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Go Home You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry

THE PLANK JUNE 24, 2008

You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry

BY AUTHOR INFO NEEDED

John McCain cares so little about ideology, public policy, or the common good that he shifts his stands on issues willy-nilly depending on who he happens to have pissed him off at any given time.

This might, at first glance, seem an egregious smear on the Senator's character--except that it comes from an avowed supporter. As Noam* noted yesterday, former MCain hater (and hatee) Grover Norquist has come around on the presumed GOP nominee, and hopes his fellow economic conservatives will do likewise. Norquist explains away McCain's past opposition to the Bush tax cuts thus:

He was just voting against Bush in general. I think it was pique.

Ah, today's GOP, where it's considered better to oppose tax cuts out of childish spite than because you actually believe they're a bad idea. 

* Accidentally misattributed to Mike earlier. All those Stumpers look the same to me. 

--Christopher Orr

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One of the reasons I wanted McCain to win the Republican primary was because I think he was the most decent, reasonable, and non-ideological of the candidates.  I'm sure he would be a pretty good president, if not for some of his supporters.  Now, McCain is not guilty by association to the likes of Hagee, for the latter's support seems to not have changed McCain's stance on anything (a la Obama and Wright).  However, doing things like shifting positions based on your supporters (tax cuts, torture, immigration, offshore drilling) makes me think that a McCain presidency would be different than an Obama one on another level.  With Obama, you get Obama in the Oval Office.  With McCain, you get McCain's backers.  Obama has seen to have exibited more of a political spine than McCain during the campaign.

- bigfish

June 24, 2008 at 10:57am

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So, what's a worse charge: being too callow, or being experienced and inconstant?

- drdannyu

June 24, 2008 at 11:14am

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Noam and Chris have both taken note of the Fortune article in which Grover Norquist expresses his satisfaction

- Anonymous

June 24, 2008 at 12:57pm

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