In an interview with Newsweek published April 3rd, Senator John McCain, former Republican nominee for President of the United States, declared "I never considered myself a maverick."
Say what?
This campaign ad for his Presidential run (you remember Sarah Palin, right?) says otherwise:
And then there's the matter of his autobiographical story, the one that picks up where Faith of our Fathers leaves off. The title/subtitle? Worth the Fighting For: The Education of an American Maverick, and the Heroes Who Inspired Him.
Okay, so you never considered yourself a maverick, Senator McCain. Fine, I could deal with that, if it wasn't systemic of your constant backpedaling on issues that are important to me. Like, oh I don't know, Don't Ask, Don't Tell?
John McCain was one of the people in Washington I respected (not enough to vote for him for President, but that was LARGELY influenced by the wingnut he chose for a running mate). He had a fairly consistent record, if one stacked on the militaristic side, and had a good reputation for working across the aisle to get things done. Now, he's siding with the mainstream Republicans to the actual detriment of his constituency. Though he clarified his remarks later to soften the harshness of claiming there would be no cooperation across the aisle, he's still falling rank-in-file with the rest of his party.
My uncle Howard served with John McCain aboard the USS Forrestal. Howard was there when it caught fire (and we learned that after my uncle died, he had received a Presidential Citation of Meritorious Service for his actions, but I digress). So, when John McCain was running in the Republican primary and made his obligatory stop at Spartanburg's famous landmark, The Beacon Restaurant, McCain took the time to sit down with Uncle Howard and talk to him for a bit. That impressed me. I thought "Wow, that's a classy guy, to sit down and reminisce with an old service mate." My uncle was impressed too and helped stump for McCain.
I know at one time that John McCain had the desire to genuinely help people. He has done some outstanding, across the aisle legislation to do just that. I think I preferred Maverick, Senator McCain. You shouldn't be so quick to dismiss your past to simply win a reelection.
One cannot tout being a "maverick," when in a race for one's political life. That would suggest that you might actually work with the "Socialist-in Chief." And the supporters of J.D. Hayworth would never abide that.
ReplyDeleteThis is another example of just how craven McCain has become since his bruising primary battle to become the Republican nominee in '08. And I doubt that I will ever forget that it was he who inflicted Sarah Palin on the rest of us. He is solely responsible for making that "maverick" decision, and look what it wrought.