McCain Is Not a Moderate

Like all good Democrats, I was proud of last night's candidate debate in Los Angeles. It was substantive and about the issues and both candidates showed why it is so important that Democrats take back the White House for America's working families. While last night's event was between Senators Clinton and Obama, both clearly understand that the real contest, and the most serious challenge is the candidacy of John McCain.

The main obstacle to change in America is not within the Democratic Party, it's not Senator Obama and his supporters or Senator Clinton and hers. The biggest political danger facing our country is that the Republicans will put aside their deep ideological divisions and unite behind a single candidate. And the biggest electoral danger is that McCain will be able to sustain the myth that he is a "moderate" when his policies are just as extreme as our current president's. The truth is, McCain is no different than Bush, except he has a better biography and combat experience. And those differences, of course, are helpful at the ballot box.

While it's unbelievable today that Bush ran as a "compassionate conservative," our experience of his transformation into a right-wing extremist should remind us of the schoolyard taunt: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!"

We all know the truth - McCain is not a moderate. How did he vote on expanding Children's Health Insurance? He voted no - twice, in fact - in line with Bush and his party's leaders, even though 18 Republican senators voted yes. There's nothing moderate about standing in the way of kids' access to doctor visits and medical care. And McCain's health care platform is just like Bush's - he puts profits before patients and delivers us all up to the tender mercies of the pharmaceutical and insurance companies. How about his moderate position on Iraq? He says stay in Iraq, even if it takes 100 years.

We all know what's at stake in 2008. This isn't a horse race. This isn't a game about which candidate is up or down. This election is about who's left out. Americans feel invisible, like no one really cares about their problems - and won't care enough to really do something to help them. Americans feel powerless and overwhelmed by big economic forces like the mortgage crisis and the loss of good jobs to low-wage countries. They are struggling every day to keep their heads above water and expect their government to be on their side and do something to help them.

This is a fight for a better America, an America that lives up to its ideals, an America where the basic promise of our country will ring true again - that if you work hard and play by the rules you can get ahead and give your children the opportunity to live a better life. This is a fight to end the war in Iraq, give every man, woman and child the medical care they need, and revive America's middle class. That's why we must defeat John McCain.

We're ready for the General Election, at least emotionally. That was the obvious sentiment of the audience at the debate in Los Angles last night. But Karl Rove's gang is ready, too - they're building up a huge war chest at their front group called Freedom's Watch to sling a ton of mud at us, while their nominee pretends to "talk straight" and have clean hands. Let's pick our best candidate on Tuesday (as readers know, I think that is Senator Clinton), and then close ranks and make 2008 a success up and down the ballot.

Comments

[zendem1]

If McCain were a Democrat, would his war record be under the same scrutiny as those of Max Clelland and John Kerry?

[BitJam]

McCain spews nonsense on Face the Nation.

When asked about Obama's plan to cut middle class taxes and repeal Bush's tax cuts for the rich, McCain said this would exasperate the gap between the rich and the poor.

[mbaty]

He is a manchurian candidate. Scary.

[research]

My conservative friends "SAY" the don't like McCain, but I wonder if this isn't all some Rove plan to get attention and misrepresent McCain as moderate.

Have any of the talking point source for rethugs put out the call to fool the mob by dissing McCain?

[ProudLiberalDan]

People confuse "moderate" and "reasonable". There is also "moderate" in temperment and "moderate" in ideology.

I find hatred for McCain among some conservatives bizarre. McCain may appear moderate and reasonable in temperment, but he is a doctrinaire conservative.

There was a time when conservatives believed supply-side economics was "voodoo".

It doesn't work. Tax cuts do not "pay for themselves". Everyone wants low taxes, strong defense (military, fire, police), solid infrastructure (bridges, damns, transportation, long-term projects), quality social services (social security, medicare, education). Maybe three of these things are possible -- not all four.

"Something for nothing" Conservatives sell a very popular idea. Who wouldn't want to believe you can get something for nothing?

Many people believe McCain is a moderate because he is personable as opposed to rabid and lunatic like Limbaugh and Coulter.

A lot of the American people don't really know what McCain actually believes or stands for.

I would expect a few of them to demonize McCain all the way through November to make McCain seem more reasonable and "moderate" than he actually is.

McCain is likeable and personable and a true patriot. But many Americans would be surprised to learn he wants troops in Iraq for a 100 years and his "surge" is nothing compared to what we've seen thus far.

It's laughable that what passes for a "moderate" these days is someone as right-wing as McCain.

[lgillooly]

Clinton/Obama 08 and then Obama in 8 yrs.

[desmirl]

McCain is bought and paid for by the Military/Industrial Complex. All you have to do is see his recent speech in which he was saying "Friends, we will have wars..." We will if he has HIS way, because war means money in his pocket. He is a shill for the merchants of death, and he stinks of moral decay.

[Jaybot]

Of course he's not a moderate or a 'maverick' it's all a feint to convince the public the Republicans aren't running another batshit-crazy radical right-wing end timer. It just may work, the media has been pushing this distorted view of McCain for as long as he's been in office. Just look at his record!

[steve12]

McCain is NOT a moderate; however, I also don't think that he's a conservative ideologue. He has supported some worthy causes including campaign and immigration reform. He has also criticized the Bush administration on the handling of this war when his republican compatriots were basically letting Bush be Bush.

He appears to me to be a good man, just wrong on the issues. McCain seems to be a man that prefers guns first over talk.

I would not want him as President, but I can think of a whole lot of other republicans that would be far worse.

[Doofus]

John McCain III is a military/industrial Repo, a former US Navy Captain.

His hero & predecessor, Barry Goldwater was an Air Force Major General.

Moderates? MODERATES? I don't f***ing think so!

[researcher]

he is from az where they shoot first and ask questions later and still have chain gangs. slowly changing as people move in from back east for the weather.

the neat think about az you can have as many wives as you want and the state will send you a check compliments of the az tax payers for each kid you have.

cant touch them folks as this is a morman state. you interfer with colorado city and your political career is over.

obama's wife tonight stated that politics is irrational. that is an understatment of the year.

will be the best looking first lady we have every had. even better looking than the ice queen that raised the socialpath bush jr.

[ajax2]

Anyone who had the faintest knowledge of GW Bush's history knew that Bush was neither conservative nor compassionate. It was a complete fabrication. One recent new fabrication was the media portraying Joe Lieberman as a Centrist Democrat. Joe supports wars of aggression, torture and suspension of citizens rights. Well the Democrats rejected this nonsense as being the center of anything but lawlessness. The MSM will promote McCain as a Centrist, but the question is center of what?

[DoninJoisey]

The only thing that could get me to vote for McCain would be the Clintons being the democratic nominee(s).

[Not Blind]

I'm not looking for moderate, liberal or conservative in this election. I'm looking for a competent leader who realizes and knows the challenges facing our nation, and who will take the appropriate course to implement much-needed changes in our direction.
First, we must reduce our dependence on oil. We must invest in technology that will enable us to run our vehicles, factories, farms and homes on renewable, clean energy sources. This will create a whole new innovative industry, which will create thousands of jobs, and help save our fragile environment.
Second, we must invest in our infrastructure. Roads, bridges, levees and highways have become dangerous and are in need of repair or rebuilding. This would provide many construction jobs.
Third, we must provide universal healthcare for all American citizens. Many companies cannot compete on the global market due to the cost of employee benefits. Toyota just moved a plant from Tennessee to Canada for this very reason.
Fourth, our government must cease all pork-barrell and earmark spending. We have a national debt approaching $10-trillion, and are borrowing money just to pay the interest, without paying a dime of principal. Deficit spending must stop, and an equitable tax system enacted. Tax subsidies for businesses that keep jobs in the US, and invest in research, development or new technologies are needed. Social security should be protected by raising the cap on taxable income, raising the retirement age, and more efficient management of spending.
Finally, investments in education and reducing the number of incarcerated in prisons is needed. Those with violent crimes or massive fraud (eg. Enron) should stay locked up, but those for petty theft, small drug possession (not selling) should be out to reduce the expenses of the prison system. The cost of incarcerating a prisoner is nearly $100 thousand annually.