Maverick No More: McCain Has Diluted His Rare Reputation

Baltimore Sun:

John McCain once had the most powerful brand in American politics.

He was often called the country's most popular politician and widely admired for his independent streak. It wasn't too many years ago that "maverick" was the cliche of choice in describing him.

But that term didn't even make the list this year when voters were asked by the Pew Research Center to sum up McCain in a single word. "Old" got the most mentions, followed by "honest," "experienced," "patriot," "conservative" and a dozen more. The words "independent," "change" or "reformer" weren't among them.

Read the whole story: Baltimore Sun

Comments

[rooks]

I need a new dictionary. Honest?

[tililek]

Maverick? Who said so, where did that comment begin and why? Other than being a prisoner-of-war, what's his claim to fame? What positions has he taken -- and how many sides of that position? What legislation is he largely responsible for? To whom does he owe allegiance?

[SMP]

to coin Hillary Clinton: McCain is a "zerox" copy of Bush!!!

[jsarets]

The thing about moving swiftly to the right in an election year is that it adds at least 10 years to any candidate. McCain the 71-year-old reformer became McCain the 81-year-old authoritarian, and not too many people want to vote for that candidate.

In the height of the general election season, when Obama is making McCain campaign in such unlikely states as Kansas and Georgia, an exhausted McCain is going to fare much worse than the exhausted Obama and Clinton we saw during the primary battle. There won't be enough botox and comb-over-in-a-can to hide his lack of vigor and increased tendency to misspeak.

I hope McCain doesn't turn out like William Henry Harrison, who gave his inaugural address without a coat in order to appear youthfully energetic and then succumbed to pneumonia a few weeks later. If John McCain loves America, and I believe he does, then he won't try to campaign like a 47-year-old and jeopardize his health. America's deepest fear about this campaign is that either candidate could end up dead. Obama has the largest Secret Service detail for a non-incumbent in the history of presidential campaigning. What is McCain doing to protect his health?

[DietrichMoody]

"Hi. I'm John McCain and I play a Maverick on TV" Still, people see him as honest. How can you be honest, when you flip flop?

And what I want know why they didn't ask if people see him as thoughtful and rational.

Ok, Why was he the most popular name brands in politics but his own party disliked him? Because he was an opportunist. There are plenty of Prisoners of War out there in America that are working as Truck Drivers, Electricians and Sanitazion workers who are not in the Senate, married to super rich wives, and jetting around the world. He milked his history, for politics and power.

This is the best the sorry Republicans got, and they deserve him.

[doyourownresearch]

He's "The Gelding" now that he's the gop nominee.

[RENREVARD]

Honest? Not!

[izAriver]

"honest,"

Honest? Just goes to show that no one listens anymore.

[SPQR1052]

GELDING is more fitting - MAVERICK? Circa 1990's maybe.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

DON BOLLES MURDER BOMBING. THE HENSLEY FAMILY TIES TO MAFIA. THE BONANOS FAMILY

[monty]

Another word missing: SELLOUT

[loax]

Deceiptful old warmonger is waht he is!!

[sherbug]

Panderer, Liar, Opportunist are a few that come to my mind.

[Roxanne2009]

As an Independent, I really liked McCain 8 years ago and he was indeed a maverick. I respected the fact that he told the press that he had "to vote his conscience" and go against Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. But, now...he sold out to get the nomination. A genuine change is needed.

Obama/Biden

[Trittydi]

We were there too.

I really think his mind is going though and I don't mean that in an unkind way. I just think the old John McCain is GONE.

I don't think he knows who he is anymore. He really sold himself down the river because the presidency is something he wanted TOO badly. Bush is like his daddy right now.
*

[nonconformist2]

I agree. He's a sell out. Time for him to retire.

[NotMcCain]

A good pollster could have told him he'd seem younger if he still seemed like an independent thinker.

When old people change before your eyes, becoming extremely conservative, dogmatic, and unreasonable in their thinking--it is very aging.

The biggest "age" difference between Obama and McCain isn't chronological--its in the way they look at problems, the way they express themselves, their interest in finding fresh solutions. By that scale, McCain seems much older than just "71".