Jukebox John Keeps Changing His Tune

It's obvious that the McCain campaign and the RNC have decided to go after Barack Obama as a flip-flopper. What's equally obvious, though, that Republicans couldn't have chosen a worse narrative.

McCain & Co. seemed to stumble on this line of attack almost by accident. They'd experimented with a variety of memes in recent months, none of which had any real salience. The right settled on "flip-flopper," in large part because it's the closest available, already-written Republican narrative, and in part because McCain staffers haven't been able to think of anything else.

The irony, of course, is that the McCain campaign couldn't have picked a more hypocritical line of attack. For John McCain to accuse anyone of excessively changing policy positions is a bit like George W. Bush attacking someone's grammar. Or Dick Cheney whining about a political figure being overly secretive.

After working on this project for a few months, I'm pleased to report that we now have a whopping 61 policy reversals from the Republican nominee. If McCain wants to argue that flip-flops are an example of a political leader who can't be trusted to keep his word or honor his commitments, McCain might as well drop out of the race now.

Remember, just two weeks ago, John McCain said, "This election is about trust and trusting people's word." Just a few days prior, the McCain campaign admonished Obama for trying to "have it both ways" on issues.

The list is a little too long to publish here, but take a look and reach your own conclusion about which candidate us trying to have it both ways. (I've numbered the list and organized it by category for easier reference.)

I should note, of course, that there's a growing sense that flip-flops don't much matter. And truth be told, I'm very much inclined to agree that there's nothing offensive about a political figure changing his or her mind once in a while. Policy makers come to one conclusion, they gain more information, and then they reach a different conclusion. That is, to be sure, a good thing -- it reflects a politician with an open mind and a healthy intellectual curiosity. Better to have a leader who changes his or her mind based on new information than one who stubbornly sticks to outmoded policy positions, regardless of facts or circumstances.

So why do McCain's flip-flops matter? Because all available evidence suggests his reversals aren't sincere, they're cynically calculated for political gain. This isn't indicative of an open mind; it's actually indicative of a character flaw. And given the premise of McCain's presidential campaign, it's an area in desperate need of media scrutiny.

Go ahead and look the list over, keeping an eye on the ideological trend. Some of the reversals are because McCain is embarrassed by what he used to believe -- he argued, for example, that the war in Iraq would be easy, which looks ridiculous now, and which leads him to argue that he knew all along that the war was "probably going to be long and hard and tough."

Most of the reversals, though, show McCain dropping his centrist/moderate credentials in order to be more in line with today's Republican mainstream. Tax cuts, foreign policy, immigration, abortion, the religious right, the environment, detainee policy, campaign finance reform. In every instance, McCain was a "maverick," willing to break with his party. Now, he isn't. The perception people have of McCain is outdated, reflective of a man who no longer has any use for his previous persona.

What's wrong with a politician who changes his or her views? Nothing in particular, but when a politician changes his views so much that he has an entirely different worldview, is it unreasonable to wonder whether it's entirely sincere? Especially when there's no other apparent explanation for five dozen significant reversals?

Are there are worse qualities in a presidential candidate than changing one's mind about a policy matter? Sure. McCain has been in Congress for more than a quarter-century; he's bound to shift now and then on various controversies.

But therein lies the point -- McCain was consistent on most of these issues, right up until he started running for president, at which point he conveniently abandoned literally dozens of positions he used to hold. The problem isn't just the incessant flip-flops -- though that's part of it -- it's more about the shameless pandering and hollow convictions behind the incessant flip-flops. That the media still perceives McCain as some kind of "straight talker" who refuses to sway with the political winds makes this all the more glaring.

Here's the list. Next time you hear Republicans label Obama a flip-flopper, point them in the direction of these 61 reversals.

Comments

[keepemhonest]

Not only is McCain the king of flip/flops ... McCain LIES about his own voting record, as if he is clueless that ALL Senator's voting records, including his, are on the world wide web.

McCain's partial list of dodge and/or LIES about his own voting record.
* GI Bill (6/2008)
* Medicare Bill (7/9/2008)
* McCain/Kennedy Immigration
* McCain/Feingold finance reform
* Bush Tax Cuts
* Funding the VA in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* HIS OWN AMENDMENT to outsource our national security contracts with China & France.
* Abortion
* Insurance companies covering Viagra but NOT birth control.
* Equal pay for women
* FISA - McCain says he is FOR the Bill & didn't even show up to vote. Accused Obama of being against the Bill even though, Obama (unfortunately) voted FOR THE BILL.

[robbor]

his name should be John ' which way is the wind blowing at this moment" McCain

[pixy242a]

He is a maverick , so he is allowed to change his position,without question from the MSM.

[robbor]

heavy, dude

[iyamchazz]

As the wind bloweth, so goes McCain. The mainstream media will never see the shifts because they have evolved into a republican political action committee.

[Relax08]

The MSM only cares about ratings. A blowout they perceive would be bad for ratings.
The press is totally irresponsible in this country!

[HallStyle]

I have been saying the exact same thing. It is a shame that the MEDIA has sunk to such low levels. The Huffingpost needs ot creat its on network. To challenge FOX, MSNBC, CNN all of them they are no longer relevant.

[americanwhocares]

LOL, I hear McSame is going to start a band, the name will be Jukebox Johnnie and the Flip Floppers.

[shel3364]

he doesn't flip-flop, he "evolves". Too bad he doesn't believe in evoultion...... of course, tomorrow he could.

[keepemhonest]

Shel3354 - Actually, you got that backwards. McCain has believed for YEARS & YEARS in evolution AND that evolution should be taught in schools

... NOW, in 2008 ... SUDDENLY ....
McCain thinks that decsions should be left up to school boards. FLIP/FLOP

[BARRISTER]

Like he "evbolved from Carol to Cindy; from a poor woman to a multimillionaire Heiress! Yea, when carol was down and out, he dropped her for a 24 year old Rich girl. Now, THAT'S FLIP-FLOPPING!!!

[PioneerKing]

McCain does not flip-flop he makes out-right reversals and when questioned about them he lies. Mc/cain is as dishonest as the day is long.

[2liveNdie]

IF NO ONE LIKES MCCAINS POLICIES OR STANCE ON ISSUES..........

WAIT A MINUTE!!!

IT WILL SURELY CHANGE TO ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE ALL OF US, BUT NONE OF US AT THE SAME TIME!!!

[Torus34]

You would think that Mr. McCain, who does not have the time to go to the Senate of the Uited States and cast his vote on such issues as the 'Patriot' Act and the G.I. Bill, would at least return his recent Senate paychecks to the Treasury. He is not doing the job for which he is being paid by me and other Americans through our taxes. Perhaps he would also enroll in a private medical insurance policy and forego his Senate medical perks.

[zendem1]

Q: How do you know when John Mccain is lying?
A: You just know.

[Tremonius]

"Q: How do you know when John Mccain is lying?"

His lips are moving.

[loislane88]

Thanks for the link to the list!!!

[midtown]

STEVE BENEN,

Create a timeline chart for simpletons. so we can REALLY SEE IT!!!

[barackobama4prez]

61...hot dayum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lvogt]

Weathervain McCain

[afgail]

Republicans have raised the art of lying to the public to breath taking heights. It appears that if a Republican is talking one is automatically justified in assuming he is lying.

[muadibe]

LOL.. that's a good one.

[THEhillbilly]

"...war hero, John Kerry..."

(snicker)

"...McSame..."

Lame, lame, lame, kid. Whoever told you to do that is laughing at you.

It would be interesting to see someone replicate this silly "project" re grandiloquent, done-nothing rookie senator Obama. (Hurry before his controllers have finished their project of moving him to dead center.) The funny thing is that he hasn't been around long enough to take 61 positions (he has lived on one position: vote the party line), let alone use the process called learning as a means of refining them. Of course there is that one notable exception. For a couple of decades, he and Michele attended to Jeremiah Wright's anti-America jeremiads, to the extent of identirying Wright as their "spiritual guide," but then political expediency compelled him to dump the old clown for the duration of the campaign.

[justhope]

Wow, I guess it is okay to call liar liar McLame a hero because he had a cushy position in the armed forces, yet you call Jeremiah Wright a man who really did something while in the armed forces. He nursed a president back to health so he could go back to the job of running the country yet you call him anti-American. I call him an honest American who isn't against calling American government to task when they have disgraced our name around the world. That is true love of country.

[theMightyT]

Spending your life organizing the poor... working for the least among us in Chicago...teaching (or lecturing on) constitutional law... organizing the biggest grass-roots political operation in a generation...

Yup.

Done nothin.

Weak, hillbilly. so weak.

[Grunty1]

Sounds like you are desperate to divert this topic. And failing miserably.

[MoeB]

LOL...THAT is your retort to Steve's list? Does McCain even have ONE issue he hasn't flipped on? But, instead of addressing McCain's numerous flips, you choose to rant about, whoa, let me guess...Rev. Wright. What.a.shock. Next, I bet you'll post 'don't vote for Obama because they hate america!'...LOL

And just for the record, NEITHER of these two candidates has any experience being commander in chief. BOTH are senators, so again, neither has any real experience governing. At least Obama has done a long stint of community organizing...which to me says that he at least has worked around and for everyday folks enough to understand their plight.

[lvogt]

Good response, dude. No refutation of the facts just change the subject.