Rachel Maddow blasts McCain’s ‘utterly incoherent’ policy positions

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010 11:43 EST
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MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow mocked what she described as “utterly incoherent” policy positions of Arizona Senator John McCain on Monday, saying she believes he is so inconsistent he renders “the phrase flip-flop meaningless.”

“One of my favorite political conflict stories of all time is the sharp, bitter, decisive, at times inhumanely polarizing political conflict between John McCain and John McCain,” Maddow said.

On her show, Maddow showed a number of clips in which McCain contradicted himself on various different issues.

“John McCain, for example, against the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans,” said Maddow. “John McCain, on the other hand, totally for those very same tax cuts.”

Maddow also showed a clip of McCain from 2008 in which he argued for cap and trade legislation, saying it was a “free market approach” to environmental policy, then, in 2009, McCain is shown deriding cap and trade legislation as “cap and tax.”

“John McCain’s positions on every major policy issue that he has faced in the Senate are now utterly incoherent,” said Maddow. “What John McCain says he thinks about something at any one moment carries this great weight in the Beltway and gets written up and pontificating over, despite the fact that if you wait five minutes, John McCain is likely to have a totally different stance on the same issue.”

In October of 2006, McCain said he would support the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” if military leadership supported repealing it.

“The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change the policy,’ then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility to,” he told an audience of Iowa State University students.

But recently he has attacked the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, saying the impact such a repeal would have on the morale and effectiveness of US troops must be addressed first.

“Senator John McCain’s stances on legislation and important policy issues and principles are so fundamentally inconsistent as to render the phrase flip-flop meaningless,” quipped Maddow. “And yet John McCain is still viewed as a Washington oracle, as a guy you’ve got to win over.”

“If you do fail to win him over though, don’t worry, a new John McCain might come along any minute now and maybe you will have better luck with him.”

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  • Elim

    McCain is senile. How much longer will he be able to hide it?

  • Anonymous

    And this clown crashed how many planes? And killed how many sailors? (Forestall) And killed how many Americans through his lack of caring about anyone that wasn’t born rich, or married richer?

    http://www.RepublicansAreADisease.com

    And McCain is one of the best Republicans. They go downhill from him….

  • Anonymous

    John has bent over so many times for votes to get re-elected that he can’t remember whose ass or dick he has sucked or kissed. On a college campus he kisses the asses of the young electorate and supports repeal; but go to a tea bagger party and he pretends to be appalled by the notion of repealing DADT. God bless the idiots who re-elected this ass munch obstructionist career politician. He looks crazy and probably is.

  • Walt

    McCain, the ultimate flip-flopping politician. McCain who has been sucking on the tax payer’s tit all his life. McCain, the symbol of out-of-touch, sell-out Washington politics. And what to the Arizona tea party, that is all about change, do? They vote back in this old, dinosaur who represents nothing but more of the same. Tea baggers = hypocrites… ignorant hypocrites, that is.

  • http://topsy.com/www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/rachel-maddow-blasts-mccains-utterly-incoherent-policy-positions/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention Rachel Maddow blasts McCain’s ‘utterly incoherent’ policy positions | Raw Story — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cary D Conover, 93.7 WBLK: T-Boogie, WorldNewsRecord, LoveU, Founder Fire and others. Founder Fire said: #teaparty #glennbeck Rachel Maddow blasts McCain's 'utterly incoherent' policy positions… http://tinyurl.com/24huxw8 #capandtrade #912 [...]

  • http://twitter.com/shivabeach Shiva

    I think John McCain had a good history in the Senate for his party and for the American people up until he ran for president. Once he ran for president he changed out every single subject possible and probably some no one even knows about. There is no doubt in my mind that he should retire because he has now pending like the grass in the face of the tea party. He is going back and forth trying to be a hard conservative when he never has been a hard conservative. Like so many of our Republican Congressman who are trying to be something that they are not.

    He should retire while he has some tiny shred of respect left both by the people and from himself

  • Anonymous

    in 2000 i had a lot of respect for john mccain and would have voted for him as a third party candidate. but since then he threw off his maverick cloak and pandered to any and all on the right. when he chose sarah palin his loss of his mental health became clear. since losing the election no one knows were he stands on anything from one day to next. he seems angry and bitter. i believe his mind is going if not gone. he should follow in the steps of his hero ronnie reagan and retire to a ranch before he embarasses himself to much or causes seriuos damage to our already damaged country.

  • Anonymous

    Songbird McPain is a traitor. He ratted out his fellow POWs to the NVA. Google about him.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/3NVQSZZC5IM66JEOCSFJUV7FCE Jacques G

    McC changes direction faster than AC current. This dork needs to be put out to pasture before he has a brain hemmorage. America needs to see this kind of example with all the new GO TEA candidates before the 2012 elections. This is a good start.

  • Anonymous

    Isn’t there a home for old senile sailors? Isn’t it someplace in AZ?

  • Anonymous

    I heard that McDonald’s is going to be offering a new sandwich to honor John McCain’s many years in government service. It will be marketed as a hamburger, it will look old and shriveled up but taste like spicy chicken, and best of all… will turn itself into a fish sandwich when you’re halfway through.

  • Anonymous

    So what would be your solution…? I’m assuming you’d have told your North Vietnamese captors nothing, right?

  • Anonymous

    Face it, Grampy is getting old. Hell, at his age not only should you expect to see some mental degradation but he is lucky to find his shoes in the morning. Give the old codger a break, it’s not like he has his finger on the big red button or anything. The beating that Dumbya Bush put on him in the 2000 election ruined him for good. A dog that has been beaten is never trustworthy again, and McCain is that dog.

    As long as the fine people of AZ think he is up to the job he should be allowed to continue.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/K2PHXJ2SVTZOHLQFOKQOWVT7MQ ByBull

    Christopher Hitchens on Rev. Falwell… ending with – “Tell it to Jack Abramoff”!!!
    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKkOSMaTk4 ]

    Lieberman Whispers to Correct McCain.
    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5trxPYpYNQ ]

    McCaiin’s Associate/Pastor John Hagee’s guest speaker “Holy Joe Lieberman” with guest appearance by Tom DeLay”…
    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjMRgT5o-Ig ]

    It’s simply the God infused Dominionist Neo-Cons attempting to shape our world in their view.

  • Anonymous

    Well, all those McInsane supporters who watch Maddow have some thinking to do now.

  • http://twitter.com/shivabeach Shiva

    in my opinion John McCain is a good example of reasons why we should have term limits. Two terms in both houses and you’re gone.

    The mark of a good employee is that you can walk away from your desk one day and someone else can fill it tomorrow and carry on. that’s what we need. No one to get too used to one chair

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XXNFDD44TK7ODM5MXSBV3VUWDA Roberta

    One one piece of legislation for his entire time in Washington!! So he’s there for the pork?

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/K2PHXJ2SVTZOHLQFOKQOWVT7MQ ByBull

    I think you’ll find that James Dobson of “Focus on the Fascist®” fame, selected Palin and look what it did to his numbers, once the fundies got on-board. :-O

    “Max Blumenthal – Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party”
    [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cndYA7tAV6k ]

  • bonkerslite

    The who that do what? I would love it if people like that watched Maddow and thereafter had their facts straight, but I doubt they tune in.

  • Anonymous

    John McCain was born with a silver medal in his ass.

  • someother patriot

    SPEAKING AS A CERTIFIED WINGNUT

    This guy needs out on his ass so bad but the old-line GOP is massively powerful here in AZ. As you can see with Arpio and “Keeting 5 McCain”, securing a conviction is near damn impossible in this state.

    Maricopa county in particular, the cops, judges and prosecutors are ALL on the party take. Why keep skeletons in the closet when we have so much desert? Lotta holes in that desert, most of them occupied.

    So I’ll gladly watch Maddow or anybody else take him apart but it’s gonna take more than this. Hope to have your continued help. In return, we’ll help you set up Carribou Barbie and take her down by fracturing the conservative vote.

  • ProChoiceGrandma

    I am actually grateful to Sarah Palin for one thing – (hold on, hear me out!) and that is for opening my eyes to the absolutely frightening fanatical “Christian” fundamentalists who have been placing their cult members on our school boards, hospital boards, city and county seats and finally their attempt to place one of their chosen fundies in a position of being a heartbeat away from the Presidency of the United States.

    The Religious Wrong and the Neocons work hand in hand – for a mutual exchange of favors. The Neocons profit by military industrial interests and deregulation of big corporations to rape our economy and the world’s economy. The Religious Wrong get their for-profit private schools when our public schools lose funding. All the more young minds to brainwash with their fanaticism. Along the exact same lines used to create Hitler’s Youth.

    http://palingates.blogspot.com/search/label/religiongate

  • http://www.facebook.com/rogerrh Roger R. Hill

    Yep I’m with the original John McCain before the body snatchers implanted those you know chips, Actually John McCain has been dead for a couple / 3 years

  • Anonymous

    McCain has no shame, that’s for sure……if I had been caught in so many contradictions…I would be embarrassed and ashamed of myself….but then I am human, and I don’t have millions of dollars to ease my conscience

  • Anonymous

    Too late.

  • Anonymous

    He stopped hiding it years ago.

  • Anonymous

    Film what film?

  • Anonymous

    I agree with you

  • Anonymous

    When it comes to Arizona politics McCain personifies the RAIN BARREL THEORY where scum rises to the top.

  • http://www.worldspinner.us/tax-day-tea-parties World Spinner

    Rachel Maddow blasts McCain's 'utterly incoherent' policy ……

    Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……

  • http://twitter.com/OMGWhatDidWeDo Trevinla

    The saddest thing about McCain right now is that the only thing keeping him alive is hate!!!

  • Anonymous

    i watched the youtube video, i had seen excerps but to watch the entire
    thing is unnerving to say the least. thanks ,i will sleep uneasily tonight.
    we are in very deep shit in this country.

  • http://twitter.com/Covert4Liberty Freedom Rings

    Hell hath no fury like a losing politician.
    Term Limits for both parties and both houses.
    If it’s good enough for POTUS, it’s good enough for COTUS

  • Anonymous

    Oven Fries McCain is a real loon, the real thing but better fully baked – perhaps he should start smoking weed to stave off that rising tide of Reagunitis (oldtimers)!
    Nothing he says or does makes any sense, never did – the only good thing he’s ever been good at was crashing planes and yabbering on the radio for the North Vietnamese while imprisoned. Can’t polish a turd, not even his!

  • Anonymous

    McPain is a traitor. Google “Songbird McCain” to see what his fellow POWs think of him.

  • http://www.windstonemusic.com hourglass1

    no – not a exactly a traitor, chris. a seriously injured man of rank and privilege who negotiated and collaborated with the enemy and seriously demoralized his fellow prisoners of war and probably delayed their release until evidence of his assistance to hanoi and to uncle ho’s cause were erased to his satisfaction.

    we (america) were bombing schools and hospitals, er, i mean infrastructure then too. but no, he is not a traitor – he is, however, a self-serving survivor at anyone else’s expense, just witness maddow’s piece – but certainly NOT a war hero or a breath of fresh air in DC.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jesse-Gaither/100000257366724 Jesse Gaither

    I have never understood why Term Limits isn’t an “Across the Board” kind of thing.

  • Anonymous

    I believe that when all the smearing had concluded in the South Carolina primary, back in 2000,,orchestrated by ROVE and his minions,,McCain directly confronted W.Bush on the air and of course Bush knew nothing about it. Imagine then McCain having to kiss Bush’s ASS to continue the sinking boat he was about to launch to no place….After this incident occured I noticed a big change in Mr McCain’s outlook on “TRUTH”,,,It did not seem to matter much any more,,ROVE had made it an art form,,So McCain jumped on board….Rove remembers his LIES but JOHN does not !!,,,there have been so many “U” turns with this guy that you wonder why he’s allowed on the road…McCain believes,,as do many other politicians ,,that the American people are basically stupid and high on APATHY,,,Just let me watch all the sports,,dancing with the stars,,soup operas,,American Idol and the rest of this mind numbing swill,,I do not want to hear about Financial disasters,,term limits,,corruption at the highest places in business and government,,two useless wars that the Pentagon does not want ended,,lobbyists just about in control in Washington D.C.,,Immigration policies designed by a 3 year old,,What infrastructure problems here at home,,,Inflation,,what inflation,,you see inflation,, then you need to stay out of the food stores and so it goes…Our best days are behind us if the next generation does not pick up the torch and try to solve these very serious problems,,,Lets see ,on my new cell phone , can I text all my friends,,You tube,,Twitter and Face-book in just one keystroke? ? Charles Belenchia…….Plymouth,,Mich.

  • Anonymous

    The big change started with McCain after the South Carolina primary back in 2000,,he had to kiss BUSH’S ass after ROVE and his minions had spread all these lies about him,,,ROVE has elevated lieing to a new art form while McCain can not remember what he said this morning…Most politicians believe the American people are stupid and high on APATHY,,,Just give us 24/7 sports,,dancing with the stars,,soup operas,,American Idol,,,Fox noise and the rest of this mind numbing swill,,,we can not be bothered with 2 endless wars,,tax breaks for the wealthy,,,corruption just about every-where,,,infrastructuer that looks fine with me,,,Dodging pot holes is really kinf of fun,,,lobbyists,totally out of control,,,White-collar crime pays very well,,,just ask the Wall St types and the fellows that presided in the biggest day-light robbery in world history ,,,what fiscal problems?,,,we are doing quite well,, thank you and are looking forward to the BUSH tax cuts to continue,,,life is good here at the 2% mountain top,,we are proud that here dollar bills fall as fast as the falling leaves,,,Inflation ? what inflation,,you see inflation,,,well just stay out of the food stores !!! Dollar being de-valued,,,no problem with that,,It makes me feel good to pack a wad of cash in all 4 pockets just to buy a few kum-quats,,,,,,,Sorry I have to twitter,,face-book,,,text every person in the Plymouth,,Mich phone book,,,Is this the generation that will solve some of our very serious problems ? ?…………………………………….Charles Belenchia……….Plymouth,, Mich

  • Anonymous

    McCain was ask by David Gregory on Meet the Press about same thing Maddow brought up. McCain replied: Is there a statue of limitations? That’s his shallow answer when cornered. McCain is nothing but a weathervane.

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    [...] concessions to overcome another Republican filibuster, previously led by the once-mavericky flip-flopping Sen. John McCain (AZ), whose political expiration date has long since expired. Who will win the [...]

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    [...] is out of touch and out of step with the majority of Americans. If McCain wins the upcoming DADT senate showdown, [...]