The Dishonorable Senator John McCain

Maureen Dowd said today in an Op/Ed piece in the New York Times, “So some guy stands up after John McCain’s luncheon speech here yesterday to a group of business types and asks him a question. ‘I’ve seen in the press where in your run for the presidency, you’ve been sucking up to the religious right,’ the man said, adding: ‘I was just wondering how soon do you predict a Republican candidate for president will start sucking up to the old Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party?’ “Mr. McCain listened with his eyes downcast, then looked the man in the eye, smiled and replied: ‘I’m probably going to get in trouble, but what’s wrong with sucking up to everybody?’” The audience laughed. McCain has been quoted in print that Bush listens too much to Cheney and that Cheney and Rumsfeld mismanaged the war in Iraq. Yesterday Cheney said, “John said some nasty things about me the other day…and then the next time he saw me, ran over to me and apologized.” McCain told Cheney he had been quoted out of context. What’s wrong with sucking up to everyone? What’s wrong with saying nasty things and then groveling and whining that you’ve been quoted out of context? For starters, it’s unmanly and gutless. But in addition, it’s unctuous, sneaky, spineless, cowardly, weak and fraudulent. And this is Senator (R-AZ) John McCain’s modus operandi. A person does not suddenly become a dishonorable human being. How did McCain get through five years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam? You tell me.