Jack Cafferty's 4 o'clock question Wednesday dealt with the interesting position John McCain finds himself in while he tries to play both sides of the fence on literally every issue in an attempt to secure the support of the dwindling GOP base, while at the same time trying to maintain his moderate, maverick image.
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"So here's the question. How clear is it where John McCain stands on the issues?"
I've said this before and I'll say it again: When the history of the 2008 election is written, the main theme will be the tragic fall of John "Maverick" McCain who sacrificed every honorable principle he ever had at the altar of rabid and unappreciative Republican base,alienating everyone outside of that shrinking group in the process. Oh yea, that and America electing it's first African-American President.
Full transcript below the fold:
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: If John McCain doesn't stop changing his position on the issues, he threatens to make John Kerry look like an amateur. In order for McCain to win in November, he has to appeal to both the traditional Republican base and to Independents.
Dana Milbank, in "The Washington Post," says that's a delicate dance. And if McCain's not careful, "... he's liable to break a hip." Of course, any doctor will tell you a broken hip can be very difficult to recover from.
On Iraq, the economy, guns and God, McCain is to the right. On immigration, campaign finance reform and global warming, McCain is to the left. Sort of reminiscent of John Kerry back in 2004.
McCain went after Barack Obama yesterday for proposing a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. A month ago, McCain said he was willing to consider a windfall tax on the oil companies.
What about offshore drilling? During his run for president in 2000, McCain was against it. Now he's for it, saying the states should decide if they want to drill for oil off their coastlines. This could cost him big-time in states like California and Florida, which are very environmentally conscious.
Then there are the Bush tax cuts. McCain was against them twice, now he's for them.
McCain has also called for the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be closed down and torture banned. But last week he criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that detainees there should have access to U.S. courts, calling the Supreme Court decision one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.
So here's the question. How clear is it where John McCain stands on the issues?
Go to cnn.com/caffertyfile. You can post a comment on my blog -- Wolf.
