McCain's Straight-Talking Image Questioned

[Judi Lynn]

McCain's Straight-Talking Image Questioned

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
7 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Has the "Straight Talk Express" veered to the right?

Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) says no — he's always been conservative. But the fact that the Arizona Republican is facing pointed questions about his positions on Iraq, immigration, abortion, taxes and other hot-button issues underscores his biggest political problem: He is a front-runner.

As he prepares for a likely 2008 presidential race, Democratic and Republican critics are watching McCain's every move for signs he is forsaking his image as an independent-thinking maverick who named his 2000 campaign bus "The Straight Talk Express."

Some called it pandering when he campaigned on Bush's behalf in 2004 just four years after their bitter nomination fight. McCain said he was simply backing his party's leader.

Skeptics called it a flip-flop when the Arizona senator voted in February to extend Bush's tax cuts on dividends and capital gains, which he once had opposed. McCain said ending the tax cuts would be tantamount to raising taxes, something he has never done.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060405/ap_on_el_ge/mccain_straight_talk

[MADem]

1. The straight talk express has run off the road into a ditch

McCain scrambled out of the broken, crushed vehicle, and hitched a ride on The CRAZYASS FUNDIE ASSKISSING GRAVY TRAIN....!!!!!

[REP]

2. Jon Stewart Did a Great Job Questioning The Bullshit Express

Yes, he's a comedian but he still asks some great questions.

[Solly Mack]

3. I wasn't aware that McCain was a "straight talker"

Sure, he said some truthful things about the religious right during his 2000 campaign run - but wasn't it just a case of staking out a position that set him a part from the rest of the republican candidates? He certainly sings a different tune now, yes? So the wind blew one way and McCain went with it. The wind will change again and McCain will be there, floating along. Now, if within that context, of changing his positions with the wind, and adopting talking points that fit the new wind direction,if that is what people mean by straight talk, then McCain is a straight talker.


but the truth is, the wind could stop tomorrow and McCain would still be the lying piece of shit he is now

[blm]

13. He's not - corporate media describes GOPs as straight-talkers to mask

the ugly truth about their fascist agenda.

[saltpoint]

4. Haven't seen any polls on it, but I'm guessing that McCain's once-

famous appeal to independents must be under serious strain these days.

The little footsie escapade with Jerry Falwell alone would have driven most of them off.

Sam Brownback can out-fundie McCain any day of the week. And I believe that most GOP fundie voters are still frightened of McCain.

His current strategy seems destined to lose him both the fundies who hate him in the first place and the Independents who loved him early on but don't like what he's showing 'em lately.

[Zorra]

5. Straight talking maverick? He's Bu*h's bitch! Backing your

party's leader after he conducted a filthy, disgusting smear campaign against not only you but your innocent children is completely unforgivable.

This isn't about party - it's about what is best for the people of the United States of America.

Pitiful. Pathetic.

McCain would sell out his family for a shot at the Presidency.

No, thanks.

[saigon68]

6. McCain said he was simply backing his party's leader.

He'd jump in a pond and fuck fish if the chimp told him to do it

[izzie]

8. That is one hell of a picture. I think John can taste being Pres.

He is doing what he has always done. Gets in the right line to get to the front of the window first. That means jumping places. Trouble is it does make others mad.

[AndyTiedye]

17. Here's the Annotated Version From HollywoodLiberal

[izzie]

19. Maybe so but he sure does not stick to much

I always get the feeling he is testing the wind, but I am sure a lot of people running for President do that. I some times wonder if you could be President if you stuck to anything you really thought. I do tend to go with the party as their base is more to my thinking. His base is with THIS GOP. I always voted for Republics and slowly I left the party or they changed in my way or thinking or I did. I am not sure. But when I sat down and really thought about it I found I was really a Dem. I still hang in with my old GOP thinking that war is a great big waste of goods and we are better to sit down and talk usually.

[llmart]

9. If he does run for President......

then we need to make sure that picture is splattered everywhere so people remember what a nutjob he really is and how tied he is to the idiot who brought our country down.

[saigon68]

14. I expect to see this picture a lot

[Marie26]

15. He'll never live that picture down. nt

[rodeodance]

7. Maybe he will self-descruct all on his own.

[Chulanowa]

10. But he IS a straight-talker!

Straight out both sides of his mouth.

[SoCalDem]

11. Straight off the cliff... he blew it when he stuck his nose up W's skirt.

[dusty64]

12. This shit re:

mccain and ghouliani being leaders needs to be addressed now. Its crazy how many people buy into this urban legend without any proof at all, they need to know what these guys are REALLY about!

[cliss]

16. Here's the REAL John McCain:

There was an article about McCain recently. It said that the "right adores Mr. McCain because he appeals to Democrats. They like him because they feel he's 'on their side'.

McCain apparently feels the urge to criticize the Repugs from time to time, and the Dem's love it.

LET THERE BE NO MISTAKE: McCain is part of the Evil Empire. Don't forget, he was enjoying his birthday cake with Bush while people in New Orleans were drowning.

[AndyTiedye]

18. "Let Them Eat Cake"