hehehe
Posted on 08/23/2010 12:24:45 PM PDT by AuntB
A Senator’s journey from bipartisan maverick to right-wing ideologue—one flip-flop at a time.
In theory, John McCain's right-wing madness could come to an end on Tuesday, when he is expected to prevail over former Rep. JD Hayworth in Arizona’s Senate primary. Faced with a stiff conservative challenge, McCain has spent this election cycle defying many of his long-held moderate positions.
In fact, his transformation from aisle-crossing, party-bucking maverick (see this 1998 Mother Jones interview) to cookie-cutter conservative has been years in the making. During his 2008 presidential bid, he began to lurch rightward on a litany of issues in his play for the GOP's conservative base. His choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate was the final blow for some of his truest believers, who saw it as political pandering at its worst. But the failed White House run was just the beginning of McCain’s transformation into an ideologue. Behold some recent flip-flops:
Immigration: Back in 2006, McCain was among the primary sponsors of a bipartisan reform bill at the heart of Bush's immigration push, and worked closely with Ted Kennedy on the issue. The bill included a path for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship if they paid a fine. Hayworth latched onto the bill early in the current primary fight, blasting his rival for supporting "amnesty," whereupon McCain denied that he had ever supported legalization and ratcheted up his anti-immigration rhetoric. He proceeded to push aggressively for border security, speak in favor of Arizona's harsh new immigration law, and even support hearings contesting the 14th Amendment provision that ensures American citizenship as a birthright.
Gun Control: McCain was once a vocal advocate for stricter gun-control laws. As Think Progress points out, he even appeared in ads for the nonprofit Americans for Gun Safety urging states to close the gun-show loophole that lets people buy firearms without a background check. But McCain made a dramatic reversal this past spring. He introduced a bill that would force the District of Columbia to repeal its gun-registration laws and allow residents to transports firearms within the district.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Four years ago, former war hero McCain seemed willing to consider changing the military's ban on gay service members. "The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it," he said. But in February 2010, when Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chair Mike Mullen testified that they supported Obama's desire to repeal DADT, McCain rebuffed them. "At this moment of immense hardship for our armed services, we should not be seeking to overturn the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," he said after the testimony.
Climate Change: Once a key supporter of cap-and-trade legislation—he co-sponsored a 2003 bill and declared during his 2008 campaign that the country urgently needed to address global warming—McCain now calls it "cap-and-tax," and has tried to claim that he never supported the policy to begin with.
McCain could soften his newfound positions prior to November. But since he’s safely ahead of all of his Democratic challengers, there’s little incentive for him to change up now. Moreover, his flip-flopping mirrors his party’s rightward creep: For example, Sen. Lindsey Graham—whom many have compared to the old John McCain—has similarly abandoned efforts to work with Democrats on climate change and immigration.
If the GOP expands its congressional ranks significantly this November, it could bring a degree of ideological diversity back into the party if moderates like Mike Castle, Charlie Crist, and Mark Kirk are elected to the Senate. But given the beating he’s received from the conservative base since stepping into the national spotlight, it's unclear whether the old McCain will ever come back.
You are VERY misinformed, Deb.
The libs are really upset that their favorite RINO McCain is flipping on all his real principles when they feel like they need him most, and just to make it though this primary election (note when Kerry and Obama does it they don't mind.)
Don't worry, it may take a year but the real McCain will be back, and all will be forgiven at MSNBC when he starts up again. They love the Republican RINO traitors to do their dirty work.
Actually McCain did a great job of flipping positions in 2008, a big part of why he lost (but obviously not the only reason.)
The local news is so bad people never hear what is actually happening. I guess that’s the plan, keep us confused so we can’t organize a resistance.
Thanks for the immigration posts AuntB. This one nailed McCain as the phony he is, actually it's understated because the liberals are mad he is not helping Obama now when democrats are going down. But McCain cant help Obama till after his re-election. And we will remember who helped McCain get re-elected when that happens.
The POS attacked a old American lady hard for asking about Obamas muslim roots MORE than he EVER did the Muslim cockroach himself,plus he was as animated as a rotting Corpse and had the same appeal.
RE :”The POS attacked a old American lady hard for asking about Obamas muslim roots MORE than he EVER did the Muslim cockroach himself,plus he was as animated as a rotting Corpse and had the same appeal. “
That sounds like one thing he didnt flip on.
There's a group of people who spend all their time starting threads trashing Republicans for every AP misquote or bad vote and never have anything harsh to say about the Democrats who are just about to take this country to Hell.
I prefer to remember we are at war with a Godless, anti-American enemy and I refuse to go back and kill our wounded.
McCain is going to win this. I love JD, but he lost it. Its over. Can we please now move to defeating the Democrat who's running?
Is there, maybe, something intelligent to be said against the Democrat opponent?
JD lost this one and its over. I will not post against McCain. I do not post against Republicans. I prefer to post against Democrats and ignore Republicans I think are weak or misinformed. I really see no purpose in trashing and undercutting the only group who do anything to save this country. I'd rather encourage the strong ones, than bash or demoralize the ones who are weak.
hehehe
You couldn't add up the number of times Deb has slammed McCain over the years. Do your research and get back here and post an apology.
(Oops...sorry...I just read that you've just made YOUR LAST POST...and knowing you to be a woman of integrity, I and the entire board will take your word as absolute fact.)
DLTSDHYOTWO!
Once you wouldn't let him have pie.
” JD lost this one and its over. I will not post against McCain. I do not post against Republicans “
Then
1) You have no character
2) You are NOT a conservative.
P.S. If you had ANY class, you would wait until the election results are over before you declare that Hayworth
lost.
McCain absolutely gets no pie. That’s different.
When is the election?
The primary is tomorrow.
Regarding #2: I'm more of a conservative than the people willing to "lose on principle".
And I have more "class" than the people who spend all their time calling people brave enough to actually put themselves out there, RINOS!
p.s. I'll vouch for that character, conservatism and class.
” Regarding #1: I have the same character as Reagan.”
Reagan didn’t have a foul mouth, and he was an enemy of RINOS.
“I will not denigrate Republicans.”
In other words, you cannot distinguish or WON’T between a McCain and a Ryan. You ARE the problem.
Regarding #2: I’m more of a conservative than the people willing to “lose on principle”.
Principle means nothing to you.
Spoken like a true liberal democrat.
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