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.
John McCain is a chameleon RINO, always has been and always will be!!
Be Ever Vigilant!!
Yes...that's why he promised to name Richard Schweiker as his candidate for Vice President in 1976 to "balance the ticket." That's why he chose GHW Bush as his running mate in 1980, after Bush described Reagan's plans for supply-side tax cuts as "Voodoo Economics."
You one-percenters never learn. When hurling insults it's best to have a grasp of your subject matter.
Reagan never would have agreed to political suicide by dividing the GOP into groups because he was a political genius who understood the necessity of majorities. Something you and Falconers are ignorant of.
And McCain is not running against Ryan, you boob. They aren't even in the same house.
Are you really this stupid? Obviously to run to the defense of every flying monkey.
It's pretty hard to miss! He has switched his positions so many times I can't keep track! One things for sure, IMO: if elected, he'll go back to his same traitorous ways and stab us in the back every chance he gets. Campaign promises are just words he says to get elected. The man has no vision or integrity.
Here's hopin' he takes a beating tomorrow.
PS - thanks for the link to the Rick Davis articles - I hadn't caught that before.
Huh? Pointing out McCain's flipflops and RINOism will bring JD down? Does not compute.
NOOOooooooooooooooooo!!!
There will always be trolls and jerks on FR. Don't let them chase you away or else RINOism and liberalism wins.
Take a break and recharge. Conservatives need you!
That's because it was an election year before it wasn't before it was. Sheesh, I'm starting to sound like a Donovan song!
McCain did all his standing in the military. Since he entered politics, all of his time has been spent alternately on his knees and on his back.
As soon as the election is over, McLame will put his Mr. Conservative suit back into mothballs for another six years.
36 hours from...now.
The same question of who ARE these people who voted for BOzo
apply to who ARE these people who vote for McCain. What the hell is going on here?
I second calcowgirl!
” And McCain is not running against Ryan, you boob. They aren’t even in the same house.
Are you really this stupid? Obviously to run to the defense of every flying monkey. “
Did I ever say this, you chump?
You must be high on booze or drugs. Maybe both.
Thank you for another mindless post.
The post presents facts. It’s mindless to imbeciles.
I'll second that.
Ignore her B and keep up the good work!
Facts that have nothing to do with anything, but you know that.
Look RINO, I don’t even read your posts, let alone post to you. Get a clue.
I just came back from voting for JD Hayworth and so did my son and I just told a friend of mine who is turning in her ballot today as well to vote for JD! My husband and daughter still have yet to vote but will do so by 7 pm tonight!
God bless you all.
I posted two facts that have everything to do with your asinine little post. Anyone who can't see their relevance is daft. LOL.
Look RINO, I don’t even read your posts, let alone post to you. Get a clue.
It's obvious that you don't read anything here. Your comments are unfailingly inane.
(So YOU'RE the guy who reads my posts and posts to me while doing neither. LOL!)
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