D-Mass., legislation to raise auto emissions standards; co-sponsored legislation with Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to close the "gun-show loophole" and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with the Kyoto accords.

McCain also showed signs of abandoning his social conservative views. He came out in favor of government-financed stem cell research. During the 2000 presidential campaign, he declared "certainly in the short term or even in the long term, I would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade." He said that if his daughter wanted an abortion, he would leave the decision up to her. (He did retreat from both these comments after conservatives recoiled in horror, but his real thinking on the subject seemed perfectly clear.)

--snip--

McCain is clearly happy to be denounced by liberals like me. It reassures conservatives, who (correctly) distrust McCain's popularity with the liberal media and whom McCain needs to make him president. Well, I'm not going to give him the pleasure. Go ahead, senator, flip-flop away. I know you're with us at heart.

[neverdem]

Jonathan Chait is a senior editor at The New Republic.

[maine-iac7]

ping

[sgtbono2002]

McCain sucks. The Campaign Reform Bill sucks.
McCains Amnesty plan sucks.

Just about everything Mccain does sucks.

The fact that the MSM has a brown nose from kissing McCains butt makes him suck even more.

[lormand]

"John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative"

I strongly disagree. This statement is BS!

[jazusamo]

LOL...Does that mean you won't vote for him. :-)

[Altair333]

"McCain is and always has been a right-wing conservative."

I just spit my drink out on my computer screen.

[JohnLongIsland]

you could answer the above article in two words:
McCain - Feingold

[AnotherUnixGeek]

you could answer the above article in two words: McCain - Feingold

One of the worst pieces of legislation ever passed in my lifetime - I'm still amazed it wasn't completely thrown out by the SC. That said, if it's a choice between Hillary and McCain (and I don't think the GOP has anyone else capable of beating Hillary), I'm voting McCain.

[SittinYonder]

John McCain and his fiercest enemies all publicly agree: He is and always has been a right-wing conservative.

Wha Wha What!?

[Recovering Hermit]

He is and always has been a right-wing conservative.

Mmmmmkay. He's just trying to "reach out" across the aisle, right?

[RdhseRat]

If the Republican party gives McCain the Pesidential nomination, the party deserves to go down in flames.

[sgtbono2002]

Thats exactly what it means. If Mccain gets the Republican nomination, I will write in my vote "anybody but"

[jazusamo]

You know what? I'm with you.

[ThanhPhero]

I think Giuliani is the only prominent Republican contender that Mrs. Bill Clinton can beat.

[JohnLongIsland]

i couldn't disagree more! mccain is the only gop candidate that the beast could beat. any other gop candidate will beat the beast easily.

[JohnLongIsland]

then again rudy wins new york...do the math

[Radix]

"I'm voting McCain."

You are not going to get anything different by voting McCain over Hillary.

I'd sit that one out myself.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I'll "see" your Looney McCain and "raise" you one Traitorous Feingold!

You know, we're going to be stuck with these two fruitcakes the same way we've been stuck with Kerry and Kennedy and any other worthless Senator you care to name that are currently riding America over a cliff! Grrrrr! :(

[Kakaze]

In the first two years of George W. Bush's presidency, McCain became, in the words of one prominent Democrat, "the leader of the loyal opposition." McCain VOTED AGAINST both of Bush's major TAX CUTS. In addition to shepherding CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM through Congress, he co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights with JOHN EDWARDS, D-N.C., and TED KENNEDY, D-Mass.

McCain also co-sponsored with CHARLES SCHUMER, D-N.Y., a measure to allow the importation of generic prescription drugs; co-sponsored with JOHN KERRY, D-Mass., legislation to raise auto emissions standards; co-sponsored legislation with Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., to close the "GUN- SHOW LOOPHOLE" and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with the KYOTO accords

Right wing conservative huh...........you'd never know it by the company he keeps and the deeds he performs.

[Wuli]

And The New Republic is no friend of conservatives.

The more of this "re-positioning" of McPain that I see in the media, the more I am convinced it is a charade manufactured with McPain's request to his liberal media friends - "write some negative editorials about me so I can use them to convince the GOP base I am still one of them".