It's hard to watch people change for the worse. But just like how Great Uncle Frank went from being a rugged and independent old guy to someone who couldn't recognize his kids or remember to put on pants when he went outside, John McCain went from being a sane and respectable conservative to a craven right-wing panderer. The difference? Well, there are homes for people like Frank. People like McCain run for president.
Maybe it was being screwed over by his own party in 2000 when he was passed up for the much less qualified George W. Bush, but the McCain of today is not the McCain of eight years ago. Eight years ago McCain was widely liked across party lines. He was something so few Republicans seem to be these days: respectable.
Of course, respectability doesn't win elections – at least not for today's GOP. No, today's GOP wins elections with a combination of flag wavin', fetus protectin' and gay hatin' and McCain is totally on board.
Take, for example, his recent speech before the Council for National Policy, a group described by Fox News as an "umbrella organization of influential social and religious conservative groups."
What, you've never heard of them? Well, that's just the way they want it. In fact, one of their rules, according to the New York Times, is, "The media should not know when or where we meet or who takes part in our programs, before or after a meeting." Think of them as the Skull and Bones club of the right.
You can imagine, then, that politicians like McCain feel mighty free around this group to be quite brazen about their conservative aims. After all, you've got to throw the lions some meat. So when an attendee asked McCain if he would support the anti-gay marriage amendments likely to be on the ballot in several states, McCain leapt at the chance to say yes.
Here's what the attendee asked, according to a transcript of the Senator's remarks: "Senator, we are from Ohio, and in 2004, many say that the marriage amendment made the difference for Bush. This coming election, you are going to have – Florida is already on the ballot. Arizona is more than likely going to be on the ballot, and California. Will you openly support the marriage amendments in those three States?"
McCain's answer? "Yes, sir. And as I say, I am proud to have been the honorary chairman of our effort last time [in Arizona], which was narrowly defeated, as you know, because there was a misinterpretation of the language, and we are going to clear that up. I think we can win it this time."
That's right. McCain pledged to the CNP that he would be the official anti-gay marriage amendment cheerleader president.
Gosh, all this "straight" talk is making me feel all marginalized and shit. Next time I hear someone say that McCain's "pretty good, for a Republican," I'm going to kick them right in the walnuts.
