If the sandal fits...

By J. Kingston Pierce

In 2004, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry was tagged by right-wingers as a “flip-flopper,” based on the fact that as a U.S. senator he’d had to take so many contradictory votes over the years. This was supposed to show him up negatively in contrast against George W. “Stay-the-Course” Bush, who never seemed to learn anything from his mistakes.

Now it’s John “100 Years War” McCain’s chance to wear the flip-flopper label. The Carpetbagger Report’s Steven Benen, who’s been keeping track of McCain’s repeated flips and flops, has posted a list of the most egregious examples of his inconsistent statements and positions. Among the highlights:

• McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a “‘read my lips’ candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?” referring to George H.W. Bush’s 1988 pledge. “No new taxes,” McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, “I’m not making a ‘read my lips’ statement, in that I will not raise taxes.”

• McCain claims to have considered and not considered joining John Kerry’s Democratic ticket in 2004.

• McCain’s campaign unveiled a Social Security policy that the senator would implement if elected, which did not include a Bush-like privatization scheme. In March 2008, McCain denounced his own campaign’s policy.

• In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.

• On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own legislation.

• In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.

• McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”

• McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.

• McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.

Sadly, for somebody who claims to be such a straight-talker, this list goes on and on. You can read all of Benen’s examples here. And considering McCain’s willingness to say whatever people want to hear, we can only expect additional examples of his flip-flopping to be added to this list as the campaign continues.

READ MORE: “McCain Opposes Earmarks--Except for the Ones He Likes,” by Steve Benen (The Carpetbagger Report).

(Cross-posted at Limbo.)