John McCain: The Mark of Courage

(photo via Jesus' General)

Only a true patriot, only someone worthy enough to represent all people can speak on all sides of any issue.

McCain on Roe v. Wade, Associated Press, 2/18/07:

“I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned,” the Arizona senator told about 800 people in South Carolina, one of the early voting states. [emphasis added]

McCain on Roe v. Wade, Washington Post, 8/24/99:

“I’d love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary,” McCain told the Chronicle in an article published Friday. “But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” [emphasis added]

The John McCain Presidential Pander Parade continues.

McCain is also pro-abstinence despite, erm, abstaining from abstinence.

If this guy keeps going, he'll give everybody in the country a reason to vote for him! And also, 20 reasons to vote against him.

It must be these courageous stands on all sides of an issue that have caused so much anger from colleagues in his own party in Arizona:

The chairman of the local Republican Party here in the most populous county in Arizona has in his possession a bright yellow button with a black line slashed through the name McCain.

“I don’t wear it out very often,” said the chairman, Lyle Tuttle of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, in a slightly sheepish coda to a 20-minute vituperation about the state’s senior senator, served up from his living room chair.

“I think those who do not support Senator McCain,” Mr. Tuttle continued, “if they could just get the word out and help people to understand what has happened with him, we could have an impact.” [...]

Meanwhile, disgusted with Mr. McCain’s position on proposed changes to immigration laws (he advocates legalization that would not require illegal immigrants to leave the country), with what some see as wavering on the issue of gay marriage (he lent his name to a state ballot initiative to ban it but did not support a constitutional amendment), and with the campaign finance act that bears his name, some Arizona Republicans are making trouble for Mr. McCain.

They have elected local party leaders whom he opposes, criticized his policy positions and thrown early support to other potential primary candidates — all in the hope of tripping up Mr. McCain on his own doorstep.

“They can make trouble for him,” said Bruce D. Merrill, an Arizona State University political scientist and polling expert. “It is too early in terms of voting to tell, but it certainly could potentially affect people’s decision to give him money.”

Max Blumenthal has more on this. Basically, McCain tried to reclaim the party by ousting party leaders from their committee posts. It backfired, even though McCain's slate of candidates included a former Arizona Governor.

McCain also has a new website that pre-dates the invention of color and is creepy in its authoritarian nature. You have to watch the video with the "John Williams' Love Theme From The Death Star" soundtrack.

These are the best and the brightest of the Republican Party.