By Mr. Curmudgeon
Catty New York Times fluff columnist, Maureen Dowd, is disappointed in Arizona’s Sen. John McCain. “The man used to be such a constructive independent that some of his Republican Senate colleagues called him a traitor. Now he’s such a predictable obstructionist that he’s in the just-say-no vanguard with the same conservatives who used to despise him.” That’s a marked change in tone for the newspaper that endorsed McCain in New York’s presidential primary, describing him as “the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe.” What the Times calls “constructive independent,” McCain dubbed “reaching across the aisle.” But accommodating the party of ACORN, Cash-for-Clunkers and death panels has energized Dowd’s “angry fringe,” which consists of conservatives, moderates and independents – the ones who either stayed home last election or voted for President Obama.
While appearing on Fox New Sunday, host Chris Wallace asked, “Does the fact — you may argue whether it is a fact, but does the perception that you have moved to the right this year have anything to do with the fact that you might face a possible primary challenge from former conservative congressman J.D. Hayworth next year?”
McCain squirmed a bit in his chair and answered. “I have always taken every race that I’m in seriously, no matter who’s running against me. But the fact is that I have gotten back in the arena. I have fought for the things that I believe in. I’ve worked with the administration on defense acquisition reform, on a whole variety of issues.”
“I will continue. I believe the job of the loyal opposition is to work with the president and the Democrats where you can. But where it’s philosophically fundamentally different, do everything you can to see that your point of view prevails.”
“And I’ve been very happy to have the teamwork with my colleagues and the Republicans in the Senate and the work they’ve been doing, and I’m proud of every one of them.”
Bad answer, John. It may help to smooth the ruffled feathers of your friends on the editorial board at the New York Times, but patting yourself and your Republican colleagues on the back for working with “the president and the Democrats where you can” isn’t making you any friends among the angry and growing “fringe.”
Columnist Dowd and her fellow Democrats may condemn McCain and his fellow Republicans for not casting one vote for ObamaCare, but just saying no to the Democrat’s modern equivalent of the Fugitive Slave Act is not enough. Conflicted Republican “mavericks” must articulate what they stand for. Unfortunately, that is a quality beyond the capabilities of McCain and his confused fellow Republican squishes. This makes McCain vulnerable in his upcoming primary battle with the articulate and conservative J.D. Hayworth. Go get him J.D. Freedom loving people and the Tea Party (a.k.a., “the angry fringe”) are depending on you.
