McCain is not a 'maverick'

Joseph Farah
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Posted: August 13, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

© 2008

maverick: 1. an unbranded animal, esp., a strayed calf 2. a person who takes an independent stand, as in politics, from that of a party or group

John McCain's campaign is, not surprisingly, attempting to build on his reputation as a "maverick" politician – loyal to a higher calling than party.

The idea of a "maverick," in this political sense, has broad appeal throughout the electorate because there is a recognition in the public that the system is broken – that a new kind of leadership is needed.

But, make no mistake about it, John McCain is no "maverick" – at least not in the best sense of that term.

I can understand why that term has been used to describe McCain. It is because his views and actions are all over the ideological map. But that is not because he holds informed, principled standards of conduct. Rather, it is because he holds no consistent worldview that guides his beliefs.

And that is the reason that informed, principled voters who hold a consistent worldview – especially one based on biblical and constitutional standards – must reject John McCain as a presidential candidate.

Let me briefly recap the evidence to support my position, which is laid out in detail in my new book, "None of the Above," which debuts nationally next week (available now, autographed, and with an accompanying "None of the Above" magnetized and removable bumper sticker and a "None of the Above" campaign button):

McCain is preparing as president to sign into law the biggest illegal alien amnesty law ever passed by Congress. Because of the sheer magnitude alone, it will irrevocably, profoundly and fundamentally transform the very character and cohesiveness of this nation. And all those who vote for him will be partly responsible for at least accepting that plan and that outcome, about which McCain makes no secret.

McCain has announced he believes in the phantom crisis posed by manmade, catastrophic global warming and is prepared to open up the spigot of taxpayer dollars to the tune of billions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which will have no impact on climate, will reduce America's productivity, increase costs and which are not contributing to the natural cycle of the mild, beneficial effects of natural global warming the world is experiencing.
McCain is the co-author of one of the worst attacks on the First Amendment to the Constitution in our nation's history – the so-called McCain-Feingold "campaign reform legislation" that actually places severe restrictions on political speech and expression prior to elections. Since he boasts about this accomplishment in his campaign ads, we can be sure he will continue to sign similar bills as president and to push for similar legislation in Congress.
McCain demonstrated what kind of "maverick" he was in the U.S. Senate by working with Democrats Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. John Edwards on the so-called "patients' bill of rights" that was a major step toward the kind of socialized and nationalized medicine promoted by Democratic leadership for the last two decades. He co-sponsored more similar legislation with Sen. Chuck Schumer. As president, and with Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, McCain will eagerly sign legislation that will sound the death knell of health freedom in America.
McCain voted against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and, despite recent overtures toward the idea of increasing domestic energy production, has never changed his position – despite skyrocketing gas prices and consumer costs.
McCain voted against President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003.
McCain has cast votes for more national gun-control legislation – such as the one to close the so-called "gun-show loophole."
McCain has voted to support the unconstitutional AmeriCorps program.
McCain led the creation of the so-called "Gang of 14" – a group of "maverick" Republicans and hard-core Democrat ideologues – to block some of the best judicial appointments of President Bush, especially those committed to upholding the Constitution as the law of the land.
McCain voted for confirmation of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a former political director of the American Civil Liberties Union and probably the most extreme associate justice ever to be seated on the U.S. Supreme Court.
McCain led to the effort to strip our military forces of the tools they absolutely need to fight effectively now and in the future – especially in unconventional wars against radical Islamic terrorists – by banning effective coercive interrogation techniques (not "torture," as it is often mislabeled).
Is this, indeed, the conduct of a maverick? Or do these policy positions suggest there is actually an insidious consistency in John McCain's recent history?

John McCain actively flirted with the notion of switching parties in recent years. It seems even he realized he was out of step with that mainstream Republicanism, as tepid and inadequate as that philosophy might be to correcting America's course. But that, sadly, is the only sense in which John McCain can accurately be called a "maverick."


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