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If you were to ask me to sum up Senator John McCain’s political career, the words “flip-flop” come to mind. Throughout his Senate career McCain has had more than his fair share of embarrassing moments, especially when it comes to civil rights issues. Whether it was voting against the creation of the Martin Luther King Holiday in 1983, endorsing George Wallace Jr. despite Wallace’s speeches to hate groups, or hiring strategist Harold Ford of Willie Horton infamy during his 2008 Presidential Campaign, McCain has sent more than a few mixed singles. So I wasn’t surprised in the least when McCain once again appeared to change his stance on the policy of “don’t ask don’t tell”.
As reported by Michael D. Shear of The Washington Post, McCain had previously been quoted as being open to changing the policy currently in place…
“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," McCain said in October 2006 to an audience of Iowa State University students.
I encourage everyone to read Shear’s article in full by clicking on the provided link. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020202588.html
That time came this last Tuesday when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, both fellow Republicans, spoke with Senators over the matter of seeking a congressional appeal of the current “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. Instead of standing by his words McCain described expressed outrage over the timing and ethics of this proposition.
Something that we must keep in mind is that McCain is running for reelection in the Senate this year, and his current stances on the issues appear to be stances that pander to the conservative voters he hopes to keep in his bid for reelection. He’s opposed President Obama’s economic stimulus package, Obama’s health care plan, and even voted against Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as if to prove his commitment to the Republican Party line. A look at his past voting record is even more disconcerting as he’s voted in favor of bills that have allowed water boarding to be used in interrogation and to designate English as the only language officially recognized by the U.S Government.
When you take everything into consideration it would have been more of a shock had McCain not been outraged over the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell”, this is after all an election year.
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