I Prefer the Phony McCain

8 Pithy Opinions #3

There seems to be two differing opinions of John McCain. Many see the "Maverick" model as the real deal and the current "Conservative" model as merely a poser making unfortunate choices to appease the party base. Others believe that the "Maverick" model was a phony and that the real McCain is the one in charge of the current despicable, pathetic, sad, moronic, evil campaign. Personally, I believe the latter. I gotta say though, I prefer the phony McCain.

(I suppose there are those who believe that John McCain is sincere all the time and is a loyal public servant and an excellent Senator and a noble and honorable man, but I have no interest in making fun of the profoundly stupid.)

The phony McCain opposed George Bush's tax cuts as dangerous and imprudent. The phony McCain collaborated with Sen. Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform. The phony McCain opposed torture. The phony McCain appeared reasonable and moderate, and unlike the majority of his party, he appeared to have a genuine concern for the people of this country.

It's hard to reconcile the phony McCain, the McCain that so many Americans supported, from both sides of the aisle, the the current model. Many in the press refuse to recognize the new model. They believe that McCain has simply lost control of his own campaign and that the direction pains him. Even Joe Biden refuses to believe this is the real McCain. Sorry folks. This is the real deal and he's as dangerous and scary and he's making Obama out to be.

I'd prefer the phony, but here's what we're stuck with. We are stuck with an Iraqi war sympathizer who refuses to discuss the poor judgement that led us into war in the first place and will only discuss the surge as if that somehow redeems all that came before. We are stuck with a war hero who was a victim of torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese but refuses to stand up and demand accountability of the torture ordered by the Bush administration during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. We are stuck with a candidate who has gamed the campaign finance system. We are stuck with a candidate who will resort to the most vile of conservative campaign tactics, including undeniable racism, sinking to depths that I didn't think any candidate for President would reach. The conservative motto is anything to win and no campaign in memory has embodied this idea more than McCain.

Yes, America may be stuck with the real John McCain as a candidate, but we don't have to be stuck with the real McCain, or even the phony one for that matter, as President. Barack Obama outshines both versions in every way. On November 4th, send John McCain back to the minority in the Senate by voting for Barack Obama.