Liberty Maven

We have labeled John McCain has a political opportunist who does not truly represent what the general public thinks of him. Every news item coming out regarding McCain lately only reinforces this view. The latest discusses him dancing himself away from the policies and record of George W. Bush.

This week it was the ill-timed “Mission Accomplished” banner that the White House hung behind Bush five years ago when Bush declared major combat operations over in Iraq.

“I thought it was wrong at the time,” McCain said in Cleveland on Thursday, proceeding to criticize Vice President Dick Cheney’s various comments over the years that the Iraqi insurgency was in its “last throes” with “a few dead-enders” all that was left. (Source: Reuters)

Well that’s certainly easy to say in hindsight after what has become of the Iraq war. Sure he was critical of the Bush administration’s methods, but can anyone find a quote or speech from McCain saying that it was wrong? No one can because it doesn’t exist. In fact, he echoed the President’s words saying “the major conflict is over” as discussed in this Huffington Post article.

So while Ron Paul’s foresight and knowledge continues to get validated, John McCain continues to try to polish his maverick straight talker image. Unfortunately, it seems to be a successful strategy on a public that would rather play Grand Theft Auto IV than pay attention to politics. Although given the choices we have for President, other than Ron Paul, playing GTAIV may be a better way to use your time. That is unless you are going to help Constitution and liberty-minded candidates running for office get elected.

I think It is revealing that a former McCain spokesman recognized this strategy.

Todd Harris, a former spokesman for McCain, predicted it will be hard for Democrats to change McCain’s image as a maverick with an independent streak.

“There’s an old adage in marketing that says it’s always easier to create public opinion than to change it, and John McCain’s image with the public has been long established,” he said. (Source: Reuters)

Liberty Maven is not made up of a single Democrat, so it isn’t only the Democrats trying to reveal the truth of the John McCain myth. As a glutton I almost hope McCain wins the White House, just so we can watch his implosion from maverick to recognized myth by his own hand.