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Feingold: 'Citizens United' corrupts

McCain: ‘I never considered myself a maverick’

By Sahil Kapur
Monday, April 5, 2010 13:30 EST
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As a presidential candidate, distancing himself from his party was the politically astute move. But now that he’s facing a daunting primary challenge from the right, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is working to shed a label he once vigorously embraced.

“I never considered myself a maverick,” he told Newsweek’s David Margolick in interview to be published in next week’s issue. “I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities.”

McCain earned a reputation in the media as a maverick earlier in his career for breaking with his party on issues such as tax cuts for the wealthy and campaign finance reform. And he deemed it his path to victory in 2008, persistently painting himself as such in campaign speeches, rallies and ads.

In one 30-second spot that fall, he characterized the McCain-Palin ticket as a team of “original mavericks” fighting for “real change,” touting examples of the two rebuffing their party’s conventional wisdom and criticizing its leaders.

After a gracious concession speech on election day in which he pledged to work with President-elect Obama to bridge partisan divides, McCain soon proceeded to outspokenly — and at times furiously — criticize his rival’s legislative initiatives.

The reason was simple: his primary opponent this year — former Republican congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) — is a favorite of the GOP’s core right-wing base, which has long distrusted McCain for his past lack of allegiance to the party.

Responding to the biggest threat yet to his quarter-century long Senate career, McCain has tacked considerably rightward on a host of issues in the last year, including climate change, gays in the military and his support for the 2008 bank bailout.

His shift in posturing and recent spate of anger toward the Obama and Democrats has helped him open up a fairly comfortable, 15-point lead against Hayworth in a recent poll, after the two were neck and neck late last year.

McCain has also received assists from his former vice presidential pick Sarah Palin and recently-minted Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), both of whom carry notable clout with the GOP’s conservative base, holding separate campaign rallies with the two in recent weeks.

Making life more awkward for the Arizona senator was the fact that Palin, who in 2008 characterized their ticket as “a team of mavericks,” used the label several times again to describe him at their dually-held rally late last month.

The following is McCain’s “Original Mavericks” ad from 2008, uploaded to YouTube.

“I never considered myself a maverick,” he told me. “I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities.”

Sahil Kapur
Sahil Kapur
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  • Dr. Matt

    “Politics First!!”
    -McGrampa 2010

  • moneldogtags

    To the style of hip-hop:

    Not the maverick can't you see,
    Not the one on TV.
    Watch me dance cause I won't stop,
    Do that thing called the Flip-Flop!
    Flip-Flop, Flippity Flop,
    Peace Yall!

  • yaright

    OMFG. THIS FOOL IS DEMENTED. I HOPE HIS MORON NEANDERTHAL OPPONENT WINS JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HEAR FROM THIS ASSHOLE ANYMORE.

    Just goes to show ya the repugthugs will lie, steal or rape to get reelected.

    McRetired. Good riddance

  • edwards_com

    McCain knows the voters of Arizona are even stupider than he is.

  • John

    John Sidney McCain, born in Panama = pu$$y…………..

  • chriswis

    He was misquoted… He was mumbling so what they thought he said was “I never considered myself a maverick”…what he ACTUALLY said was “I think I just pooped myself a little bit…”

  • WhodaThunkit

    John McCain and Joseph Lieberman introduced a bill that is a startling assault on the U.S. rule of law. Its title: “Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention and Prosecution Act of 2010.” This radical bipartisan law, if enacted, would require that anyone anywhere in the world, including American citizens, suspected of involvement in terrorism — including “material support” (otherwise undefined) — can be imprisoned by the military on the authority of the president as commander in chief. http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2010/04/05/op…

  • larrymo

    Shorter McLame:

    “You damned kids get off my wife's lawns.
    All of em”

  • chriswis

    Seriously? That got removed? No flagging or anything? No swearing…just rippin' on McCain? The same reason I stopped posting here 3 years ago… Because I said he got misquoted and actually said “I think I just popped myself a little bit”? Really?

  • chriswis

    Oops… I swear to my liberal pagan god, my browser didn't show that comment.. my bad…I feel like a troll who gets flagged, and deleted…except I didn't really..sorry…carry on…

  • Arnold Knack

    Senator McCain is either two-faced or very disingenuous. A maverick, not a maverick. Palin was highly vetted and is very qualified. Will not work with the democrats anymore. The man should just stay home and count his homes, years or whatever. But if that means Hayworth will be elected – well I'm not sure which is worse.

  • billfromny

    Only the horse's ass.

  • http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/ Dredd

    So is McCain saying he is pure neoCon then? He is a warmonger who hates the environment which would eventually kill us all.

    We all have the right to life once we get here you know.

  • Phil E. Drifter

    Bobblehead McCain was for mavericking before he was against it.

  • Sarah Palin

    Saying he in not a maverick just shows how much of a maverick he really is.

  • Phil E. Drifter

    OMG SARAH PALIN I LOVE YOU YOU'RE SO MAVERICKY! Maverick your way out of your clothes so i can see your mavericky cottage cheese thighs!

  • Follow the Money

    This is to protect Bush admin war criminals from having evidence introduced in a court of law by detainees and their attorneys that would establish legal grounds for criminal prosecution (for war crimes and defrauding the American public) … that may lead to many inconvenient truths regarding 9/11 being an inside job Mossad's complicity in 9/11 …

  • patriot101

    Flip flop flip flop flip flop! Like a mullet out of water!

  • JPinMN

    That's great, just like with GW said it was never “stay the course” LOL

  • chester77

    That's what he said? Wow, what a maverick. I sure didn't see that comin', did you?

  • edwards_com

    Dam Larry..
    How many houses DO you have ?

  • edwards_com

    I love you sister Sara & thanks for loaning me all frocks you got from the RNC. Both of us almost pass as men. I am glad the first dude doesn't turn the lights .

  • larrymo

    Tough question to answer.

    Do you mean “my” houses, or the ones my pain-pill addicted, booze heiress purchased?

    Do you mean only the houses in the USA, or do the chateaus and beach-front Bahamian estate(s) count?

    Would the palatial estate in Hawaii count as “foreign”, or “domestic”?

    Do you mean the ramshackle one I bought and my first wife got when I ditched her for a New Model?
    So you can see, this is a really tough question.

  • larrymo

    Tough question to answer.

    Do you mean “my” houses, or the ones my pain-pill addicted, booze heiress purchased?

    Do you mean only the houses in the USA, or do the chateaus and beach-front Bahamian estate(s) count?

    Would the palatial estate in Hawaii count as “foreign”, or “domestic”?

    Do you mean the ramshackle one I bought and my first wife got when I ditched her for a New Model?
    So you can see, this is a really tough question.

  • patriot101

    And we know he never mean't Country first! Republicans are so predictable!

  • donrus

    I think the “pooped” comment is the best one so far.

  • margaretpoa

    What a coincidence! I never considered him a maverick either. Unless maverick means “lying douche”.

  • davewayoutwest

    Polls show McCain way ahead in the PETRIFIED FOREST area of Arizona, as well as holding a double-digit lead in TOMBSTONE. JD Hayworth has great support among the prime Republican demographic- white senior drug addicts (prescrition drugs, of course). What does it all mean?

  • Democratic_Socialist

    How about a “Schmuck”, John? Ever give THAT handle any thought? I know WE have!!!

  • Democratic_Socialist

    How about a “Schmuck”, John? Ever give THAT handle any thought? I know WE have!!!

  • f'art

    You “never considered yourself a maverick”??? THEN WHY THE FRUK DID YOU ADVERTISE YOURSELF AS ONE??? Either you were lying then or you're lying now. That shows a lack of character. Just like with former Alaskan governors who are quit their commitments.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/A2NDE4UO4JS5HBXQSFI7LRL2QE Michael

    Everyone considers him a chode, not a former Maverick.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/A2NDE4UO4JS5HBXQSFI7LRL2QE Michael

    I think you mean “more stupider”

  • dot

    Neither did we, John.

  • John Q Progressive

    This is great because, during the election, McInsane said that he knows where Bin Laden is and he knows how to catch him. Since we haven't caught him, we can only assume that McInsane never told anyone where he is. If this bill passes, he should be hauled away and “detained” until he tells them where Bin Laden is.

  • edwards_com

    Opps ..

  • edwards_com

    Larry,
    I understand McLame has many residences . It was in jest

  • unclejoe40

    aw jeez john, we know you are old and have admitted not being able to use a computer, but dude, we have you on tape crowing about being a maverick….we have all your campaign commercials too

    just retire and let that wingnut birther nut take your place

  • PeteWa

    Unabashed, cynical liar, John McCain speaks with his forked tongue.

  • dennycrane

    He's getting the “RayGun” death-rattle. Can't remember what to lie about.

  • dennycrane

    Nice! Let's get K'Naan to mix it!

  • dennycrane

    He's at that point that when he goes into the bathroom he can't remember why he's there, then turns to leave, then poops his pants.

  • dennycrane

    He doesn't even know where he is.

  • dennycrane

    Yeah, no shit. She had to buy them all, so the old coot could drive up any drive way and be home.

  • dennycrane

    Great!

  • MyTodd

    These politicians are playing games will the middle class is being destroyed!

    http://americaspeaksink.com/2010/04/truck-drive…

  • dennycrane

    Get a load of this from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

    144 Moby Thesaurus words for “maverick”: , , agitator, alien, ass, aurochs, beatnik, bigot, bitter-ender, bossy, bovine, bovine animal, brawler, breakaway,bullethead, bullock, carabao, character, crackpot, crank, critter, deviant, diehard, dissenter, dogie, dogmatist, donkey, dropout, eccentric, extremist, fanatic, far out, flower child, freak, free and easy, fringy, frondeur, hardnose, heifer, heretic, heretical, hermit, heterodox, hippie, hobo, hornless cow, informal, insubordinate, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, insurrecto, intransigeant, intransigent, kine, kinky, kook, last-ditcher, leppy, lone wolf, loner, malcontent, meshuggenah, milcher, misfit, mule, muley head, musk-ox, mutineer, nonconformist, nonjuror, not cricket, not done, not kosher, nut, odd fellow, oddball, oddity, offbeat, outsider, oxen, pariah, perverse fool, pighead, positivist, purist, queer duck, queer fish, queer specimen, rara avis, rebel, revolter, revolutionary, revolutionist, rioter, screwball, sectarian, sectary, solitary, standpat, standpatter, stickler, stirk, stot, subversive, swinger, traitor, tramp, type, ugly duckling, unconformist, unconventional, unfashionable, unorthodox, way out, wisent, yak, yearling, yippie, zealot, zebu

    Hell, I was sure looking for “tory.” Damn it. But I guess “ass, crackpot,traitor, off-beat musk-ox will do.”

  • Jay Mac

    That's OK, John. I've never considered you a maverick either. Just a tired old politician who will stand on a stage with anyone at anytime and say anything to anyone in a desperate bid to look like an active and relevant politician. So no problem on the “maverick” thing. You can go back to sleep now.

  • Phil E. Drifter

    I wonder how Sarah Palin is going to respond to this.

    Because you know she's too stupid to keep her mouth shut.

    She'll be tweeting about it, drunk, by the weekend.

  • markusgarvey

    actually…i have always considered him to be more of Jack Ass…

  • algionfriddo

    Gee McGrumpy… I never considered you a maverick either. I do see you as a spoiled gambling addict with a notable narcissistic streak. BTW… thanks for picking the Wasilla chillbilly. You sealed the deal.

  • kwertie

    Well Johnny, we never considered you a maverick either. We always considered you just another republican.

    We also consider you an asshole for foisting Palin on the country.

  • larrymo

    Fer shure. I sort of thought so – and your comment wasn't anywhere near “flame” level even if not.
    I thought you were setting me up for the rimshot…

    Some times my “humor” is not as polished as it was back in the 1920's, when I was the cat's pajamas in vaudeville.

  • Hooker

    Saying he's not a maverick just shows how much of a schumuck he really is.

  • ed01

    So is Palin going to say she was miss spoke, and there both not mavericks but will say anything you want to hear.

  • Anonymous

    McLame: “Vaudeville? Balderdash and tomfoolery! You darn kids, with that hippie, Bob Hope and your moving pictures and horseless carriages. Vaudeville is for scallywags, strumpets, and hooligans! What we need is for that nice young man Joe McCarthy to look into this. I want my pudding!’

  • Druthers

    Not a maverick? How could McCain imagine anyone in his right mind would think he was?

  • Anonymous

    The “misquoted theory” gains validity!

  • Anonymous

    Those little radios & TALKIES will be the downfall of Western Civilization !!

  • Anonymous

    My family was destitute, and vaudeville was the only hope for financial salvation.

    Pa had invested heavily in whale oil street lamps and buggy whips.

    He passed on mumbling, “Damn you to Hades, Tom Edison. Henry Ford, you tooooo….”
    A broken man to the bitter end.
    Which brings us back to J. Sidney McLame….

  • Anonymous

    My family was destitute, and vaudeville was the only hope for financial salvation.

    Pa had invested heavily in whale oil street lamps and buggy whips.

    He passed on mumbling, “Damn you to Hades, Tom Edison. Henry Ford, you tooooo….”
    A broken man to the bitter end.
    Which brings us back to J. Sidney McLame….

  • deadeyeAZ

    Not all of them just the ones as old as McCain, the rest of us never thought he was a maverick either…….

  • deadeyeAZ

    Not all of them just the ones as old as McCain, the rest of us never thought he was a maverick either…….

  • http://inyourfaceradio.net/?p=1816 IYFR Morning MerriGoRound Table: McMaverick – Oil Prices – Dr. No Coburn – Legalize Pot? | In Your Face Radio

    [...] Raw Story:  McCain “I Never Considered Myself a Maverick” [...]

  • icenine

    Of course that didn't stop you from building your presidential campaign around calling yourself one. Even your dumb-ass VP pick started calling herself one too.

  • Ralph

    And despite what you believe and some people keep saying, YOU ARE NOT A WAR HERO! You never were, and you never will be.

    You cost the American taxpayers millions for the losses of the planes you fucked up and even your buddies in the military considered you to be an asshole.

    The only reason you got where you are is because of daddy's influence.

    You're still a worthless piece of shit in my book.

  • christoofar

    Gramps must be off his meds again.
    Quick..someone page Paydaylin to fix things.

  • davefromoregon

    Touche'. I think that sums it up pretty well. Though I do remember him flirting with sanity after the 2000 election. he quickly thought better of it and turned into a parody of a senator.

  • nikolai

    “Flower child.” Heh

  • nikolai

    Hayworthless is WORSE. Better to have the demon you KNOW.

  • edwards_com

    Big Curd

  • ragenut2112

    LOL! zzzzzzZZZZAAAAAAP!!!

  • http://rssitaliano.com/Article/7506/ Da: tavolo iyfr mattina merrigoround: mcmaverick – i prezzi del petrolio – dr. Non Coburn – legalizzare pentola? | In faccia radio

    [...] [. . . ] Raw Story: McCain "Non mi consideravo un anticonformista" [. . . ] URL articolo originale http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0405/mccain-i-considered-maverick/comment-page-2/#comment-91241 [...]

  • http://sahilkapur.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/raw-story/ Raw Story « Sahil Kapur

    [...] McCain: ‘I never considered myself a maverick’, Raw Story, 05 Apr 2010 [...]

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