One of the American mainstream media's favorite John McCain memes is that South Carolina voters rejected the Arizona Republican in 2000 because of a baseless smear campaign about McCain's personal life. That bias is so infectious it's now a global pandemic, just witness this item from the January 18 edition of the London-based Financial Times:
McCain hopes to avoid repeat of 2000
For John McCain, victory in tomorrow's Republican primary in South Carolina would exorcise the ghosts of the bitterest moment in his political career.
It was in South Carolina in 2000 that his first presidential campaign crumbled after a vicious smear campaign by supporters of his opponent, George W. Bush.
A barrage of misinformation was spread through phone calls and leaflets, including claims the Arizona senator had fathered an illegitimate black child and that his wife was a drug addict.
The smears reinforced doubts about Mr McCain among social conservatives and helped deliver Mr Bush a victory that set him on course for the Republican nomination.
The problem, of course is that the smear tactics were not only never proven to be linked to the Bush campaign, they are taken on face value as THE driving factor rather than conservative distaste for the more liberal stances of John McCain when set in contrast to then-Gov. Bush.
For example, McCain ran, to be charitable, gun-shy on income tax cuts compared to then-Gov. Bush's tax cut plans. What's more, McCain actually pushed some tax hikes and demagogic rhetoric about a major industry in South Carolina centered on the state's most profitable cash crop, tobacco.
Take this Nexis transcript excerpt from Linda Douglass's report on the Feb. 3, 2000 edition of ABC's "World News Tonight" (emphasis mine):
DOUGLASS: (VO) But for the most part, McCain avoided talking about Bush today. Instead, he got into another fight with tobacco companies. McCain wants to raise tobacco taxes. Today, a group which has had ties to cigarette companies began running an ad attacking him. He jumped at the chance to respond.
Sen. McCAIN: I'm honored by the attacks by people who have addicted our children and lied to Congress.
DOUGLASS: (VO) McCain even said he despises the tobacco companies. It was the kind of blunt talk his campaign thrives on--taking on the tobacco industry in a state where it is the number-one crop. It might be a shrewd move. Farmers here are angry at cigarette companies for buying more tobacco abroad. McCain's aides say it is working. More than $ 700,000 has poured into his Web site in two days.
The day before, ABC's Dean Reynolds aired a soundbite from Bush laying his soft-but-firm critique of McCain:
Gov. BUSH: I wouldn't call John a liberal. I would say that on key points he's taken the Democratic position.
McCain's war on tobacco and squishiness on tax cuts played a heavy if not central role in Bush's Palmetto primary victory, it just doesn't fit a liberal meme that boosts the "campaign finance reform"-boosting senator while tarring southern conservatives as racist bubbas.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
Is the SC primary an open
January 18, 2008 - 18:25 ET by Chris NormanIs the SC primary an open one? How well would McCain do in these things, if independents weren't allowed to vote? McCain is the gum on the shoe of the Republican Party.
I care not what causes Sen.
January 18, 2008 - 17:31 ET by R D HelmI care not what causes Sen. McCain to sink this time around, just as long as he sinks. And soon.
This may fall under the category of "wishfull thinking," but I hope Fred Thompson beats Sen. McCain handily in South Carolina. Or at least comes in a very close second.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe
McCain
January 18, 2008 - 18:01 ET by Jerry MackMcCain: Yes on amnesty, No on tax cuts.
Note for the Msm: Republicans will pick our own candidate.
Yes, the SC primaries are
January 18, 2008 - 19:24 ET by Col SmokeYes, the SC primaries are indeed open: you can vote in either, but not both.
It's quite common for Democrats to attempt to "mess up" the GOP primary (ie McCain voters). It'll be a big problem this year, because the socialist primary is a week later than ours. Remove their Democrat base, and the Huckster and McCainnedy go down in flames.
McCain's boat has sailed
January 18, 2008 - 20:20 ET by Lame CherryWhy is it Chuck Yeager can be a hero and continuously live his life so that every American loves him...........
and then you get a postules like John Kerry, Jim Webb and John McCain who just take a moment of honor and turn it into a festering sore stinking up the place.
Senator McCain, retire. Just go away, be some ambassador to Russia for a few years, be an American and then just retire and let people remember you are a brave man and a war POW hero.
All I think of you now is you being a liar, a twister, a jerk politician in bed with jerks like Teddy Kennedy and mafia casino shill.
That is no way for you to be remembered and you keep this campaign up for President and people will only remember the worst of you sir.
Liberals will spit on your tombstone at Arlington and make snide comments on your passing and there will be stone silence from Conservatives for your betrayal of the GOP and Barry Goldwater.
Senator you need a real friend to tell you these things as all you are doing is destroying the GOP and alienating the only people who ever cared about you.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
What else does McCain have to do for people not to vote for him?
January 18, 2008 - 22:46 ET by PopularTechI don't think he will be able to blame conspiracy theories this time if he loses the nomination.
Age: 71
Betrayal, deceit, corruption and John McCain (The U.S. Veteran Dispatch)
"While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 - just a month after dumping his crippled wife and securing a divorce."
Abortion:
John McCain Supports Embryonic Stem Cell Research (Audio)
McCain Softens Abortion Stand (The Washington Post)
"But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." - John McCain
Foreign Policy:
McCain falls asleep during the State of the Union Address (Video)
McCain to Close Gitmo: "The first day I am President" (Video)
Global Warming:
McCain and Lieberman Push for New Anti-Global Warming Legislation (The National Center for Public Policy Research)
Senators McCain and Lieberman Propose Energy Tax (The National Center for Public Policy Research)
"No drilling in ANWR, nor in the Everglades... To think that drilling in ANWR is the solution to our incredible energy needs is frankly, is not keeping in the reality of what's there, and what it would take to get it out" - John McCain
Illegal Immigration:
John McCain gets a 'D' on his Immigration Voting Report Card (Americans for Better Immigration)
John McCain Praises Pro-illegal Protests (NewsMax)
McCain called plan 'amnesty' in 2003 (WorldNetDaily)
"I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people, Amnesty has to be an important part..." - John McCain, 2003
Michigan Crowd Boos McCain On Illegal Immigration (Video) (1min)
McCain Voted For Illegal Immigrants To Collect Social Security (UC Daily News)
Taxes:
McCain Boasts That He Voted Against The Bush Tax Cuts (Video)
McCain Would Vote Against Tax Cuts Again (The Club for Growth)
- McCain sponsored and voted for an enormous 282% tax increase on cigarettes in 1998
- McCain was one of only two Republican to vote against the $1.35 trillion tax cut in 2001
- McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against permanent repeal of the death tax in 2002
- McCain was one of only three Republican to twice vote against the $350 billion tax cut in 2003
McCain’s Costly Tax on Energy (National Review Online)
- The EPA Estimates Sen. McCain's Plan Would Hike Gas Taxes By 68 Cents Per Gallon
- The EPA Estimates Sen. McCain's Plan Would Reduce United States GDP By As Much As $5.2 Trillion
McCain Rejects Anti-Tax Pledge (CNSNews)
Veterans:
McCain Can't Buy His Way Out of Votes Against Funding for Veterans
- McCain Voted Against $19 Billion for Military Hospitals
- McCain Voted Against Amendment to Provide $2.8 Billion For Veterans' Medical Care
- McCain Voted Against 2005 Amendment to Provide Guaranteed Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care
- McCain Voted Against Establishing $1 Billion Trust Fund to Provide Improvements to Military and Veterans' Health Facilities
- McCain Voted Against Adding $1.5 billion to Veterans' Medical Services in FY 2007 by Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes
- McCain Voted Against Mandatory Funding of $6.9 Billion in FY 2007 and $104 Billion Over Five Years for Veterans' Health Care
The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource
He could quit. :-)
January 18, 2008 - 23:06 ET by R D HelmNone are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe
Honestly, the only reason
January 18, 2008 - 23:28 ET by CortillaenHonestly, the only reason this bumbling fool has managed to hold his position (in polls, primaries, and otherwise) is because the MSM supports him as "Mr. Straight-Talk", maverick of the GOP, and all-around great guy (except for his being in the GOP, but being a maverick helps, right?). They've kept so much of his voting history from reaching masses of people that opinion of him hasn't been completely shot to hell. If everyone know what he really stands for, the liberalization of the still vaguely-conservative Republicans, he wouldn't have a prayer on this side of the aisle, and the Dems wouldn't take him in thanks to his record on war issues being too reasonable for them. That leaves him with a third-party or independant position, and I really don't think he has the guts for that.
www.rhjunior.com Great comics with a hefty dose of Christian and anti-nutjob goodness.
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