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2 McCain Moments, Rarely Mentioned
New York Times ^ | March 24, 2008 | By ELISABETH BUMILLER

Posted on 03/24/2008 8:10:44 AM PDT by ninonitti

WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain never fails to call himself a conservative Republican as he campaigns as his party’s presumptive presidential nominee. He often adds that he was a “foot soldier” in the Reagan revolution and that he believes in the bedrock conservative principles of small government, low taxes and the rights of the unborn.

What Mr. McCain almost never mentions are two extraordinary moments in his political past that are at odds with the candidate of the present: His discussions in 2001 with Democrats about leaving the Republican Party, and his conversations in 2004 with Senator John Kerry about becoming Mr. Kerry’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

There are wildly divergent versions of both episodes, depending on whether Democrats or Mr. McCain and his advisers are telling the story. The Democrats, including Mr. Kerry, say that not only did Mr. McCain express interest but that it was his camp that initially reached out to them. Mr. McCain and his aides counter that in both cases the Democrats were the suitors and Mr. McCain the unwilling bride.

Either way, the episodes shed light on a bitter period in Mr. McCain’s life after the 2000 presidential election, when he was, at least in policy terms, drifting away from his own party. They also offer a glimpse into his psychological makeup and the difficulties in putting a label on his political ideology over many years in the Senate.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: flipflop; fundedbysoros; mccain; mccainsoros; mcdemocrat; mcrino; mcsoros; reforminstitute; rino
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I guess this is when he was a Demopublican something or other before he convinced the gullible that he was a Republican.
1 posted on 03/24/2008 8:10:44 AM PDT by ninonitti
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To: ninonitti

Never trust McVain. Never. If he gets elected, we should do what we can to get him out of office as soon as possible.


2 posted on 03/24/2008 8:15:19 AM PDT by Nonstatist
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To: ninonitti

I just fear McCain is going to name Lieberman as his running mate.


3 posted on 03/24/2008 8:16:40 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: ninonitti
'Rarely mentioned' - except when the NYT's makes their repeated attempts to do so as per their 'try, try again'.

They have and they will. . .

4 posted on 03/24/2008 8:17:19 AM PDT by cricket (Damn Political Correctness; before it irretrievably, damns us all. . .)
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To: ninonitti

The NYT is trying like the Devil to separate McCain from the conservative movement.

Of course, McCain gave them lots of ammo, but even so, the fact that the NYT is against him, and is adopting this strategy in its quest for liberal rule tells me that I’m better off voting for McCain than I am taking their bait.


5 posted on 03/24/2008 8:17:22 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: ninonitti
He often adds that he was a “foot soldier” in the Reagan revolution and that he believes in the bedrock conservative principles of small government, low taxes and the rights of the unborn.

Which explains why he calls evangelicals "agents of intolerance," co-sponsored McCain-Feingold, opposed the Bush tax cuts based on Democrat talking points of "class warfare," and favors taxpayer-funded embryonic stem cell research.

Say 'hello' to the McChurian candidate...coming to a ballot box near you!

6 posted on 03/24/2008 8:17:23 AM PDT by Digital Sniper (Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
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To: ninonitti

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38b7e6657eee.htm.


7 posted on 03/24/2008 8:18:15 AM PDT by gitmogrunt (It's a war on IslamicTerror, whether it's in the U.S., Israel, Iraq, or Kosovo!!!)
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To: ninonitti

NYT now trying to fry McCain after they worked so hard to elevate him?
I hope he learns the lesson and dumps any remnants of RAT leaning!


8 posted on 03/24/2008 8:18:20 AM PDT by Leo Carpathian (fffffFRrrreeeeepppeeee!)
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To: Brilliant
The NYT is trying like the Devil to separate McCain from the conservative movement.

Hell, McCain's been doing a sterling job of that all by himself. He gives nothing but fawning deference to Obama and Hillary and saves his wrath exclusively for the conservative and evangelical base.

Face it. McCain ain't nothin' but a liberal Democrat who happens to have an 'R' by his name.

9 posted on 03/24/2008 8:19:56 AM PDT by Digital Sniper (Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
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To: Always Right
I just fear McCain is going to name Lieberman as his running mate.

LOL Lieberman? way too conservative.....Kerry is more to Juan's liking.

10 posted on 03/24/2008 8:19:56 AM PDT by ninonitti
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To: Nonstatist

I wonder what would happen if the vice-president was nominated over the sitting president in 2012?


11 posted on 03/24/2008 8:20:43 AM PDT by Brett66 (Where government advances, and it advances relentlessly , freedom is imperiled -Janice Rogers Brown)
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To: Digital Sniper

“McCain ain’t nothin’ but a liberal Democrat...”

Yet, the NYT apparently does not believe so.


12 posted on 03/24/2008 8:21:43 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Always Right
I just fear McCain is going to name Lieberman as his running mate.

My concern as well; but then think. . .noooo; Cabinet perhaps. . .surely not VP.

Don't know; but from here; it looks like 'slim pickens' for VP for McCain.

13 posted on 03/24/2008 8:22:24 AM PDT by cricket (Damn Political Correctness; before it irretrievably, damns us all. . .)
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To: Brilliant
“McCain ain’t nothin’ but a liberal Democrat...”

Yet, the NYT apparently does not believe so.

The NYT is Marxist. FDR wouldn't be liberal enough for them these days.

14 posted on 03/24/2008 8:25:22 AM PDT by Digital Sniper (Hello, "Undocumented Immigrant." I'm an "Undocumented Border Patrol Agent.")
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To: ninonitti

Does the NYT realize they are sending votes McCain’s way? No way conservatives will vote for Obama or Hillary-—there is a possibility of moderate dems voting for McCain. With every conservative the NY Times convinces not to vote for McCain, he picks up a dem vote.


15 posted on 03/24/2008 8:25:30 AM PDT by Neverforget01
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To: Always Right

“I just fear McCain is going to name Lieberman as his running mate.”

Sen. Lieberman is too conservative. Sen. Clinton would be a more likely choice.


16 posted on 03/24/2008 8:28:31 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: cricket; Always Right

....just fear McCain is going to name Lieberman as his running mate.....

I have a different take.

Athhough Liberman is frequently present, so is Lindsey Grahm. There is a signal being sent..... The senate will be different, even with Reid as leader. The grislock will be broken by the Liberman/Grahm duo.

Liberman and Grahm will hold the Republicans and pick off enough Democrats to prevail. Control of the Sentate is more important than the VP.

Based on the letter I got from Fred Thompson, he will be veep.


17 posted on 03/24/2008 8:28:49 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Never say never (there'll be a VP you'll like))
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To: cricket

“Don’t know; but from here; it looks like ‘slim pickens’ for VP for McCain.”

Not at all. Sen. Clinton will be happy to join him on the ticket. And if not her, maybe Sen. Kennedy, Gov. Corzine or maybe even Justice Bader-Ginsburg.


18 posted on 03/24/2008 8:34:22 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: ninonitti
He had long blamed the Bush campaign for spreading rumors in the state that he had fathered a black child out of wedlock, which Bush aides denied.

I keep hearing about this terrible smear campaign in 2000, but I don't recall any of it. Is this "something out of nothing" or is my memory lacking.

Or both? ;)

19 posted on 03/24/2008 8:42:01 AM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Experience Change!)
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To: ninonitti
The MSM is very busy with McCain articles in the last two days.

Poll numbers on Obama should be out today.

20 posted on 03/24/2008 8:54:04 AM PDT by GVnana ("They're still analyzing the first guy. What do I have to worry about?" - GWB)
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