John McCain has been in the news a lot over the past few weeks but a couple of recent stories have prompted me to lay down my thoughts on him and his eventual campaign to be our next President.
I get asked often enough whether I would ever vote for a Republican. I sincerely believe that I would, if the right candidate appeared. I’m not a fan of either party, really, and believe heterogeneity is generally the best situation for the country. The two parties tend to work best when both share power rather than the way thing are right now.
Of course, I still don’t trust President Bush, and I was opposed to his candidacy in both elections. The modern Republican party and Bush’s path to power both have much in common. Dirty campaign tactics and and their embrace of the far, far right wing of this country have been critical to their victories.
McCain’s candidacy brings a particular light to the ascendency of the far right in the Republican party. The Arizona Senator wants to be seen as a maverick, but has been acting more like a standard issue Republican. The better he sees his chances at becoming President, the further and further to the right he moves. It has been especially clear on those issues where McCain demonstrated his maverick tendencies.
McCain began his move to the far right in earnest during the 2004 campaign. He, rather suddenly, embraced President Bush, ending speculation that he would join the Democratic ticket. Rumors circulated at the time (and still do) that he made a Faustian bargain to boost his own chances in 2008.
Recent reports have started confirming some of this. A front page WaPo story a few months ago detailed the behind-the-scenes moves McCain is making to build out his campaign with Bush staffers and supporters. Where he once called out the likes of Jerry Falwell, he now has reached out to Falwell and to other far right wingers. He’s now supporting the tax cuts he once “[couldn't] in good conscience support”.
Former supporters have begun noticing. Arianna Huffington, a former passenger on the Straight Talk Express, has jumped ship:
There can be no doubt: McCain’s blatant desire for the White House has caused him to abandon the Straight Talk Express and hop on board the Bullshit Express. Talk about “pimping your ride.”
I find it deeply ironic that, at a time when voters are desperately longing for a political leader with authenticity, a man who defined the authenticity brand has now decided to screw with the formula.
The New McCain is the political equivalent of New Coke — and will meet with the same disastrous results.
Michael Kinsley has my favorite observation so far:
All successful politicians must have at least some talent for telling lies about what’s in their hearts and convincing people that it is the truth. But Sen. John McCain has a unique genius for telling the truth from his heart and making people believe that he is lying. And these people are his supporters! They admire him as a straight-talking truth–teller, and they forgive him for taking positions on big issues that they find repellent on the grounds that he doesn’t really mean what he says.
It’s time to call him on this hypocrisy, much as Jon Stewart did on the Daily Show. He should be asked about this at every single public interview and appearance. If McCain wins in 2008, he will owe much to his reputation as a straight talker and a maverick. He will campaign on this issue, as well. I hope to see numerous “he was against the tax cuts until he was for them” ads on TV, as well (OK, not really).
At one of John McCain’s recent commencement appearances, a graduating student dropped her original remarks for a speech prepared to address McCain’s presence directly. The more remarkable thing to me is that he was painted as part and parcel of the Republican establishment and, judging by the reaction, people are buying it. (by the way, what the hell was he thinking showing up at the New School anyway??)
His candidacy will be an interesting one. He’s become a pragmatist who values his own aspirations more than the principles he claims to hold dear. The path to the far right will not be easy to return from. The pressure to remain with the far right will remain until he wins re-election and is free campaign politics. If he’s able to convince enough moderate and left-leaning Americans that he’s still a maverick, he’ll win. That’s all it comes down to. He hasn’t convinced me, and I hope he convinces few others.
