For all the criticism and defense both sides have waged against and for Sarah Palin on these boards over the past 2 weeks, we seem to have put John McCain on the back burner to focus to specifically on her. I realize that the primary and critical concern is her fitness or not to become President, should that unfortunate need arise, and it is important to address those concerns. And I know we’ve touched on what this choice says about John McCain, but only in the most peripheral way. Conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan takes that subject straight on in a piece published yesterday.
He goes on to discuss McCain supporting Bush over fellow Viet Nam Vet, John Kerry; his capitulation into enshrining torture into law; and how he started this campaign using a “series of grotesque, trivial and absurd MTV-style attacks on Obama’s virtues and [disgusting implications about Obama’s patriotism]”, then segues back into McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate.
I agree. John McCain does not have the integrity to be President of the United States.
I wholeheartedly agree. And anyone who supports his campaign at this point has judgment as bad as his. I would draw a distinction between “voting R to vote for conservative ideas or against liberal policies” and “supporting McCain’s campaign”. The former get a wee bit of cred, the latter are too far gone. Palin fans are in the second group. But he is still sure to get the support of about half the nation regardless of who he is or how he campaigns (Palin or none).
How about: The Republican Party does not have the integrity to treat people like adults.
Or: Americans do not have the integrity to DEMAND to be treated like adults.
At some point I quit blaming them for pulling such stupid tricks because they Work. Every. Time.
I definitely agree with the sentiments expressed in that article. McCain’s metamorphosis over the last several years (directly coinciding with him being primped for, then becoming the nominee) has been a tremendous let down for me. I suppose, though, that in the grand scheme of things, this is the real him, so I guess it’s good to know.
I guess I just just always held the opinion that while we didn’t agree on everything, I respected McCain’s integrity. He always seemed to stand up for what he believed to be right, even if it directly conflicted with his party’s 11th Commandment. He was the moderate Republican and that I respected, because I think extremity in beliefs is a sign of a bad leader. But now? Yeah.
Integrity? Harding? Nixon? GeeDubya? Clearly, integrity is not prerequisite. Point of fact, it is almost certainly a disqualifier. How many compromises are necessary to rise to the top, who do you have to suck off to get the money, who has the money to give?
I think Obama is an excellent candidate, and support him wholeheartedly. But I don’t kid myself, the Unicorn of Purity does not rise up from the sewers, that is a fantasy, and fantasies are dangerous.
The only way you get a better democracy is by improving the electorate, educate, enlighten and empower. When the people lead, the leaders will follow, when we demand integrity, we will get it. And not one day sooner.
True. I don’t even want to go into how much faith I’ve lost in my country. I don’t even hang out with my fellow americans here, where I have a choice not to.
Umm… isn’t advising the President on national security the job of the National Security Advisor(s)? So as long as there’s a decent NSA, it’s not a problem. One could equally make your claim about the treasury, or veterans, or many other areas.
So really, there’s absolutely no cause for complaint.
I think the possibility exists that McCain is not so much deficient in character as he is too old. I know that’s politically incorrect to say, but it’s a pretty valid concern.
It seems to be a common feature of aging that a person become more willful in little trivial ways, but very easy persuaded and unable to think critically in others. My parents are younger than John McCain and they’re already becoming astoundingly gullible and easily fooled - a few months ago my Mom almost fell for the door-to-door “let me see your gas bill” scam.
Some people start losing it at 60, some at 70, some at 80, and I think McCain started losing it - well, sometime between 64 and 72, it would appear. It could simply be that McCain is being led astray over the last few years. “You HAVE to do this, Senator. It’s the way these campaigns work…”
John McCain has more integrity than either of our last two presidents. You are not accomplishing anything by assaulting his character, except for giving people a bitter taste in their mouth.
No, John McCain chose his party over the man he had not only served with, but had traveled with to Viet Nam and had worked with on veterans issues. The John McCain I used to respect would have damned the Swift Boat campaign.
Nonsense. There is an actual issue here that is debatable.
Throwing aside overly dramatic concepts as choosing evil over good, I have to say that I was disappointed in McCain’s stand on torture. As someone who has endured it (I think he’s mentioned being prisoner somewhere. Damned if I can remember though), you’d think he’d be against it. Now it seems he’s against it with regards to the army but at best neutral with regards to the CIA. And his recent attacks on Obama (lipstick on pigs and teaching sex ed to five year olds) seem pretty far from something he would’ve done back when I supported him in 2000.
John McCain had more integrity than either of our last two presidents.
If you read the linked article and the article later posted by a Vietnam Vet I think they make a pretty compelling case as to why McCain no longer possess the integrity you speak of and the vet mentions that past honor, while noble is not a shield meaning you cannot be held accountable for current actions.
Ewwww, cooties! You sent me to KOS, that cesspool of liberalism - ptewhy, blech. I need a shower now.
You omitted the best part of the article; the conclusion:
I’m not helping? Did you miss who the author of the article who makes the allegation is?
Conservative columnist Andrew Sullivan
Seems to me the one with the bitter taste in his mouth is Andrew Sullivan. Many of us who once held Senator McCain in high esteem are embittered by his fall from grace by embracing the failed Bush policies, including torture, seeking (and obviously using) advice from Karl Rove in this campaign, and sinking to outright LIES in his advertising and stump speeches. Not fudging, not twisted or different interpretation – LIES.
One who lies – knowingly and intentionally, cannot, by definition, have integrity.
