Did McCain really want to become a Democrat?
The New York Times reports today about two things that Republican presidential candidate John McCain doesn't want to talk about: Toying with becoming a Democrat and talking with Democrat John Kerry about being Kerry's running mate in 2004.
McCain's advisers say that the Democrats reached out to him and that McCain was not interested in either suggestion. But this latest controversy is another aspect of McCain's struggle to be accepted by the conservative wing of the Republican Party.
This is a paragraph from the Times' story: "Either way, the episodes shed light on a bitter period in Mr. McCain’s life after the 2000 presidential election, when he was, at least in policy terms, drifting away from his own party. They also offer a glimpse into his psychological makeup and the difficulties in putting a label on his political ideology over many years in the Senate."
Comments
He should have joined the decline-to-state party, our numbers are growing.
The two party system is a mess.
Posted by: scharton | March 24, 2008 9:19 AM
Amen to that scharton. I want the no party system.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | March 24, 2008 10:45 AM
The founding fathers had the right view on that. Too bad we didn't listen back then.
Posted by: Tony Gastelum | March 24, 2008 11:06 AM
He's already a Democrat! If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it waddles like a duck, guess what, it's a duck!
Posted by: T C Morgan | March 24, 2008 1:27 PM
He is a Republican who thinks for himself (at times) and not the Party line.
Posted by: Rich | March 24, 2008 4:54 PM
Close to the truth Rich... He thinks ABOUT himself. Who can forget his attempt to hold the GOP hostage(will he stay or go?). He should have defected then.
Posted by: Brian Murray | March 25, 2008 7:25 AM
Brian,
What was the issue where McCain was labeled as "holding the GOP hostage"?
Explain the reason of his position on the issue and what the GOP wanted to do?
Posted by: Rich | March 25, 2008 8:32 AM
Rich... you like the Bee are disingenuous in your curiosity of the conservative voter.You also are either lazy or/and uninformed. Let me help you(it's what conservatives do for lefties).Go to WIKIPEDIA and type in John McCain. Next, scroll down to Senate Career and click it on. Then scroll down to article #117 by the Arizona Republic and click and for additional info repeat this process for article #120 by the Washungton Post.If you really care... your questions will be answered and you will experience the satisfaction of semi- self accomplishment.
Posted by: Brian Murray | March 26, 2008 7:29 AM
Brian, you can't really blame Rich (or the rest of us) for not keeping a catalogue of right-wing grievances stored in our heads. You could have just answered the question - it would have been a lot simpler (not to mention a lot more polite).
Posted by: Mike D. | March 26, 2008 9:24 AM
McCain’s problem with the extreme right is that he doesn’t adhere to their severe dogma.
I read the articles Brian cited and don’t see any evidence that McCain held the right hostage. Furthermore, it’s laughable that Brian takes offense and claims the Bee and others to be “…disingenuous” in their “…curiosity of the conservative voter.” According to Brian’s logic, that makes conservatives and the Bee (again) disingenuous in their curiosity in the campaign between Sens. Obama and Clinton.
The bottom line: It’s fun to watch Republicans act like Democrats.
Posted by: Wayne | March 26, 2008 12:19 PM
Mike(D)- Rich doesn't care about answers.You guys and the Bee have your point of view and so do I so let's not pretend to care. I was very polite and offered him help if he truly wanted to know.Since when are Democrats polite about anything.Kudos to Wayne if he actually researched anything.The Republican's should have given McCain the boot a long time ago along with all of his self serving antics.Why are there no "Mavericks" in the Democrat party? That's because it's a label the leftist media gave him.McCain is no "Maverick", he just belongs in the Democratic party.You guys should really worry about the civil war in your own party.The truth is leaking out that you don't really care about the country...just power.
Posted by: Brian Murray | March 27, 2008 6:54 AM
Brian, I've had plenty of polite conversations with both Republicans and Democrats. If that's not your experience, you might want to consider how you approach those who disagree with you (just a suggestion).
As for your mind-reading "insight" into what liberals really care about, you might want to replace that crystal ball of yours. The one you have now isn't working.
Posted by: Mike D. | March 27, 2008 10:54 AM
Hey Brian,
Sorry for asking, some people do want to have more insight, don't assumning we know what your talking about, when you don't get into specifics.
Brian your quote is telling:
"You guys and the Bee have your point of view and so do I so let's not pretend to care."
Frankly I do care. People have differences of opinion this does not mean you need to make snide remarks that only attempt to polarize.
My suggestion may work for you to try and understanding differences of opinion.
This is not a question of being "lazy" or being "uninformed" frankly we have tens of thousands of issues pick some and let's have some dialogue.
Otherwise vague generalities serve little purpose.
Posted by: Rich | March 27, 2008 3:45 PM