The McCain bashers should be posting in about 3...2...1...
There is a strong anti-McCain movement on FR and while there is nothing wrong with that in general I feel that some of those involved have been in engaging in an effort of mischaracterization and misinformation on where McCain stands on some of the issues.
The anti-McCain crowd consistently state that there is no difference between McCain and Obama/Clinton, which is simply ridiculous. There are points where the difference is less stark than others but to make a sweeping claim such as that, IMO, demonstrates the hsyterical lengths some will go to try to get others to stay home or vote third party on election day. Now McCain wasn’t my #1 candidate as he wasn’t for most FReepers, but he will be the GOP nominee and a realistic analysis of his positions free from rhetoric and hysteria is important to gaining a full understanding of what to expect from him if he were to win the election.
In the interests of having a rational discussion and attempting to soberly define where McCains stands on the issues and whether or not there is a “difference” between him and his opponents, I will post one new McCain issue standpoint a day.
To those “one issue” voters, please don’t muck up these threads by bringing up the other issues not being discussed this day, you’re chance will come.
Geez.
No different than Obama!
/sarc
Taking a side job on the McCain campaign this year are ye, Bob.
Ironically enough, it would seem, in your own way, you’re seeking to subtly censor others by seeking to extol the virtues and suppress that which deviates from the proposed campaign thread... and indoctrinate those that you can to the moderate view of things, no easy task.
Gee, I hope I’m not off topic.. Oh well, won’t be the first time.. blah blah blah.
Some of us "one issue" voters want to talk about CFR, immigration, taxes, cap and trade, the gang of 14, and his vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment. Care to indulge.
"I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
- John McCain, August 1999.
BJ- McCain basher reporting for duty.
I agree with him 100 percent.
I’m not a one issue voter.
My problem is his Global Warming plan and his Amnesty plan and the damage he has done to conservatism the last 10 years.
Then there is the problem with the McCain kool-aid drinkers.
McCain is left of center, if he wants my vote he knows where and how to get it.
And BJ- elitism is unbecoming to you. Just because I dislike McCain because of his behaviour the last 10 years doesn’t make me childish.
Why not address the issues here that we are all pissed about or are you trying to control everyone just like McStupid.
Research what he said about Burma and taking out the junta.
It's a mixed bag with McCain. There's some bad, some silliness, and some good. One hopes that discussion about our flawed candidate will become more rational and balanced. Of late discussion on this board has gotten downright hysterical.
As recently as April 2007, McCain told ABC News that he wants to keep the pro-life platform. But he has called for changing it to allow abortions in the very rare cases of rape or incest.
And from the 2000 election campaign:
Asked by CNSNews.com after a town meeting in this ocean-side community what the change would be, McCain responded, "I would be glad to have it changed to allow abortions in the case of rape, incest and the life of the mother." CNS News.com: "McCain Calls For Change in GOP Abortion Plank" By Jerry Miller, 27 January, 2000 Arizona Senator John McCain said on Wednesday that he would like to see a change in the Republican Party's abortion plank.
Shall we look at McCain's position in 1999?
In a telephone interview Friday, McCain called for the party to revert to its 1980 platform on abortion, which opposes abortion but recognizes differing views on the issue among Republicans. "I'm for going back to the platform as it was in 1980. I believe we are an inclusive party and we can be so without changing our principles," McCain said. McCain is the first GOP presidential candidate to say the party platform should be changed. [...] The 1980 platform calls for a constitutional amendment to protect fetuses but it also recognizes "differing views on this question among Americans in general and in our own party." Euthanasia.com: "McCain Urges GOP to Back Off on Pro-Life Platform" (Source:The Pro-Life Infonet) WASHINGTON -- March 1999 -- Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain is calling on his party to alter its platform on abortion.
McCain is no defender of Life.
I’m so glad that there’s someone willing to carry the banner for McCain - it saves me the trouble and embarrassment ;’}
I'm really sick of unconstitutional, feel-good legislation. The term "sex offender" hits people in an emotional place, so they have to register for this, yet an Internet identity thief can remain anonymous. This isn't as much of a slam on McCain as it is the idiots who lap this kind of stuff up and make it popular to legislate on.
McCain was asked whether he would reinstate the Reagan era rule that prevents international family planning clinics that receive federal funds from discussing abortion. “I don’t believe they should advocate abortion with my tax dollars,” McCain said, adding that he opposed abortion except in cases of rape and incest. He was then asked how he would determine whether someone had in fact been raped. McCain responded, “I think that I would give the benefit of the doubt to the person who alleges that.” Source: New York Times, p. A17 Jan 25, 2000 McCain said he thought Roe v. Wade should be overturned and said he would support exceptions to a ban on abortion in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger. Source: Boston Globe, p. A11 Jan 22, 2000 McCain said, “I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” A spokesman said that McCain “has a 17-year voting record of supporting efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He does that currently, and will continue to do that as president.” Source: Ron Fournier, Associated Press Aug 24, 1999 Rated 75% by the Nat'l Right to Life (2006) NRLC website 06n-NRLC on Dec 31, 2006 Ontheissues.org: McCain on Abortion NRLC Executive Director David N. O'Steen, Ph.D., commented, "In contending that legal abortion is 'necessary' and that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned because it would 'force' women to undergo dangerous illegal abortions, McCain parroted arguments of the pro-abortion movement. A candidate who argues that legal abortion is 'necessary' is not a pro-life candidate." NRLC.org: "McCain Makes Conflicting Statements on Abortion" By NRLC Federal Legislative Office MCCAIN: I don’t think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it’s very likely or possible that the Supreme Court should — could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support. STEPHANOPOULOS: And you’d be for that? MCCAIN: Yes, because I’m a federalist. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states. And I don’t believe the Supreme Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade. McCain Unequivocally Supports Federalist Solution to Abortion The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) regards McCain-Feingold as a major hindrance to its mission of pro- life advocacy--and, pari passu, McCain himself as something close to a personal enemy. Weekly Standard: "The Right to Life Lobby vs. McCain" by Charlotte Allen
In order to protect McCain-Feingold, he took the Wisconsin Right to Life all the way to the SCOTUS. Apparently this was done to protect his campaign finance bill, and Russ Feingold in Wisconsin.
McCain and several other liberals, lost that in a decision written by Samuel Alito.
Knowing McCain, this is probably why he came out with the comment that “Alito wears his conservatism on his sleeve.”
McCain is also fine with embryonic stem cell research. Like it or not, these issues are important to many.
McCain is better than Obama, but with dems in control in Congress, I have doubts about whether this issues would end up expendable with McCain. They weren't with Bush, but McCain has shown that he is isn't overly committed to these issues, especially if it comes up against his legislative babies.