OpEdNews - Page 3 of Article: McCain: The Undead

His opposition to the Bush tax cuts at the time they were passed,
for example, was accompanied by quasi-class warfare rhetoric
of the sort we now identify with Democratic populists like John
Edwards. As he prepared to run this time, however, the rhetoric
changed, as in deciding to get straight with the GOP base he
discovered that maybe those evil tax cuts ought to be made
permanent after all.

John McCain vs. John McCain
A video by Jesse Haff, BraveNewFilms.org
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/574-john-mccain-vs-john-mccain

Excerpt:

This video shows numerous examples of McCain's double-talk
express. He often says one thing, then exactly the opposite --
sometimes just minutes later. His beliefs are based on pleasing
special interest groups. How can you ever believe where he
stands, on any of the major issues facing us today?

McCain's Top 10 (now Top 11) Flip-flop list
By Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/9111.html

Excerpt:

The old McCain didn’t want an amendment and didn’t want Roe
overturned. The new McCain completely disagrees with the old
McCain.

It’s worth noting that politicians’ opinions on abortion can, and
often do, “evolve” over time. Dick Gephardt and Al Gore, for
example, both opposed abortion rights before eventually
becoming pro-choice. With this in mind, McCain’s unexpected
shift may simply reflect yet another pol whose thinking has
changed over time.

Or, far more likely, McCain is once again abandoning any
pretense of consistency and integrity, and is now willing to
say literally anything to win.

The McCain Voting Record

A lifelong ACU rating of 82%
From the American Conservative Union
http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#AZ

Note: McCain scored only 65% in 2006. Any guess

why? (Hint: he accounced his intention to enter the

campaign in February, 2007.)

The 2nd Most Conservative Senator (109th Congress)
From VoteView.org
http://www.voteview.com/sen109.htm

Note: McCain trailed only his fellow Arizona wingnut, Sen. John Kyl

John McCain On the Issues
OnTheIssues.org
http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm

Highlights:

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 75% by the National Right to Life Committee, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 33% by the Human Rights Campaign, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. (Dec 2006)
Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 61% by the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, indicating a mixed business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 29% by Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
Rated 85% by the National Criminal Justice Association,indicating a "tough-on-crime" stance. (Dec 2005)
Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
Rated 17% by the Campaign for America's Future, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 83% by the Christian Coalition, indicating a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by The Cato Institute, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 25% by American Public Health Association, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the Committed for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE), indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 18% by U.S. Border Control, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
Rated 40% by the Alliance for Retired Americans, indicating a mixed record on senior issues. (Dec 2003)
Rated 72% by National Taxpayers Union, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 50% by Citizens for Tax Justice, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)

Follow the Money: McCain, Clinton and Obama Compared

McCain's Funding Sources: 79.1% business
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424
Top Contributors:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00006424&cycle=2008

Clinton's Funding Sources: 65.0% business
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2008&cid=N00000019
Top Contributors:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00000019&cycle=2008

Obama's Funding Sources: 54.4% business
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638
Top Contributors:
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00009638&cycle=2008

McCain On Reform

McCain the Reformer
By Joe Conason, Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/02/01/mccain_problems/

Excerpt:

...just how much of a reformer is McCain? The myth as recounted
by the maverick himself and his admiring scribes is that the searing
experience of the Keating Five scandal purified his character.
Never again would he allow himself to be turned away from the path
of righteousness by lobbyists and donors, never again would he sell
out the public interest to the high rollers, never again would he be-
smirch the honor of his office ... and so on.

This is inspiring stuff, and he may well believe it all, but there is a
growing backlog of evidence that he has not always lived up to such
exacting standards -- particularly during his tenure as chairman of
the Senate Commerce Committee.

John McCain flip-flops on ethics reform
A video by Jesse Haff, BraveNewFilms.org
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/576-john-mccain-flip-flops-on-ethics-reform

Excerpt:

Tim Russert confronts McCain on flip flopping on legislation that
would demand organizations provide fundraising lists when doing
grassroots lobbying. First being in favor of transparency, then
voting against it on the floor to be on the same page as conser-
vative base to win their favor in his race for the President.

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