McCain was against lobbying reform before he was for it
Last year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), perhaps best known for the campaign finance reform measure that bears his name, sponsored another reform measure that would require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. For McCain, at the time, it was all about his signature domestic policy concern: transparency and accountability in the political process.
This year, McCain opposes the very measure he used to champion.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has told conservative activists that he will vote to strip a key provision on grassroots lobbying from the reform package he previously supported.
The provision would require grassroots organizations to report on their fundraising activities and is strongly opposed by groups such as the National Right to Life Committee, Gun Owners of America, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
While grassroots groups on both sides of the political spectrum oppose the proposal, social conservative leaders such as Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, who broadcasts a radio program to hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians, have been its most vehement critics.
Asked to explain the complete reversal, McCain’s spokesperson said the senator changed his mind after receiving “feedback” from conservative groups, which, coincidentally, just happen to be some of the same far-right activist organizations McCain hopes to impress for his presidential campaign.
Of course, you know what this means — it’s time to update the list of McCain’s biggest flip-flops as he transforms himself from maverick hero to right-wing hack. We’re up to 15 now.
* McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”
* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of [tag]Roe v. Wade[/tag] to saying the exact opposite.
* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.
* McCain criticized TV preacher [tag]Jerry Falwell[/tag] as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)
* McCain used to oppose Bush’s [tag]tax cuts[/tag] for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.
* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.
* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.
* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.
* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it. [corrected]
* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.
* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
* McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry [tag]Kissinger[/tag], believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.'” Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
Remember, McCain still believes his strength as a candidate is his credibility and consistency.
It’s also worth noting that McCain’s desperate attempts to reinvent himself may be backfiring. American Research Group, a New Hampshire-based polling firm, recently found that McCain’s popularity among independents in the Granite State has “collapsed.” (thanks to T.B. for the tip)
“John McCain is tanking,” says ARG president Dick Bennett. “That’s the big thing [we’re finding]. In New Hampshire a year ago he got 49 percent among independent voters. That number’s way down, to 29 percent now.”
McCain is struggling with Republicans who don’t trust him, independents who are disappointed in him, and Democrats who’ve grown disgusted with him. Other than these voters, however, McCain’s in great shape.
CB, you brighten my day every time you add to and republish this list.
The far right wingnuts have McTrained him well. He makes such a good McCanine–the trixsy poodle of the nutjob class. Can’t wait to see Dobson or Falwell carrying McStain around with them in a little basket, their own little bioaccessory, a la Paris Hilton and her pooch.
Don’t forget that McCain voted against MLK day when it first came up.
Bubba—
Since he’s obviously been demoted to the status of political fashion accessory, maybe we should just start calling him “McBling?”
McFlipFlip is sinking …
BOSTON HERALD: “McCain no longer rocks in Granite State”
LINK: http://news.bostonherald.com/editorial/view.bg?articleid=177706
It should read:
McFlipFlop is sinking …
Damn typo!
Ambition broke McCain bettter than the North Vietnamese ever could.
I wonder how far he has to slide before his base (MSM) stops calling him a popular maverick.
At first, I think McCain believed that he could pursue the conservatives while still retaining the independents with a “wink and a nod”; you know, the “he really doesn’t believe that” routine. I believed that the American people weren’t really paying attention to all of the flip-flops and that Repubs would nominate him in 2008 with the belief that he was their only nominee that could win.
But now I’m beginning to think that McCain, a shoo-in to win a general election in 2000 and 2004, cannot win a general election today or in 2008, and will therefore not receive the nomination. By making McCain jump through the hoops of radical conservatism, the Repubs are destroying McCain’s most priceless asset: his maverick image. In fact, McCain’s lone claim to independent thinking is his position on Iraq – the absolutely worst issue imaginable. Thus, McCain has to maintain his pro-surge position else there will be nothing to distinguish him from the typical GOP senator.
Talk about a rock and a hard place! I can think of no one who deserves this more.
Straight talk my ass. It’s all crooked talk all the time from the biggest crook of them all.
Hah ha. Maverick my ass. So “the senator changed his mind after receiving ‘feedback’ “? From exactly how many people?
What about the “feedback” from the millions of American people on November 7th, about his f***ed up war in Iraq? I guess that feedback doesn’t register.
And as for a name for this stooge, how about McCan’t-stop-lying?
And CB, that is one awesome list of hyperlinked goodness. It will be very handy if this douchebag ends up being their nominee.
This sort of list is an invaluable service. Imagine, if McCain would get the nomination, how this very list would be spread via email and blogs. It would be like an albatross around McCain’s neck. Hell, I’d make photocopies of the damn thing and hand them out on the corner. Great job, CB!
McCanine! Mwahaha!
Thanks bubba.
I wonder if by “commit suicide,” McCain meant “political suicide”?
Don’t forget that McCain voted against MLK day when it first came up.
Good point, I’ve been meaning to add that one. The list has been updated to reflect this one. Thanks, Homer.
I just don’t get. McCain was never a maverick and never a moderate. His voting record has always been hardcore conservative. Describing him as independent was just spin / msm blather because reporters think McCain is “cool.” I hate to say it, but this man is not a flip-flopper – he’s been an ass and an egomaniac the whole time.
Just one example – the “flip-flop” on Roe: sure, at one point he said he didn’t favor repeal, but the whole time he has been voting for anti-Roe judges, supporting every anti-Roe legislative measure that has come down the pike, and loving it up with anti-Roe organizations. That he now admits he wants to see Roe overturned doesn’t mean he’s a flip-flopper – it means he’s a liar. There’s a difference.
I understand the utility of calling him a flip-flopper, since that message has worked in the past to damage candidates… but let’s not drink the kool aid here.
HA HA!
McCan’t was called a maverick because he proposed political speach regulation (campaign reform) that his party’s THE BASE opposed (NRA, Theocratic Reactionaries, etc.) and because he talked to reporters (something one could not expect of Boy George II). But the fact is that McCan’t is and will always be a conservative. Maybe a libertarian/Goldwaterish conservative, but a conservative.
And now he’s trying to convince the other strands of conservatives to support him. Sad, really.
Thanks – what a great list. It makes my blood boil everytime St.McCain is referred to as “independent” or “maverick”, and is treated with deference while he makes is extreme wingnut pronouncements.
As Dale said, “Ambition broke McCain bettter than the North Vietnamese ever could”. How appropriate!
McCain got schooled in 2000, and has been doing his best to stay in line since then. And with Dobson sounding off, you can bet McCain knows just which side his bread is buttered on, and who he’d better satisfy if he wants a shot at the nomination. Makes you wonder just who guys like that are accountable to.
Never been able to figure out why McCain and Bush41, two war pilots who’s main claim to fame was getting shot out of the sky, should enjoy more popularity than McGovern who flew 35 combat missions without getting shot out of the sky.
I just voted straight Democratic for the first time since Mr. Reagan occupied the White House. The discrepancy between Senator McCain’s public persona of “independent” and “maverick” and his hard conservative voting record and wooing of the more extreme Right elements of the Republican Party typify the reasons for my switch. Sen. McCain could have been the candidate to rebuke the extremists, move the Party firmly to the center, capture the White House and end the Republican Party’s precipitous (and currently well deserved) fall from grace and power.
But I fully expect the good senator to continue to play upon his “independent” image with the voters in both the primaries and the general election (if he gets that far). A record of “flip-flops” such as this one will help to prevent overly conservative candidates, such as Sen. McCain is proving to be, from gaining traction with voters such as me.
Have you seen his website, read the bio? Very heroic, rather 2 dimensional.
McCain is in fact a genuine hero- small, smart-ass boasters like most of you get their kicks tearing heroes down, thinking you’re better, wiser and oh so much more principled. Wonder if you really are. I’m sure y’all thought it fine when Kerry made his “adjustments” for political reasons.
Richard,
I don’t think that anyone is taking away the heroism McCain displayed during his detention in Vietnam. Anyone who served in Vietnam should be called a hero for fighting such an unjust cause to begin with.
McCain’s judgements are what I would call to your attention in todays time and not back in 1973. These issues are the issues at hand now and not based upon if someone was a hero during war time!
Remember that Napoleon was considered a hero to France & later they exiled his ass..not once…but twice!
People like McCain and a majority of these life-term politicains should be removed, so that we are not bound by some politically elected puppet that has it’s strings pulled by religious, lobbyist and special interest groups
Greed is the main problem. McCain is showing that at this point.