Mc Cain on MTP - Tim Russert calls McCain on his numerous flip-flops

[Mass]

If you have not seen MTP earlier today, it is worth watching, if anything because for once Russert went after McCain and called him on his various flip-flops, from endorsing Bush to voting for taxcuts to talking at Falwell's university.

georgia10 at kos has a post on this interview.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/2/114832/7526

"Straight-Talk" Spinning On Meet The Press
by georgia10
Sun Apr 02, 2006 at 09:48:32 AM PDT

I'm not sure whether it was because Tim Russert's questions were so good or because John McCain's answers were so woefully strained, but the otherwise insufferable Meet the Press this morning actually proved to be compelling--and telling--television.

...

The administration love continued as McCain stated--with straight face--that "Nobody knows more about than President Bush." When confronted as being a "born-again Bushophile" and "a maverick no more", he dismissed the criticism with the usual "looking forward" and doing the right thing spin.

Perhaps the silliest part of the interview came when McCain was confronted with his vote to extend Bush's disastrous tax cuts. This after he initially voted against them. McCain's explanation for his flip-flop: "I do not believe in tax increases." So, any tax cut should be de facto permanent according to his philosophy. Pure silliness.

I have to commend Russert for confronting McCain about his decision to speak at Liberty University and his acceptance of Jerry Falwell (maybe he does read Daily Kos after all!) Confronted him with an outrageous Falwell quote, Russert asked if McCain is "embracing" Falwell's statements. McCain again gave a non-answer, but he did say he does not believe Falwell is an "agent of intolerance" anymore. In a telling exchange, he said that the "christian right" has a major role to play in the Republican Party.

...


Tags: John McCain, Meet the Press

You can also find more on McCain's flip-flops on www.toughenough.org.

http://toughenough.org/2006/03/mccain-just-one-more-corrupt.html

http://toughenough.org/2006/03/mccain-quick-hit_28.html

[_dynamicdems]

1. He's flip-flopped so much lately, I'm starting to believe he really does

have a perception problem. It is kinda scary that this man is a United States Senator because he's obviously not playing with a full deck. Sure he's ambitious, but if his world were even vaguely reality-based he'd realize how these flip-flops will undoubtedly be the ruination of any chance he has for any nomination in 2008.

I too have been collecting McCain flip-flops and they are extensive. He's getting so bad that he might eventually eclipse King George's record and that is impressive indeed (in the annuls of flip floppery).

http://www.dynamicdems.com/flipflophalloffame.htm#mccain

edit: Any thoughts on who is the worse flip-flopper, Bush or McCain?

Also, if anyone has any links to Cheney flip-flops, I'd love to have them. (My Cheney list is in need of updating.) Or any Repug flops, for that matter. I'm keeping a list and checking it... well, you know. :D

[whometense]

2. Thanks, Mass!

You inspire me to keep going!

The podcast is up: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/#mtp

And there's a streaming video version here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10005066/

[ginnyinWI]

5. It will be shown on MSNBC tonight

10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Eastern.

I watch then because then I can watch (actually tivo) other channels in the morning.

I had to see what Sensenbrenner said on FTN this morning :( so I could write him a nasty letter from a constituent (and I intend to).

[ProSense]

3. Let's see if the media reports will emphasize McCain's hypocrisy.

The real McCain

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2547471&mesg_id=2547471

[Dr Ron]

4. What I've predicted

I always felt that McCain would suffer a fate similar to Dean's with the media. Candidates known as straight shooters are loved by the media at first. True straight shooters don't survive in politics. Dean was no straight shooter (such as with Medicare, his claims of both representing the Democratic Wing and being a moderate, and his claims of being the major anti-war candidate) and McCain is even less of one.

While we can't stand Russert for his repetition of GOP talking points, it is inevitable that such journalists will be unable to resist the gotcha approach to someone like McCain.

The question is, with all the favorable coverage he has had, is how this will affect his nomination chances. It depends a lot as to whether this signals a total change in media coverage of him, or if this is one isolated event to be followed by a continuation of the usual highly favorable coverage.

In a perverse way, it could even help McCain. McCain has been trying to take on the role of elder party leader to follow in Bush's foot steps, and Republicans love to nominate their elder leader. If they start to see him in this role, with his pandering to the right wing, they might rally around him to defend him from attacks from the "liberal media."

[ginnyinWI]

6. it might work

He's been pandering mighty hard lately--and "building bridges" as he says. It's a gamble to attach yourself to a stinker like *, but I suppose he'll always have is base, and McCain hopes to inherit the * mantle.

edit: don't miss this article on McCain: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/john-mccain-the-sellout_b_18327.html

[karynnj]

7. Krugman's column today deals with his Falwell comments on MTP

As ususal he is fantastic.

He starts out:

"Well, I'll be damned. At least that's what the Rev Jerry Falwellsays. Last month Mr. Falwell issued a statement explaining that, in his view, Jews can't go to heaven unless they convert to Christianity. And what Mr Falwell says matters - maybe not in heaven, but here on earth. After all he's a kingmaker in today's Republican party."

He then repeats both McCain's refusal to say that Falwell is an agent of intolerance and Falwell's comments on Mohammed being a terrorists and that 911 was because of God's wrath. He ends with:

"As for Mr. McCain: his denunciation of Mr Falwell and Mr. Robertson six years ago helped give him a reputation as a moderate on social issues. Now that he has made up with Mr Falwell and endorsed South Dakota's plan on abortion even in the case of rape or incest, only two conclusions are possible : either he isn't a social moderate after all, or he's a cynical political opportunist."