Has there ever been a more repugnant example of political pandering than John McCain’s decision to vote against a bill banning waterboarding, putting hoods on prisoners, forcing them to perform sex acts, subjecting them to mock executions, or depriving them of food, water, and medical treatment? That’s right, John McCain, the former POW who has long been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration’s disturbing embrace of extreme interrogation techniques. But that was before he put his conscience in leg irons — and before caving to the would-be Torquemadas on the Right became his campaign strategy. This unconscionable capitulation should drive a stake through the heart of the McCain-as-straight-talker meme once and for all.
In what can only be interpreted as an attempt to be propaganda so obvious that no one will recognize it as propaganda, the Washington Times has truly outdone itself. Anyone who’s been paying attention at all over the past few months is aware that McCain has done nothing BUT pander- to the Religious Right, to moderates, to Conservative Chickenhawks…really, to anyone who would listen to him. John McCain has shown an uncanny ability to be all things to all people, to say what his audience wants to hear and to convince them that he is absolutely sincere and 100% on their side. For a Republican whose politics were at one time pretty middle-of-the road for a Republican, McCain has been working overtime to convince all segments of the Republican Party that he’s one of them.
McCain has spoken openly and often against torture (he, of all people, should be qualified to discuss torture), and then he turns around and votes against a bill that would have banned waterboarding. First he voted against Our Glorious and Benevolent . Leader’s © ruinous tax cuts, and then he turns around and trumpets his desire to make the tax cuts permanent.
McCain could (and probably should) detest Karl Rove for the vicious smear tactics that Rove launched against him during the 2000 Presidential campaign. Now he thinks Rove is a brilliant political mind who has proven himself to be the worthy successor to Lee Atwater.
Mark my words; before long, you’ll hear McCain raving on at length about the “waffling” that Democrats are guilty of. He’ll throw these accusations out there, knowing full well that if he keeps repeating this canard it won’t be long until his propaganda is accepted as Gospel. This despite the fact that NO ONE has done more “waffling” and pandering this campaign season that John McCain.
Yes, that Sen. McCain certainly is a resolute man of conviction and honor isn’t he? Well, he certainly will be if he and his surrogates repeat the Big Lie often enough. loud enough, and with enough conviction. All’s fair in love and politics, eh??
The legacy of Josef Goebbels lives on….
