Live By McCain....EJ Dionne is disappointed in
his Maverickness:
In April 2004 I put in a call to John McCain's office to see if he would respond to a group of House Republicans who had attacked his fellow Vietnam veteran John Kerry.
In a preview of coming assaults, the Republicans accused Kerry of, among other things, "aiding and abetting the enemy" by coming to oppose the war in Vietnam, where Kerry had earned so many medals.
McCain's spokesman at the time said he doubted his boss would want to get into the controversy. But within an hour or so, McCain called back to denounce the attacks on Kerry. "He's my friend. He'll continue to be my friend," McCain said. "I know his service was honorable. If that hurts me politically or with my party, that's a very small price to pay."
That was McCain the Maverick, who has won much affection outside the ranks of his own party. McCain the Maverick fought for campaign finance reform, took global warming seriously, opposed Bush's tax cuts and spoke out against torture.And, not coincidentally, was the Republican that E.J. Dionne could go to for a quote knocking other Republicans. Now, with two years to go to the next presidential election and McCain the apparent front-runner, E.J. can't rely on McCain anymore.
Captain Ed
looks at the same story and comes to the same conclusion. This article does back up
John Hawkins' argument that McCain's glowing press is about to get a great deal more negative.
