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Flip-flopper? Two-faced? Panderer? McCain is absolutely gung-ho and certain that he's right about whatever his position and 'principles' are at the given moment. - Josh Marshall |
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McCain versus McCain |
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This site is
a work in progress which needs your help. First, please send the link
to everyone on your e-mail address list.
Second, if you know of McCain flip-flops, please
e-mail those examples with supporting links. Thank you.
Also see www.knowsarahpalin.com
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Flip-flopper? Two-faced? Panderer? McCain is absolutely gung-ho and certain that he's right about whatever his position and 'principles' are at the given moment. - Josh Marshall |
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McCain versus McCain |
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That was then. |
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This is now. |
| "The thought of his [McCain] being president sends a cold
chill down my spine. He is erratic.
He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me." Republican Senator Thad Cochran Boston.com, January 27, 2008 |
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August 31, 2008, on ABC’s This
Week:
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"I didn't
decide to run for president to start a national crusade for political
reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of
patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become
my ambition to be president." Worth Fighting For by John
McCain - 2002 In McCain's own voice... |
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"Behind all of these claims and positions by Senator Obama lies the ambition to be president." |
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"In terms of who's an elitist, I think people have made a judgment that
John McCain is not an arugula-eating, pointy headed professor-type based
on his life story." McCain spokesman Brian Rogers |
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Politico.com: "How many houses do you and Mrs. McCain have?"
McCain: "I think — I'll have my staff get to you. It's condominiums
where — I'll have them get to you." |
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In his 2000 presidential bid, McCain's straight talk on the issue of
flying the Confederate flag over the South Carolina Statehouse was
anything but straight, first calling the flag "a symbol of racism and
slavery" but then releasing a statement saying he understood both sides:
"Some view it as a symbol of slavery; others view it as a symbol of
heritage. Personally, I see the battle flag as a symbol of heritage." Washington Times |
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After his 2000 presidential bid was over, McCain called for the removal
of the Confederate battle flag from atop the South Carolina Statehouse,
acknowledging that his refusal to take such a stance during his primary
battle for the Palmetto State was a "sacrifice of principle for personal
ambition. I feared that if I answered honestly, I could not win
the South Carolina primary. So I chose to compromise my principles." CNN So, if you think McCain was sufficiently humbled and would never again pander, think again and read on... |
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Where was John McCain on August 29, 2005, the day Katrina hit New
Orleans?
McCain showed up to meet Bush who was making a stop at the Phoenix Airport. It was McCain's 69th birthday and, on the tarmac, Bush presented his old political rival with a cake.
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Campaigning in New Orleans in 2008, McCain was sharply critical of what he
called the Bush administration's disgraceful handling of Hurricane
Katrina and vowed, "Never again." McCain, putting some distance
between himself and President George W. Bush, said if he had been
president during the 2005 catastrophe he would have immediately visited
New Orleans during the initial shock aftermath of the killer storm.
While he said he was not being critical of Bush for not visiting New
Orleans, "I'm just saying I would've landed my airplane at the nearest
Air Force base and come over personally." Reuters, April 24, 2008 |
In McCain’s best-selling 1999 memoir, Faith of My
Fathers, McCain writes:
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Interview on Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA: McCain: "the Steelers. I was a mediocre high school athlete but I loved and adored the sports but the Steelers really made a huge impression on me particularly in my early years." McCain: "When I was first interrogated [as a prisoner of war] and really had to give some information because of the pressures, physical pressures on me, I named the starting lineup, defensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron mates." Reporter: "Did you really?" McCain: "Yes," Reporter: "In your POW camp?" McCain: "Yes," YouTube, July 11, 2008 |
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Tim Russert: "The fact is you are different than George
Bush." McCain: No. No. I--the fact
is that I'm different but the fact is that I have agreed with President
Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the
most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement and
support of President Bush. So have we had some disagreements on some
issues, the bulk--particularly domestic issues? Yes. But I will argue my
conservative record voting with anyone's, and I will also submit that my
support for President Bush has been active and very impassioned on
issues that are important to the American people. And I'm particularly
talking about the war on terror, the war in Iraq, national security,
national defense, support of men and women in the military, fiscal
discipline, a number of other issues. So I strongly disagree with any
assertion that I've been more at odds with the president of the United
States than I have been in agreement with him. |
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"You will hear from my opponent’s campaign in every
speech, every interview, every press release that I’m running for
President Bush’s third term. You will hear every policy of the President
described as the Bush-McCain policy. Why does Senator Obama believe it’s
so important to repeat that idea over and over again? Because he knows
it’s very difficult to get Americans to believe something they know
is false." ABC News, June 3, 2008
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In 2004, just three days before the presidential election, McCain argued
that a recently-released video-tape by Osama bin Laden would prove “very
helpful to President Bush”: “I think it’s very helpful to
President Bush. It focuses America’s attention on the war
on terrorism. I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but I think it
does have an effect.” |
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McCain sought to distance himself from adviser Charlie Black, who told
Fortune Magazine that another terrorist attack on the United States
would be "a big advantage" to McCain’s campaign. McCain rejected the
comments, saying, "If he said that, and I do not know the context, I
strenuously disagree." YouTube, June 23, 2008
But CNN’s Dana Bash reported: "I was actually with Sen. McCain the
very day that Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. … He really did understand
from that moment that this was something that he thought could
help him in the race at that point to be the Republican nominee.
In fact, at that event that very day I asked Sen. McCain if he
thought it would help his political campaign and he said pretty much
“Yes.” … So it’s not a secret that back then that Sen. McCain and
his campaign thought it would help." |
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In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a
bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday
in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. The motion passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]
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On HONORING Martin Luther King, Jr. |
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| In 1998, the state legislature
of McCain's home state of Arizona considered sending the voters a measure
to end affirmative action, McCain spoke out against the measure calling it
"divisive." Ten years later, Arizona Republicans are still trying
to get the measure on the state ballot. USA Today |
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On the 7/26/08 edition of ABC's
"This Week", when asked specifically about the Arizona proposal,
McCain stated that he "supports" the referendum to end affirmative action
in the state of Arizona. He made the assertion in response to his
"opposition to gay adoption", in which he implied that it was preferable
for children to remain in orphanages rather than be adopted by a carefully
screened gay couple. ABC "This Week" |
| During the 8/16/08 presidential forum at Rick
Warren's California megachurch, John McCain was asked to name the "three
wisest people" he would "rely heavily on" if elected president.
McCain chose Gen. David Petraeus; former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, one of his
economic advisers; and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a leading figure in the
civil rights movement. ABC News |
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In response to McCain's invocation of his
name, Rep. Lewis said, "I cannot stop one human being, even a presidential
candidate, from admiring the courage and sacrifice of peaceful protesters
on the Edmund Pettus Bridge or making comments about it. But, Sen. McCain and I are colleagues in the US Congress, not confidantes. He
does not consult me. And I do not consult him." Mother Jones Magazine |
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McCain adamantly opposed the Bush tax cuts the day before the invasion
of Iraq on the grounds they were heavily tilted towards the wealthiest
Americans. NBC Meet The Press |
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Since his election to the Senate in 1987, McCain has voted at least 15 times in favor of keeping tax cuts and various tax loopholes for America's top earners. [2006 Senate Votes #7, 15, 41, 63, 67; 2005 Senate Vote #343; 2004 Senate Votes #40, 48; 2003 Senate Votes #74, 81, 83; 1996 Senate Vote #115; 1995 Senate Votes #226, 465, 466] |
| Despite voting to override President Reagan’s
veto of a bill imposing economic sanctions against South Africa in 1986,
McCain voted against sanctions on at least six other occasions in 1985 and
1986. ThinkProgress |
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In a June 2, 2008 speech before the American-Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC), McCain stated:
"Years ago, the moral
clarity and conviction of civilized nations came together in a divestment
campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of
apartheid.
In our day, we must use that same power and moral conviction
against the regime in Iran, and help to safeguard the people of Israel and
the peace of the world." |
During a town hall meeting in Denver,
Colorado, McCain claimed, "I received every award from every major
veterans organization in America. ...but the reason why I have a perfect
voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
American Legion, and all the other veterans service organizations is
because of my support of them. ... I've been endorsed in every election by
all of the veterans organizations that do that. I've been supported by
them and I've received their highest awards from all of those
organizations." |
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McCain Rating From Disabled American Veterans Not The Highest To Begin
With, Has Fallen Precipitously Since 1999. McCain's rating started at
66% in 1999, but has fallen to just 20% by 2006. In 2004 and 2005, it
was 50% and 25%, respectively.
Votesmart.org, 7/7/2008
McCain Rating From Disabled American Veterans Was 20% in 2006. John
McCain voted in support of legislation identified as important by the
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) only 20% of the time in 2006.
Stand Up For Veterans, 7/3/2008 |
| "John McCain has
worked tirelessly to protect increased benefits for America's veterans." www.johnmccain.com |
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"The Bush administration, and Sen. John McCain for that matter,
initially opposed passage of the [21st Century GI Bill], which was supported
overwhelmingly by both Democrats and Republicans... McCain, campaigning
last week, used language suggesting he supported the bill. In fact, McCain
did not even cast a vote on the final measure. For Bush and McCain to try
to claim credit now for a bipartisan effort they both opposed is a plain
attempt to hoodwink the American voter." Las Vegas Sun, 7/3/08 |
| John McCain recently tried to underscore his
seriousness about pushing through a new energy policy by telling a
motorcycle convention that Congress needed to come back from vacation
immediately and do something about America’s energy crisis. “Tell them to
come back and get to work!” McCain bellowed. Tom Friedman, New York Times |
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Only five days earlier, on July 30, the
Senate was voting for the eighth time in the past year on a broad, vitally
important bill — S. 3335 — that would have extended the investment tax
credits for installing solar energy and the production tax credits for
building wind turbines and other energy-efficiency systems. Both the wind and solar industries depend on these credits — which expire in December — to scale their businesses and become competitive with coal, oil and natural gas. Unlike offshore drilling, these credits could have an immediate impact on America’s energy profile. Senator McCain did not show up for the crucial vote on July 30, and the
renewable energy bill was defeated for the eighth time. In fact, John
McCain has a perfect record on this renewable energy legislation. He has
missed all eight votes over the last year — which effectively counts as a
no vote each time. Once, he was even in the Senate and wouldn’t leave his
office to vote. |
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| McCain voted twice, in 2005 and
2006, to defeat a Democratic amendment that would have set up an
independent commission along the lines of the 9/11 Commission to
investigate the government’s failings before and after Hurricane Katrina. At the time
of the second vote,
The co-chair of the Senate investigation, Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman, chastised the White House and other federal agencies for withholding documents, refusing interviews and derailing the Senate's work.
Lieberman voted for the creation of an independent
commission, both times. |
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Reporter: My understanding is you have voted twice against the
creation of a commission to investigate the levee failures in New Orleans.
And my question is, why have you voted against that? McCain: I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground. I’ve met with the governor. I’m not familiar with exactly what you said, but I’ve been as active as anybody in efforts to restore the city. Response from Obama Campaign: "Whether he simply wasn't aware of his voting record again or he was intentionally misleading the people of Louisiana, John McCain certainly isn't offering us 'leadership you can believe in.'" Response from McCain Campaign: "It
doesn't bode well for Senator Obama's pledges to run a campaign of hope
and change when on the first day of the general election he's launching
the same tired negative attacks that the American people are so sick and
tired of." |
On October 18, 2001, McCain appeared on the
Late Show with David Letterman. When asked how the war in Afghanistan was
progressing, McCain volunteered that the invasion of Iraq would be the
“second phase” of the War on Terror. He preyed on the public’s fear at the
time by claiming that the anthrax “may have come from Iraq”:
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On this one, McCain has been consistent.
Wrong, but consistent. When the FBI revealed on August 1, 2008 that the man believed to be the source of the 2001 anthrax attacks committed suicide rather than be arrested, McCain offered no retraction of his earlier accusation and still, to this day, argues that Iraq was an active threat to the United States. |
| RUSSERT: Let me turn to
Guantanamo. In October--excuse me, December of 2003, "John McCain said he
is concerned about the failure to move ahead with prisoners' trials at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. ...`These cases have to be disposed of one way or
another. After keeping someone two years, a decision should be made.'"
That was a year and a half ago. It's now been three and a half years.
Should we close it? McCAIN: I don't think necessarily. But I think the important thing is it's not the facility at Guantanamo, it's the adjudication of the cases of the prisoners who have been held there without trial or without any adjudication of their cases. So the frustration is not the fact we have a facility at Guantanamo, although that certainly becomes symbolic. The frustration is, is: What are we going to do with these people? Now, I know that some of these guys are terrible, terrible killers and the worst kind of scum of humanity. But, one, they deserve to have some adjudication of their cases. And there's a fear that if you release them that they'll go back and fight again against us. And that may have already happened. But balance that against what it's doing to our reputation throughout the world and whether it's enhancing recruiting for people to join al-Qaeda and other organizations and want to do bad things to the United States of America. I think, on balance, the argument has got to be--the weight of evidence has got to be that we've got to adjudicate these people's cases, and that means that if it means releasing some of them, you'll have to release them. Look, even Adolf Eichmann got a trial. I mean, these--we are signatories to numerous agreements on human rights, against torture, universal declaration on human rights, etc. So that means we have to do something with these people. And I hope we can move that process forward very soon. NBC Meet The Press, June 19, 2005 |
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On June 12, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court's decided to grant terrorism
suspects at Guantanamo Bay access to the federal courts. Republican John McCain told reporters in Boston that he had not yet read the opinion, but expressed concerns about the rights it might impart to the people being held there. "These are unlawful combatants, they are not American citizens and I think we should pay attention to Justice Roberts' opinion in this decision. But it is a decision that the Supreme Court has made. Now we need to move forward. As you know I always favored closing Guantanamo Bay and I still think we ought to do that." Washington Post One day later, at a town hall meeting in Pemberton, N.J.,
McCain again spoke about the U.S. Supreme Court decision, calling the 5-4 decision “one of the worst
decisions in the history of this country.” The rowdy crowd rose to a
standing ovation.
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| Senate Republicans blocked legislation that
would allow the government to negotiate drug prices for the Medicare
prescription drug benefit. The bill would have lifted a prohibition
on such negotiations and opened the door to allow the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to make deals with the pharmaceutical industry.
The House passed a stronger version of the legislation earlier this year,
which would have made such negotiations mandatory. The White House
said Bush would veto either version of the bill. Six Republicans, Sens. Norm Coleman (Minn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pa.), crossed party lines. John McCain (R-Ariz.) did not vote. |
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On September 4, 2008, accepting the Republican
presidential nomination, and every day on the stump since the convention,
McCain has asserted" "I fought tobacco companies and trial lawyers, drug companies
and union bosses." |
| McCain opposed Equal Pay Bill for Women, said
they "need education and training". McCain voted to gut the Family and Medical Leave Act. McCain opposed spending $100 million to prevent unintended and teen pregnancies. McCain opposed legislation requiring that abstinence-only programs be medically accurate and scientifically based. McCain opposed Title X, the nation's family planning program. McCain opposed requiring insurance coverage of prescription birth control. McCain opposes comprehensive sex education. McCain opposed repealing the "global gag rule." McCain unsure where he stands on government funding for contraception. |
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Scour the Issues pages on www.johnmccain.com and you won't find stated positions on any of these issues.
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| McCain skipped a Senate vote seeking equal pay
for women but said he opposed the measure. "I am all in favor of pay equity for women,
but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my
friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all
kinds of problems. This is government playing a much, much greater role in
the business of a private enterprise system." |
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"I'm committed to making sure that there's equal pay for equal work. That
there is equal opportunity in every aspect of our society. And that is my
record and you can count on it." YouTube, July 11, 2008. |
| "I'd love to
see a point where it 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 v. Wade, which would then force X
number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." San Francisco Chronicle, August 20, 1999 |
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| "And my friend,
it was not taxes that mattered in America in the last several years. It
was spending. Spending got completely out of control. We spent money in
a way that mortgaged our kids’ futures. My friends, we spent $3 million
of your money to study the DNA of bears in Montana. Now I don’t know if
that was a paternity issue or a criminal issue, but the point is — but the
point is it was 3 million of your money. It was your money. And you
know, we laugh about it, but we cry — and we should cry because the
Congress is supposed to be careful stewards of your tax dollars." McCain at the SaddleBack Forum, August 16, 2008 |
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Despite the fun McCain had ridiculing the bear
project, he didn’t actually try to remove it from the bill. He did
introduce several amendments, including three to reduce funding for
projects he considered wasteful or harmful, but none removing the grizzly
bear project appropriations. And despite his criticisms, he voted in favor
of the final bill. FactCheck.org |
| Sarah Palin, McCain's pick for VP, does not have as long a
record of flip-flops as McCain because she has not been in public
service long enough to have a long record on anything. However, that
has not stopped her from flip-flopping for political gain.
When Sarah Palin was running for governor, she said she would continue
state funding for the Bridge to Nowhere because she wanted swift action on
infrastructure projects. "The window is now while our congressional
delegation is in a strong position to assist." |
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Now that Sarah Palin has been tapped my McCain, she touts her record: "I have championed reform to end the abuses of
earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress, I told Congress
'thanks but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." |
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In an October 21, 2007 Republican debate, McCain mocked the lack of experience of his opponents Rudy Guliani and Mitt Romney: "I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training.
I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a
short period of time." Mr. McCain said in a recent interview that he had not even settled on how the vice presidential selection process would work, let alone whom it might select, but added, “We all know that the highest priority is someone who can take your place.” Jack F. Kemp, a
McCain supporter who was the party’s vice presidential nominee in 1996,
when the presidential nominee, Bob Dole, was older than Mr. McCain, said
Mr. McCain’s choice of a running mate held special significance.
“I
think his nominee, his choice for vice president, is going to be very
important for party regulars, and also in terms of his or her capability
someday to succeed as president.” |
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NBC's Brian Williams asked John McCain if Sarah Palin was the best choice
given that he's a 72-year-old cancer survivor. McCain defended the
choice:
"She has had executive experience as governor, mayor, as a city council
member, as PTA."
Williams followed up and asked, though, if she was the best choice. “Oh sure,” McCain said, “in every way.” Palin has been in elective office longer than Obama - IF you count her PTA service. |
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This is from the
2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire:
3. Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage
education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based
clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
Sarah Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support. |
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How's this working, Sarah?
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This is from the
2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire:
11. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not? Sarah Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance. |
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The Pledge of Allegiance
wasn't written until 1892 and the words "under God" weren't added until
1954. Ike was not one of the founding fathers.
Sarah, look it up! [Wikipedia]
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| During Palin's second term as mayor of
Wasilla, the city hired a Washington, D.C., lobbyist, a former aide to
Ted Stevens, then the ultimate rainmaker as chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. Before Palin left office, Wasilla got $27 million in
earmarks, according to the nonpartisan Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Click to see Mayor Palin's handwritten
note to the Wasilla City Council.
Under Palin's leadership as governor of Alaska, in
2008 the
state asked for almost $300 per person in requests for pet
projects from one of McCain's top adversaries: indicted Sen. Ted Stevens.
That's more than any other state received, per person, from Congress for
the current budget year. Other states got just $34 worth of local projects
per person this year, on average, according to Citizens Against Government
Waste, a Washington-based watchdog group. Alaska's earmark requests to Congress in Palin's first
year in office exceeded $550 million, more than $800 per resident.
Palin's current request to Stevens, "would still put Alaska No. 1," said
Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group that tracks
earmarks closely. |
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"I have championed reform to
end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." Sarah Palin,
August 29, 2008 Associated Press |
| The volatile issue of teaching creation
science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race in 2006 when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be
taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms. Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006 |
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On this point, Palin's views have not evolved. |
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Visit |
"The thought of his [McCain] being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."
Republican Senator Thad Cochran
Boston.com, January 27, 2008This site has been compiled by Rick Katz.
