CNN's Jack Cafferty Rails At John McCain's Constant Flip-Flopping

It's not everyday that Senator John McCain's tendency to switch positions on important issues - even seminal McCain issues like torture - are greeted by the media with anything other than a swoon over the candidate's marvelous "maverick" style of policymaking. But on CNN today, Jack Cafferty did just that, unspooling a litany of McCain's inconsistencies and saying, "If John McCain doesn't stop changing his position on the issues, he threatens to make John Kerry look like an amateur."

[WATCH.]

CAFFERTY: If John McCain doesn't stop changing his position on the issues, he threatens to make John Kerry look like an amateur. In order for McCain to win in November, he has to appeal to both the traditional Republican base and to independents. Dana Milbank in the Washington Post says that's a delicate dance, and if McCain's not careful, "he's liable to break a hip." Of course, any doctor will tell you a broken hip can be very difficult to recover from.

On Iraq, the economy, guns, and God, McCain is to the right. On immigration, campaign finance reform, and global warming, McCain is to the left. Sort of reminiscent of John Kerry back in 2004. McCain went after Barack Obama yesterday for proposing a windfall tax on the oil companies. A month ago McCain said he was willing to consider a windfall tax on the oil companies. What about offshore drilling? During his run for president in 2000, McCain was against it. Now he's for it, saying the state should decide if they want to drill for oil off their coastlines. This could cost him big-time in states like California and Florida which are very environmentally conscious. Then there are the Bush tax cuts, McCain was against them - twice - now he's for them. McCain has also called for the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be closed down, and torture banned. But last week he criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that detainees there should have access to U.S. courts, calling the Supreme Court decision one of the worst decisions in the history of this country. So here's the question. How clear is it where John McCain stands on the issues?

Comments

[genseric13]

Does the moron Cafferty realize that gasoline is $4+ a gallon and so therefore we may possibly need to increase oil drilling? That's not a flip-flop, it is a recognition of a severe problem that needs to be addressed. Of course, no one really wants to drill anywhere, I would rather just lay back and HOPE the energy will appear out of thin air. Unfortunately, hard work is required by the American people. This hard work will result in millions of new jobs. The Dems already screwed the Teamsters out of 100,000 new jobs starting in 2001 when they stopped ANWR drilling yet again. The Dems have no answer since their CAFE standards are long term and do not even begin to address the issue.

The greatest flip-flop in this election season was by Obama, who ran non-stop on ending the war and is now equivocating and will not pull guys out any faster then McCain will. It was a completely fake issue he used to pound Hillary with. He was lying and he knew it all along.

[Mercurial]

I'm sure Jack is well aware of the gas prices and everything else the last eight years have brought us.

[LCRover001]

Drilling is not the answer to America's fuel crises. Alternatives are. All drilling will do at this time is make the oil companies huge profits while only reducing the cost of fuel by an insignificant amount in 10 or so years.

You guys want to create jobs then get behind new fuel alternatives and the Green Industrial Revolution. The research, development, manufacturing, distribution, and upkeep of new technologies will revive the job market in this country, and reduce our need of oil.

The Saudis are scared to death of this, that is why they are increasing their production, the U.S. oil companies are to why do you think they are pushing so hard for the new drilling, they need to get in on this while the getting is good, because as soon as America begins it's rehabilitation from oil they will no longer be able to make the kind of money they are now.

Oil has not risen that much in price it has just adjusted to the weakening dollar it is selling at 65-70 Euros a barrel. New jobs and a revived economy would do more to reduce the cost of fuel than anything. On top of that new alternatives would drive that price lower. If all of this was done the cost of fuel could be pushed back down to around a dollar a gallon.

New thinking not old is the way to get out of this mess.

[realtalk]

Genseric13 -- you are the moron!! Every expert has said that the total amount of oil we would get would not even be the amount Amercans need for a day, and that it would only reduce cost by a few cent. That would be the result of drilling in both the Arctic. And there is not even any way of knowing if there is any oil in the ocean where John McCain now wants to drill. AND WORST YET: Members of Congress, have already said that oil industry has lots of leases it hasn't developed -- roughly 70 percent of its holdings in fact are NOT EVEN in production off the coast. "Is John McCain not aware of this, or is it just a must that he lie, and pander, and pander, and pander, and be dishonest, and manipulative bringing up drilling in the ocean.

[saltysea]

Or we could use all that money to do what we should have stayed with after the 1976 crisis: invest in all those hydrogen cell cars Honda & BMW just came out with; invest in retooling all those auto plants to make greener cars; give tax credits for homeowners willing to use solar, wind, etc.; research & build on what other countries are already selling. The sooner we start, the less blood we will have to pay for oil. In addition, the oil companies already have scads of oil leases they are not using, offshore.

i can only HOPE that Obama, who has Gore to turn to, is our next President. Then maybe my grandchildren won't have to go off to another country to face possible death or severe damage.

[dgscol]

there is a difference between flip-flopping, and touching bases, and consolidating one's support.

[kvet]

Hey Jack.....Youre the best there at CNN....and your Cafferty File is "Off the Hook"...( Its Great !!...thats in case FOX needs a translation..:)
One thing I wish CNN would do....is,,,,Replace Blitzer and Dobbs....
Maybe they could consolidate both broadcasts,,,Fire the Two of them,,,,,and Have A Jack Cafferty file News Show.....
"Thank You Jack".......

[blaqntelligence]

Now that would be an awesome shakeup.
Dobbs is another loudmouth idiot I've stopped watching.

[realpolitic]

McCain said states should be allowed to decide to drill for oil along their own coasts. I guess if there is a leak the oil will not wash up on the shores of adjoining states.

[tom ellison]

Did he address Obama's flip-flop on public finance? Just curious.

[Ivar]

Tom_Ell.........does this affect you and I?? Isn't this a choice he can make when he chooses? You are full of soup. Get another paint brush if you want to paint him as flip flooping.

[gditty]

Actually, I think both candidates should donate the 85 million to the flood victims. Why are you upset that Obama is not taking taxpayer money? The money would be better served helping the public, not Presidental campaigns....

[Mij13]

Obama's army of small donors challenges the status quo far more than John McCain's wavering commitment to campaign finance reform. Small donors matter far more than outdated laws.

[NotMcCain]

The real reform isn't in taking taxpayer money, it's in refusing PAC money.

When John McCain and the RNC refuse money from PACs, then I'll believe they're really interested in reform.

Until then, it looks to me like taking $85 million of taxpayer money is just window dressing for a campaign that is financed by wealthy special interests.

Small donors across America are funding Obama's campaign. "Which is more influence-free", do you think? Which is more truly in the spirit of "public financing".

[tschlak]

I dunno -- I think what he's doing is the very definition of "public finance"...

[EuroPreacher]

Jack Cafferty is off today and Blitzer has turned the situation room into a Cindy McRecoveringAddict PR. What a shame and they want the movement of change to give their incompetence a preferable treatment? For far too long they have been preaching us to take a s£nile delinquent man as a national m@rverick...Shame on former lobbyist Wolf Blitzer!

[saltysea]

Blitzer's a former lobbyist???? No wonder! Thanks for the info.

[IRepTheKing]

Generally, I don't think his age is an issue. However, his ability to stay on one side of a decision is borderline senile. These are serious issues and America wants to know where he stand. Right now he sounds like he's on a teeter totter.

[Ashera]

The only good thing on CNN ------Jack Cafferty! Period!

When Jack isn't on - my TV is off!

[Mij13]

I'm not a TV person but I've been keeping up watching MSNBC online clips. Now that I know more about him, I'm going to make a point of catching Caffety. He impressed me with this.

[Xenopus]

Who is John McCain and what does he stand for?.....I can't keep up with his many changes in positions, sometimes 3 times on the same issue. Even McCain has to be reminded by reporters, Joe Lieberman, and YouTube what he said last on his many positions. I really have no idea what policy we would finally be voting for in electing this man.

I use to think he was a 'square shooter', but no more, he just seems sort of confused on the direction, left-leaning or right-leaning, he wants to support. I guess whatever works for the moment and the place he is speaking at the time determines his stance. It's hard to be all things to all people, and best just to be oneself.

[Larkinvos]

The best thing about Mr. Blitzer is his name:

Wolf Blitzer!!

Sounds like he should be leading a Panzer division.

[MariaHopeful]

So now CNN is making a big deal out of Bush and McCain visiting the floods areas. When Obama did it before and called for volunteers and donations, they called it a photo-op and had Campbell Brown and Erica Hill giggling while they analyzed and criticized this "photo-op."
Cindy McCain visited the View and it was no big deal but Michelle Obama did the same and it was Obama making over her image and trying to show that she was gentle and approachable and on and on. And while Michelle is on the view, Cindy is in Vietnam doing charity work. All of this on CNN! They are as disgusting as Fox Noise. Is this what the news should be? Is this what this great country deserves for news? If you want unbiased and straight reporting, you have to go to BBC. How embarrassing is that?

[mshazen]

I'm with you everyone is always bagging on FOX as well they should be, but I have been unhappy with CNN for quite sometime.

[BigSmoke]

I agree with you 100%. CNN spins every story to put McCain in a positive light while critically analyzing Obama's every move. Lou Dobbs pretends to be an Independent by criticizing the candidates but offers the same republican spin. Same with Blitzer and Brown. This is too much noise for Americans to make an informed decision. Pro-choice women actually voiting for McCain because Hillary lost; struggling working class voting for McCain b/c Obama will raise your taxes;seniors voting McCain b/c Obama is "too new" or maybe "too black"; catholics voting for McCain b/c Obama is a muslim. Thank God I am Canadian. We watch CBC to find out what is actually happening in the world. Your country will vote for McBush, stay in Iraq another 10 years, invade more countries that did not attack you, face more economic & environmental disasters all while your tabloid corporate media distracts you with another hurricane and Americans seriously ponder who will be the next American Idol. Good luck with all that.

[PioneerKing]

Flip-flop McCain was strongly against George Bush's tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy now he is for the tax cuts
"No new taxes." -- John McCain, this February
"I'm not making a 'read my lips' statement, in that I will not raise taxes." -- John McCain, two weeks later flip-flopped
Flip-flop McCain co-sponsored the DREAM ACT to grant legal status to children of illegal immigrants when they graduate high school now he is against the legislation.
Flip-flop McCain was against waterboarding and other torture before he began running for president
But this year, he voted to allow the C.I.A. use these techniques.
Now he's against his own torture bill.
Is there really anything John McCain won't flip flop on?
Flip-flop McCain said he would not support repealing Roe v. Wade
Now that he's running for president, he's changed his mind and courting people he calls "agents of intolerence."
Flip-flop McCain was even against a holiday for Martin Luther King
before he eventually supported it " kinda like he would have rushed to New Orleans if he wasn"t busy eating birthday cake with G. W. Bush.
Flip-flop McCain!
You just can't trust what John McCain says.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/friday-talking-points-28_b_97520.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1209151387-fN6M0n2cqu2yfS929ddH/g&oref=slogin

[Suthngal]

Jack is the only reason I watch Wolf's show.

[leftoflennon]

I dont watch Blitzer, I tune in when i know Cafferty's time is on.

[edwarvir]

I agee give jack C his own show he has earned it. I am tired of all
the other Suck up!!!!! especially WOLF BLITZER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[FLindependant]

The only thing good on CNN is Cafferty and Candy Crowley.

[Suthngal]

I forgot all about her. Candy is good. She seems so unbiased.

[KarlaElisa]

I only tune into CNN for the Cafferty files and sometimes if I leave the TV on I get to see Cafferty make an ass of Blitzer when he has to answer his questions when they put those silly panels of 3 up. Love those moments.

[StanTheManic]

QUOTE

It's not everyday that Senator John McCain's tendency to switch positions on important issues

BUT

It IS EVERY DAY ---- TWO WORDS --- that this country and people who pass themselves off as writers use "everyday" when they need "every day" and vice versa.

Why do I care, I'm just a dumb-ass hick out here in the sticks???

Maybe because I've been passed over for some of the same jobs these dumbasses end up getting

and they can't write their ways out of flood-ravaged paper bags.

You can HEAR this country getting dumber by the second ...

every day ...

(or for the dumbasses) EVERYDAY!!!