McCain's split personality examined

It's becoming impossible to keep track of Judas John McCain's multiple stances on any given position. Last weekend, the flip-flop du jour was Roe v. Wade. This time, McCain stated publicly that the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. should be no more, stating, "I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned."

This position stands in stark contrast to his previous multiple positions on abortion. Take a quick read of these, from Media Matters:

On August 25, 1999, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that McCain had told its editorial board:

"I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary.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 vs. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to (undergo) illegal and dangerous operations."

The Chronicle added:

But on Sunday [August 22, 1999], in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, McCain said he favors the ultimate repeal of Roe vs. Wade, "but we all know, and it's obvious, that if we repeal Roe vs. Wade tomorrow, thousands of young American women would be (undergoing) illegal and dangerous operations."

The next day, according to the Chronicle, McCain issued what the Chronicle called a "clarification," which reportedly stated: "I have always believed in the importance of the repeal of Roe vs. Wade, and as president, I would work toward its repeal."

On the June 19, 2005, broadcast of NBC's Meet the Press, however, McCain adopted yet another position, saying that he agreed "to some degree" that Roe should be overturned, but adding: "I don't think it is [going to be overturned] at least not any time soon."

In 2006, McCain issued a statement indicating that if he were the governor of South Dakota, he "would have signed" a controversial bill outlawing all abortions except in those situations in which the life of the woman is threatened, but that he "would also take the appropriate steps under state law -- in whatever state -- to ensure that the exceptions of rape, incest or life of the mother were included."

That's pretty impressive, actually. I guess McCain's Straight Talk Express [circa 2000 presidential campaign - bus at right] is trying to make each and every stop on the road from Pro-Life to Pro-Choice and back again. If that's McCain's goal, it's time for the president to land on an aircraft carrier again, because it's Mission Accomplished.

However, it seems that McCain is just getting started when it comes to wearing all sorts of phoney hats in a laughable attempt to appeal to everyone right of moderates on the political scale. Earlier this week, the Arizona Senator let fly probably one of his biggest whoppers to date. Read on...

It now seems, according to McCain, that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wasn't so great after all. What bravado! What courage! Start measuring the Oval Office drapes, Senator, because you've got this baby all but sewn up.

Quickly now - except for the heartiest of neocons, who among you didn't come to that conclusion years ago? Rumsfeld's arrogance, pomposity, hubris and incompetence were on display from practically day one of the Bush Administration. Even more importantly, who could disagree that McCain is calling Rummy crummy purely for political gain to curry favor among conservatives and moderates for his presidential campaign?

Take a read on what McCain said on Tuesday in South Carolina (from ABC News.com):

"I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history," McCain said to applause.

However, McCain was singing a different tune shortly after Rumsfeld resigned in November, when he said:

"While Secretary Rumsfeld and I have had our differences, he deserves Americans' respect and gratitude for his many years of public service."

If John Kerry was guilty of some flip flopping in 2004 (I won't get started on that smear campaign), then John McCain has grown a dorsal fin.

Thanks for standing up to Rumsfeld when it really counted, Senator. Sleep tight tonight, you moron. I'm sure the troops in Iraq really appreciate your candor about one of the principle architects of this misguided war, post mortem.

It strikes me as beyond ironic that McCain would slam Rummy much in the same way that he was smeared in the very same state in 2000 by the Bush campaign. I'm in no way defending Rumsfeld, who I do believe will go down as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history, but it cracks me up (and enrages me) that McCain is emptying rounds from his political machine gun into the dead carcass of Donald Rumsfeld NOW, four months after his resignation.

Now that takes real political courage.



I have to once more bring you one of my favorite videos in this embryonic 2008 presidential campaign - McCain vs. McCain. It's quality stuff.

Top picture graphic from JG
Third photo from top from AP