Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) new-found opposition to Roe v. Wade is rather remarkable, even for him.

In 1999, McCain was in New Hampshire, campaigning for the GOP nomination as a moderate. He proclaimed himself a pro-life candidate, but told reporters that “in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade.” He explained that overturning Roe would force “women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” Yesterday, campaigning for the GOP nomination as a conservative, McCain said the opposite.

   STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask one question about abortion. Then I want to turn to Iraq. You’re for a constitutional amendment banning abortion, with some exceptions for life and rape and incest.

   MCCAIN: Rape, incest and the life of the mother. Yes.

   STEPHANOPOULOS: So is President Bush, yet that hasn’t advanced in the six years he’s been in office. What are you going to do to advance a constitutional amendment that President Bush hasn’t done?

   MCCAIN: I don’t think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it’s very likely or possible that the Supreme Court should — could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support…. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states.

The old McCain didn’t want an amendment and didn’t want Roe overturned. The new McCain completely disagrees with the old McCain.

It’s worth noting that politicians’ opinions on abortion can, and often do, “evolve” over time. Dick Gephardt and Al Gore, for example, both opposed abortion rights before eventually becoming pro-choice. With this in mind, McCain’s unexpected shift may simply reflect yet another pol whose thinking has changed over time.

Or, far more likely, McCain is once again abandoning any pretense of consistency and integrity, and is now willing to say literally anything to win.

Let’s return, once again, to McCain’s flourishing flip-flop list, which is now a Top 11 list.

* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)

* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.

* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.

* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.

* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.

* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.

* McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, campaign-finance reform, and won’t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago.

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

* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.

* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.

* And now he’s both for and against overturning Roe v. Wade.

It’s not exactly a newsflash that McCain is veering ridiculously to the right in a rather shameless attempt to reinvent himself, but Dems should take advantage of the situation and help establish the narrative now. Despite his rather embarrassing record of late, we still have major media figures telling the public that “no one would accuse McCain of equivocating on anything.”

Now is the time to begin characterizing McCain — accurately — as a man with no principle beliefs. Dems should not only criticize McCain’s constantly evolving opinions on nearly everything, they should openly mock him for it now, so that the storyline becomes second nature (like the GOP did with “serial exaggerator” Al Gore).

The nation is seeing McCain 2.0, and we like the old one better.

The senator has been a critic of ethanol. That doesn't play in Iowa. So the Straight Talk Express has taken a detour.

FORTUNE Magazine
By Jon Birger, Fortune senior writer
October 31 2006: 12:42 PM EST

(Fortune Magazine) -- John McCain has a problem with alcohol - ethyl alcohol, to be precise.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/11/13/8393132/index.htm

Posted 4/10/2008 9:50 PM CDT

John McCain completed his about-face on government intervention in housing bailouts today, voicing support for legislation that does what he said last month the government should not do. Notice I said voicing support, because spineless John didn’t make it to Washington to vote yea or nay, so as not to be on the record I suppose. Who knows maybe he’ll change his position again later.

It’s nice to see that the media love affair with McCain continues, too. In the Washington Post article this was the first paragraph:

"Senator John McCain, who drew criticism last month after he warned against broad government action to solve the deepening mortgage crisis, pivoted Thursday and called for the government to help qualified homeowners with subprime mortgages refinance and get federally guaranteed 30-year mortgages."

Pivoted? If anybody else did that the headline would be Flip-Flop in bold type.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI

-- Modified on 4/12/2008 9:38:38 AM

no chance of that with senator lieberman following him around, talking him up, whispering in his ear,  correcting his speeches as mccain delivers them, etc...

i only wonder -- does mccain pay more or less for his suits, as they have to have a slit in the back of the jacket for the nutmeg state senator to put his hand into?

Don't worry he won't, he is a more than willing prostitute,and has been for quite a while. But then again what American politician isn't.

I have to say I respect your straight talk there Mr. Begin...lol...Kinda like a few years back when as Prime Minister, what was it you called Palestinians, oh yes, I believe you called them "beasts walking on two legs." ..

the only truly democratic nation in the middle east? What are they thinking?

Oh, and do let us know when you tire of making up false quotes. Let me guess, you read that on a blog somewhere and believed it.

do you remember this one, its a personal best, from september 1982?

"goyim kill goyim, and they blame the jews."

i sure can turn a phrase when i 'm motivated enough.

you really want to start trading quotes?

How about just a few from Yasser Arafat
"The goal of our struggle is the end of Israel, and there can be no compromise." - Washington Post 1970

"Peace for us means the destruction of Israel." - El Mundo 1980

"We plan to eliminate the state of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare and population explosion. . . . We Palestinians will take over everything, including all of Jerusalem." - Stockholm Address, 1996

And I heard he/she puts out real easy too.  Do you know I might be able to reach him before he becomes a her? I got an airport bathroom stall waiting!